Seattle Speakeasy Guide – Secrets Spots in the Emerald City

This speakeasy gig is fun, yes, and every time we take a trip, I fall in love all over again.  Especially when it comes to Seattle.

We little “l” love a speakeasy but we capital “L” Love Seattle.  Even in the dreary rainy winter months, Seattle is beautiful, fun, and so welcoming. Or maybe that’s just us: beautiful, fun, and so welcoming.

Especially when we violate our one-and-done rule, multiple times.

The Speakeasy Plan

Peggy, the ultimate planner, needed a trip.  We realized that while we had covered Seattle Day Drinking and all things Seattle, we had neglected to ever write about the speakeasy scene.  So, the planning began.  With a Google Map and a spreadsheet, the list making began.  Night one was South Lake Union and a possible trip to Pioneer Square.  Night two would focus on our favorite neighborhood, Capitol Hill.

Peggy arrived in Seattle one night early. As we soon found out this was an important side note. She told EVERYONE she had to go out alone her first night here because I didn’t come up until Friday morning.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – I will be referring to this as Night Zero, or maybe more formally as Night Zero, the prequel?

We had been to a few speakeasies on prior trips, those are included at the end for the sake of completeness.

For more information on our complete speakeasy ranking and rating “Shaker” system, click here

Rich Rich

The Entrance

At 4:00 pm on the dot, a door opens in this big-city-grungy back alley. Out walks cute little Abby with a sandwich board to set on the street (sorry, half a shaker loss for the putting up of a sign).  Without a sign, you are looking for a simple alley door with a pink neon blobby sign over the door. 

(Yes, mom, we wandered down a back alley in a big city, at night. . . but at least it was not in South Southern California.)

Sister Side Note (ssn) – don’t mention that we were lingering around waiting for 4:00. Looking sketchy and suspiciously eyeing the alley like we were waiting to make a drug deal.

The Experience

It’s dark and pink, and has a disco ball (you might remember from Cartagena, my love of a disco ball)!!  A big chalkboard displayed the drink list, a bar and a few pink booths behind us.  Huge silver mylar balloons above the booths spelled out RICH RICH. Apparently, we had just missed their first anniversary party by a few days.

Bartender Abby is darling.  Peggy starts her night off in a very Peggy way, a Porn Star martini. To no one’s surprise; if it’s on a menu, she’s getting it.  I had a “Banana Flower” which was passionfruit cachaça (OMG, I did not know that was even a thing, BUT IT IS), pineapple, lime, and random other weird stuff, which was so good.  It wasn’t too sweet, it wasn’t too sour, it was perfectly balanced flavors.

Then we make our mistake number 1 of the night. We have 20 minutes to kill before heading to Unlisted, so we decide to have a second round. Thus violating the one-and-done trust that we are supposed to have with one another.

Second round, the very unusual “Chocolate Negroni”, I’m still not sure how I feel about this. It had a great taste, but the end was bitter and hung with you. Peggy had the “Cream Soda Old Fashioned”, which I was super excited for, but the cream soda didn’t come through as much as we had hoped.

The Shakers

Overall, half a shaker for the hidden aspect, no shaker for entrance, one shaker for Abby’s amazing service and friendly engagement with us, one shaker for great drinks, and a shaker commitment to the disco-vibey theme.

[Unlisted]

And I have a new favorite speakeasy, sorry for the back step Denver’s Williams & Graham, but [Unlisted] has taken my heart.

We had tagged them in a social media post earlier in the week, they had responded that they were holding us a table at 5:00.  So, yay, thanks for engaging on Instagram.

The Entrance

We show up and Sara (without an H, Peggy wanted to make sure I remembered this detail) is putting out sandwich boards.  You know we frown at this, but they simply have an elephant on them and the word [UNLISTED], so we have deemed this acceptable.  Down the alley behind The Ruins Event Center, there is a door.  There is a light over the door, if the red light is on then they are open (and we will discuss other red light situations later on in a slight diversion in our evening).  No sign on the door, no hours posted, we are loving this from the get-go.

We enter and are immediately Wowed.  You walk in and immediately head down some metal industrial steps.  Since we are the only ones there and they just opened, we are greeted with a “Are you Peggy and Patti?” Why yes, we are, and we are a little over the top with giggles and being wowed and being loud about how we are Wowed. . .but that’s just what we do after 2 (maybe 3) drinks. So, yes, we walk into this room, very Indian Elephant Safari, elegant, bamboo, mirrors, and a giant(!) elephant.  And now we are enamored with the Elephant, how can you not be?

