I've never been to a more pretentious bar than this one in my life. So if you're pretentious yourself then I suppose this is the right place for you. Don't get me wrong I loved the ambiance and decor. The drinks were good as well, but the service sucked tremendously. Not to mention the service was so slow. I've been to other speakeasy's before with far more people in capacity and we got every single drink relatively quickly. At Needle and Thread it took almost 20 minutes to get a drink. There couldn't have been more than 18 people upstairs! Are you kidding me? I also observed our waitress chatting up everyone else in the bar, but my party. So, I made a reservation for 7 and that's the maximum you can put on your reservation. I'm sorry, but my friend brought his wife and I didn't know. What was I supposed to do tell him to tell her to take a hike? That's just ridiculous. They drove all the way to the place and cleared their schedule to be here for my uncles birthday, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to bend some rules. Needle and Thread is inside of Tavern Law. You pick up a phone in the middle of the restaurant and they'll answer and let you up. Needle and Thread tries to come off as exclusive, but the "secret door" is right in the middle of the restaurant in Tavern Law and everyone can see people go up to Needle and Thread. At least Bathtub and Gin is not easy to find. That's the whole culture of speakeasy's isn't it? Being hard to find...so, No one picked up the "secret phone call" when my friends were at the door so I let them up and not even 20 seconds later as we were ascending the stairs, the bouncer excitedly demanded to know if I let them up. I said, "yes this is the rest of my party." He said, "Do they know that you're bringing them up?! I could get in trouble!" I said, "no, but I'll let them know." I get upstairs and inform my waitress that the rest of my party was here so the bouncer wouldn't get in trouble. She must've assumed that I wanted to order more and condescendingly told me that she'll be with me in a moment. No I am not exaggerating. I quickly responded that I wasn't trying to order I just wanted to let her know because I was told too. When she finally came over she told us that we could only have 7 people and she could get in trouble. So, one of my friends bit the bullet and left. Not happy about this!!!!! I could see if it was 9 then at least two people could leave together, but it was one over!!!! Still on the door situation..... I had a couple friends leave before the bulk of us and they told me when they opened the door to exit a group entered that'd been trying to open the door with no luck. The staff then glared at my friends as if they had any control over who gets in. Ok back to the slow service. I'm actually going to throw racist out there. My entire party consisted of minorities. Our first round took forever. Then a couple people ordered more drinks. That took even longer. My friend with his wife showed up.. My friend is Caucasian. She took his drink order almost instantly and brought it back with haste. Then I waited for her to come back so the rest of us could order. Heaven forbid I walk up to her and disturb her. My party debated whether or not we should order another round because of how long it was taking and we needed to be somewhere else very soon. So she came and I asked her if we were to order two more drinks would she be able to tell us roughly how long it would take because that would determine if we would order again. She said, "I couldn't tell you. We're pretty full." ( omggggg yes you can tell me!!!! This bar is not servicing the bar downstairs as well. This bar is only servicing the small capacity of the upstairs room. You know the turn over. You know how long it would take your bartender to make two more drinks. You know how many drinks your bartender still has to make before you put in my two drink order.. That is what I wanted to scream at her, but I didn't) then she said, "well, you do still have 45 mins left on your reservation." So what is that supposed to mean?!?!?!?! Does that mean that you're going to take as long as humanly possible to service us because we've got time to wait?!?!?!?! My friend really wanted a drink so we just went for it. Two drink orders... 15 mins later a server from downstairs delivering food passed by after dropping off the dishes to another table. I asked him if he could check if our drinks were ready and if they weren't to kindly ask if they could just cancel it and if we could get the check. He comes back immediately with our two drinks that were just sitting at the bar.. You know waiting to grow legs to get to us. Then she took forever to give us our bill..... And that was the end of our marvelous time at Needle and Thread. I'll pass if I'm ever invited to come here again. read more

Recently I had the pleasure (chuckle) of meeting a young man who thought that the very idea of asking a chef or bartender to make you "their favorite" was unacceptable and snobby beyond fathoming. Regardless of the fact that, by itself, that opinion is downright ign'ant, Needle and Thread serves as a shining example of why it is not only acceptable, but in many cases, the best course of action. There are nights when you go out with your hands pre-outstrectched, waiting for you go-to drink to be handed to you, unwilling to branch out and let the night instead shape you. If you find yourself having one of those nights, however, don't come to Needle and Thread. This is a place where decisions aren't necessary, and trust in the man or woman behind the bar will prove worth it each and every time. Practice phrases like "What would you suggest for a (self-identifier) like me?" or "Surprise me" or "My lord you're attractive, please feed me whatever drink will make me more attractive to you!". Don't go to Needle and Thread to save money, don't go for gin n' tonic... Go to be dazzled and swept away. read more

