Axe Throwing in Redmond, WA: Pacific Axes on NE 80th -- The Eastside's Dedicated Answer for Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sammamish (2026)

Redmond is the anchor of the Seattle Eastside -- 78,000 residents, home to Microsoft's main campus, Nintendo of America's US headquarters, the SR-520 / I-405 interchange that carries the entire tech-worker commute shed, and a rapidly maturing downtown around the new Sound Transit 2 Line light rail extension. If you live in Redmond, work at a Microsoft, Nintendo, or Facebook / Meta campus, live in Sammamish or Kirkland and cross into Redmond for dinner, or route through the Eastside at all, the axe throwing question has a single specific answer: [Pacific Axes](/washington/redmond/pacific-axes) at 16425 NE 80th St Suite 110. That venue holds a 4.9 Google rating across 443 reviews (as of mid-2026), it is open 7 days a week, and it is the closest dedicated axe venue for Microsoft's 55,000+ Puget Sound employees plus the broader Eastside tech ecosystem.

The short answer: [Pacific Axes](/washington/redmond/pacific-axes) at 16425 NE 80th St Suite 110 is the Eastside answer for axe throwing. Monday-Friday 4-10 PM (after-work window), Saturday and Sunday 12-10 PM (all-day weekend). Book online through the venue's site at pacificaxes.com. Wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible parking lot, free and paid parking options. For the broader Seattle metro picture see the Seattle guide and for the sister-city view see Tacoma and Auburn.

Eastside Quick Nav

Microsoft employee, Nintendo employee, Sammamish family, Kirkland date night, Bothell / Woodinville wine-country visitor, or Redmond local? Jump to the right routing.

Why Pacific Axes Is the Eastside Answer

Almost every Eastside neighborhood has a dozen legitimate options for a night out -- Redmond Town Center dinner, Bellevue Square shopping-plus-dinner, Kirkland waterfront cocktails, Woodinville wineries. What the Eastside has historically not had is a single dedicated axe throwing venue that a Microsoft team can drop 15-30 people into on a Friday, that a Sammamish family can book for a kid birthday on Saturday afternoon, and that a Kirkland date-night couple can walk into on a Wednesday 7 PM. Pacific Axes at NE 80th filled that gap.

The 4.9-across-443 rating. For a venue that has been through 443 review cycles -- birthday parties, Microsoft offsites, tourist couples, tech-worker date nights, bachelor / bachelorette weekends -- 4.9 stars is elite. It means the venue has been stress-tested across nearly every use case the Eastside can throw at it and consistently delivered. The rating is not a promise, but for an event planner picking a venue with real stakes (30-person team offsite, milestone birthday, engagement party), it dramatically lowers the risk of underdelivery. See the top-rated venues directory for the full national picture.

The NE 80th location. 16425 NE 80th St Suite 110 sits in a Redmond commercial-plaza corridor 5 minutes off SR-520 at the 156th Ave NE / West Lake Sammamish Pkwy exits, and 5-10 minutes from the Microsoft main campus depending on which building you start from. Free parking lot, paid parking lot, free street parking, paid street parking -- all four options exist depending on demand. Wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking. The suite is close enough to downtown Redmond that a post-throw walk to dinner at Redmond Town Center is realistic.

Seven-day hours (Mon-Fri 4-10 PM, Sat-Sun 12-10 PM). This matters. Many suburban / small-market axe venues close 1-4 days a week to concentrate operations into weekend peak. Pacific Axes is open every night, which means Microsoft team offsites can pick literally any weekday, Kirkland date-night couples don't have to gate around a Monday-Wednesday closure, and Sammamish families can catch a rainy Sunday afternoon window without checking hours first.

The Six Use Cases That Fill the Calendar

Pacific Axes' calendar breaks down cleanly across six use cases -- three weekday, three weekend. Here is the specific playbook for each.