We fall in love with JP and Sara immediately.  They say “guess which table we saved for you” – and there is one table right in front of the fireplace with two champagne’s waiting for us.  YAY!!!

The Experience

I order the “Dumbo”, Peggy orders the “Tantor”.  JP starts making drinks.  JP tells us he is from Sunnyside, WA, which is just about 30 min away from Patti’s home in Tri-Cities.  But after living in Barcelona for a year, he met friends who invited him to work for the summer on their boat in Pueblo, CO, where Peggy is living now.  So, we have all kinds of commonality.  We love him, he’s adorable, we share our story.

We order the burrata with the strawberry reduction, which also contains these amazing blackberries, arugula, and fresh toasted bread.  Thinking we needed a little something in our tummies, this was a great choice, fresh, light, and fantastic.

I break the one-and-done rule (shocking by now, right), because they have a “dealers’ choice” option on the menu, in which my new bff JP will create a cocktail for me.  All he knows is I’m a vodka girl.  And this is one of my new favorite all time drinks, that I shall never have again (except JP has promised to message us the recipe), but it’s vodka and lavender, and I am not a lavender person, I find it to be soapy. But this WORKS, so whatever he balanced it with just worked, all around.

The Shakers

I have now decided that come what may, Unlisted is getting a 5-shaker rating from me.  But there is no challenge to gain entry, so I start asking (like interrogating) JP about their process, what happens when they fill up, they don’t take reservations, the lines form outside. . . there is no process except being next in line.  So, I have decided to add a subjective + rating to their service and cocktails, and they now have a 4++ Shaker rating, but deserve so much more. 

And we are sad that we have to leave for our reservations at Deep Dive. I mean we didn’t even get to see the elephant move – because apparently, THE ELEPHANT MOVES!!!

Deep Dive

I’m a little sad and pouty that Peggy made me leave Unlisted. But Deep Dive requires a deposit when you make the reservation. She had ponied up the funds, so we had to go.

Deep Dive is located inside the Amazon spheres – if you’ve never heard of these spheres, you should probably go Google it, it’s a cool concept and worth the trip to see them if you are in Seattle. And if you do, you can take a side trip two streets down and find the famous face-smasher cement wall.  That’s my blood on the building.  Wow, that was a slight detour from our story, so let’s go back to the spheres.

The Entrance

There is a side entrance to the spheres you can enter to get to Deep Dive.  Enter, walk down a sloped hallway, there is a hosts stand (so half shaker).  We are seated at the bar (yay!), where we meet Lauren. And our new friend, Squirrel.

After proclaiming “SQWER-REL”, we are immediately notified by Dan that we are forbidden from quoting Violet Beauregard in this bar, which makes us giggle…good call, Dan.  Although, now in sobriety, I feel Dan needs to apologize for not recognizing we were doing Veruca Salt, not Violet, your turning Violet, Violet (where did I have that drink?  Swordfish Toms?)

The Experience

The theme feels upscale 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, if there is such a thing.  I am reminded of the now closed Lost Spirits Distillery’s submarine room in Las Vegas.  Like, it is upscale and well done, but not in your face cheesy underwater – more coral and old scuba helmet kind of thing. . .well, plus the SQUIRREL.  But Dan informs us that the theme is more earth, water, and sky deep dive thing. . . but it really is feeling underwater to us.

Lauren is sweet as can be, but we figure new-ish, because she has to reference an instruction list to make the drinks. Dan keeps “helping” her, as in guiding in a very mansplaining way.  But Justin Timberlake’s half-brother look-a-like working on the other side of the bar seems awesome. 

But back to drinks, it’s pretty wide variety cocktail menu.  Lauren says the Japanese Breakfast is her favorite, so I go with that, let’s find out more about Lauren through her wheelhouse.  Peggy orders something in a pink kitty cat ceramic mug and is thrilled with this.

The Japanese Breakfast tastes like a liquid ham steak.  And I keep marveling at it, and tell people about it, like EVERYONE. Because it’s clear, and like Violet Beauregard and her roast beef gum, this was a very cool experience for me.  But I can’t say that in this bar, per Dan.

