Best pre-prohibition style cocktails ever, none of that sugary insta-mix crap that gives you a hangover. They really know their drinks and they make them flawlessly. I'm extremely picky about sushi and was impressed by their quality and freshness. They were reasonably priced too. Bartenders (I liked Kea, but not sure if he's still there as I haven't seen him in a while), servers and owner (Andrew, the one I met) are knowledgeable and friendly. Seating is comfy, just wish there were more of it. We like this place so much we came in the day for coffee, pastry and wifi. Coffee wasn't bad but the pastry was kinda blah. But hey it's a bar, not a bakery. Definitely our favourite bar on the hill and the place I always take my out of town guests, especially the scotch and martini drinkers. read more

Felt like expanding my choices for sushi beyond Wasabi Bistro, Hiroshi's. and Red Fin, so I took a tip from a friend who is a big Liberty fan. I was skeptical, especially since I had to page through 12 pages of cocktails to get to the actual sushi menu. The emphasis is heavy on the cocktails but the sushi is pretty decent, and I saw (and ate) some things that were new to me, which was a plus! My favorite part about Liberty is unpretentious neighborhood vibe and the idea that you should be able to eat sushi and drink cocktails casually, and on the cheap too. read more

I went here for a birthday party and it was great. It was definitely a lively spot but it wasnt packed. Because its off Broadway it can hold that balance well. The interior is really upscale and sleek. The full length mirrors make the space feel twice the size it is, you just feel very comfortable here. The couches are also really nice touch that completes this upscale yet laid back lounge. The best part about this place was the really helpful staff. I asked for them to create a "birthday surprise drink" just for the guest of honor. What I got was a flaming drink with a side of pineapple.... amazing! what a delivery. You should try just asking them to surprise you with a new drink. Also, the food menu is great finger food to help absorb the alcohol yet its not fried crap you find at a dive bar. Sushi! Tip: the couch seating is coveted, so show up early and bring a few friends to defend it. Tip: The mirror outside the bathroom is A DOOR! to an awesome private event room. BOOK NOW! read more

The cocktails here are good and strong, not too sweet. They have a nice large selection, all priced around $6-8. As for the sushi, we only tried the 15th Ave roll which was pretty tasty, although it did have a little too much mayo for my preference. The service was slow but genial, which was fine for us since we were just hanging out and chatting. The seating is odd, if you get stuck sitting in the corner you will be cramped, but the couches are otherwise comfortable. The bathroom needs a sign; right now you have a 50/50 chance of walking into the bathroom or the back room. All in all I liked the place and would go back with friends. read more

I stumbled upon this gem with a friend while hungry and on 15th Ave. While searching menu after menu on 15th we found SUSHI and a full bar and a mini table to sit outside and soak up some Vit. D. And you have mango in your vegetarian sushi! SCORE! I cannot tell you how delightful mango and cilantro is when teamed up together. I will be back. And I will sit inside and taste test many of these juices that are spoken about. A good libation and a mango sushi. HEAVEN. I want to go back right now...anyone coming with? read more

