Zig Zag Cafe
Best Classic Cocktail List - Good Food, Good Drink & Good Company
(206) 625-1146
1501 Western Ave
(at Pike Street)
Seattle,
WA
98101
47.608301
-122.341112
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Pike Place Market
What People Are Saying About Zig Zag Cafe
The Owner
Zig Zag Cafe
Owner
The Zig Zag Cafe is a classic cocktail bar & restaurant located on the Pike Street Hill Climb behind Seattle's Pike Place Market & on the way to the Seattle Aquarium.
We're open daily from 5pm-2am. Happy Hour is 5-7pm on weekdays. Our selection of whiskeys, brandies, tequila & rums is one of the best in the state. Our cocktail list won Best Classic Cocktail List at 2007's Tales of the Cocktail.
We offer 3 rotating taps of Maritime lagers & ales & a small selection of premium bottled beers. Our wine list includes reds & whites, fortified wines & some excellent champagne.
Behind the bar owners Ben Dougherty & Kacy Fitch & bartenders Murray Stenson & Erik Hakkinen serve up a wide variety of cocktails, from timeless classics to innovative newcomers.
The Zig Zag Cafe is an unpretentious place with an eclectic crowd whose common desire is good food, good drink, & good company.
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
The atmosphere is upscale stylish without losing its welcoming air; fresh flowers decorate the bar, and candles provide much of the light. Famed drinks from this established watering hole are made with exotic liqueurs and fresh-squeezed juices. Bartenders chat easily with the crowd--mostly regulars from Pike Place Market, spiked with an occasional well-dressed couple. Share the sauteed calamari with a friend, or try the linguine aglio for a hearty meal.
User Reviews
jncjansen
June 24, 2009
A group of eight of us went to Zig Zag tonight to meet an old friend. We'd all been there before, and liked their drinks and atmosphere. We sat in the back area, where they have banquette seats and half-round tables, and had to push a couple of tables together to accommodate all of us. We all ordered cocktails and several appetizers for the table to share. The waitress was fine, nothing great but not too bad. About 35 minutes in, we'd all ordered a second round of drinks, when a short, bald man in a Charlie Sheen bowling shirt comes out of the back with an air of importance and makes a beeline for our table. Without a word, he yanks one of the tables we're using back to its rightful place, sloshing a couple of fresh drinks all over it in the process. We all looked at each other, and someone said, "can we take a couple extra chairs from over there?" you know, so we could at least all crowd around the one table we had left. To which the man replied, "Nope, the fire department wouldn't like that". And left. The guy wasn't Murray the bartender, and he wasn't serving any tables, so I assume he was one of the owners. We were there for another 90 minutes, and no one ever came and sat at that other table - I'd guess the place was about half full. Our party's bill was about $200. In these times, I'm surprised that people who have chosen to be in the service industry - you know, when you offer a service to other people, who pay you for that service - insist on treating customers badly. It's a shame that this guy's attitude overshadowed an otherwise enjoyable evening - while I work about a block away and like their drinks and atmosphere, I probably won't be going back to ZigZag anytime soon. Who wants to spend $200 to be treated like that?
read full review
ajanmd
April 11, 2009
If you are a cocktail aficionado, or just like to expand your horizons in the world of booze, go hear. Its not as much fresh fruit as some of the up and comers, but its amazing drinks at a reasonable price. And service is incomparable.
read full reviewSkySurfer
March 27, 2009
I usually go to Zig Zag to have exotic, hard to find and even harder to make cocktails. If you're a purist, have an interest in mixology, or like trying new drinks you can't have anywhere else, this is a great place to go to. Most bartenders in Seattle know who Murray is (bartender) and how amazing he is, although he only works weekdays. Never really tried the food, although I've been told it was ok. The rest of the staff can be a little indifferent, in a faking to be friendly kind of way. The only thing I hate more than a snobbish place is a place that pretends to be nice, but clearly doesn't care. As an example, we once showed up 7 for a booth, and instead of accommodating by letting one of us sit in a chair that could clearly fit, basically told us we were out of luck.
read full reviewThe Details on Zig Zag Cafe
What to Drink:
Try the fiery El Diablo, made with tequila, cassis, lime and ginger ale.
Where to Sit:
Not eating? Get a spot at the bar--the bartenders put on a great show, and will describe the drinks they're mixing.
The Extras:
A shaded patio provides sanctuary from the Pike Place madness.
Save Money:
Happy hour, from 5pm to 7pm daily, offers deals on specialty cocktails and appetizers.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Bar & Pub Special Features:
Cuisine:
Bar & Club Special Features:
As Seen In…
Best Seattle Nightlife
Best Seattle Restaurants
Message from Zig Zag Cafe
- Award-Winning Cocktail List
- Whiskey, Brandy, Tequila, Rum
- Exceptional Hospitality
The Zig Zag Cafe is a classic cocktail bar & restaurant located on the Pike Street Hill Climb behind Seattle's Pike Place Market & on the way to the Seattle Aquarium.
We're open daily from 5pm-2am. Happy Hour is 5-7pm on weekdays. Our selection of whiskeys, brandies, tequila & rums is one of the best in the state. Our cocktail list won Best Classic Cocktail List at 2007's Tales of the Cocktail.
We offer 3 rotating taps of Maritime lagers & ales & a small selection of premium bottled beers. Our wine list includes reds & whites, fortified wines & some excellent champagne.
Behind the bar owners Ben Dougherty & Kacy Fitch & bartenders Murray Stenson & Erik Hakkinen serve up a wide variety of cocktails, from timeless classics to innovative newcomers.
The Zig Zag Cafe is an unpretentious place with an eclectic crowd whose common desire is good food, good drink, & good company.