By far my favorite experience of our Seattle trip! Be sure you make reservations as walk-ins are not always available. There is no drink menu so make sure you're able to vocalize what you like, don't like, and are allergic to. Our bartender was great and entertaining! Not a place to visit if you aren't open to not having control over your drinks. Great atmosphere and experience!! read more

Well, I really wanted to be writing a fantastic review, especially since I was returning to Needle and Thread WITH a reservation and WITH some great friends. Unfortunately, we had a less than stellar experience AND I sent an email directly to the proprietors in early January and have received ZERO response. So, I guess that's what Yelp is for, to provide a place to vent when you've been ignored by management. I'll summarize directly from my unanswered email., We've enjoyed the intimate and unique Needle and Thread experience in the past, and wanted to share it with my out of town guests.Our party of 5 was giddy when talking with the bartender about the historic approach to cocktails and our individual preferences, after dropping off our drinks the bartender said he'd be back to explain what they were. That was the last we saw of him. A server brought our appetizers, but we were never spoken to again. After finishing our drinks - passing them around - bragging about whose was best. We decided that despite not knowing what they were - and the likely $15/each prices - we'd order another round before moving on. But no one came back to us. We were seriously two feet from the bar, with 5 empty glasses, and no one spoke to us. Finally I stood up, and after a while asked the server for our bill. She was quick to explain there was a 25% service charge and we could add more if we thought their service warranted it. While I support 20% service charges that will be distributed to staff, being obligated to 25% after such an absence of service was really frustrating. We were still thirsty and hungry and moved on. But what's funny (and sad), we stopped at Old Sage (part of this restaurant group) since tables were open. We were quickly seated with menus and then no one spoke to us...for 10 minutes. We timed it. Since no one noticed the 5 of us we left. We are fortunate that Capitol Hill has an overwhelming number of restaurant and bar options, so we ended up at Quinn's with an outstanding server who was really invested in our experience. Evening saved, but I don't feel any need to rush back to Needle & Thread. read more

So incredibly happy I received a recommendation to visit here while in Seattle. It was truly an amazing experience! Such an awesome speakeasy offering a true speakeasy experience. The bartenders are incredibly talented mixologists and there is no drink menu. You simply give them some insight into what you like and dislike regarding flavors, alcohols, etc snd they take it from there. The presentation is ridiculous and they do offer a full food menu. I suggest making reservations if you're a party more than 2 as they get crowded and seating is limited. Sitting at the bar though was fantastic for us! Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone! read more

Good drinks, but it's a shame the service was so douchy and snobby. I've been to a lot of cocktail bars in a lot of different cities, and I've never seen such horrible service in a high end cocktail bar. Upon entering we were aggressively interrogated about our IDs. I showed my very valid New York ID (which was accepted in numerous cocktail bars in Seattle) and was told that they cannot accept it because it was too faded and that it was Washington state policy. I explained how it's an older ID but how it was valid and was never rejected anywhere else. The bartender told me that I need to get another form of ID or I cannot drink here. I was already incensed but thankfully my hotel was close by so I grabbed an Uber and got my passport. Upon returning there were no apologies, just excessive scrutiny of my passport. I told the bartender that I'd appreciate a comped drink given this nonsense and he just laughed and explained how my original ID cannot be accepted and how he cannot comp me anything. He was very rude and condescending. The entire place is a pretentious joke. Avoid at all costs, there are so many better cocktail bars in Seattle like Canon and Zig Zag Cafe. read more

Definitely a special occasion spot since each cocktail comes to about $20 with tax and (automatic) tip, but I disagree with the reviews saying that the cocktails are mediocre. My boyfriend and I had no problem getting in at around 8:30pm on a Wednesday, though several people came in shortly after us. Our cocktails were both delicious, perfectly suited to our tastes, and included premium ingredients and interesting and unusual flavors. The vibe inside is very nice too, with dim lightning and lots of cool ornate furniture. Our bartender was friendly and accommodating. read more

