The Best Cocktail Bars In Seattle

Seattle is cherished for its its mild weather, The Pike Place Market, cozy coffee shops in the rain, scenic waterfront and parks, hilly, historic neighborhoods, whimsical hidden gems of boutiques, restaurants, and of course, bars. These are just some places you might try exploring for a night out or happy hour and a refreshing, well made cocktail.

The Backdoor at Roxy’s

The Backdoor at Roxy’s may look rough on the outside, but through the backdoor its Jazz Age-style murals of flappers and dancers, angel statues, glittering chandeliers, and hanging reclaimed window panes hoisted above the bar make this place Fremont Neighborhood’s favorite speakeasy. Order classic Prohibition cocktails like the French 75 or try a signature drink like the Backdoor Baby Doll, made with secret backdoor honey syrup. The Backdoor at Roxy’s also offers a selection of house-infused boozes like Rosemary Gin and Sweet Pear Vodka.
The Backdoor at Roxy’s, 462 N 36th St Seattle, WA USA, +1 206-632-7322

Damn the Weather

Pioneer Square’s Damn the Weather is the perfect romantic and cozy space to sip a drink. With brick walls, hardwood floors and long tables set with bottles of fresh flowers, the mood is relaxed and without ceremony. Its creatively crafted cocktails win the heart with fresh ingredients and tasty pairings of flavors. Drinks include the Gitano with pisco, amontillado sherry, apricot liqueur, and Ramazzotti and the Jacques Rose with Calvados brandy, lemon, grenadine, and aromatic bitters.
Damn the Weather, 116 1st Ave S Seattle, WA USA, +1 206-946-1283

Liberty

Capitol Hill Neighborhood’s Liberty bar serves delicious made-from-scratch cocktails with fresh pressed juice, concocted before your eyes. Its house tinctures, bitters, and infusions enhance its extensive cocktail menu, making Liberty probably one of the best places in Seattle to find a fresh and original drink. Try a Rainy Day Woman made with chamomile-infused vodka, St. Germain, orange marmalade, fresh lemon juice, and sparkling wine. Or maybe try a Point of No Return with gin, chartreuse, fresh lime juice, rosemary, absinthe, and fire.
Liberty, 517 15th Ave E Seattle, WA USA, +1 206-323-9898

Local 360

Belltown’s Local 360 may be known as one of the many sustainable farm-to-table Seattle restaurants that sources its food from a 360 mile radius, but it also has a remarkable happy hour with a fabulous choice of cocktails as well as a whole menu of refreshing drinks. Consider the Old Mysterious Ways, made with John Jacob Rye and spiced simple syrup, or the Starving Mule, made with Aloo vodka, Timber City ginger beer, fresh lime, and Starvation Alley cranberry.
Local 360, 2234 1st Ave Seattle, WA USA, +1 206-441-9360

Bathtub Gin & Co.

An intimate cocktail bar in the basement of an old brick apartment building, Belltown’s Bathtub Gin & Co. is a delightful, low lit place to enjoy a drink. With a small pine bar upstairs and couches, tables, and a small library on the lower level, the ambiance is perfect for unwinding and experimenting. Try a curious Alice in Wonderland with gin, pear juice, Tabasco, soda water, and mint, or, taste a Bearcat with scotch, Zucca amaro, strawberry jam, lemon, and bubbles.
Bathtub Gin & Co., 2205 2nd Ave Seattle, WA USA, +1 206-728-6069

About the author

Sarah Lantz

I am senior undergraduate at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States studying English Literature and History. I’ve studied three times abroad during my undergraduate years: to Rome, Italy, Sochi, Russia, and London, United Kingdom. I hope to continue to travel when I graduate, finding some sort of job that allows me to explore the world, write, and continue to learn about cultures, ideas, art, and expression. In my free time I like to creative write, enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities from paddle boarding to hiking, and have fun teaching myself to cook.