We needed a snack and ordered the tartare, which was amazing.  I am impressed at how good all of the food that we ordered was, everywhere we went, over the course of the evening.  EVERYTHING was good.

The Shakers

It might be a little fuzzy, but even though you aren’t just going to stumble upon this door in the Spheres…there is a sign on it. So half a shaker for hidden. There is a reservation (tough to get!) and a hostess…then that meandering walkway….so another half for entrance. The theme is well done, as are the cocktails and service. The Deep Dive gets four shakers even though it wasn’t among our favorites.

Phocific Standard Time (PST)

Next up was to Uber to Phocific Standard Time (Thai based speakeasy, yes, please!!) only we Uber to the wrong Pho Bac (who knew there was more than one?). Time wasn’t wasted because we did have an amazing French lesson from our driver, Alpha. But we got to the correct Pho Bac only to find out we have a waitlist.

The Entrance

Inside Pho Bac, a full Pho restaurant, there is a set of stairs with just a simple sign reminding you that you need to be 21 or older to go up the stairs.  Besides that, no markings, no signs, just stairs with a beaded curtain at the top.  Once up the stairs there is an iPad, you self-check in and are added to the wait list.

And now we have to side trip: This is where we meet Tanya and Liz, who check-in behind us, recommend this place next door to wait, but it’s a wine bar and we are NOT having a wine moment.  So, we decide to see what else is around, and find Liz and Tanya smoking in a doorway, they recommend this Italian restaurant around the corner, which they inform us is where the Russian hookers hang out.

We are laughing at how absurd this sounds, until we get around the corner and observe a short, sleezy, rich looking Italian man walking out with a tall, thin, dark-haired woman in a super short dress, remarkably high heels, and a parka with a mink lined hood.  We are pretty sure Liz and Tanya know a thing or two.  So, we have cocktails and clams and get notice that our table at PST is ready.

The Experience

Back to PST we go, where we are greeted and sat at a teeny tiny table in the back corner.  I catch the bartenders eye and ask to be upgraded to the bar as soon as a spot opens up.  Peggy doesn’t know what she wants, and probably doesn’t need another drink. But this is research. So I order her the “cooling water” – which turns out to be fantastic and refreshing and has cute little lychee on the toothpick.  I order the “phin-tini”, which is a Vietnamese take on an espresso martini, and I love it. 

We need food, so we order the crab and shrimp dip.  It is gooey, and cheesy, and crab and shrimp filled. There was no skimping on this dip!  And just as it is put down in front of us, we get upgraded to the bar seats.

At the bar we get to talk to the bartender, and his girlfriend the bar back. They are both sweet and adorable, and a cute little couple.  The couple next to us are regulars and make a few recommendations.

On the other side are 4 women who we are sure are going to be annoying. But we quickly bond with them when they have a “f*ck that guy” moment and we join in.  We are telling them about our speakeasy blog and how they need to go to Chicago. Then we find out “f*ck that guy” actually owns a plane! Now we are quite sure she needs to f*ck that guy to get us all on a private jet to Chicago! Ahhhhh fun times, making friends.

OH, and then our night wraps up with the one we were waiting for.  Our night-night close out cocktail, turns out to be “khos was here #khoawuzhere” – wait for this one…Pho fat washed shot of Jameson with Pho Broth Back.

This has already won best cocktail of the year.  And it’s only night one (yes, Peggy, night two) of our first trip of 2025. I have high doubts that anything will top this.  It’s Jameson with an umami twist, followed by a WARM PHO BROTH BACK!!! 

WARM PHO BROTH BACK, PEGGY!!!!!!

Shut your wh*re mouth now.

The Shakers

So, yes, shaker for entrance, no shaker for challenge, shaker for theme, shaker for drinks, and shaker for service.  We loved PST.

It is time for bed and a Pho-tastic end of day one (yes, Peggy, day two).

Speakeasy Day Two/Three

We packed this day, but seem to have tons of time between reservations, so we aren’t scared, lol.  Much.

We left the hotel a little early so that we could grab a good starting snack at Golden Rooster.

We walked into this Pioneer Square chicken joint, the man at the counter just looks at us and says “the bars in the back”. Clearly, we are bringing a look.  Turns out this fried chicken place we had seen on Instagram has a speakeasy in the back!  But can it really be classified as a speakeasy; I wouldn’t go that far!