### 1. The Microsoft / Nintendo / tech-employee weeknight team night (Mon-Thu 4-7 PM)

This is the highest-value slot at Pacific Axes and probably the single largest revenue driver -- Microsoft alone has 55,000+ Puget Sound employees, and the vast majority work within 5-10 minutes of NE 80th St. Add Nintendo of America HQ, Meta's Redmond office, Google's Kirkland campus, and the Bellevue tech cluster (Amazon Bellevue, Salesforce, Concur / SAP), and there is a genuinely huge weekly market for "leave the office at 4:30, throw axes for 90 minutes, be home by 7." 15-30 person team nights are Pacific Axes' bread and butter.

Standard weeknight offsite flow. 10-25 person team booked 2-3 weeks out for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday 5-7 PM slot. Pre-throw dinner ordered in at the office or picked up en route (Redmond Town Center for Din Tai Fung, Poke Bar, or Redmond Grill), 90-minute axe session, optional post-throw drinks at the venue or a downtown Redmond bar. Coach walkthroughs and lane rotations get the whole team throwing within the first 20 minutes. See the corporate team building guide, the corporate retreats guide, and the large groups guide.

Why it works for engineering teams specifically. Axe throwing is skill-based, quantifiable (scoring), and low-cost per participant. It scales to engineering-heavy teams because there is a clear individual improvement arc (first-timer to consistent bullseye over 90 minutes) and a natural team-competition structure. It is not a "trust fall" activity. Sprint retros, project-launch celebrations, and "we finally shipped it" milestones all fit. See the team names guide for tournament-format ideas.

### 2. The Eastside date night (Wed-Thu 7 PM)

Wednesday and Thursday 7 PM is the specific sweet spot for a Redmond / Kirkland / Sammamish date night. The venue is populated enough to feel like a real venue (not empty), but not peak -- coaches give attention, wait times between rotations are short, and the vibe is intimate rather than party-scene. Pair with a Redmond Town Center dinner (Woodblock, Cactus, Din Tai Fung), or drive 12-15 minutes to Kirkland for a Cafe Juanita or Cactus Kirkland dinner.

First-date specific. Wednesday 7 PM. 60-minute session, dinner before or after. Axe throwing is a proven first-date activity because it defuses the "what do we talk about" pressure -- there is always the next throw to focus on, and the shared learning curve builds rapport. See the first date guide and date night guide.

Established couple / anniversary flow. Thursday 7 PM. 90-minute session, dinner at Kirkland waterfront (Bin on the Lake, Cafe Juanita) or a Woodinville winery tasting followed by axe. See the couples guide and anniversary ideas guide.

### 3. The Sammamish / Kirkland kid birthday (Sat 12-3 PM)

Sammamish and Kirkland are dense with kid-birthday-planning families -- Microsoft / Amazon / tech-employee kids in a school-heavy suburban corridor. Pacific Axes' Saturday 12-3 PM slot is the specific answer for the "not another trampoline park" birthday. 10-12 kid group, 2-3 weeks out. Age minimum: verify at booking (most Washington axe venues run 10+ or 12+ for throwers, with younger kids spectating under adult supervision).

Standard flow. Book 12-2 PM or 2-4 PM slot. Pizza catered in or picked up (Redmond Town Center has multiple pizza options within 5 minutes). Cake at the venue. 90 minutes of axe throwing is genuinely enough attention for a 10-year-old birthday -- kids get the physical skill development novelty, parents get a photographable moment, and grandparents (if attending) get accommodated by the wheelchair-accessible facilities. See the kids guide, family guide, and birthday party guide.

### 4. The Woodinville wine country / Eastside weekend group evening (Sat 6-9 PM)

Woodinville's 100+ wineries pull weekend groups from all over the Puget Sound. Pacific Axes fits into that flow as an evening cap -- 12-18 minutes from Woodinville via SR-202 / SR-522, easy to pair with a Saturday afternoon of wine tastings and a Saturday evening 6-9 PM axe session. 8-14 person groups, book 3-4 weeks out for peak weekend evenings.

Bachelorette-specific. Saturday 6-9 PM. Book 3-4 weeks out. Pair with a morning of Woodinville wine tasting (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Novelty Hill Januik, Columbia Winery), a Redmond Town Center dinner, and a 6 PM or 8 PM axe slot. See the bachelor/bachelorette guide, ladies night guide, and bridal shower guide.

