16 Best Bars in Downtown, Seattle

A mixed crowd of mostly locals hunts out this unusual spot at Pike Place Market's Street Hill Climb (walk past the Gum Wall to find a nearly hidden stairwell leading down to the piers). It's the place to go if you want to try The Last Word, a Prohibition-era cocktail that was revived right by Zig Zag bartender, the late Murray Stenson. Zig Zag features a revolving cast of memorable cocktails and a Mediterranean-inspired food menu with plenty of tasty bites. A small patio is the place to be on a summery happy-hour evening. Zig Zag is friendly—retro without being obnoxiously ironic—and very Seattle, with the occasional live music show to boot.

Locals head to this hard-to-find wood-paneled bar tucked into Pike Place to sip double martinis while taking in peekaboo views of Elliott Bay or studying the scripts, handbills, and movie posters that line the walls. Alibi has long served as a space for writers and other Seattle-area creatives—and is rumored to have a lingering ghost or two. The lower level is more crowded and casual. Stop by for a drink, a small snack, or a meal (the pizza is great), and stay to listen and dance to live music.

A pint-size brewery a few blocks from Pike Place, Cloudburst gives you a taste of Seattle’s grungy microbrewery scene, in the best way possible. Housed in an old brick building with stickered walls, it offers an impressive selection of IPAs on tap, and a few other beers for those less hop-inclined. A Seattle staple, the brewery attracts beer and hops nerds alike to geek out over some seriously good ales. Cloudburst has a second and (slightly) bigger location in Ballard.

Occupying the former lobby of the historic Diller Hotel, which was built in 1890, the Diller Room is a charming, worn-around-the-edges spot for cocktails in downtown, across the street from the Seattle Art Museum. Exposed brick, mismatched crystal chandeliers, a beat-up white tile floor, and a vintage neon Diller Hotel sign above the wood bar provide the atmosphere. The drink menu includes cocktails with a nod to Seattle's colorful history, and the food menu offers pizzas and charcuterie boards.

Seattleites dress up to see nationally known jazz artists at Dimitriou's, where intimate tables for two surround the stage. Those with reservations for cocktails or dinner (served during the first set) receive priority seating.

Perched on the 16th floor of The Charter Hotel, Fog Room is a newer addition to Seattle's small rooftop bar scene, and it's a classy modern one, from the decor to the cocktails to its small bites, featuring elevated bar snacks like Lion's Mane carpaccio and Dungeness crab rolls. A chic indoor lounge with expansive windows opens to an outdoor terrace with seating and a fire pit; the city and water views aren't the best of the bunch, but you don't need to reserve outdoor seating.

This French wine bistro transports you to the streets of Paris and has frequently been named one of the best places in the city to drink wine. Slide into a wooden booth or grab a stool at the bar and order from an impressive selection of French wines by the glass and bottle. The walls are lined with bottles to take home, representing smaller French regions and producers. Complement your wine with a carefully curated selection of bites. Le Caviste's low lighting and cozy setting makes for a perfect date night spot.

Yes, the Nest has carefully crafted cocktails and tasty snacks, but the real draw is the breathtaking, unobstructed view of Elliot Bay. On a clear evening, the outdoor deck, with ample seating and fireplaces, is the perfect spot to gaze across Puget Sound at the Olympic Mountains. This place gets busy, though, so reservations—available for parties of four to 20 guests—are a good idea. Menus evolve with the seasons, and summer events, such as Sundays Best, make the most of this space's views during the sunny season. 

This sophisticated bar in the Mayflower Park Hotel is famous for its martinis. Wing chairs, low tables, and lots of natural light make it easy to relax after a hectic day and tuck into some regionally-inspired snacks to accompany your drink. The likes of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday may be playing in the background; expect an unfussy crowd of regulars and hotel guests.

This affable Dublin-inspired pub near Pike Place Market presents acoustic folk music on a small stage in a cavernous room. It's often loaded with regulars, who appreciate the well-drawn pints of Guinness, the talent, and the Tuesday-night jazz jam. Live Irish music plays most weekends, and pub food is available to accompany your pints.

The owners call it a "Viet tree house" and the speakeasy-style cocktail bar certainly nailed its hideaway vibe. Look for Phở Bắc (the fourth location for the popular Seattle restaurant opened in 2022) and a sandwich sign pointing you to "PST," then head upstairs. The space is small, so be prepared to wait on a weekend night. Inventive cocktails at the cozy, plant-filled bar feature Vietnamese ingredients and flavors, like an egg coffee or a tofu-infused gin martini, as well as nibbles such as crab dip and a phở cup of noodles.

True to its location, you might find more tourists than locals at the Pike Brewing Company, though it is popular with the Downtown after-work crowd. The cavernous bar and restaurant, operated by the brewers of the Pike Place Pale Ale, also houses the Seattle Microbrewery Museum and an excellent shop with home-brewing supplies. Pints of beer are cold and satisfying—the pale ale and the Kilt Lifter Scottish ale have been local favorites for decades.

Wine lovers come for the massive selection—the menu boasts 90 wines by the glass and some 600 bottles—but this place deserves props for its design, too. Despite the cavernous quality of the space and floor-to-ceiling windows, all eyes are immediately drawn to the 20-foot tower ringed by a spiral staircase that showcases thousands of bottles. Full lunch and dinner menus feature American and Pacific Northwest fare with recommended wine pairings. 

Just across from Pike Place Market, this venue—which is more than 80 years old—is a great spot to see some pretty big-name acts. The room's small enough that you don't feel like you're miles away from the performers, and the terraced bar areas flanking the main floor provide some relief if you don't want to join the crush in front of the stage. 

Come here for live world music and jazz in a historic building (circa 1925 and formerly the site of a movie theater). The seating is half-moon booths, giving it a cabaret lounge feel. They also host a bawdy burlesque show during the holidays and serve cocktails and wine during shows.

Unexpected Productions Improv, adjacent to Pike Place Market, hosts tons of different improv events; shows may have holiday or seasonal themes or be done in the style of a certain TV or film genre like sci-fi or noir. On Friday and Saturday at 9:30, the troupe presents the long-running "TheatreSports" show, in which the skits are based entirely on audience suggestions.