Went to this place before a concert. Very fun entry with the safe door. Cocktails are pretty spendy but overall a really fun night and unique experience! read more

great cocktail lounge--the bartender designed drinks that were delicious and inventive, but not overly trite (simply based on a few bits of information from us) and the snacks (try the almonds!) were tasty and simple. The space was cool and felt special without being too loud or dark (I know, I sound old). I'd definitely come back again. If you don't have reservations, wait a few minutes before they open so you can be the first to the 'phone' (they have about five seats at the bar that are for walk-ins). read more

our server allowed us to order one drink. never returned to ask us if we would like to order another. the next time we saw her it was "i'm sorry you need to leave your table is reserved for someone else!" disheartening! never in my life in any part of this world, have i ever experienced such awful service! read more

Wonderful bar. Every experience I have at this place is unique and always great. Corey and Zach are always attentive and make great well balanced drinks catered to your likes and dislikes. One of the best bars in Seattle for quality and service. read more

I guess I'm the only one not totally fascinated by this place. The decor is nice and its good for grabbing a drink with a friend ...if you have a reservation. We were here for a birthday party. They just kind of go around and ask you what kinds of drinks you like. They said they had vodka but my friend said they didn't because it wasn't "cool" enough so I ended up asking for "a girly cocktail with gin or vodka." I didn't get vodka. I got a grapefruit gin cocktail instead. Look, the drinks here are cool but pricy. The service is super slow. It took something like 45 minutes to get our drinks for our 1 hour reservation. The space is cool but I have to be in the mood to be this classy and plan far enough in advance to have a reservation. I see this as a place to go before you go somewhere else which is what we did. For the right occasion, like our party, it can be a good time, but there are def. times (like if I ever want to raise my voice,) this would not be my cup of tea. 3.5 stars read more

Worst service. I make a reservation for 6 people and get told they only had 4 down and that they could not seat us. The bar tenders were pretentious snobs and acted like they were better than everyone but can't take a proper reservation. They make good drinks but need to learn customer service and how to write things accurately. This is the second time they have messed up a reservation. Totally not worth it. read more

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time at Needle and Thread, but one thing I wish I'd known before going was that they don't have a menu for drinks. You're supposed to tell the waiter what you want and then they'll come up with something custom for you. It's a really cool concept in theory, but in practice it has some kinks. First of all, you need to give the waiter a fair amount of direction. They have a really wide range of liquor, so a lack of specificity might result in a drink you're not all that fond of. Second of all, don't expect a simple drink. This is not a bar where you order a lemon drop and that's what you get. They will add at least three more ingredients. The bartenders are knowledgeable and mix a good drink, but if you are at all picky about your drinks or you're in the mood for something really specific, you may end up disappointed. The last thing that disappointed me about this place was that they really pushed hard on the "let the bartender choose" concept. I went with some friends who wanted to try it out. I am a picky drinker who likes what she likes. I tried to order something simple that I knew I would like, but they kept suggesting modifications. Not wanting to be That Person who insists that everyone cater to her wants, I went with it. The drink they brought me was fine, but not as satisfying as what I had wanted. They, of course, made it right in the end. When I ordered my second drink I explained that I would seriously prefer they just make me what I wanted. That time they did and I enjoyed the second drink much more. All of that being said, this bar is an excellent place to spend two hours. The food they serve is high quality and it's a nice, intimate environment that lends itself to talking. I also appreciate the amount of thought and care that the wait staff puts into the experience. The service was excellent - the waiter didn't hover but we also never had to ask "where is our waiter?" It's clear that the staff is smart and good at what they do. Again, I'm not saying that Needle and Thread isn't a great bar. I'm just saying that it's an experience that depends heavily on what your expectations are going in. They have a concept and execute that concept really well. If you are into that concept, you'll probably really enjoy this place. If you're looking for somewhere a little more relaxed and less high-concept, you may want to check out some other options. read more

Despite the decor and the awesome cocktails, I really didn't enjoy my experience here. I get that it is an exclusive experience but we were treated in a way that we didn't feel exclusive. The strict rules and constant, "I could get in trouble" lead to every statement was kinds annoying. They were not very attentive. Drinks took a long time to make. The drinks were awesome. The space was great. Very Prohibition live vibe. All this great stuff but the service was not great. read more

Excellent setup, very kind and expertise staff, and beautiful ambience. I would love to give this bar five stars, but on the day that I went recently, it was like a wet sauna and I had to leave almost immediately because it felt like I was going to faint. I know this was not the waitstaff's fault but there was no effort made to compensate me for this very expensive, yet miserable experience. read more

