Seattle runs on caffeine. Whether it be an espresso martini or a triple-shot macchiato, the Emerald City loves its coffee — and locals don’t shy away from an evening imbibe either.
From legendary spots with award-winning blends to neighborhood favorites serving up the city’s best Old Fashioneds, there are endless options for where to get your drink on when in Seattle.
Cheers to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. (Photo Credit: @hotelvintageseattle)
There are so many ways to get your drink on in Seattle. (Photo Credit: @monacosea)
With three Kimpton hotels — including our centrally located Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle and Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle, both of which are within walking distance of the best cafés and watering holes around Seattle, we’ve got the goods on where to go.
Check out these can’t-miss coffee shops and cocktail bars on your next trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Get Your Caffeine Kick
Looking for a morning must-have or an afternoon pick-me-up? For an award-winning espresso at a city institution, stop into Espresso Vivace in Capitol Hill or South Lake Union. A trailblazer in the Seattle coffee scene, its brews are well worth the detour.
At Elm Coffee Roasters in Pioneer Square, a 15-minute walk from our downtown hotels, the Seattle-born owner sources beans from the world’s best producers and roasts them in-house for a must-try single-origin espresso.
But first, coffee. (Photo Credit: Jon Tyson)
Seattle is world-famous for its coffee scene. (Photo Credit: Frankie Lopez)
Down the street, Zeitgeist Coffee has been a Pioneer Square go-to for over 25 years. This warm community space serves up steaming cups of every kind of coffee, from drip to a doppio macchiato, alongside savory sandwiches and salads.
Another favorite cup comes from Boon Boona Coffee. It has three locations around the city where they roast beans from the owner’s ancestral home of Ethiopia and East Africa to make a fantastic cuppa.
Lift Your Spirits
Cool and cozy epitomize the Seattle cocktail scene, and none fit the bill better than Bathtub Gin & Co. Located in the former boiler room of the famous Humphrey Building in Belltown, they mix up prohibition-inspired cocktails like the Blowing Bubbles, made with gin, black tea, Cynar, Saler’s, and root beer bitters.
Another Belltown favorite is James Beard Award-nominated Rob Roy. Live music, classic cocktails, and a perfect Old Fashioned mean there’s often a line out the door.
When it’s time for cocktails, swing by Kimpton Palladian Hotel. (Photo Credit: @somethingtoponder)
Pennyroyal is a speakeasy designed around the craft cocktail scene. (Photo Credit: @pennyroyalseattle)
At Pennyroyal inside Kimpton Palladian Hotel, its stylish speakeasy vibes, 1920s-style punches, and house-made infusions make it one of Seattle’s best. Clever drink names like Snap Out of It and Walk on the Wild Side are as flavorful as they are fun.
We love Bad Bishop for its huge selection of inventive craft cocktails in its relaxed Pioneer Square space. If in the mood for something savory, try the Blind Swine, a mix of vodka, Piparras pepper brine, and chorizo-wrapped Piparras pepper. And if you’re after something sweeter, order the El Garzón made with tequila, mezcal, triple sec, pineapple, lime, and jalapeño.
Sip the Best of Both
People can have two very different shots at cafés and bars throughout Seattle — from a shot of espresso to a shot of tequila, these local hotspots serve both.
Because why wouldn’t you stay for cocktails? (Photo Credit: Jon Tyson)
Mr. West, popular for remote workers, is a ten-minute walk from Kimpton Palladian Hotel. Its clientele’s creativity is channeled into its drinks menu — sample a salted lavender honey latte during the day and a can’t-miss espresso martini made with cardamom and orange bitters at night.
Located in Chinatown’s famous Publix Building, Hood Famous Cafe + Bar has Filipino-inspired drinks like an iced pandan latte served alongside brunch cocktails, such as a cold brew Old Fashioned topped with maple syrup.
So, what will it be? (Photo Credit: Edward Howell)
Steps from our downtown hotels, The Fonté Bar at Rainier Square has a massive menu of options, including everything from a nitro cold brew to a sage latte. Its cocktail menu features an addictive dirty chai espresso martini, and an Emperor Jones made with Haitian rum and Amaro.
Classics done right is the ethos at Tailwind Café, where they whip up a simple selection of coffees mixed to the Seattle standard. When evening rolls around, the compact menu includes classic cocktails with a twist, like the Smoked Rye Manhattan and a Dirty Mojito.
Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle, Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle, Kimpton Palladian Hotel
