I’ve dedicated many evenings to uncovering the best cocktails in Seattle. If you’ve read my countless winery articles, you know I love wine. But I also love me a good cocktail. And we’re lucky that there are a ton of craft cocktail places in Seattle with really excellent bar programs.
I’ve been to enough that I’ve started to identify the best places to go and, most importantly, the best drinks to order. I’m always sharing my finds with friends, but it’s time I share it with everyone else. Here is the list of some of my favorite cocktail bars, plus the best cocktails in Seattle you must try.
Best Cocktails in Seattle
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to cocktails, so I thought I’d share mine to give you an idea of what types of drinks you can find on this list.
In general, I gravitate toward the following base spirits: gin, bourbon, vodka, mezcal, and tequila. I’ll try others if the accouterments look yummy, but I find these to be the most palatable. Other base spirits tend to have a strong burning sensation, which I try to avoid at all costs.
My favorite discovery on this spirit list is bourbon. I always thought I hated whiskies, but bourbons tend to be smooth and less of that harsh, grassy burn like straight whiskey. If you’re not familiar with it, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Other characteristics I tend to favor in my cocktails are more savory add-ins. I don’t mind a bit of sweetness — especially if it mellows that burn — but I don’t like cloyingly sweet drinks. My favorite drinks tend to include herbs and jalapeños.
Another thing I find myself gravitating toward is egg whites. I like the heft this gives cocktails and I find it also helps mellow out stronger spirits. Plus, protein, amiright?
You’ll see a lot of these building blocks reflected in the drinks listed below. Save this to Pinterest for later, as I plan to update this as I discover more of the best cocktails in Seattle!
Percy’s & Co
website | neighborhood: Ballard (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$15-17 | best for: Prohibition-era cocktails | mocktails? yes
Percy’s & Co. is one of my local watering holes. I’ve brought my girlfriends, boyfriend, coworkers, and even my whole birthday party here and everyone loves it. They have herb-forward, Prohibition-style cocktails and an easy-breezy southern-style decor with excellent comfort food to match.
What to order: The Cilantro Gimlet is a must if it’s available. It’s made with cilantro-infused gin, Lillet blanc, lime juice, and cucumber. You can really taste the cucumber and there’s enough cilantro to make you go, “Hmm, this tastes a bit herbaceous,” but it’s not overpowering.
Canon
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$20-24 | best for: huge spirit selection | mocktails? a few
Canon has been on multiple “best bars in America” lists, particularly for their whiskey selection. And it has the wait to prove it. Don’t try to walk in here, especially on the weekend. Make a reservation and get ready for cocktails on the pricier side.
You might be thinking, “WTF, $20 to 24 for a cocktail?” Let me explain. Every cocktail I’ve had is a showstopper and worth every penny, and the food is equally delicious.
What to order: Get the Campfire in Georgia if it’s available. The menu description doesn’t really prepare you for how this cocktail is served. The server brings you this drink covered in a large vessel, kind of like a cake storage container. You can barely see the cocktail inside because it’s filled with smoke. The smoke billows out when they open it, revealing a surprisingly orange and peachy drink that’s just a tinge spicy from the habañero chile.
Rob Roy
website | neighborhood: Belltown (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$16-24 | best for: classic cocktails | mocktails? yes, a bunch
Rob Roy has also been on a bunch of “best bars in America” lists. It’s got a dark, posh lounge-y vibe with subtle tiki elements. I’ll be honest, I’ve been here a few times and the bartenders were a bit too pretentious for my taste. But I suppose with drinks this good, sometimes it’s okay to be a bit proud about it. Especially when you create a drink with gunpowder in it.
What to order: Get the Gunpowder Punch. And yes, you read that right, gunpowder. There’s actual gunpowder in this drink, which admittedly gives this a bit of a dark gray, dirty dish soap coloring. However, it is so tasty. It’s rum based and both spiced and citrus-y at once. And don’t worry, it’s safe to drink gunpowder in small quantities.
Liberty Bar
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$15-18 | best for: cocktails and sushi | mocktails? yes
This place will always hold a special place in my heart. First, because it’s where my boyfriend and I had our first date. We actually have a map art print with the coordinates of Liberty Bar on it as a momento remembering how we met.