Stay away. Arrived early for our reservation. We were told to wait for our reservation time. We waited. Called on the phone back up. Got let in. We were told it would be another 10 mins and to wait back downstairs. We went back downstairs to wait. Finally went up. Sat down. 20 mins later we had a server come by and introduce himself. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. We placed an order. Drinks took a while to get to us. The bartender then came by and told us we had to sit down 'because it was a sitting area' even though we were all forced to sit in a line and couldn't see each other. Very poor setup for groups. We ordered a second round. Finished that and then were asked to leave because our reservation was over and someone else was waiting (we were asked this BEFORE we paid). Taking my business to bathtub gin! Stay away from this bar! read more

Terrible service. Made us wait for an hour and then said they had no availability. Not worth the time.

My favorite experience from my Seattle trip! From the hidden phone entrance to having customized drinks, I loved it! Cory made us perfect drinks according to what we told him we liked and didn't like. They were reasonably priced, all four drinks were $16. We also ordered from the place below and had a great steak!! Definitely coming back during my next trip!! read more

I called days in advance to make reservations and they never returned my call, how very disappointing and what poor customer service, you would think they could have at least called and said they were full, closed or whatever. I will not return. There are several other similar places in town that I will try instead. read more

I was excited to have drinks for my birthday at Needle and Thread, so I called exactly seven days in advance, as the strict instructions required me to do so. I left a voicemail with my name, phone number, the day and time when I wished to attend, and the party size. Needless to say, I never heard back from them. I do not plan to visit this place or recommend it. read more

Tl;dr - Everything you're hoping it will be, none of the things you fear it might be, totally worth your time, guaranteed to be enjoyable. Needle and Thread is one of the most interesting and consistently outstanding houses of libations in the Capitol Hill, let alone Seattle, area. If you know anything about how much sheer talent is peppered throughout this city, you know that what I just said is a bold statement. It's a speakeasy and as such, it has a lot of idiosyncrasies and procedures that are unlike your neighborhood watering hole. You need to call a number to get a reservation, you have to walk through a busy restaurant to pick up an old-timey phone, you open a giant safe door and up some stairs to a dimly lit salon upstairs and are greeted by soft-spoken but infinitely polite cocktail artisans in period-appropriate attire. Once inside, you get a quick explanation of what this hidden treasure is all about and how you should expect to operate (keep your voice down, the prohibition police might hear you!). Don't ask for vodka, it wasn't around in the days of speakeasies but if you have to...they'll still serve it to you (but did you really make reservations at a themed speakeasy for a cosmo?). I was fortunate enough to visit this place while Jen was artfully commanding the bar alongside equally impressive and thoughtful Kim. I tend to know my cocktail artists by name because I find it hard to truly appreciate someone's artistic creation without knowing a little about the artists themselves. Needle and Thread is truly of the speakeasy variety in that there is no menu of any kind, a deeply stocked shelf of obscure and exciting spirits, and a staff of folks who excel so outrageously that they can make anything from memory and know the detailed flavor profiles of all 1000 bottles of uniquely flavored spirits to help guide them into selecting the only one that will make your drink perfect. This type of a joint would never survive on concept alone. But it not only survives, it raises the bar to a nearly unreachable level due to the staggering level of talent, experience, and drive to satisfy patrons that everyone who works here has in common. If you've ever been to a 5-star sushi restaurant where there is no menu, no printed prices, and nothing other than absolute trust in your chef, this is the same idea except replace the deep sea blue-fin otoro tuna with a $900 bottle of hand-labeled Willet bourbon. Trust them, you will not be led astray if you trust them in the same way you trust that sushi chef when you say "omekase". I sometimes wish I could pick up the phone and instead of calling for reservations, I'd call some of the people who left bad reviews to ask them if they actually knew what they were signing up for when they visited. It's difficult for me to understand how anyone who truly respects cocktail culture and a level of artistic mastery seen in the talented folks who make the drinks here could see this as less than stellar. Perhaps I'm not meant to change anyone's mind except those of you who are reading these reviews to determine where to explore next. Needle and Thread will serve you some of the best drinks you've ever tasted, a night of adventurous culinary fun, and a chance to encourage yourself and your friends to stop being so basic and try something other than a rum and coke or local IPA. Give it a try and tell em Nate sent ya. read more

Great service - dancing bartenders and staff - and drinks. Loved the off the menu cocktail with basil!