Decent quality food ruined by exceptionally terrible service. I won't ever go back. I love sushi. I LOOOOVE sushi. Japonessa is probably in my upper top 5 for all-time favorite restaurants, though a place I was at in Hawaii takes the cake for best sushi ever. Liberty is not top tier sushi. It's not bad sushi, but it's not top tier sushi. ---Start tl;dr--- We came here at the recommendation of a friend who regulars there. We came with a group of 7 and sat at the couch. It wasn't super busy when we got there. A few of the tables were open, but the bar was full and the other couches were in use by small parties of 2-4 people. Our waitress greeted us promptly and gave us the menus and explained the "Rosé all day" speciality drink menu. When she came back, within a reasonable time, we all ordered drinks and food. That was the end of our good service. It took AGES for our drinks to come. It took so insanely long that 3 people at our table, each without hearing each other, tried to make the joke that our sushi was going to come before our drinks. We tried to pretend that would be funny, but each of us knew we'd be pissed if that were the case. Finally, the drinks did come. Again, it was not outrageously busy. It was no more busy than any restaurant should be used to and prepared for. I ordered the Thorn of the Rose (I think that's what it was called). It was this delicious gin and rosé drink with grenadine and citrus juice in it. I was very happy with it and most of the table was impressed with the way it looked (this white fluid with a yellow hue and red bottom). I also like that they serve drinks with one large cube of ice. I would've probably ordered a second one if our service was better. The sushi came out at a semi-reasonable time. I've definitely had faster service at busier restaurants, but it wasn't so slow that I was going to fuss about it. I ordered the Fishface and Joe's Hanoo Roll. The latter required extra time to cook (the salmon was seared), so it came out later, which was what I wanted. It gave me time to eat my first roll without letting my hot one become cool. As far as taste, the Fishface was not great. It was extremely average, if not on the low end. It reminded me of cheap conveyor belt sushi. I could not even remotely taste the mango or jalapeno and there was literally no kick to it at all (and I'm extremely weak to spicy foods, so I would know). It was basically a cabbage roll with mild shrimp flavors. I never, ever dip sushi in soy sauce, as I believe it's like putting ketchup on nice steak, but that sushi was so bland that it needed it. Fortunately it was only a 5 pc roll, so I didn't have to eat too much of it. The Hanoo roll was good. Basically a California roll with seared salmon on top and a special sauce. The Salmon and sauce definitely overpowered most of the roll itself, but I didn't mind too much. The roll was mostly for texture at that point. I let two friends try it and one thought it was too fishy and the other was underwhelmed in the way he responded. Just a casual, "yeah, it's good." ---End tl;dr--- The sushi overall just lacked synergy among its flavors. With good sushi, each flavor should compliment the other and none should be drowned out. This sushi just wasn't like that. There was one strong ingredient that pushed away the others and made me think they kind of copped out on recipe creation. It was like they had a "yeah, that's 'good enough'" moment and moved on. Now for the gruesome part of our experience: trying to leave. It took us about 45 min to an hour to leave, no joke. Our waitress just stopped showing up. Eventually, one of our friends went up to the bar and asked for the checks. 10 min later, nothing. Someone else went up and asked for them, then she finally brought them out. It took her at least 15 minutes to collect them. Half the table left, so they could secure a table big enough for us at the next place we were going to get drinks at (because it sure as hell wasn't going to be here). The rest of us were standing next to the table, waiting for her to ring our checks up. Nothing. Standing next to the table is like the universal signal of "we're trying to leave, let's pick up the pace", but she kept taking other people's drink orders and doing their checks. Eventually we crowded around the bar and basically stared at her until she gave us our checks. Even then she was serving new people right in front of us instead of just getting us out of the way. This experience put a foul taste in my mouth. I'm extremely patient with wait staff and don't get flustered easy by bad service. This place just set me over. I won't ever go back there again. It's not even remotely worth it. I understand the busy rush, but this was far and beyond standard slow service. This was just straight negligence. She ignored our table in favor of new clients who were putting in new orders and just did NOT care whether we got out in a reasonable amount of time. read more

It was my second time in last night and I can say Liberty is one of the best. I shared sashimi, tataki, a few rolls and multiple cocktails, all served by friendly and outgoing staff that worked as a complete team. I sat there and thought about some of the big names in cocktail bars in Seattle, and I would rather be at Liberty than most any of them. Liberty is a very unique place in Seattle and I say that as a huge compliment. read more

Every Seattle neighborhood needs a Liberty. Not much on the outside as far as appearance goes, but once inside you'll enjoy this small, quaint, homely abode. At Liberty you won't find the yuppyish crowd of Belltowner's and frat boys sipping drinks. It showcases the typical Seattle'ite, dress down, friendly, alternative style crowd. Bartenders are very helpful with choosing a signature drink on the menu. Their drinks aren't all fluffed up on sugary syrups and they don't skimp on the pours. Fresh fruit juice is squeezed into every drink. The sushi is nothing to write home about, but after a few drinks you won't mind and for the price, its a reasonable munchie. Get your order in early as it can take awhile to make. Make sure you give a try to the "Flip" martini. It is dynamite! If you can get passed the thought of raw egg whites in your drink, it gives it a little thickness and texture. At Liberty, you won't find any blenders, so all you Pina Colada and Dacquari drinkers can saddle up and try a real cocktail from the pro's at Liberty. Cheers! read more

