mbar

"400 Fairview used to be a ghost town on the weekend, but that's all in the past now that Bonhomie Coffee Bar is here. This exciting Haitian espresso operation pops up at Pizza By Ruffin every Sunday from 11am-2pm, and the collaboration just works. Bonhomie supplies the stellar drinks, and Pizza By Ruffin bakes snacks to go with them, like a braised beef pie, slices of butter cake, and Haitian bread we'd very much like to see as part of a breakfast sandwich someday. Bonhomie's iced kremas latte is a bonafide highlight, exploding with coconut warmth and baking spices that get along with cold oat milk perfectly. But you also can't go wrong with the kafe ak lèt, a stiff cinnamon- and anise-steeped cold brew tempered by vegan condensed milk. Sure, you can only get their coffee one day a week, but it's well worth Tetris-ing your calendar for a cup." - Aimee Rizzo

"Mbar has all the makings for a total rooftop scene—a social media-worthy skyline view, overly complicated drinks, and the Amazon employees who drink them. But what makes Mbar so much more special is that the food here doesn't suck—it's what keeps us coming back. Snack on Lebanese small plates like shrimp kebabs, tahini chicken wings, and green pea falafel that you should definitely be ordering more than one of for the table. This place is perfect for dates, group outings, and anything else you’d like to celebrate, even if that’s just finishing laundry for the week." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente

"If you still want something more upscale than a space that feels like someone’s makeshift townhouse patio or herb garden, Mbar is an ideal rooftop choice. With a skyline view that’d perform very well as a postcard photo, highlighter-colored lawn furniture, and great Middle Eastern mezze (like green pea falafel and labneh, eggplant croquettes, and harra frites with really good za’atar mayo), this place is perfect for dates, group parties, and anything else you’d like to celebrate 14 stories up. Sip something fizzy like a pisco spritz or pink cava, and be glad you’re here." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"The roof at M Bar is like the communal patio of an apartment building that’s designed to lure prospective renters into signing a lease and grilling kabobs immediately. We’d never expect less from a rhombus-shaped building in the heart of South Lake Union. You probably can’t actually live inside this Middle Eastern restaurant/lounge, but you’ll certainly want to after taking the dramatically suspenseful elevator ride up top to sit among the string lights, swings, fire pits, and Space Needle views. Sip fizzy pisco spritzes and snack on Middle Eastern mezze like green pea falafel, baba ganoush, or harra frites with earthy za’atar mayo." - aimee rizzo

"This industrial-chic space in South Lake Union is the highest-elevation outpost of the Mama restaurant group (which also owns Mamnoon). That means you’re going to get a slate of Middle Eastern cuisine with seasonal ingredients — recent highlights include the mushroom rakakat (a cheesy roll of filo) served with a bracing chicory salad. The cocktail menu is wide-ranging with some actually good NA options, but what you’re really here for is the panoramic view of the Space Needle and downtown Seattle. Reservations are definitely recommended." - Eater Staff