4547 California Ave SW, Ste A, Seattle, WA 98116
@revelrywest
Colorful 1970s retro-futurist motifs, velvety seating, and eclectic music like Japanese jazz or experimental hip-hop greet you when you step through the alleyway entrance into Revelry Room. The space is laid out with small tables in enough proximity to encourage mingling. (We’re in West Seattle now; it’s friendlier here.) The substantial DJ booth in the corner hosts local and national DJs, tending toward a full-album listening format, while the bar highlights Black-owned distilleries, breweries, wineries, and producers such as Vusa Vodka, House of Brown, Métier Brewing Company, Boon Boona Coffee, and more.
Don’t miss: The creative cocktail menu here changes with the seasons, but a great stalwart remains the Revelry Old Fashioned. The split base of cognac and Jamaican rum is enhanced with a touch of banana syrup, plus a splash of Boon Boona coffee bitters made by the neighboring restaurant/bar Lady Jaye.
The Central SaloonPhoto by Michael Gill
207 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
@centralsaloon
This list wouldn’t be complete without a representative from briny, barnacle-encrusted Old Seattle. Located in Pioneer Square, Seattle’s original downtown core, the space The Central occupies has been home to drinking establishments since the 1890s, with a pause during Prohibition. Today’s Central Saloon has seen a few modern upgrades, including a recently overhauled tap system and the installation of a couple flat-screen TVs, but the prevailing atmosphere is the kind of well-worn watering hole from another era that every true city should have. For decades, it’s also been a music venue hosting up-and-coming bands playing rock, blues, metal, and more, and most nights feature live music beginning at around 7 or 8 p.m.
Don’t miss: True to its saloon moniker, The Central isn’t really a place for cocktails. But that overhauled tap system pours very nicely, so order a Manny’s—a pale ale from the local Georgetown Brewing Company that’s a local staple and accessible mid-point in flavor profile between hoppy craft ale and mild old-school lager.