The second reason I love this place though is that the bartenders are super talented and making some of the best cocktails in Seattle. The menu includes quite a lot of drinks and the bartenders will even make up creations. One time I asked them to make me an homage to the Campfire in Georgia from Canon and they friggin’ did it. Talk about high class talent and customer service!
What to order: The last time I went, I got the Ube Therman, which was made with actual ube, coconut cream, and lava salt. I literally needed to wipe my face after each sip because it was that creamy but so worth it. It’s somehow sweet, salty, and acidic all in one sip!
Pro tip: They also randomly have a sushi menu and it’s quite good!
Tavern Law
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$16-22 | best for: bar with a well-hidden speakeasy | mocktails? none listed on menu, but bartenders may make them when asked
Tavern Law is a cocktail bar with a hidden speakeasy tucked upstairs, Needle & Thread. The speakeasy requires a reservation, but both bars are worth visiting so don’t feel bad if you can’t get into the speakeasy. In fact, I actually prefer the food in Tavern Law as it’s hearty and has more comfort food offerings.
As for the cocktails, Tavern Law creates a rotating menu around a theme. For example, at the time of writing this it was an “Inferno” theme with drinks that would take you through Dante’s layers of purgatory. Needle & Thread doesn’t have a cocktail menu in honor of their Prohibition-era atmosphere, so it’s up to you and the bartender to settle on your perfect drink.
What to order: If you go to Tavern Law, get The Violence if available. You might not think that sherry, lambrusco, black pepper, and red beet would fare well together, but I promise it works. The drink is tannic yet jammy, and the bright bubbles make for a crushable cocktail.
Hazlewood
website | neighborhood: Ballard (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$10-19 | best for: low-key cocktail bar and chef sightings | mocktails? none listed on the menu, but bartender may make them when asked
Hazlewood is the kind of bar chefs go to after hours, which should tell you the drinks are strong and the vibe is lively. It’s one of my favorite places to go in Ballard because it’s unpretentious yet the drinks are well-executed and flavorful.
What to order: All of the cocktails on the cocktail list sound incredible, but Sara’s Sorry is perhaps my favorite. It’s bright and citrus-y from the orange and Aperol. Plus the balance of elderflower liqueur and champagne makes it wildly refreshing.
Baker’s
website | neighborhood: Sunset Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$64-18 | best for: fancy cocktails and a hidden back patio | mocktails? a few
Baker’s is one of the hidden gem restaurants in Seattle that only recently discovered. They have a huge back patio that’s always buzzing with people, which is funny because the bar in the front often looks slow by comparison since everyone hangs out on the patio.
In addition to having a thorough wine list, Baker’s also has a lovely cocktail menu paired alongside small, seasonal small plates.
What to order: Get the Experienced Sophomore if it’s available. It’s made with mezcal, lychee, aloe liqueur, and citron, making for a bright and delicately smokey cocktail.
Velvet Elk
website | neighborhood: Mt. Baker (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$17-18 | best for: psychedelic vibe and house-made bitters | mocktails? yes
The Velvet Elk is one of those hidden gems in Seattle that locals don’t like to share, but it low key has some of the best cocktails in Seattle. The vibe is psychedelics meets midcentury, and the two floors offer enough space to get cozy with your significant other or entertain a small group of friends. They make their own bitters, including their version of angostura bitters, so I highly suggest ordering a drink that highlights those flavors.
As for food, they have some light snacks, but you’re welcome to bring your own food and even your well-behaved dog!
What to order: My favorite drink is the Tequila E, with tequila, mezcal, lime, passionfruit and honey syrup, plus house-made lime bitters and a dash of tajin for spice. It’s super balanced, citrus-y, and bright, with the perfect touch of spice (not hot spice) and smokiness from the mezcal.
Carnelian Bay
website | neighborhood: Fremont (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$14-16 | best for: flaming tiki drinks | mocktails? yes
Carnelian Bay is the tiki bar located inside Dreamland Bar & Diner. The vibe is psychedelic and clubby, with bumping music and a lively buzz from all the people talking. Carnelian Bay is the covered and heated patio in the back, and you know you’ve arrived when you catch a wiff of all the flaming cocktails leaving the bar.
What to order: Get the Beast of Destiny. The acidity from the strawberry, guava, pineapple, and lime makes for a balanced sipper. Also, if you’re hungry, don’t sleep on the crunch wrap supreme. It comes with a jus and guacamole, and I’m always tempted to order it.
