The Exchange Tavern in Spanaway is a piece of living history—established in 1890 and still serving up cold beer and stiff drinks over 130 years later. Originally known by the colorful nickname “The Bucket of Blood,” this spot started as a loggers’ saloon and still carries that gritty, authentic old Western charm.
Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled. The original wood floors have seen generations come and go, and the bar still feels like the kind of place where stories are made and legends are told.
The beer is ice-cold, the pours are generous, and the vibe is delightfully rough around the edges. If you ride a Harley, you’ll fit right in—but even if you don’t, just smile, be respectful, and buy a round. That’s usually enough to earn your place.
Yes, you might get a curious glance or two, but it’s all part of the atmosphere. This place is real. It’s got character. And it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re anywhere near Spanaway.
Charles john
Small place, unique great service.
Ember Canny
My service dog and I were aggressively kicked out for no apparent reason. Only assumption is my service animal, which is medical equipment, bothered her. (Grants zero legal reason to remove a patron in Washington State.) She then chased us out after asking me to leave. I safely placed my service animal in my vehicle, as it appeared the employee would verbally harass me, after I complied with her request for my SD and I to leave. His collar had been left on a table. I attempted to retrieve and the day shift employee pled negligent knowledge and stated no collar was located from the night prior. The original employee, Claudia, was very divisive about allowing me entry. Never gave a legal reason, so I can only assume it's an alleged ADA complaint.
Lawrence Dillworth
Great old time bar with an amazing staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
THOMAS YOUNG
If you're not a regular good luck filling welcome here
dylan majerus
Great bar and great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cynthia Parham
Have fun great place to eat peanut shells on the ground how many more years but showed up and it was great excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
herkamur13
The Exchange is a nice little, off the beaten path dive bar with one pool table, pull tabs, jukebox and food at the bar. It's hidden away from the main street areas and not alot of people know about it, and I'd like to keep it that way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Michele Jack
No real food
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Shaun paul Williams
Very chill place to go very low key spot ...great competition to get into a game of 8 ball tournament every Wednesday at 630 great drinks ?eat nuts spit them on the floor ???it's my kinda favorite place to go and have a safe and good times
Everything you need in a neighborhood bar. Great service, cold beer, pull tabs. Friendly staff. Remember your Peanut shells belong on the floor. Located in one of the oldest buildings in the county.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Ron E
Kid-friendliness: It's a freakin bar. Of course it's not kid friendly.
The Exchange Tavern in Spanaway is a piece of living history—established in 1890 and still serving up cold beer and stiff drinks over 130 years later. Originally known by the colorful nickname “The Bucket of Blood,” this spot started as a loggers’ saloon and still carries that gritty, authentic old Western charm.
Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled. The original wood floors have seen generations come and go, and the bar still feels like the kind of place where stories are made and legends are told.
The beer is ice-cold, the pours are generous, and the vibe is delightfully rough around the edges. If you ride a Harley, you’ll fit right in—but even if you don’t, just smile, be respectful, and buy a round. That’s usually enough to earn your place.
Yes, you might get a curious glance or two, but it’s all part of the atmosphere. This place is real. It’s got character. And it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re anywhere near Spanaway.
Small place, unique great service.
My service dog and I were aggressively kicked out for no apparent reason. Only assumption is my service animal, which is medical equipment, bothered her. (Grants zero legal reason to remove a patron in Washington State.) She then chased us out after asking me to leave. I safely placed my service animal in my vehicle, as it appeared the employee would verbally harass me, after I complied with her request for my SD and I to leave. His collar had been left on a table. I attempted to retrieve and the day shift employee pled negligent knowledge and stated no collar was located from the night prior.
The original employee, Claudia, was very divisive about allowing me entry. Never gave a legal reason, so I can only assume it's an alleged ADA complaint.
Great old time bar with an amazing staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
If you're not a regular good luck filling welcome here
Great bar and great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Have fun great place to eat peanut shells on the ground how many more years but showed up and it was great excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
The Exchange is a nice little, off the beaten path dive bar with one pool table, pull tabs, jukebox and food at the bar. It's hidden away from the main street areas and not alot of people know about it, and I'd like to keep it that way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
No real food
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Very chill place to go very low key spot ...great competition to get into a game of 8 ball tournament every Wednesday at 630 great drinks ?eat nuts spit them on the floor ???it's my kinda favorite place to go and have a safe and good times
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great fun will return!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything you need in a neighborhood bar. Great service, cold beer, pull tabs. Friendly staff. Remember your Peanut shells belong on the floor. Located in one of the oldest buildings in the county.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Kid-friendliness: It's a freakin bar. Of course it's not kid friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I love this place. Friends and fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Loading...