By Alana Livingston
Cover photo courtesy of Alana Livingston
Walk through the narrow entrance to Baby Bar and you’ll find yourself in one of downtown Spokane’s most beloved hangouts. Dimly lit, with unique paintings and juice squeezed fresh right in front of you, the place radiates a community vibe you can feel as soon as you step inside. Just next door, Neato Burrito dishes out giant burritos that are vegan-friendly with a satisfying meat option. Together, the two spots are more than a bar and burrito joint—they’re an extension of the home of owners Patty and Tim and the family they’ve raised inside those walls.
Patty started at Baby Bar as an employee after working at the Elk Public House. It was at the Elk that she realized she wanted her own place. “I liked how they did things there. I felt appreciated,” she says. That sense of appreciation has carried through everything she and Tim have built. They don’t call their staff employees—they’re coworkers, each with a seat at the table.
Their children—Ruby, Bennett, and Banks—grew up at Baby Bar. “Ruby was two when we started,” Patty says. After school, the kids would come in to clean, prep and help however they could. “This place really was an extension of our home,” she adds. Adam, who started working there years ago and never left, is now considered part of the family too. Today, it’s the kids who keep Neato and Baby Bar running strong.
In 2023, Patty tried retirement. It lasted a year. “I was going nuts!” she laughs. She’s now back where it all began—working at the Elk and enjoying it—while her kids keep the burritos rolling and the bar lights glowing.
If the Baby Bar feels like home, that’s intentional. Written behind the bar are “house rules,” the same kind you’d expect if you were sitting in someone’s living room. “Community breeds community,” Tim says. “That’s what this place is all about.”
Live shows are part of the heartbeat of the bar. Since COVID, all performances have been all-ages, opening the door to a new generation of music fans. Drag nights and open-mic poetry fill out the schedule, keeping the space vibrant and creative. Both Patty and Tim once played in bands, and their love of performance continues to shape the culture of Baby Bar.
For others, it’s the drinks. The bar’s reputation for fresh-squeezed juice (orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit) means you can order something refreshing, boozy or not. “We can make just about anything non-alcoholic,” Patty says.
And then there’s the food. Neato Burrito is that rare spot where everyone—vegan, gluten-free or meat-loving—can sit down together and find something they love. “It’s really easy to feed people when it’s healthy,” Tim says. If the bar is open, the kitchen is serving, and for many in Spokane, that combination has made Neato Burrito part of the rhythm of daily life.
Even the details reflect Patty and Tim’s values. They swapped out PBR for Douglas Lager, a 100% locally-produced beer, and kept the price the same. It’s a small move, but one that underscores their commitment to supporting Spokane.
That ethos extends beyond the walls of the bar and burrito shop. For years, Neato Burrito and Baby Bar have run ads in Out There Outdoors. Their hand-drawn artwork, once sketched by local artist Tiffany Patterson, later by Patty with a Sharpie, and now by their son Bennett, has become a kind of scavenger hunt for readers. You can always find their ad—it just might take a moment to decipher it—and that uniqueness has become part of their charm.
When asked why they continue to advertise with Out There Outdoors, their answer is simple: “It’s locally owned, and we love the outdoors,” Tim says. “The readers are our people. They’re active, outdoorsy and they care about what they put in their bodies. I mean, a burrito is the perfect travel food.”
Like the magazine, Neato Burrito and Baby Bar are rooted in community. Family-owned, deeply loved, and still guided by the idea that a neighborhood spot can feel like home, they’ve built a place where you can always find a friend—and a really good burrito!
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