Hazlewood

Recommends

randy r.

Joined 2 years ago

best bet for cocktails in ballard. Dbags not welcome. creative, romantic and discrete.

super rad place with staff that actually know what real cocktails are :)

go early or very late. it's small and can fill up. this is a great place to hit up as you bar hop and it's next to stellar pizza at snooze junction.

Citysearch Editorial Review. Walking into Hazlewood, one might wonder, “Where did the tables and chairs go?” Other than the four bar stools and the bench against the wall, the ground floor of this cozy doesn’t offer much seating. However, the upstairs is furnished with comfortable chairs and couches for you to relax in while you sip on one of Hazlewood’s awesome house cocktails (mostly pre-prohibition concoctions), European brews, or anything else from the fully stocked bar. It is a perfect place to bring a date before or after dinner, as there is a plethora of stellar restaurants within walking distance. On dry days, step outside and people-watch along bustling, and often entertaining, Market Street. On wet days, cozy up to one of the few prized bar stools and chat with the usually friendly, and always knowledgeable, bartenders.

Doesn't Recommend

DIRK

Joined 3 years ago

WTF. I've talked to a few other people about this and they agreed. If you don't know anyone there, and if you are dressed down, forget it. People seem cold and removed in a nouveau hipster rich sort of way. I've said "hey" "hi" or "what's up" to some people there and got no response. Of course the bartenders are generally nice and friendly to talk to, but it helps if there is no one else in the bar.

When you walk into the place and it's not over packed or empty, it feels like the needle skids off the record. People stop and stare with blank expressions and no smiles. A creepy atmosphere; when people stare at you in a group without saying anything. Maybe it's because the door is right behind everyone who sits at the bar. I've walked into that place even when I've known people and not gotten a smile or hello. Like a scene form Easyrider.

"We don't take kindly to foreigners in these parts."

Not very welcoming. I've gone to this bar consistently since it opened, and it's only gotten worse; now I only go there if I already know a group of friends there.

I've talked to other people that said Ballard is a shitty

place to talk or meet people. Like the "Seattle freeze" phenomenon. Maybe that has something to do with it, but I can think of other bars in Ballard that don't have the same f___ed off dynamic.

Recommends

jtripper22

Joined 6 years ago

Amazing Cocktails. You know, sometimes you are willing to skip the "happy hour" pricing of certain places to enjoy a really great cocktail. Those times call for a trip over to the greatest part of the city, Ballard, and a drop-in to the Hazelwood. What a fun menu to read - every drink just sounds so delicious, if not so interesting, that you feel you must try them all. I love an Old Fashioned or even a simple Maker's and Gingerale, but their Bourbon and Ginger is made with muddled ginger root and bourbon and I believe a splash of soda...I'm surprised I'm not driving there right now. I had to have a couple before the early part of the evening was over. The bartender was very personable (even when a buddy ordered a drink that he had invented, involving 1 oz. this 1 oz. that and zest of orange). I love the place even if it is very very small - more of a positive than a negative, really. Good beer selection as well. The seating on the upper level is mostly couches with small cocktail tables at knee-height. Very intimate, but if you're lucky enough to squeeze a few friends in, you almost feel like it's your own little bar. I feel like I'm giving up my seat by writing this, but anything to keep these guys around. That's the length I'll go to for a good cocktail.

Recommends

dinner_and_drinks

Joined 6 years ago

best cocktails in ballard. this small bar is off the party circuit in ballard, and yet within walking distance of everything there. the cocktails are of the highest quality, and the bartenders are top-notch. the bar is very low key, and home to most of the bar goers that actually live in ballard, rare to find the college kids or capitol hill hipsters there. the drawback is you may feel out of place when you walk in for the first time unless you know the regulars. the bar menu and selection are outstanding, the seating can be tough at ten o'clock on a weekday though. go for happy hour, and if you're lucky, keith (owner/bartender) will bless you with a brilliant beverage.

Recommends

dirtymaritini

Joined 6 years ago

Pretty place!. I visited the Hazelwood one afternoon by myself. I just felt like a drink, and it looked quaint. My bartender (a very chatty guy from New York or Jersey, I can't remember) was great! I was the only woman in the place, with two men also sitting at the bar. We all just chatted and had a very nice time. I was told there was an upstairs, that I never ended up seeing, but will definitely return to check out. I liked the atmosphere, and would recommend it to all I know!

Recommends

melmothra

Joined 6 years ago

Great drinks, friendly staff. I don't want to tell you how cool this place is because then it will be even harder to get a seat. We stopped by pretty late on a Saturday night but the staff was still friendly and the signature cocktails were fantastic.

Recommends

nimah

Joined 7 years ago

My Favourite Ballard Bar. I love the Hazelwood. The specialty drinks are tasty and well mixed, the decor is comfortable, and the staff are quite friendly. The upper level is cozy, and there is a peephole to look through that should not be ignored. It can get busy on Friday and Saturday nights, so be warned that there may be standing room only.

Recommends

holalola

Joined 7 years ago

yummy drinks. Hazelwood is great and it's so nice to get away from the Matador aka meatmarkador (so sqeezy). The drinks are really yummy and the staff/bartenders are fabulous.

Doesn't Recommend

sydnie21

Joined 7 years ago

Nail Polish Anyone?. We were really disappointed in Hazelwood last night. We had been looking forward to checking it out, but the minute we walked in the door we were faced with the extremely strong smell of nail polish and acrylic from the salon next door. It is really too bad for this place because the ambiance was terrific, but the thought of sipping wine while getting high on polish didn't bode well. The salon next door was closed, but it didn't seem to matter. Back to Matador.