30th / 40th / milestone birthday. Saturday 3-6 PM or 6-9 PM depending on whether the group wants a "home by 10" or "keep going" ending. Pair with a Kirkland dinner. See the 30th birthday guide and the engagement party guide.

### 5. The rainy Sunday afternoon fallback (Sun 12-5 PM)

Seattle rain is a real weekend planner. Pacific Axes' Sunday noon opening makes it a legit rainy-day answer for Eastside families, out-of-town visitors staying in Bellevue hotels, and Microsoft-employee-with-visiting-relatives combinations. 60-90 minute walk-in or lightly-booked session, no reservation stress. See the rainy day guide.

Family-of-four rainy Sunday. 60 minutes, walk in or book same-day. Coach walkthrough handles the whole family regardless of skill level. Pair with lunch at Redmond Town Center or dinner at Kirkland waterfront on the way home.

### 6. The Redmond / Kirkland weekday walk-in (Mon-Thu 4-6 PM)

Underrated slot. The 4-6 PM window is Pacific Axes' quiet zone -- post-work Microsoft / Nintendo employees who want an unplanned 60-minute throw before dinner, solo throwers stopping in for skill development, or two-person walk-ins. Sub-30-minute wait almost always. See the walk-in vs reservation guide and solo guide.

Booking Lead Times

Pacific Axes takes online bookings through pacificaxes.com. Lead times shift with Microsoft campus events, tech-conference weeks in Seattle (WWDC-adjacent conferences, Microsoft Build), and Puget Sound holiday calendars.

Eastside and Redmond Drive-Time Matrix

Pacific Axes sits at a real Eastside transportation node -- NE 80th St runs parallel to SR-520 (the main Eastside east-west corridor) and connects Redmond to Kirkland, Bellevue, and Bothell within 15-20 minutes each. The 156th Ave NE corridor connects it to the entire Microsoft campus complex.

Microsoft / Nintendo Corporate Offsite Playbook

Pacific Axes' single largest natural corporate segment is Microsoft, Nintendo, and Meta / Google Kirkland team offsites. Specifics that matter for a Microsoft-employee planner:

5-10 minute drive from any main campus building. NE 80th St is directly accessible from the Microsoft main campus via 156th Ave NE / NE 51st St in under 10 minutes at all-day traffic. Sub-15 minutes even during PM commute peak. This is the shortest drive to a dedicated axe venue from Microsoft campus -- Seattle venues are 30+ minutes cross-lake.

Perfect size for a 15-30 team. Standard Microsoft engineering org is 10-30 people. Pacific Axes handles 15-30 in a single booked slot with 2-3 lanes, or 30-60 in a split-slot buyout. See the large groups guide.

After-work weekday timing works. 4:30 PM office departure -> 5 PM axe start -> 6:30 PM axe end -> 7 PM dinner or drinks. Whole thing wraps by 8:30 PM for a "home by 9" schedule. Weekday 4-7 PM slots are Pacific Axes' quiet zone -- easier to book with less lead time than weekend evenings.

Skill-based competition fits engineering culture. Bullseye scoring is a clean quantifiable format. Team tournaments (2v2 or 3v3 elimination brackets) build naturally out of a 90-minute session. See the team names guide and competition guide.

Lead time. 15-25 person Microsoft team, book 2-3 weeks out. 30-60 person org buyout, book 4-6 weeks out. Microsoft Build week (late May, Seattle Convention Center) fills weekend evenings 2-3 weeks early -- weekday slots stay open.

Eastside Date Night Playbook

Redmond / Kirkland / Bellevue date-night couples have a specific Pacific Axes flow that works better than the standard "dinner then axe."