Thanks to a friend for pulling some strings for us first-timers since we couldn't get a reservation. We walked through a narrow passageway that mimicked a bank volt, up some stairs, into a small and intimate 1920s style bar where we experienced some relatively expensive concoctions made to suit our pallets. No menu -- the Mixologist asked for our spirit of choice, flavor preference and then created these cocktails for us. It was quite a treat. Loved the ambiance. Quiet and romantic. read more

Here we go again. If you've read my previous reviews I have a love/hate relationship with this particular establishment. I had a friend who had just passed a milestone in his career in medicine, and after a few rounds of drinks at other bars in cap hill, we decided to try out Needle and Thread. I told them about my horror stories, but we decided to try and give them another shot. To my surprise, we actually got in without a problem. Walking up the staircase, I started culminating in my head the disappointment that I had with my previous experiences and was hoping that my friends would not be disappointed that night. We got situated, and it took nearly 15 minutes for the bartender to come and take our order. He did seem rather new, and was quite timid when he was trying to explain how this particular establishment makes their drinks. I'm not sure if it was because of his inexperience, but his personality was a bit abrasive. Our drinks arrived, and were placed on our table without any explanation to what went inside of them, contrary to what we experienced last time. However, after we tasted them, the bartender came and explained how he made them to us. I actually prefer this method, as we can assess the drinks for ourselves first. We got to taste our drinks, which were for the most part excellent. I had asked for a cocktail that was spirit heavy with rye whiskey that also had herbal notes with a splash of citrus. What really separates a standard cocktail from a great cocktail is how the taste changes as you drink it. This is due to the temperature changing which can mute certain flavors at first or allow them to become more prominent. The concept of my drink was brilliantly thought out, where the bartender chose to use lemon and thyme together with the spiciness of a good bottled in bond rye. However, the drink was served on the rocks which diluted it too much in a short amount of time. He also garnished it with a twist of lemon, and while it looks nice, it overpowers the thyme flavor and throws the balance off completely. I would have either served this drink straight up or with one large ice cube so as to minimize the dilution. On the plus side, we weren't rudely asked to leave unlike the last time I was here and the staff were overall much better. Our bartender also became more open as the night went along. However, for the reputation that this bar is trying to achieve, it seems strange to have a novice try and serve drinks that are a bit beyond his caliber of skill. It would be wise to have someone who is more experienced to guide him at first. Overall, there is improvement in this establishment. However, it's just simply not there yet. read more

Have been here many times, but never had such horrible service. The bar tender was completely rude to my guests who I had highly recommended for a birthday party. When asked what they liked, my guest said Vodka drinks and was told that they had a bottle of vodka and that it wasn't available and she had to try a gin drink. She hated what she made, but the bartender continued to refuse giving her a vodka drink. She was extremely snobby to the whole party. I will not go back, nor will I refer anyone there again. read more

I went to N & T recently and was very disappointed. This was to be a special night with special friends, and instead it turned into VERY LONG WAITS for OVERPRICED food and cocktails. 1) Forty-five minutes before our scheduled arrival time, N & T called to say that the reservation for eight would no longer work and they could only do seven. 2) After arriving and waiting for approx. 10 minutes a friend approached the bar to inquire if someone would be coming by the oddly placed seating arrangement that we were stuck with. The woman behind the bar was definitely not friendly and was brisk with her comments. 3) A friend asked if the music could be turned down a bit, considering the speaker is nearly overhead and completely drowned out the conversation. The waiter attempted, but explained that it just depended on the song. In addition, he indicated that refrigerator hum will take over the sound if the music isn't at that level. 4) The wait for cocktails and food was Unbelievable. At least 30 minutes for a TINY drink and another friend had to wait nearly 40 for a neat scotch. Really? I thought N & T could do better. In addition it was a 45 minute wait for two orders of macaroni and cheese and one burger. 5) The bill arrived and it was way overpriced for the service and size of drink. $12-15 per itty bitty cocktail plus 18% gratuity. I get that we were a party of eight so gratuity is automatic but just because you know your getting it doesn't mean that you don't have to do your job. I would only recommend going here if it is a date or NO more than three friends that want to waste a good amount of money. Otherwise, you are better off to stay downstairs where you will get a great cocktail and service. read more

Love this atmosphere. A wonderful speakeasy to sit with friends or a date, talk and have some pretty great drinks. There is no "drink" menu. The bartender/server will ask your spirit favorite and proceed to concoct a wonderful drink on the basis of a few questions. When served he/she will describe what is in the drink and you will be able to sample an unusual delight. It is a little pricey. Expect gratuity to be included in the bill. Be prepared to make a reservation or you may not be able to access this very classy place hidden behind the bank vault door in Tavern Law. I will be back. read more

Bartender knew how to make a Hemingway Daiquiri and made well. I'll be back for cocktails and dinner.

