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    Bookstore Bar & Café

    3.7 (408 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 AM
    Updated a few days ago

    Bookstore Bar & Café Photos

    Business Info

    BOOKSTORE BAR & CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Bookstore Bar & Café

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    Reviews With Photos

    Amanda M.

    My friend KR has a residency on Thursdays so I was in the area and stopped by to support her. I stayed at the hotel a few weeks prior so it was nice to Joey there again and he was in the kitchen this night preparing food. I ordered a Paloma which was made perfectly and a cobb salad with salmon. The set up is so cool in this bar bc it is like a bookstore and theres floor to ceiling books and the vibes preserve the historical building. If you're looking for something to do pop in you'll like it!

    Table behind the bar.
    Sharon G.

    This was a lovely and casual place to stop at ahead of our concert at Benaroya Hall. It's on the first floor of the Alexis Hotel and very convenient and stress-free. We enjoyed the happy hour sliders, chicken tenders, and fish and chips and it was all very tasty and handled by a very friendly server. The Blackened Manhattan cocktails were delicious and strong. We'll be back for sure.

    Clam chowder $14 (take out)
    Jenn W.

    I ate here a few times during my two night stay. I had both breakfast and dinner here. For breakfast I had their breakfast burrito and for dinner, I had their clam chowder, steak frites and potstickers. Overall, the food is decent but nothing really stood out or made me feel like I needed to come back. I probably would not eat here, if I was not staying at the hotel. But, the bar looks like a great spot to grab a few drinks.

    Espresso Martini
    Angela M.

    I visited the Bookstore Bar and Cafe with one of my best friends in Seattle after attending a 49er vs Seahawks game. As soon as I entered this cafe, I was enamored by the ambiance and the concept. The cafe is designed to look like a large library with very classy bar tables and chairs. My friend and I ordered Espresso Martinis and I have to say that this cafe serves the best Espresso Martinis! It was a bit slushy with the right amount of espresso, vodka and liqueur. Yummy! The service was fabulous. Our waitress acknowledged and took our order as soon as we sat at our table. I would 100% recommend a visit to this cafe if you find yourself in Downtown Seattle.

    Buffalo wings
    Rebecca Q.

    Average food but such cute interior lined with books on the shelf! House red and white were pretty tasty, and happy hour tots were very enjoyable. Portions were a bit on the smaller size to share.

    Charcuterie Board
    Carly C.

    I loved the library decor of this bar and cafe located within the Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel in Seattle. The bar has a happy hour menu and plenty of nice choices. The charcuterie board was $12 and perfect for 2 (but one person could smash it, too!). The service was prompt and guests were piling in after 5pm. I never got to try a meal, but really enjoyed the bar.

    Basil Tomato & Calm Chowder
    Megan S.

    Service was very attentive! Food was impeccable, the soup of the day (Friday) was tomato basil and came with mini grilled cheese which was perfect. The ambiance of being in a book shop just make its cozy and inviting! The old fashioned and espresso martini were so good we ended up having 3 each!

    Spring rolls
    Diana C.

    A 3.5 is probably a better descriptor for our experience. The food was fine, but the service was mixed: very friendly but also slow. Our server was very friendly but was constantly chatting with the bartender and not checking on their 3 or 4 tables, who we watched have to walk up to the server to get their checks. We also had to walk up to get their attention to get napkins, get our check, and then again to pay our check and they told us they forgot about our food so it had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while. They did offer to get us fresh food if it tasted off but it was spring rolls and wings and we had waited a bit already. Again, very friendly service, but just inattentive despite there only being about 3 tables including us. I will say the drinks were very good and came out quickly. The ambiance was also great because you feel like you're in an old book store. I'd come back and try again maybe during their cafe time and see if it's more consistent.

    Wings
    Fred H.

    Food was great the wings had a lot of sauce and great flavor. We loved our sliders and burgers. So convenient since we are staying at the hotel

    Brussel sprouts
    Grace M.

    Bookstore boasts of a gorgeous bookshelf-lined, selective and sparse decor that felt immediately cozy on a rainy evening. Service was impressive- fast, friendly and attentive. They had a handful of gluten-free and gluten-friendly options on the menu, and gave us a fair warning on cross-contamination. We celebrated a colleague's birthday that evening, and they graciously offered a delightful complementary dessert to share. Food was delicious all around.

    Daiquiri
    Char L.

    Killer ambiance. Good service and drinks were on par. Food was quick and deliciousness. Bartender was great.

    Loaded Tots
    Kelly T.