Golden Rooster

The Entrance

Not that there really is an entrance, but there is a hallway to the side of this walkup counter restaurant.  Hallway leads to a sports bar at the back.  I can’t really in good conscience call this a speakeasy, but they do.

There is a door that leads in from the back alley, which is mostly unmarked, so close to speakeasy-ish from that entrance.

The Experience

We had seen in the IG reel that their chicken is amazing, but it had a side mention that they had Creamy Udon noodles.  So chicken is ordered as a half and half – half plain fried, half saucy – we neglect to realize we need to specify thighs instead of wings, so we end up with wings.  We add on the Creamy Bulgogi Udon Noodles, and they are fantastic!  So Good!! Seriously, these noodles are worth the trip!

Great little place.  Definitely a sports bar, complete with sports team flags and TVs.  There is nothing quiet or reserved about this, but I would definitely hang out here if I lived nearby. 

The Pharmacy

With a full tummy, we walk to our first officially planned speakeasy stop of the night.

The Entrance

Also in Pioneer Square, inside Temple Billiards (a pool hall), it is just down a set of stairs.  Almost completely unmarked, except for a paper sign hung up that says, “the bar is open” and an arrow pointing downstairs. 

The Experience

The website lists it as 1970’s Palm Springs vibe.  It doesn’t quite feel as upscale as I would expect from Palm springs, but it is definitely a 70’s vibe (complete with tacky bronze leaves that our mother had hanging in our house way back when).  Looks more like a middle-class family basement – picture “That 70’s Show) for sure.  But it is super laid back, and comfortable.  Cocktail list is great, I screwed up by not remembering my original intention to order the “doctor’s elixir”, but the cocktails are good, and we are happy.

Until….The birthday party arrives.

Loud, yes, very loud for 4 pm, and dressed to the hilt, far from sober.  We didn’t think it would be too bad until the Birthday Girl in all her leather mini skirt and faux fur coat announced that we were welcome to join them, and we could thank her later.  So, between that and the overwhelming essence of marijuana swirling around, we decide to take a pass, rush the finishing of our cocktail, and move on.

The Shakers

I think we decided on a full 3 shakers for The Pharmacy – definitely Hidden but no Entrance. Great commitment to theme and fantastic drinks. No service – although our bartender was adorable, it is a walk-up counter.

ssn – I’m really glad we squeezed this one in. It came down to The Pharmacy or The Alley (West Seattle) – both were out of the way for us and we had to choose one. The Alley is totally hot right now and gets a lot of coverage. But The Pharmacy came highly recommended by several people we talked to on Night 1 and I think it was a great choice.

Foreign National

This was top-rated, and highly recommended by other bartenders we talked to.  However, they do not take reservations.  We had saved time in our schedule for later that night but decided to try to do a quick squeeze in when they opened at 6:00 just in case, they were full later in the evening.

And we are so glad we did.

ssn – This was a highly choreographed scheduling maneuver. IF we can get to Foreign National when they open, we can one-and-done and get to our reservations at Paper Fan at 6:30 (a 5-min walk). We did not want to chance NOT getting into Foreign National during our 9:30 gap later in the evening – word on the street is that there is a line most nights.

The Entrance

In Capitol Hill, right next to the Stateside Restaurant, there is a plain black door.  Completely unmarked, which you know we love and appreciate.  There is a little white paper sign next to the door that simply says “if the door is locked, we are full, please scan the QR code to be added to the wait list” – but even that doesn’t have a name or identifier on it.  At 6:00 pm the door opens, there is no challenge to get in, but they have set up a curtain between the entrance and the bar area, so it feels a little more mysterious and secluded.

The Experience

Everything we had read online warned us that Foreign National is dark, like can’t see your best friend from across the room dark.  We were prepared in our minds, and disappointed in our reality.  It is not that dark, but it is a sultry, sexy upscale bar dark.  The entire room was beautiful.  A huge mosaic reflector ball rotates on the ceiling, the lighting is existent, but dim.  Great, eclectic drinks, mine had a curry wash, Peggy’s had a sun-dried tomato vodka – both were incredible.

The Shakers

We are scoring this one 4.5 shakers. Hidden for sure, because we were first in line, there was not entrance task but if it is full the door is locked and you have to scan the QR code and wait (so we are counting that as 1/2). Full shakers for the rest – theme (sexy af), drinks and service!