We came here for happy hour on a Tuesday night. It's a nice loungey atmosphere. It's dimly lit, nice seating in squares, nice bar area and a little further away from the madness of the rest of Capitol Hill. The bartender made us girls a drink with grapefruit, agave and I'm guessing vodka. There were probably other things too. Whatever it was, it was delicious and much better than my original mint julep. The sushi here is ok. It's not bad but too spicy. Stuff here is a little expensive but overall, nice atmosphere. read more

Well-rounded Ambiance: 4 Food: 5 Drinks: 5 Value: 4 Liberty is all around awesome. Having extensively toured the well-known lounges and bars in Seattle (am Yelp Elite after all), having never visited this awesome bar/lounge is rather surprising. I was thoroughly impressed with it. The cocktails are great; it rivals the best from the top places, Canon, Zig Zag, Knee High, Bathtub, etc. The mixes are intricate, producing interesting flavors, and are beautifully presented. They in addition to a drink list that features exotic cocktails I've not seen at other places, they also have the "have you tender make you something interesting" option, as well as barrel aged cocktails. If "neat" is what you prefer, they have an extensive list of Scotches, Whiskeys, Vodkas, Gins, and Rums. Beer and wine, while on the menu, didn't look interesting. The downfall of many a speak-easy type places is the food. Most are lacking or altogether non-existent. Liberty bucks the trend. The food was excellent. This place served some of the best sashimi we've had in Seattle. The pieces were generous and the flavors were right on. All around excellent. I vouch for Liberty! read more

Very interesting place. Its like a bar/coffee shop with sushi. We came here for drinks. I got the Rainy Day Lady cocktail which is prosecco and saint germaine with a pretty orchid on top. It was delicious. They had such a vast cocktail list and lots of whiskey and bourbon, so I'll be back soon. read more

Owner rocks, great place to go have a drink. 10/10 recommend. Food is awesome and bartenders are courteous. Awesome place to hang out with friends read more

Don't eat the sushi. This is a hipster bar, not to be confused with a Japanese sushi bar with a itamae on hand. If you're a hipster you can expect: Ginger ale from a glass jar Dark, old-fashioned, unsweetened grenadine Plenty of PBR Darkness Comfy couches Radishes all over the place If you order sushi you can expect: Old tuna (no firmness) Extreme amounts of soy and other condiments in the poki Radishes & Sriracha in and around your sushi read more

Great neighborhood spot w/ yummy drinks. Some bartenders are better than others at mixing...but the wine list is decent if you prefer that. Sushi is so-so, but better than I expected actually. Service has always been friendly & it is always interesting to people watch. You can definitely spot the tourist, as one inevitably stumbles in at some point. read more

I wish we had something like this in Philadelphia. Comfy couches, wi-fi, and booze? It was warm and inviting and our waitress was super nice. She even gave us happy hour prices. The bartender was also cool and made my drink quite strong. Sushi? I'm not sure if I would ever partake with a strange bearded hipster making it, but other than that, I love everything about this place. read more

I like it when I go earlier in the evenings and the crowds aren't jam packed. The drinks are good and the ambiance is fun. I've never had the food, so I can't comment there, but I do enjoy their cocktails - smoked walnut with whiskey! Come on! It used to be closer to my place, but now ti's way uphill, so I don't frequent it as much but I think it's still a pretty solid choice if you want a laid back place to kick it with a couple friends. read more

The bartenders are amaaaazing and so sweet! One bumped my drink a little (just a tiny bit splashed out) so he gave me another. Really quality stuff and they'll make something according to your tastes. read more

