Brian Nagele
Seattle is an iconic Northwest Pacific city with a fun, edgy vibe. A lot of important counter-culture movements originated in Seattle, from grunge music to coffee shop culture.
Seattle maintains its alternative and creative edge with a burgeoning restaurant and bar scene.
Adults from all walks of life will find an establishment that’s unapologetically unique, with an atmosphere and culinary experience that pushes the envelope.
No matter how alternative Seattle is, it will jump on the bandwagon with every other city in the U.S. when it comes to Happy Hour.
No one will say no to discounted drinks and snacks after a long day of work. You’ll find the best happy hour in Seattle on the following list of restaurants and bars.
Ba Bar
Multiple locations
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With locations in Capitol Hill, University Village, and South Lake, Ba Bar is a Vietnamese street food eatery and cocktail bar with a fashionable and lively atmosphere.
Ba Bar has been the culinary feature of many publications including Eater, Seattle Magazine, and the Seattle Times, to name a few.
Eater, Thrillist, and The Washington Post all hailed Ba Bar as the best Vietnamese food and best craft cocktail happy hours in Seattle.
Happy Hour deals are from 2-5 pm daily. The happy hour menu has discounts on craft cocktails and small plates.
I delighted in Martinez cocktail with gin, vermouth rouge, orange bitters, and maraschino liqueur.
Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar
1420 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-588-8105
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Meaning “neighborhood” in Spanish, Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar has been a Capitol Hill neighborhood favorite for authentic Mexican food and Agave-inspired cocktails with a Northwest Pacific twist.
The upscale, beautifully designed restaurant with a charming outdoor patio makes for a romantic and charming atmosphere.
Happy hours at Barrio are weekdays from 4-5:30 pm and on weekends from 3- 5:30 pm. Their happy hour menu is extensive, with small plates, entrees, and even a vegetarian taco menu with all items well under $10.
The happy hour drinks include Mexican-themed cocktails, tequila shots, Mexican beer, and more. I recommend the 5$ Michelada with Negra Modelo, lime, and michelada mix.
Mr. West Cafe Bar – Downtown
720 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-900-9378
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Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, surrounded by countless luxury hotels, Mr. West Café Bar is a coffee shop, wine bar, cocktail bar, and global eatery.
The polished, industrial-chic space transitions perfectly from a bright and airy coffee shop to a bustling bar.
They have an extensive list of wine, craft beer, and even house-made Italian sodas on tap. The cocktail menu offers fresh, colorful drinks that include beer, cider, and spirit mixed drinks.
During their happy hour, the drink specials encompass every alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage. They have some of the cheapest drink specials in town accompanied by a small selection of tasty bar snacks.
I enjoyed a tasty, filling, and highly alcoholic Dublin Cold Brew that combines cold brew coffee, stout beer, Irish whiskey, simple syrup, heavy cream, and ground cinnamon.
Some Random Bar
2604 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
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Some Random Bar is a casual neighborhood gastropub in Belltown with a great tree-covered outdoor patio to enjoy al fresco happy hours during the dry season.
Some Random Bar uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create a seasonal menu of pub fare. They have a wide selection of local and craft beer on tap along with a robust menu of classic cocktails.
Happy hour at Some Random Bar is from 4- 6 pm Monday through Saturday, with two dollars off house cocktails, wine, and all tap and bottled beer.
I was impressed by the wide selection of wine. Still, I had to go with The George Clooney, a Nespresso martini with Kahlua and Ketel one vodka.
Von’s 1000 Spirits
1225 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-621-8667
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Von’s 1000 Spirits is the mecca of all things liquor and home to the city’s largest selection of spirits, which is well over 1000.
Located in Downtown Seattle next door to the Seattle Art Museum, Von’s 1000Spirits not only features thousands of varieties of spirits from around the world, but it also makes its own small-batch bourbon, vodka, tequila, and gin.
They have daily happy hour from 3-6 pm, offering discounted prices on select beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, and full entrees.
You won’t find a cheaper or more delicious scratch Martini anywhere, and you can choose between gin or vodka.
I paired my vodka martini with a cheap plate of Von’s famous spicy fennel meatballs with marinara sauce.
Belmont
518 E. Pike St., Seattle 98122
Phone: 206-557-0733
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For a trip back in time and space to an old-school luxury and glamour, the Belmont will transport you to a 1940s London social club.
Teetering between Broadway and First Hill, Belmont is the classiest European-style cocktail lounge in Seattle, replete with oriental rugs, vintage leather sofas, and marble tables and bar top.
The wine and cocktail list are as elegant as the atmosphere, offering perfectly crafted drinks and fine wines from around the world along with globally inspired small plates.
Happy hour at the Belmont is daily from 5- 7 pm, featuring 10$ snack trios, glasses of wine, Old Fashions, and Negronis.
The Negroni was fantastic, and I paired it with the snack trio of olives, breadsticks, and almonds.
JarrBar
1432 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-209-2239
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Located inside the Pike Place Market, a block from Waterfront Park and the Seattle Aquarium, JarrBar is an iconic seafood tapas and cocktail bar founded by Bryan Jarr.
The intimate, cluttered space is an elegant, European take on the hole-in-the-wall concept. The equally small menu features high-end cured meats and fresh seafood tapas plates, wine, beer, and cocktails.
Happy hour at JarrBar features evening and late-night schedules daily, plus an all-day happy hour on Sundays.
Drink specials include cheap house sherries, draft beer, wine, and suer cheap cured meats and tinned seafood. I had a shot and a beer with a discounted tin of gourmet trout in escabeche.
Herb & Bitter Public House
516 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: 206-708-6468
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Herb & Bitter Public House is a fine-dining tapas and European Mediterranean restaurant in a beautiful space with a stunning sunroom in Capitol Hill.
Herb & Bitter is both elegant and unpretentious, serving unique craft cocktails and global wines along with scratch-made multicourse meals that take inspiration from Spain and Italy.
Happy hour is from 4-6 daily, with two dollars off house cocktails and draft beer plus an entire multicourse happy hour food menu.
I found my new favorite cocktail in their Havitol Spritz, featuring two Italian vermouths, prosecco, and Italian soda.
I savored it alongside a decadent discounted plate of potato gnocchi and sausage with marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, and an herb-oil drizzle.