This place was incredible! We were a little early for our reservation but were allowed in anyways. When making the reservation I was told we would have a 2 hours reservation so after that time we were expected to carry on and let the space open up for others. We didn't end up needing that full amount of time as we only stayed for 2 drinks. I was able to tell them that I just wanted something refreshing and they whipped up a unique cocktail that was amazing! We were also served complimentary champagne while we waited. Everyone was incredibly nice and courteous. I will definitely be going back! read more

My date had a good experience at Needle and Thread in the past and was excited to introduce me to this place of great ambience and tasty drinks. He called at the beginning of the week to make reservations for Saturday night, but never received a phone call back with confirmation. We decided to just come by on Saturday to see if we just missed the call or can get in anyway. We were told there was a private event that day. Based on my reservation experience, I will not be back at a place that cannot bother to tell me that they cannot accomodate my reservation request made 5 days in advance. I think it is rude to let customers pointlessly waiting for a return phone call; no drink can be that good. read more

Jen seemed pretty annoyed that I was excited to be here for the first time but it was nice that Will was here as well. Will talked to us and told us what this place was about while Jen seemed bothered that 2 members of my party were 5 minutes late. Jen seemed pretty intent talking to her friends instead of helping us which I get because we're not super cool mother fuckers and our money isn't green. Will was awesome and the drinks were kickass. Jen would be more at home at the local IRS office than the service industry. read more

We have been to speakeasies in lot of cities, this is the best one we have visited. No menu (unlike places in DC... are you listening) the bartender comes over to you to have a conversation about what flavors you like and what aspects of cocktails you like. After you finish the cocktail the bartender then broke it down and let us taste each ingredient. It isnt the cheapest place but WORTH IT! The food is really good too. We had a sous vide salmon app that cant be put into words. read more

Great location and ambiance but the cocktails were awful. Made a reservation to bring friends from out of town for a unique experience - and that's what we got. 3 of the 4 cocktails were totally undrinkable (and we aren't even that picky). The other one was actually pretty good. The staff was totally unapologetic. We left with only having actually drank one and a half of the four we ordered. What a downer. We paid our $$$ and got out of there to go find a bar where the drinks were palatable. Total waste of money, time and hassle - just a bad experience all around. I used to love this place. After this experience I won't return - way too risky to bring people here for a special occasion. The bartenders obviously don't know how to make a good cocktail or they just don't care. Such a bummer, used to be my favorite spot in Seattle. read more

The service we received last night was beyond subpar and a 20% service charge was automatically charged to the bill. When I brought this to a bartender's attention and asked to speak with a manager, the manager was downstairs and my friends and I had waited long enough for our server upstairs multiple times, I just paid and left. It was hard to enjoy conversation at the table when trying to get the wait staff's attention for over 10 minutes. Our table was by the back wall and a server would walk halfway across the bar and then turn back hardly ever checking on us. I had to get up three times to ask the bartender directly to help us (for more bread, for the check, to fix a drink). Additionally, I asked a bartender AND the person who looked like the manager to send the bartender who made our drinks over to explain what was in our drinks which is pretty standard for a place with no menu. When the server dropped off our drinks, we were not told any of the liquors or flavors used besides the general description we had provided when ordering. No one came in the end. The ambiance was nice but it was a lot of trouble to address issues as they happened, I'm hesitant to return. read more

Totally obsessed with the ambiance here, but the drinks didn't blow me away. I really really wanted to love it because it's totally my style, but it was just an ok experience. I was with a few people and we popped over here on a whim and luckily they had bar seats open so we came up. It's SO lovely in there and very romantic. The bartender was also amazingly friendly and sweet. But, he didn't do that great of a job with my drink (the idea is that you just tell him what kind of flavors/spirits you're into, and he creates something for you). I told him what I liked and without asking any follow up Qs (for example, to find out that I really hate too sweet drinks) he quickly said "oh cool, I made this mango something or other earlier, you might like that, I'll make it for you". It ended up being kind of a watery, way too sweet and tasted like there was no alcohol in it. for FIFTEEN dollars, that's not okay. You don't find out the price of your mystery drink until you get the bill - and it' not the kind of place where you ask. Seriously though, for 15 bucks, I better be getting served the drink of a lifetime. But it was on the lower end of good cocktails I've had. My husband's was also kinda average. I'd come back I guess to try it again. But I'd rather try another speakeasy around here - maybe that knee high stocking place? SO many good bars around this area, hard to justify returning :/ read more