Our bartenders were cute and engaging, we hated to leave, we wanted to stay until their enforced 90-minute time limit.

But we did have reservations to get to.

Paper Fan Cocktail Company

You know how much Peggy loves an Asian-themed bar!

The Entrance

Above Biang Biang Noodles restaurant is a must try speakeasy.  This was a winner.  You do need reservations, as I was informed by the Biang Biang hostess when she misunderstood what I had said and told me they do not take walk-ins.  Check-in downstairs and they will radio the hostess at the back, walk over to her upon approval and she will lead you up the back stairs.  The stairs open to a dimly lit, second floor room with a small 4-person bar, and seats for maybe 25 people. 

The Experience

Their cocktails are mostly tea infused, with an Asian feel in the ingredients (Yuzu, Baigui, etc.).  There is a menu, but also, the big paper fan’s on the tables also list their drink selections (super cute).  We were lucky enough to be seated at the bar, so yay, we love that.

The head bartender introduced herself, I thought she said her name was Minnie, but who knows, we couldn’t quite hear and didn’t get another chance to ask.  But she walks us through the options, and points out several favorites, and explained the concepts, it was really superb service.  We order, I had a “Bamboo Grove”, Peggy had what was known as one of the favorites “Game of Ming”, and our bartender went to work.

It was amazing to watch.  Three women behind the bar, all working in perfect synchronicity.  I do not think we have seen anything like it.  One pouring into the shaker, while one gets the glass ready, while one prepares the garnish, then the shaker goes to number two to shake, while number one carries on to the next step or next drink, while number three cleans up from the first drink, then number two pours and number one, prepares to serve. It was really cool to watch how the three of them worked so well together, I’d say like a well-oiled machine, but it was more like a ballet, artistic and well-orchestrated.

The man behind us had something with smoking lavender, there was another smoked old-fashioned, just a wide range of creativity in cocktails.

The Shakers

We score Paper Fan Cocktail Company 4.5 shakers. Hidden – yes and entrance – 1/2. You must have a reservation and cannot just walk in by yourself. Theme, drinks and service are all a full shaker.

Needless to say, we loved it!

And the dishes we saw coming out of Biang Biang looked absolutely amazing, and I really want to go back for dinner on our next trip.

Knee High Stocking Company

We had time, so we decided to walk, we love Capitol Hill, and it was only slightly drizzling, and I only looked slightly like a drowned rat.

The Entrance

We may have circled the block on this one.  It’s not completely hidden, but you do have to keep an eye out for it more because it’s in a bit of an odd location.  It’s pretty non-descript, except for a plaque next to the door that simply reads Knee High Stocking Company and a doorbell.  We are giving this a shaker, because nowhere does it state it’s a bar.

Ring the doorbell but have a reservation.

The Experience

The door person was funny, peeking out nice and slow, making a big display when she saw my camera out and ready.  It is a Filipino theme, but very Victorian era in feeling.  Cute chalkboard with Filipino translations for basic grammar (hello, goodbye, thank you, etc.).  I ordered the “Easy Beezy”, which was a honey, caramel, almost dessert-y drink.  Peggy had the “Pumpkin, I’m Home”, bourbon, Cynar, pumpkin syrup and bitters.

There is a front room, and then the bar and seating in the back.  Definitely old Victorian house feel.  Staff was great, lumpia was great, but overall, it just didn’t Wow us.  They do a great job with the speakeasy feel, and it was a nice place, I would say more Solid than outstanding.

The Shakers

We are scoring The Knee High Stocking Company a half shaker each for hidden – the small plaque would have been a full shaker but a sandwich board dropped it to a half. Full shaker for entrance (a doorbell is always fun!). We were not feeling the theme but it gets a half shaker. The drink menu is creative and interesting, full shaker. The service was meh, half shaker. That is a 3.5 shaker total.

And finally, on to our last and most anticipated stop of the night:

Needle and Thread

This hits all the recommended lists when you are looking for where to go for drinks in Seattle.  It is THE place they all say you must hit.  But us?

ssn – The Infatuation had just released their Power Rankings of Seattle Speakeasies and there was still a little buzz about it. Well, Needle & Thread landed the #1 spot…so expectations were high…

The Entrance

It’s located inside Tavern Law and has pretty great entrance for a speakeasy. We absolutely loved Tavern Law.  It’s all wood and classic feeling.  Great service, cocktail list, food list.  We could have hung out there all night.