The Wednesday 7 PM pattern. 6 PM dinner at Redmond Town Center (Woodblock, Cactus, Din Tai Fung, Poke Bar) or Kirkland waterfront (Bin on the Lake, Cafe Juanita for a special occasion). 7 PM axe session -- 60 minutes is right for a first date, 90 minutes for an established couple who want time to develop a game. 8:15-9:30 PM drinks or dessert -- either back at Pacific Axes' bar or drive to Kirkland for a waterfront cocktail. Total spend: $50-90 per person including dinner and drinks. See the date night guide and first date guide.

The Woodinville-plus-Redmond weekend pattern. Saturday afternoon Woodinville wine tastings (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Novelty Hill Januik, Columbia Winery, Ross Andrew Winery) -> Saturday 6 PM Redmond Town Center dinner -> Saturday 8 PM Pacific Axes 90-minute session. Ends the day on a high note. Works for anniversaries, engagement pre-celebrations, or first meaningful weekend as a couple.

Sammamish / Kirkland Kid Birthday Playbook

Age minimum: verify at booking. Sat 12-3 PM slot. Book 2-3 weeks out for 10-12 kids. Pizza pickup from Redmond Town Center (Original Pancake House Redmond is 3 min away for the parent-pickup-run). Grandparents accommodated by wheelchair-accessible facilities. Photo op is genuinely strong -- kid landing an axe is the kind of image that ends up on the family Christmas card.

Pro tip for Sammamish parents. Pacific Axes' 4.9-star rating means parents get essentially zero blowback from the invited kids' parents. Nothing kills the invite-back reputation faster than a mediocre birthday venue. This is one of the venues where the review-average matters for social currency, not just customer experience.

When to Drive Elsewhere in the Seattle Metro

Pacific Axes is the right answer for the entire Eastside. Here are the specific cases where a Seattle-side venue makes more sense.

Downtown / Capitol Hill / Ballard evening anchor. For an evening anchored on the Seattle side (Downtown, Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, U-District), the SR-520 or I-90 cross-lake drive is 30-40 minutes each way. Use a Seattle venue directly (see the Seattle guide) unless the group is specifically Redmond-based.

South Sound / Tacoma-anchored group. For groups in Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, or Puyallup, the drive north to Redmond is 60-75 minutes. Use a South Sound venue -- see the Tacoma guide and Auburn guide.

Everett / North King County / Snohomish County origin. For Everett and Snohomish County groups, Pacific Axes is 45-55 minutes south. Sometimes a Seattle venue is closer than a Redmond one, depending on exact origin.

Large 40+ corporate offsite that Pacific Axes cannot scale. Very large Microsoft org buyouts (40-60+ people) may exceed Pacific Axes' single-slot capacity. Split across two slots, book a private buyout, or use a larger Seattle-area venue. See the large groups guide.

Bar-plus-axe drinking-during-session priority. Pacific Axes has bar service, but if the group specifically wants a "throw, drink, throw, drink" party-scene flow with alcohol as the primary anchor, Seattle bar-plus-axe venues fit better. See the axe throwing with bar filter page.

Seattle Eastside Reality: How This Venue Fits the Metro

The Seattle Eastside is a distinct sub-metro with a distinct rhythm -- tech employees who work long hours but live in genuinely walkable-adjacent downtowns (Redmond Town Center, Kirkland waterfront, Bellevue Downtown), family suburbs like Sammamish that pull kid birthdays constantly, and a Woodinville wine country that anchors weekend group flows. What the Eastside historically lacked was an evening activity venue that was not "another restaurant" or "another shopping trip." Pacific Axes filled that gap.

The 4.9 Google rating across 443 reviews signals a venue that has understood the Eastside customer specifically -- coaching that respects intelligent adults' time, physical facilities that accommodate families and older grandparents, weekday hours that fit Microsoft's calendar, weekend hours that fit birthday and wedding-adjacent group flows. Every Microsoft team night, every Kirkland date, every Sammamish birthday party that ends in five-star review confirms the model.

FAQ

Is Pacific Axes really the only dedicated axe venue in Redmond?

Yes, as of mid-2026. The broader Seattle Eastside (Kirkland, Bellevue, Bothell, Sammamish, Issaquah) also does not have a dedicated axe venue at this population density -- Pacific Axes covers the entire Eastside catchment. For the broader Seattle picture see the Seattle guide.