I'm a dick for ever giving this place 4 stars. It's the fivey-est five star place ever. Andrew is a stand up guy who's ridiculously generous and wonderful, and OH MY GOD the drinks. I discovered my all time favorite here, recommended by one of the bartenders (a New York Sour, for curious minds). I just moved from Seattle (so sad), and I seriously miss having this place a block away from my apartment. It's true, you don't know what you got til it's gone. Next time I visit Seattle, this will be my first stop. read more

This is a great bar. The bartenders are super passionate about serving drinks, make great recommendations about other local spots, and make delicious cocktails. The location feels off the beaten path but not so far from the rest of The Hill that it feels like a different town. They even serve sushi here. Half the place is filled with big, comfy couches which is perfect if you have a lot of friends hanging out or pregaming before heading out, and the table area is nice for a date. There's about 60 whiskeys listed above the bar, many of them along with their age, so there's plenty here for a whiskey lover to sink their teeth into. It's a good, chill time here all around. read more

My drink was pretty weak sauce. There's comfortable seating to "lounge" with friends but I didn't a real good vibe from the staff and the style really isn't my thing read more

my boyfriend and i were staying at a bed and breakfast in the neighborhood, and this place was on their list of recommendations. we were confused because it didn't look like a sushi place, but decided to check it out. we are totally glad that we did. we got some sort of thai roll that was named after the place next door, i think. if we weren't stuffed, we would have gotten 5 more. they had a nice beer selection and the service and clientele both seemed....interesting. i think that's the right word. interesting mix. read more

Does anyone else find the bartenders at Liberty to be alternately disinterested or demeaning? In the past, my bf and I have really enjoyed coming to Liberty and getting drinks and sushi. Just about every time we've stopped in, we've talked for days afterward to our friends about how great everything was. But recently, I heard a bartender very clearly and loudly telling other patrons at the bar that he thinks my drink order is weird and lame. This was not a jager shot I was ordering here (although if that's your drink of choice I don't mean any offense)! It was a vintage cocktail that the bartender at Mistral Kitchen turned me on to last year (thanks Andrew Bohrer! maybe you could pay Liberty another visit to show 'em how it's done), it only has 3 ingredients so it's not that hard to make, and most people I know agree it's delicious. In any case, why should I feel like I have to defend my drink order when I'm paying (and tipping well at) the bar to make it for me? It was just a disheartening experience because we always thought that Liberty billed itself as an un-pretentious establishment for craft cocktails. Now I don't want to go back for fear of being berated. Boo. read more

Bad service. Came by myself and was totally ignored. I ordered the sushi special at the same time as another group which came within three minutes. 20 minutes later I was still waiting even after reminding the server I was waiting for it 10 minutes into it. After 20 minutes I had the server remove the item from my bill which was waiting for 5 minutes to be picked up and delivered to me. Worst service I have had on Capitol Hill. May give them another chance if I come in a big enough group to be noticed because the drink was good but I walked out unsatisfied. 2 stars because the drink was good. I almost sensed they were withholding making the food so I would finish my first drink and get another, which was more than mildly frustrating. read more

Horrible service. When we arrived, the server was flipping through a glossy magazine, and it seemed the whole time like service was priority number 2 (or 6). She tended to slink her body on the couch arm on like a cat (or against a wall for other customers near the bar), which seemed at first to have a sort of laid back sex appeal, like a cat. It would have worked better had she smiled a bit and been pleasant. It took us a while to decide what we wanted (my friend and I like to talk), and our server (the only one there), seemed really annoyed. Then we got "tossed" to the bartender, who seemed dressed more like a prep cook. It hadn't been that long, and we still weren't ready. Then we ordered from our server and she seemed utterly relieved. And thank god for her that we had a back up plan for food, what we ordered first was not available--it would have been nice to know at the beginning, no? The sushi sucked. It fell apart, didn't taste all that fresh. Even the vegetarian roll was not fresh, and vegetables are much easier to keep fresh than fish. Most people these days expect doors on businesses to close by themselves, so half the drunk people leaving left the door wide open, and it was cold outside. Old doors are charming, but only when sober people are opening and closing them. After getting the bill, it sat there for maybe 2 minutes (maybe), and the server came over to check to see if it was paid. Not cool. Then when the she discovered that it was not paid she slapped the book shut. Then after I did pay she picked up the book before we left, which is normally not a good idea. It felt pissy for sure. Then I noticed her counting large wads of money on the couch in the middle of the (small, BTW) sitting area. I find that awkward, but it's also a really bad idea: most restaurants have a never-count-money-in-front-of-customers rule. And often such counting should only be done in the back or with the doors locked and the customers gone. It just made me feel more like a burden, unwanted. verdict: no vale la pena. read more