There is a phone on the wall, you have to pick up the phone and tell them who you are.  If you have a reservation AND your table is ready, they will buzz you in through the door next to the phone (side note: if the door doesn’t open, you have to call them back, as Peggy found out).

Little weird in that they told us our table wasn’t ready and to call back (we were 10 min early).  So we did, we get upstairs, and there are like 3 empty tables. . . so what exactly took 10 minutes to get ready?

The Experience

Ooooh, well, this is where it gets difficult for us.  The room was gorgeous.  A little prohibition feeling, but in a girly way.  Cream colored, lovely lighting, a love seat, a few high-back chairs, pretty bar, it had a great feel to the room.

But the woman who met us at the top of the stairwell?  Well, suffice to say, she was not having a great night.  Or was it us?  Did she just not like us?  Who could not like us?  Right? 

Needle and Thread is that kind of bar where they have no set cocktail list, they ask you what you like and create a drink based around that.

However, grumpy girl had zero interest in us or our likes.  She literally asked my favorite flavors (peach, pineapple, cherry), my choice of liquor (vodka), and anything I don’t like (chilis, cucumber, watermelon).  She had little tolerance for Peggy who had a little fumble in trying to figure out what she liked besides not sweet and being gin based.  No suggestions, no help, just kind of “what do you want”.

She then turns to the table behind us, sits down WITH them, and start the same kind of questions, only for these really annoying lovebirds, she is all about suggestions “do you like sweet, do you like citrus, what about smokey, what about spicy? how about orange? strawberry?. . .” she was totally digging into their psyche.  We were very confused.

We look over, male bartender looks really cool and is pretty just going with the flow.  Female bartender looks pissy, she is not into this night either.  We figure maybe there is some staff drama and try to let it go.

Then the female bartender brings our drinks over to us, and she is perky and cute and descriptive, and absolutely lovely and fun – our determination at this point is that she was just concentrating (or maybe she had seen enough of the other ladies BS, who knows, again it can’t be us, right?).

But I am a little disappointed.  The drink was great.  But it was literally a cherry infused vodka, with a pineapple and peach “wash” – like she just seemed to read the paper and make just that.  There was nothing wow, special, or creative.  On our way out the male bartender was really nice, asked how our night was going, if we liked the cocktails, etc.

The Shakers

So, yes, we wanted to love this place. We wanted the WOW factor. We left slightly disappointed, and hope it was just a bad night for them. It was most likely the overhyped expectation.

Zero for service, but dang that entrance was one of the best we found in Seattle.

ssn – I definitely liked N&T more than Patti did. I loved the interior, the theme, the feel and concept. The only downgrade for service would be 1/2 shaker – I think seating at the bar would have no doubt been a full shaker – the bartenders seemed engaging and I suspect would have been more adept at drawing cocktail inspiration from us. My drink was fabulous but, technique aside, like Patti said, I listed my own ingredients. I had gin, almond, vanilla, passionfruit.

That said, we will go full shakers for Hidden, Entrance, Theme, and Drinks (concept alone). Patti gives no shaker for service, Peggy goes 1/2. We will iron that out in the Official Listing.

Speakeasy Day Zero, The Prequel

When Patti unexpectedly stood me up on Thursday night, what was I supposed to do except soldier on? It is what she would want. We had a highly anticipated 7:30 pm appointment (i.e., reservations) for The Doctor’s Office that I would not miss.

So as long as I was going out, I might as well hit the Founders Club in the Fairmont Olympic. It was close to our hotel, opens at 5:00, and honestly, we weren’t going to spend that money for two of us! I felt obligated. So I jumped on Open Table and booked a seat at the bar for 5:00.

The Founders Club

The Entrance

In true speakeasy style, the entrance is hidden behind a bookcase. If I hadn’t seen this on Instagram, I may not have spotted the span of bookshelves with no seating in front of them (the lobby bar/lounge area full of small seating areas, larger groupings, bookshelves and library tables).

I arrived a few minutes early so I grabbed a seat near the entrance and waited. The instructions were that at 5:00 someone would come out and get me (and others with reservations). Sure enough, the bookcase swung open and the darling hostess came out with her iPad and was immediately accosted by 3 middle-aged (ok, my aged) ladies with fruity drinks from the bar wondering if they could get in without reservations. She assured them that they could but they would have to wait. There were 2 couples waiting and me.

