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Seattle, WA

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Polar Bar

4.0 (129 reviews)
Closed • 3:00 pm - 11:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Polar Bar Photos

POLAR BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Classy
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Polar Bar

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Reviews With Photos

Shrimp Toast Rockefeller
Christopher L.

Located in the Arctic Club Hotel, this hotel bar is fantastic. The ambiance is a time gone by Gold Rush era that has been beautifully restored. The service is always fantastic and they staff are very knowledgeable. The drinks are all created to perfection and really like their wood smoked cocktails. For the food, their menu looks great but only have tried the truffle fries and the shrimp toast Rockefeller which were both great to snack on with drinks. Overall, no complaints here. I've been here multiple times, even for birthday drinks as it's a chill place to come to and relax in their comfortable seating. Will be back soon.

Outside of Hotel
Chris D.

Stopped by the bar touring Seattle with a couple I met the night before at a Buddy Guy concert. They offered to show me around since I was in town on travel for work and hadn't had the chance to see much during my stay. I'm extremely grateful for this generous couple. After taking an underground tour leading about the history of how Seattle once burned to the ground we stopped by the Artic Club Hotel to admire the amazing architecture along with the sculpted walruses. While walking and talking a bystander recommended that we go in to see the ballroom. Whoever that man was THANK YOU for the recommendation! We went in and the ambiance of the bar area drew us in for a cocktail or 2. We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink. Bryan was the best bartender I've experienced not only while in Seattle but in a long time! He was very nice, personable, and cannot forget to mention he made one hell of an old fashion . He made the experience 1000x better and learn a lot about him pursuing his music career and his wonderful taste in music chatting over a couple of drinks. If you're in the area stop by and request Bryan as a bartender. He will not disappoint. He also gave a great recommendation for a dinner stop that was by far the best and most fresh salmon I've ever had.

Elysian beer, I am the Walrus - IG @bougiefoodieboi
Kyle W.

Nice bar located at the Arctic Club Hotel, a historical downtown Seattle building back in the Klondike Gold Rush days! I went here for happy hour where certain beers and a cocktail is discounted but the best discounts are from the food where you get a few dollars off most dishes on the menu. It was fairly busy on a Wednesday, with a few large groups for company events perhaps. We got the "I am the Walrus" and a modification of "Huracáns Offering" (since they ran out of the pork fat washed rum) for drinks, and we got blackberry habanero sticky wings, truffle fries, and crispy Brussels sprouts for food. I am the Walrus - fairly strong Boulevardier style drink. Not much liquid but I enjoyed the smokiness and slow sip format. It is served in a jar with a cute walrus on top of the lid Huracán's Offering (variation): even the variation itself was so good so I can't imagine the real deal. There's a layer of rum on top that the bartender lighted on fire which is super cool. Truffle fries - solid, large portions, lots of rosemary which stands out from the more typical garlic truffle fries Blackberry habanero sticky wings - pretty good, has a nice spicy kick, but I can't really pick out much of the fruity flavors Crispy Brussels sprouts - not crispy but more like roasted but still fairly delicious Service was decent, though we do need to flag a server a few times for water refills. It's a bit unacceptable since they do an auto 20% gratuity for all checks regardless of party size, but fail to meet the service standard to deserve this amount.

Neva K.

Beautiful old hotel in downtown Seattle. Front desk was amazingly friendly and informational. The bar was great. Sectioned out to give sitting areas for groups and couples. A pool table to pass the time and an amazing stuffed polar bear that makes me glad I'm not a seal The bartender was witty and checked in often. Great place.

"The Walrus" - mmm... smoky!
Matt B.

Amazing "classic" vibe - wood, whiskey, and old friends. We enjoyed masterful mixology in the glowing presence of the polar bear.

BUTTERNUT RAVIOLI (V) 25 roasted butternut squash, frizzled onions, brown butter béchamel, fried sage, freshly grated nutmeg
Athene D.