Liberty is the place I go to when I want to sit back and relax. Granted I am not the biggest fan of their drinks, but that is because I lean more towards the infused liquors and sweet libations. Liberty does however have a good selection of off the cuff liquors and some tasty brews. They also serve sushi until 1 or 2 in the morning (I believe). Once again...the sushi is not the greatest, but it sure beats a slice of Hot Momma's or Taco Bell. The space itself is great for small to medium sized groups, however on more recent trips I have been unable to find a spot to park my rump. It seems like word is spreading and the sleepy corner of 15th Ave. that liberty is situated at may be sleepy no more. Le Sigh...well there is at least 22 Doors down the way that has superior drinks in my view. On a side note: I think the owner knew Kurt Cobain because he has some of the most exceptional art on a skateboard installation on the right-hand wall. That is enough to induce me to make a stop! read more

I always find it interesting when reading other peoples reviews to find that one person may absolutely rave about a place, while another can write about the worse experience of their life - at the same place. Well, I think it is totally based on one's perception and this can certainly be altered when alcohol is added to the mix. Yes, alcohol was added to my mix and what a mix it was. I have to say I had a great time at Liberty and am probably thankful that Joel and I no longer live in Capital Hill, otherwise this could become my regular haunt...and not for the sushi. Now I admit that becoming a functioning alcoholic isn't really a priority on my list of 'Goals to Achieve in 2007' but the cosmopolitans were so good that I was tempted to bang on the door the next morning for a morning pick me up. Now I would like to say that I tried the sushi as I was a little hungry but I was on a liquid diet at the time, and to be quite honest I don't see the point in wasting time eating when I could be drinking another cosmopolitan. From the outside the bar does appear to be a hole in the wall, but the size is definitely deceptive and I felt quite comfortable sitting, mingling and drinking with my friends, and did I mention the drinking. read more

It leaves me sad that I am leaving Seattle, especially when I only recently discovered this excellent little gem of a bar. I love my whisk(e)y, whether it be Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, or anything inbetween. So when my friends told me about this place, I was a bit reserved, as I thought I had scrounged all the best whisky bars in Seattle. I was wrong. So wrong. We came in and two of us ordered cocktails, one ordered bourbon, and I ordered my scotch. What I noticed first was that the prices are very fair for Seattle. Most of their Buffalo Trace Antiquity Collection whisky is around 25 dollars. However, I saw the Bruichladdich Fino Sherry 1992 for 12 bucks and jumped on that. The bartender came over and apologized that they did not have that particular bottle anymore, but brought out the standard Bruichladdich line (Scottish Barley, Islay Barley, Port Charlotte) and gave a very comprehensive but succinct explanation of the distillery. I could tell that he had a passion for what he did and enjoyed it. We talked about the distillery, and how the Master Distiller Jim McEwan was retiring soon (gonna miss you D:) Because he saw that we all enjoyed and appreciated whisky, he brought out the big guns. I was a little shocked at first, and then immediately became ecstatic. He brought out the Black Art 4, a 23 year old single malt that was 60 dollars a pour for us to try. The table next to us was given the same treatment, the bartender brought over each bottle of whisky that they ordered and poured it there in front of them and explained to them what went into each one. The only thing I will say that could be improved is if they invested in some better glassware. But other than that, I have no faults with this bar. A truly wonderful find in a city where there are so many choices. Be sure to make this one of your top ones. read more