She motioned for me to follow her, I explained that I would need to video the bookcase opening. Either I could film her if she didn’t mind, or she could film me – you all know I dread that! Thankfully, she didn’t mind demonstrating the door. She then led me in to the beautiful Founders Club bar.

The Experience

The Founders Club is beautiful in a Mad Men, private NYC men’s club kind of way. Red leather, rich & regal. Are women allowed in here? I kid…but?

The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable and walked me through the very traditional drink menu. Think traditional with a modern, high-end twist. Unique ingredients but spendy!!

I opted for the “Clover Club”. Gin, cherry blossom vermouth, lemon, blackberry, egg white.

He made my drink and the lovely assistant bartender stepped in to garnish my dried raspberry dust on top as he moved on to the next order. I wish I knew her name because she was amazing. Meticulous. I thought it was just me, turns out she treated everyone’s drink this way, but she garnished like it was the world championships. I’ve never seen anything like it – in an impressive way.

The Founders Club would be the perfect drink-before-dinner stop. Or a pre/post-theater drink. A fabulous experience but you don’t feel the need to sit and spend time.

The Shakers

The Founders Club gets an impressive 4.5 shakers. Full shakers for entrance and hidden, theme and drinks. I’m only going to go half for service. It was good as expected (and the attention to detail was chef’s kiss but I think that counts toward the drink score).

The Doctor’s Office

The Entrance

The Doctor’s Office is on Capitol Hill and I’m sure we could have arranged it into our Saturday night but you take these reservations when you can get them! So the Uber drops me off at the next corner up Olive and I don’t see any immediate signs (this is good!). The street level looks to be fairly abandoned. Boarded up & newspapered windows and doors. One paper sign pointing one direction for deliveries, the other for “Bar” – we’re talking non-descript 8.5″ x 11″ printer paper. A few shops down is an unmarked door BUT there is a white neon sign above it that says “The Doctor’s Office”. Hmmm…I’m conflicted but damn, is it cool?

The Experience

I open the door and the space is immediately comfortable. A 6-seater bar in front of you and 2 small seating areas to either side. Keith greets me but I am a few minutes early and there is only one seat ready. Well, I guess it’s a good thing my sister ditched me. I take the seat at the bar, he gives me a “welcome champagne” and I start looking through the iPad menu.

Shortly after, the couples to each side of me reach the end of their appointment times – these are strictly adhered to. The seated groups leave as well and I am left alone. Keith tells me this is rare and it is a nice chance to talk to him about the bar. He doesn’t like the Speakeasy label. They prefer to be a neighborhood bar that nobody knows about. Speakeasy is too trendy, pretentious and gimmicky.

This place is fantastic – neighborhood bar nails it. Comfortable, friendly, a je ne sais quoi. But the spirits selection is unique, rare and impressive. The cocktails are inventive.

Soon a couple joins us at the bar and we all chat for quite a while. We compared our drinks, told Washington & Colorado stories, compared travels, and local recommendations. Super enjoyable. My drinks were both incredible, among the best of the weekend – “Long Story Short” with gin, passion fruit – I am NOT full of surprises; and “Bacon & Pandan Old Fashioned”.

The Shakers

I drove Patti past The Doctor’s Office the next day to confirm that it is truly obscured (despite the neon). So we agree on the full shaker. No entrance. But definitely full shakers for the other three categories equaling a total of four.

Previous Trips

Bathtub Gin & Co, Inside Passage

We hit Bathtub Gin and Inside Passage on previous trips, read about them here plus a bonus Skein & Tipple if you happen to be on Whidbey Island.

Seattle Speakeasy Conclusion

To wrap it up, what did we learn?

Seattle has a ton of great speakeasies, and something for everyone as far as tastes and vibes.  They are spread out and you can find one in many neighborhoods.  The people in Seattle are fantastic.  You definitely want to get lots of Asian food and seafood (or Asian seafood).

ssn – I feel like the scoring in Seattle was high – a lot of 4 and 4.5 shakers compared to other cities. Did we score easier? Were they more hidden? More committed to theme? Maybe all of the above. On to the next city to compare!

But you absolutely need to try a Pho washed Jameson with a Hot Pho Broth Back!

Other Speakeasy Guides

• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• Denver
• Kansas City