Pro tip: Dreamland also had a killer weekend drag brunch!
Phocific Standard Time
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$15-18 | best for: Vietnamese speakeasy | mocktails? yes, but you need to ask the bartender
Phocific Standard Time is the speakeasy located above Pho Bac. The bar is tiny compared to the pho shop below, and while they don’t take reservations, you can put your name on the list if there’s a wait. The menu is obviously Vietnamese-inspired and features unique Vietnamese ingredients like Viet coffee, bitter lemon, and pandan. The food is also off the hook, so come with plans to eat!
What to order: The Dom Dóm Firefly is one of the best cocktails in Seattle. It’s made with lim rau ram leaf, luzhou laojiao (Chinese spirits), cucumber bitters, and black lava salt. It almost has a green jolly rancher vibe, but it’s nowhere as sweet thanks to the acid from the lime.
Bar Sabine
website | neighborhood: Ballard (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$16-17 | best for: gin & tonics | mocktails? yes
This spot will always be on my list of the best cocktails in Seattle because I used to visit regularly when it was Bastille’s Back Bar. They originally kept the back bar after rebranding to Bar Sabine, but they’ve since converted the space into a private event room and moved the bar up front in the main restaurant.
That’s right: by day, Sabine is a bustling brunchery with Mediterranean inspired dishes. By night, they’re an equally bustling bar with creative cocktails and mezze-style plates.
What to order: Sabine is best known for their selection of gin and tonics, and I’m personally a big fan of the Blood Orange Five Spice Gin & Tonic. I love the heat you get from the five spice and how it’s perfectly mellowed out with the sweet blood orange juice.
Ruby
website | neighborhood: Greenwood (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$14 | best for: affordable drinks & chill vibe | mocktails? none listed on menu, but bartenders may make them when asked
Ruby is an unassuming neighborhood bar located across the street from a Fred Meyer. The vibe is Victorian-meets-metal, with dark black paint and quirky dog portraits lining the walls. The drinks are a bit more tropical than you might expect, but they’re refreshing and some of the most reasonably-priced drinks in Seattle.
What to order: Get the Jungle Bird with pineapple rum, campari, lime, and demara. It sounds simple but I promise it’s refreshingly tropical and not in an overly sweet way. If you’re more into bitter drinks, try the Garden Party with rosé cava, gin, campari, grapefruit, and orange bitters.
Foreign National
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$16-18 | best for: Asian-inspired cocktails | mocktails? yes
Foreign National is one of my preferred spots for pre-theater dining in Seattle, especially if you’re just after one of the best cocktails in Seattle a quick bite. The vibe is romantic and a bit moody, minus the disco ball nonchalantly spinning in the background. If the doors are locked when you arrive it means they’re full so wait outside and they’ll get you when a spot opens up.
What to order: The Diosa Cocktail was described on the menu as a “fruity, fun Chamoy,” which is a fruity Mexican condiment. I took a gamble and it paid off. The drink is made with thyme-infused mezcal, apricot, tamarind, and lime, making for an herbaceous, smokey, sweet, and slightly sour sipper.
PS – You MUST also get their cheeseburger bao. It’s the perfect hangover food!
Inside Passage
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$18-23 | best for: tropical drinks in creative glassware | mocktails? yes
Inside Passage is the speakeasy located inside Rumba Room, another spot with the best cocktails in Seattle for people who love rum. As far as mood goes, you can expect underwater tiki bar. There’s a massive octopus draped over the bar, and all of the drinks come in outrageous handmade glassware you can buy. For having so much ambiance, Inside Passage is surprisingly quiet and low key, which is nice if you were actually hoping to hear your friends!
What to order: Try the One-Eyed Willy. It comes in a treasure chest billowing with smoke. The drink itself is in a skull glass and tastes like a more cinnamon-forward Manhattan cocktail.
Paper Fan
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$16-19 | best for: Asian-inspired cocktails with a swanky vibe | mocktails? a few
Paper Fan is a tiny cocktail bar located above Biang Biang Noodles. Unlike the casual noodle shop, Paper Fan has a totally different energy. It’s moody and decorated with colorful fan lights, and many of the drinks are served with a theatrical flare.