Amazing specialty cocktails. High quality liquor. I gave the super sweet bartender guy my flavor profile and he mixed it up, different with every drink! My new favorite, the Corpse Reviver 2. My friends and I just sat around on the couches drinking all the night, tasting and talking. Dont come here for food (my friend had sushi and wasn't impressed). I'll definitely be back. read more

Came in at about noon on a Friday and the place was empty which was great for my loud group :p our bartender was phenomenal. She made some bomb ass drinks. I especially loved the Carlos Enrique - it was mainly mango puree and tequila. So good. Seems like a really chill place to hang out. read more

I was only here for a short period of time, but it has a great lounge-y atmosphere--definitely a great place to chill with your friends, have a little chat, drink some cocktails. I forgot what I had, but it was good (a bit strong, but that's not necessarily a bad thing).They have sort of a separate room in the back away from the main bar area, which feels more relaxed. read more

Unique cocktails and sushi rolls! Try the Liberty roll if you want something different than the usual. It gets really crowded and they allow large dogs to sit up on the couches so be prepared for that. read more

Great atmosphere, excellent drinks, but service could use some work. My friend and I ordered a few items between the two of us and when the time came to ask for the bill our server mentioned that he forgot what we ordered and asked us to remind him. Fair enough. As we wait, another waitress starts bringing out duplicates of all the items we've ordered previously and one by one we had to tell her we didn't order anything else. By the third time, she decided to give us some sass with a "Are you guys just ordering things for fun without intending to eat them?" Rude. It's not our fault that who ever went to print our receipt duplicated our orders. Maybe you should double check with our actual waiter first. Thanks, but no thanks for the attitude. Two stars. read more

Extensive drink menu to the point where it's a little overwhelming. I decided to go with one of the Liberty cocktails, and I was not disappointed by the Little Houdini. The drink had fruity flavors that complemented rather than masked the bourbon in it. The sushi was very mediocre and overpriced for what it was, but it's okay if you're just looking for some food to eat with your drink. Definitely come here for the drinks and not the food. read more

My second visit here couldn't have been more different than the first. Good service, great drink and pleasant atmosphere. I can't rescind my previous review because the experience really did kind of stink. Learn from my lesson: don't bother when they are super busy, but go and enjoy if they're on the quiet side read more

Can't believe I never reviewed Liberty before. This is my favorite bar on Cap Hill - the drinks are amazing, whether you choose some of the innovative cocktails on their extensive menu, or have the bartender make you something special. I love the lounge feeling, with couches and coffee tables, although it does fill up fast on weekends. They know their booze, and you can even do flights of interesting spirits. Don't come to Liberty for the sushi though. It's not bad, but it is not the best sushi around, so I mostly stick to the cocktails. read more

We came here for my low-key bachelorette party. My MOH was able to reserve the back room for a nominal fee - they can still put other people in the room but it was no problem with us, we just wanted to ensure we had one space for all us girls to hang out. It was wonderful. The room is huge, the couches are comfy, the drinks are great, and we stuck our own ipod in too. The sushi is also good. Overall this is a great place, and a little outside the bustle of Cap Hill which is also nice. read more

My friends and I explore all kinds of sushi places around Seattle and thought this would be good place to try given the review. Well it's a great bar that happens to serve sushi. Not a great sushi place that happens to serve alcohol. This pretty much summarizes it up. read more

This place f*ckin rocks! Some of the best craft cocktails and super awesome friendly bartenders. The sushi is some of the best but know the menu is limited and only sushi related. Love their barrel aged cocktails! read more

What is better than a professionally prepared Sushi Bar that is open until 2:00 AM with a huge selection of drinks? Seriously not a lot can compete with that. The sushi here is devine and the drinks are amazing. The owner is a very friendly people person and the staff are excellent in service. This place has got to be my most favorite sushi bar. If you're vegan or vegetarian, there are also selections for you. read more

Went to Liberty for the first time today for a happy hour and loved it. Small quaint and homey. Great place to hang out after work