Cocktail barOyster and wine bar$$$
The Walrus and the Carpenter bar in Seattle's Ballard is the marble counter at Renee Erickson's oyster room: walk-in seating, the city's best happy hour.
Signature drink: Muscadet by the glass with oysters
Food: Oysters, steak tartare, lardo
Cocktail barWhiskey and cocktail bar$$$Daily 17:00-23:00
Canon in Seattle's Capitol Hill is Jamie Boudreau's whiskey bar since 2011: 4000 labels, America's largest spirits collection, and a tight kitchen that runs.
Signature drink: Old Fashioned with 4000 whiskey choices
Food: Snacks and small plates
Cocktail barCocktail bar and gastropub$$$
Damn the Weather in Seattle's Pioneer Square is the brick-walled cocktail bar since 2013: 24-seat bar, tight kitchen and Monday half-price spirits.
Signature drink: Sazerac with house rye
Food: Cheeseburger, fried chicken, wood-grilled fish
Cocktail barAll-day cafe and wine bar$$$
Mr West Cafe Bar in Seattle is the downtown coffee-to-wine room: espresso and breakfast through afternoon, natural wine and cocktails until 22:00 in a daylit.
Signature drink: Pet nat by the glass, espresso through 15:00
Food: Pastry, cheese, charcuterie, small plates
Cocktail barItalian-American bar with cabaret$$$
The Pink Door bar in Seattle's Pike Place is the small lounge inside the Italian room: aerial cabaret Thursday to Saturday, a tight pour list and antipasti.
Signature drink: Negroni Sbagliato
Food: Antipasti, pizzette
Cocktail barFrench wine and cocktail bar$$$
L'Oursin in Seattle is the small French bar between Capitol Hill and the Central District: natural wines by the glass, classic French cocktails.
Signature drink: Pastis with house orgeat
Food: Oysters, charcuterie, cassoulet