What to order: Get The Breeze. It’s made with rum, black tea, pineapple, coconut, and pandan. The tannins from the tea mixed with pandan add layers of complexity I’d never be able to pinpoint if they weren’t listed on the menu. If you like theatrics, the Pink Moonlight looks really good. It’s served with lavender infused bubbles and a burning lavender spring.
Bad Bishop
website | neighborhood: Pioneer Square (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$14-16 | best for: creative ingredients | mocktails? a few
Bad Bishop is a low-key and fun bar that rarely gets super crowded. The vibe is relaxed and the bartenders are non-pretentious. They have a decent selection of bar grub including a mac and cheese and a smash burger that rivals some of the best burgers in Seattle.
The drinks are made with creative ingredients like beets, pepper brine, and blueberry black peppercorn syrup, but everything I’ve had here is well-balanced and never too obtrusive.
What to order: Get the Beets by K. It’s made with gin, roasted beet and blood orange simple, lemon, and celery bitters. It’s vibrantly pink and perfectly balanced between the natural earthiness of the beets and the sweetness of the orange.
Zig Zag
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$17 | best for: boozy drinks in the heart of Pike Place Market | mocktails? yes
Zig Zag is the OG hen it comes to the best cocktails in Seattle. It’s not necessarily a speakeasy, but it’s a bar hidden in Pike Place Market that most tourists walk by and most locals assume is full of tourists. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s one of my favorite places in Pike Place for a late-night cocktail.
What to order: The Whole Enchilada is a must order. It’s made with mezcal, lemon, peach liqueur, fino sherry, combier kummel, mole bitters, and garnished with parsley. I know it sounds crazy, but I promise it just works.
Smith Tower Observatory Bar
website | neighborhood: Pioneer Square (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$18-30 | best for: drinks with a view | mocktails? yes
Smith Tower is one of the most iconic tourist attractions in Seattle for its small museum about the history of Pioneer Square and observation deck with 360-degree views of the city. Most people are surprised to learn there’s also an Asian-inspired, speakeasy-style bar with killer cocktails at the top.
The one downside is you need to pay the fee to go through the museum and get to the deck, which is $15 per adult. However, if you like it and plan to visit at least 3-4 times a year, they have a rum runner loyalty card for that gets you unlimited access to the observation deck and bar for 2 plus discounts.
What to order: If available, get the Great Seattle Fire. It’s another one of those tequila-based, chile-forward, slightly spicy drinks. I’d say this is on the spicier side, but not so much that I couldn’t handle it.
Herb & Bitter Public House
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$17-20 | best for: Spanish-influenced drinks | mocktails? a few
Herb & Bitter Public House has one of the best outdoor urban patios. Their cocktail menu is super strong and filled with interesting flavor combinations, all paired with select Spanish tapas and a few heartier entrees.
What to order: Get Can’t Stand the Rain if it’s on the menu, as it’s one of the best cocktails in Seattle. This drink comes in a large tumbler with ice and a straw, which initially made me worry it would be watered down, but it’s anything but. The jalapeño flavor is prominent, and the alcoholic heft makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. One time, I even locked eyes with a coworker (who I rarely talk to), and we were both sipping on this drink and simultaneously mouthed, “This is so, fucking good.”
Daphnes Bar
website | neighborhood: Edmonds (get directions) | price per cocktail: ~$13-15 | best for: prohibition era cocktails | mocktails? none listed on menu, but bartenders may make them when asked
Daphnes Bar is located right on main street in Edmonds, making it the perfect detour when you’re exploring the best restaurants and bars in Edmonds. The space is super tiny and there isn’t a host, so it’s kind of a first-dibs situation. Still, they don’t seem to mind if you want to grab a drink and hover until a space opens up.
While there’s no food menu, they allow outside food and drink. You can expect classic Prohibition-era cocktails, and the bartender is more than happy to devise an off-menu cocktail if you tell them what you’re looking for.
What to order: Daphnes is favored for their well-executed classic drinks, but my favorite cocktail was actually one of the bartender’s creations: the Trinidad Airlines. It’s made with bourbon, amaro, maraschino, bitters, and lime. It’s so balanced and vivacious, so definitely ask your bartender if they can re-create it!
More places to grab a drink
If you need more places to grab a drink after experiencing the best cocktails in Seattle, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a roundup of my recent articles you can reference whenever you need a new spot to sip.