    Great service, good drinks but food was just ok. The service was excellent and very friendly. Nice ambience.

    a woman preparing food
    Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: In June of 2018, I met a colleague here for a coffee and snack meeting. It was her choice, and I was delighted as I'd walk by numerous times without ever having entered. Type of cuisine: Upscaled American bar/pub food. Ambiance: A sophisticated bar setting, complete with shelves of books, desk lamps with amber lighting and a mansion library colors and detail. What I ordered: An orange mocha and butter lettuce salad ($11). What I loved: The creamy beauty of the orange mocha. Why I loved it: Simple, yet satisfying, tasty and convenient. Cost: High ($15-$24 per lunch entree)

    Updated dinner menu

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    1 year ago

    Nice atmosphere, quiet. Good service and the food was good too. Prices were reasonable given the location.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Bookstore Bar & Café

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    Deep Dive

    Deep Dive

    3.9
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    Came here while visiting Washington, and this place has a unique aesthetic with creative cocktails…read moreto match. We arrived without a reservation but were seated at the bar fairly quickly. The bartender next to us was incredibly friendly and offered excellent drink recommendations. The drinks are on the pricier side, but the quality, presentation, and overall atmosphere make it worth a visit if you're in the area. The bar staff were kind, attentive, and helped make for a great experience.

    My experience at Deep Dive was unfortunately overshadowed by the service…read more I'll start with the positives because they're deserved. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. The space is elegant, unique, and lives up to the photos. I also want to recognize the manager, who was polite, professional, and kindly explained that reservations were required. I completely understand and respect that policy. Unfortunately, my interaction with the bartender before speaking with the manager was the complete opposite. As I tried to get her attention, I felt like she repeatedly looked at me with annoyance and made me feel unwelcome. Rather than simply explaining the reservation policy herself, she went to get the manager instead. She had a problem with Hispanics. She refused to engaged at all. The way I was treated left me feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed, especially as someone who was genuinely excited to visit. A beautiful venue can only go so far when the hospitality doesn't match. I would have happily accepted that reservations were required if I had simply been treated with basic kindness and respect from the start. I truly hope this was an isolated incident because the location itself is stunning, and the manager handled the situation professionally. Unfortunately, because of my interaction with the bartender I've added in the photos, I don't see myself returning. Sadly they have a Prejudice bartender.

    Photos
    Bar inside
    Bar inside
    Bar and counter seating
    Bar and counter seating
    Tuesday Fresh Cut Mezcal, Afternoon Tea, Veridian Vallet, Anastasia the Third, and Pink Haze

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    Tuesday Fresh Cut Mezcal, Afternoon Tea, Veridian Vallet, Anastasia the Third, and Pink Haze
    Firn

    Firn

    4.2
    (52 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Lol "interesting" experience…read more I came around 1030 after work, to meet a friend I work in kitchens. I'm wearing all black. Nonslip Docs. Backpack. Probably smell lol Lobby guy was nice. He says "I'll buzz you up." I waited in the elevator for a while. After like 3-5 real minutes I walk into the lobby and text my friend. "I ain't coming. I'm not fancy enough apparently" In that time, the Clerk noticed me. Apologies Profusely. I got up. Friends were really happy. Service was very nice and accommodating. Drinks are Top Notch My friends were giving a "Live Update" about my "situation" the entire time We probably got 8ish drinks. Paid for 3 They close at 11, I left around 1230 Props to Them A+++++++++++ Customer Service Drinks and Ambiance too, but we already knew that Props to the Staff Thank You

    Amazing views! Specially at sunset. But that's where the goodness ends. The drinks don't match the…read moreambiance or elevated feel you get sitting there. They're basic bar drinks, and while they do have unique names, they're not original and just taste of cheap liquor and mixers. (Do they not squeeze their own limes?) Looking at their liquor bar, it's all bottom shelf stuff anyways, so don't expect to be wowed. It's basically a dressed up college bar, for wanna be influencers who think that paying for a 24 dollar drink gets them clout.

    Photos
    CASUAL CRUSH: mezcal, poblano, pineapple, firewater, baking spices, lime
    CASUAL CRUSH: mezcal, poblano, pineapple, firewater, baking spices, lime
    Rooftop seating
    Rooftop seating
    GHOST PILOT: overproof rum, apple brandy, absinthe, cinnamon, vanilla, bitters, grapefruit, lime

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    GHOST PILOT: overproof rum, apple brandy, absinthe, cinnamon, vanilla, bitters, grapefruit, lime

    Bookstore Bar & Café - fishnchips - Updated August 2026

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