Seattle's Best Classic Cocktails
Updated: November 04, 2009
Seattle may still be more of a microbrew town than a cocktail city, but a growing number of establishments are turning their attention to sophisticated mixology. With more local bartenders crafting classic cocktails, Seattle may one day have a drink named after it that’s more worthy than the horribly sweet Seattle Smog (a sweet mix of Midori melon, Peachtree schnapps, blue Curacao, cranberry juice and orange juice). From the new speakeasies to the restaurant bars, here are our top picks for drinking like you’re Don and Betty Draper.
Old-School Sips
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Bathtub Gin & Co.
Write a review2205 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)
With an entrance in the alley between First and Second Avenues near Blanchard, this new establishment may be the most secretive of the new Seattle “speakeasies.” The emphasis here is on gin-based drinks, with about two dozen brands to choose from. It's a good place to get your martini on.
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Hazlewood
Read Reviews2311 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107 (map)
Packed with young scenesters, this popular Ballard bar pours Sazeracs, Manhattans, and pre-Prohibition-era specialties, along with their own classics, like the Hazlewood--Irish whiskey, honeyed peppermint tea and amaretto, with a Nat Sherman cigarette and a truffle on the side.
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Marco's Supper Club
Read Reviews2510 First Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)
With old jazz playing and soft lighting, this quirky Belltown mainstay is the perfect place to bring a date for drinks--specifically a pitch-perfect Negroni or a French 75.
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SAMBAR
Read Reviews425 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107 (map)
When you need your mixed drink with a French twist, head to the whimsical bar connected to Le Gourmand restaurant in Ballard. Bartender Jay Kuehner is a devout mixologist with a creative spirit when it comes to spirits. Try the rhubarb- and gin-based Angelique or the Gingerini, a take on the martini with fresh macerated ginger.
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Tavern Law
Read Reviews1406 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)
With its wood paneling and antique chandeliers, this new Capitol Hill venue prides itself on Prohibition-era cocktails. The barkeeps, clad in silk vests and ties, serve superb sours, flips, slings and punches.
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Zig Zag Cafe
Read Reviews1501 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (map)
Murray Stenson may be the grandmaster of Seattle bartenders, having conjured cocktails in the city for 30-plus years. Try one of his timeless libations, and he can tell you the unique history behind each one. Stenson tip: Martinis and Manhattans should be stirred, not shaken, to avoid cloudiness.
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