We went here before the candlelight show on Halloween. I must say that it was a delightful experience and the service was good. I enjoyed the staff all dressed up for Halloween. We basically had dinner on couches, which was kind of fun. It wasn't what we were expecting, but we ended up being hungry than anticipated. The food was delicious and I liked seeing a seasonal menu ! I had the butternut squash ravioli, which was really delightful. My husband had the clam chowder, which was also very yummy. The little duck appetizer that we had was just OK I think the jalapeño was way too strong for the delicate duck flavor, and therefore overpowered the dish and the pallet so I wouldn't order that again.

Butternut Ravioli
Ayako S.

Visited Polar Bar before attending a Candle Light Concert.This is not my first visit to the Arctic or the Polar, and I must say I am a fan of this antique building with lots of charming characters. They have comfy loungers and table with a pool table in the bar, and service is always pleasant. Food and wines we tried, however, were just okay. I feel like I have had better food experiences in the past with them, but it was not terrible either. They make good cocktails so if you are looking for something to drink, my recommendation is to try cocktails and skip wines.

Voulez-vous - barrel aged rye,cognac, apricot and Benedictine.
Peter L.

It's been over a decade between my visits to the Polar Bar, and while the world moves on, the Polar Bar evokes images of an earlier era. I had mixed feelings about my most recent visits, twice in the past two months. On the one hand, the bar has a serious program with a great bottle selection and barrel aged cocktails. And all this at a Doubletree. I've had a Manhattan as well as a barrel aged Voulez Vous (Rye, cognac, apricot and benedectine) which was a play on a classic Vieux Carre which was delicious. But on the other hand, I didn't know where the bar started and the lobby began. It was a confusing space. Hotel bars are sort of a crap shoot - love the Fairmont for people watching and for the Doubletree, the vibe can vary from conventioners to a more mixed crowd.

Polar bear
Diana C.

The drinks were definitely 5/5 stars. They had a lot of really cool and interesting choices. I also loved the bear and blue bar lighting. The chairs were pretty comfy too. The service was a little slow with only two bar tenders to serve the whole huge place. The bartender was super friendly and capable though. Cool old school bar with some modern touches and drinks that I'd go to again if I were nearby. There's also a really pretty dome room that's open to the public just up the stairs and first door on the right.

Autumn salad with salmon-excellent!
Peggy K.

We came for dinner on a rainy December Sunday evening. Although the setting is a large room it is broken up into comfortable seating arrangements...and a pool table. We sat in upholstered chairs around a small table in the bar - unusual for us but it worked out fine. Service was prompt and any questions we had were answered satisfactorily. It was a lovely setting in an historic building overseen by a tall polar bear with a Santa hat. The biggest surprise was the food. I guess I was expecting more typical bar food but there was an excellent variety of a more upper scale items. I had the autumn salad with salmon and it was delicious and beautifully plated with greens, mangoes, sliced persimmon, nuts. I'd definitely order again. My husband had a chicken BLT with very ample chicken. For dessert we had a blackberry galette, heavy on the fruit and a perfect ending for the meal. It was a pleasant walk from our apartment. We'll definitely be back.

Very dirty martini
Myranda M.

Why am I so late to the game? This place is amazing! I have to be honest and say I initially wrote this place off as another lame and overpriced hotel bar. Boy was I wrong. Their happy hour has some amazing food and prices. For only $5 you can delicious wings and some of the best damn truffle fries I've ever had. Ever!!!! The drinks are good and if you're willing to pay a bit more you can have a fantastic martini. In addition to the great food, the staff gives excellent customer service. I went one Friday evening with a group and we put in an order of at least 15 things. Never got one sign or irritation from staff. Can't wait to go back.

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Photo of Tom H.
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16 years ago

I can't say enough good things about this place. The staff is great and the food is top notch.

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16 years ago

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8 years ago

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12 years ago

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14 years ago

nice, friendly staff, good drinks. not cheap but not ridiculous either.

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Photo of F G.
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10 years ago

A classy and classic bar in downtown seattle. The real deal!

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11 years ago

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14 years ago

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12 years ago

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Page 4 of 4

Ask the Community - Polar Bar

Review Highlights - Polar Bar

“I got to talking with Viktor a little bit, then asked him to make me another drink, something he enjoyed making.”