Needle and Thread is a very small but classy venue. Requires reservation, and you must abide by your reservation time. That is, you can't go upstairs until its your reservation time and must leave by time your reservation is up. It does not accommodate groups larger than 7. The food is the same Tavern Law but the drinks are individually catered to you. The cocktails were great, I am pretty picky so it was nice to get cocktails catered to your tastes. Only problem is that service is slow, takes a while for them to take your order and make your drinks. Basically for a 2 hour reservation, individuals in our party was only able to get 2 drinks. That's ONE drink per hour. If you drink fast, be prepared to wait around with nothing in your hand. read more

I love speakeasy themed bars!! I was so excited about this place... Got to the phone, still so excited.. Walking up the stairs I was elated!! I saw the decor!!! At that point I was ready to shake the owners hand.. But I should have held my excitement a little.. I was in a group of a total of three. It was a Tuesday evening and it was pretty empty. Perfect!! We get the bartender to ourselves!!! Wellll we all introduced ourselves. His overly robotic manor and tone kinda caught me off guard.. We are the only ones at the bar.. You can be a person....whatever, not everyone has the bartender charm but maybe his drinks will make up for the lack of personality.. he explains that he will make drinks off of what we say we like! Woohoo I love it!! I tell him of the gin, refreshing, slightly tart drink I have in mind. The other two in my group order and he starts working his magic. Still the only ones in the bar we begin asking questions. How long he had been there, how long he has been bar tending.. The usual things you ask your bartender. His replies were short and to the point. Didn't seem like he wanted to know us at all.. This is the kind of bar I EXPECT to have a bartender that gets a feel for what I fancy in a drink.. He got a couple key words and we were just three drinks to him. I started losing my cheery excitement and sat back watching him make our drinks. My friends and I had half conversations while we waited for what we were hoping to be awesome hand crafted cocktails.. But the drinks were just as bland as the one making them..... It was "fine" .. I'm not a bartender but I know good cocktails and this gin, overly sweet cocktail (not really what I asked for) was not worth the $14 I paid. Sorry needle and thread. You didn't live up to my expectations. Bummer... But hey!! At least the place is beautiful!!! read more

My boyfriend and I came here for a date night. Getting the actual reservation was a bit of a pain, between the limited hours for making reservations and only being able to book 7 days in advance, but we finally got it to work out after the 3rd try. :) The space is really neat. It's in a great spot and the entire atmosphere is just awesome, from the furniture to the decor (old newspapers, antiques, et cetera). We were seated at the couch by the bar; very cozy. The food and drinks were also great. They have a small food menu, but something for everyone's taste, while still being able to try new things. We split a couple of oysters, the mac and cheese with pork belly, and the tavern burger. I thought the food prices were reasonable for the area. The entire drink experience was fun, but definitely on my upper price limit @ $16/drink. You're asked a handful of questions and then the bartender makes you something. He then came back around and checked on how we liked them and told us about what he had made. I would definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

As a woman of a "certain age" I have a fully stocked bar as well as a collection of bar/cocktail/mixology books. Needless to say, I rarely feel the need to go out when, all too often, I can make better cocktails at home and enjoy them quietly with my friends. Needle and Thread, however, is interesting enough to get me to put on a dress and head out the door. If I lived in Seattle, I would be a regular. The space is gorgeous. It's opulent and intimate and sexy. The cocktails are expertly prepared and perfectly balanced. This is a little slice of heaven for anyone who geeks-out over craft cocktails. That said, they have not lost sight of the fact that at the end of the day, they are still a bar. In a group of 6, one of our guests was not interested in playing the cocktail roulette game (this guy wanted a vodka martini and that's it!). To Needle and Thread's credit, they graciously fill that request without giving our guest any hipster attitude. Getting a reservation took time and I played phone tag for days. In the end, though, it was all worth it. I'm looking forward to returning on my next visit to Seattle. read more