Best Bars in Seattle (2025)

Jamie Boudreau’s intimate spirits library is synonymous with Seattle cocktail culture: encyclopedic pours, precision technique, and a reverent yet playful menu. Frequently praised by national and local critics, it remains a rite of passage for serious drinkers.

Tucked below Pike Place Market, Zig Zag helped define the modern cocktail bar here and re-popularized the Last Word. Still a benchmark for hospitality and classics, it’s routinely cited by seasoned cocktail writers and local publications for enduring excellence.

Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures group created a moody, curated lounge beneath the Amazon Spheres, marrying theatrical design with polished cocktails and refined snacks. Covered by Eater Seattle and fashion titles, it’s a downtown stunner that stays personal, not corporate.

Anu Apte and Chris Elford’s Belltown charmer keeps modern tiki vibrant with rotating travel-inspired menus, real-deal technique, and a lively crowd. Regularly recommended by Seattle Met and Eater, it’s where bright flavors and neighborhood energy mingle late.

A transportive, PNW-undersea spin on escapist cocktails hidden just beyond Rumba. Dramatic glassware, rare rums, and showpiece pours make it a beloved special-occasion stop that still feels local. Frequently highlighted by OpenTable diners and Seattle press.

Erik Hakkinen, a Zig Zag alum, channels Parisian elegance and island influences into quietly dazzling cocktails and salty bar snacks. Featured by industry publications this year, it’s a refined Belltown room where technique and taste lead.

From the Pham family behind Phở Bắc, this AAPI-owned bar reframes Vietnamese flavors—durian, pandan, pho broth—into deeply original cocktails. Recognized by Bon Appétit and celebrated by Eater Seattle, it’s a heartfelt, upstairs hideaway with real culinary roots.

A 12-seat Capitol Hill den where personalized service and a deep spirits list define the experience. Lauded by The Infatuation and local reporters for intimacy and precision, it’s the rare spot where the bartender truly reads the room.

A vinyl-walled, plant-based Capitol Hill hangout blending music culture with inclusive drinking—smart cocktails, robust nonalcoholic options, and a vegan menu. Praised by Seattle magazines, it’s a neighborhood bar that feels like a community record collection.

First Hill’s art-forward bar doubles as a rotating gallery curated by local artists, with classic-leaning cocktails and a playful spirit. Seattle Met has chronicled its creative program, making it a singular stop for drinks among paintings.

A Pioneer Square bar with real neighborhood DNA: smart cocktails, a sleeper burger, and frequent pop-up collabs. Included on Eater Seattle’s best bars list this year, it’s a welcoming anchor for pre- or post-art walk nights.

Wallingford’s maritime fantasia—part neighborhood party, part nautical museum—pairs approachable cocktails with a big-hearted staff and patios. Covered by local guides and beloved by residents, it’s an upbeat, proudly independent hang that feels quintessentially Seattle.