Why does Pacific Axes open at 4 PM on weekdays?

It matches the actual demand pattern -- Microsoft, Nintendo, Meta, and other Eastside tech workers finish the workday between 4 and 6 PM. Opening at 4 PM captures the immediate after-work window without paying to staff a slow midday shift. Weekends open at noon.

Can I walk in without a reservation?

Monday-Thursday 4-6 PM walk-ins usually work. Friday 4-6 PM walk-ins work most of the time. Saturday and Sunday walk-ins are risky -- weekend groups fill the calendar 1-3 weeks in advance. See the walk-in vs reservation guide.

Is it kid-friendly?

Yes. Age minimum: verify at booking (most Washington axe venues run 10+ or 12+ for throwers, with younger kids spectating under adult supervision). The wheelchair-accessible facilities also make it grandparent-friendly for multi-generational family birthdays. See the kids guide and family guide.

Does Pacific Axes serve food and drinks?

Verify the current menu at booking. Sports-bar style operations are common at Puget Sound axe venues -- some serve beer, wine, and cocktails with a limited food menu, some are BYOB. Pacific Axes is set up as a full event venue with bar service, but the exact current menu should be confirmed with the venue.

Is Pacific Axes wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking lot. This makes it a genuine multi-generational family venue and works for Microsoft / Nintendo / tech-employee mobility-limited team members. See the wheelchair accessible venues filter for other Washington options.

Can I book Pacific Axes for a Microsoft or Nintendo corporate offsite?

Yes, and it is Pacific Axes' single largest natural corporate segment. Book 2-3 weeks in advance for 15-25 person weekday team nights, 4-6 weeks for 30-60 person org buyouts. See the corporate team building guide and corporate retreats guide.

Best day for an Eastside date night?

Wednesday or Thursday 7 PM. Enough traffic to feel like a real venue, low enough traffic that coaches give attention. Pair with dinner at Redmond Town Center or Kirkland waterfront. See the date night guide and first date guide.

Is it worth driving from Bellevue or Kirkland?

Yes -- 12-20 minutes from both via SR-520 or Redmond Way. Pacific Axes is the closest dedicated axe venue for the entire Eastside. Pair with dinner at a Redmond Town Center restaurant on the way in or on the way home.

Is Pacific Axes worth the drive from Seattle?

It depends on the anchor. If you are already Eastside for the day, absolutely. If you are anchored downtown Seattle or on Capitol Hill for the evening, use a Seattle venue instead -- SR-520 or I-90 cross-lake is a real 30-40 minute round trip that eats time.

Where can I book if Pacific Axes is fully booked?

Seattle metro alternatives include Seattle-side venues (see the Seattle guide) 30-40 minutes cross-lake, Tacoma-side venues 60-75 minutes south (see Tacoma and Auburn), and Spokane / Eastern Washington for a full weekend trip (see Spokane). For the Pacific Northwest context see the Portland guide and Boise guide.

Are there any Eastside axe venues coming?

Nothing announced as of mid-2026. Pacific Axes' 4.9-star / 443-review market position and the seven-day operating model saturates the Eastside demand. A new entrant would need substantial differentiation -- a specific Bellevue Downtown location, a bar-plus-axe party-scene format, or a specific corporate-events-only model -- to justify entry.

Browse all Redmond venues for the Pacific Axes venue card and photos, all Washington venues for the statewide directory, and see the Seattle axe throwing guide for the metro picture. Related guides: Tacoma axe throwing, Auburn axe throwing, Spokane axe throwing, Portland axe throwing, Boise axe throwing, date night guide, first date guide, couples guide, bachelor/bachelorette guide, birthday party guide, 30th birthday guide, corporate team building, corporate retreats guide, family guide, kids guide, rainy day guide, engagement party guide, bridal shower guide, ladies night guide, solo guide, large groups guide, walk-in vs reservation guide, how long does axe throwing take. Or browse top-rated venues, online booking venues, axe throwing with bar, and wheelchair accessible venues.