Mentioned in 9 reviews

Read more highlights

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Final stop on last night's GNO and arguably one of the best places in Seattle to end a night…read more The Nest is sexy. There's really no other way I want to describe it. The rooftop views are some of the best in the city, especially once Seattle starts lighting up, and the atmosphere is ultimately what you show up and stay for. Drinks are definitely pricey at $20+, but I appreciate that the snacks remain closer to happy hour pricing. We ordered the shishito peppers and hummus plate for around $11-$12 each, which felt surprisingly reasonable considering the setting. Staff was suuuuper nice! And after striking out on espresso martinis at our previous stop, we finally got our redemption here. The Nest's espresso martini ranks somewhere mid-tier for me compared to others around the city, but at that point we were just happy to have one in hand. You're definitely paying a premium for cocktails, but the food pricing helps balance things out and that view makes a pretty convincing argument for staying for another round. Come for a drink. Stay because Seattle looks really good from up here.

Stopped here for a drink and the views. It was a nice day so of course it was packed. However there…read morewas a VIP section and it was open so we paid the extra cost to have a seat and stay away from the crowds. With the upcharge for sitting in VIP we got a glass of cava. We also ordered a cocktail and some bites which were unimpressive. 2/4 Korean bulgogi 2/4 Hummus 2/4 Lobster roll 2/4 Shishito peppers The food just wasn't good a very sadly presented. Our paid drink also took ages to come out. The views are great but save your stomach for some better tasting food.

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Deep Dive - Interior.

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3.9(344 reviews)
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Came here alone on a Thursday evening and had no issue getting a spot at the bar without…read morereservation. It was an interesting speakeasy to have found underneath the spheres. Service was great as I was quickly led to the bar as soon as I walked in and was quickly greeted by the bartenders. The place has a very fun vibe to it and it was a sight to see all of the bottles and almost elixirs of liquids lining the bar itself. I was recommended two drinks out of the options I had given my bartender. The first was Santiago and saints. It was highly recommended and for good reason. It hit the spot after a humid day and was a refreshing start to my evening. Well balanced, bright, and cucumbery! The second drink I had was the espresso martini and this one was perfectly balanced and creamy! Would definitely come back. The only downside to the place is the price of cocktails. Also insider information I got from locals was to park at the Amazon garage at certain hours which I did for this because it's free during certain hours of the weekdays and weekends.

We came here for my partners birthday. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately…read more Additionally, the tables are entirely TOO small. We ordered a couple of small bites, and there was barely any space for the plates and drinks. The tables also felt too close together...It was generally pretty quiet, but I could hear the table next to us' conversation as though they were WITH us. I'd noted in the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, there was zero acknowledgement of that, which is fine. I didn't expect the staff to come out the back clapping or anything, but a simple verbal acknowledgement would've gone a long way. Overall, the service overall felt inattentive, which is especially irritating when you see the 22% service fee tacked onto your bill. I really enjoyed the ambiance and the breadth of the menu, so I'd give them another shot, but I'd only get drinks. We went upstairs to their sister bar afterwards and had a much better experience there.

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Deep Dive - Small & intimate

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YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND..! 4.5…read more The level below the main observation deck of Seattle's Space Needle is home to The Loupe Lounge, which features the world's first revolving glass floor. Many years ago, I dined at the Space Needle when it was still home to its famous rotating restaurant. SkyCity Restaurant closed in 2017, and the revamped observation experience reopened in 2018. Today, The Loupe Lounge offers a very different experience, with a revolving glass floor that provides mesmerizing views straight down to the Needle's structure, elevators, and the streets far below. It's a fascinating perspective you simply can't get from an ordinary observation deck. The Loupe Lounge operates seasonally in the fall and closes from May through August. Since we visited the Space Needle in June, the full experience was unavailable. However, we were still able to access the roped-off lounge area for $35 each, which included two cocktails and two delicious burgers. We lingered in the lounge for at least 45 minutes, the time it takes the glass floor to complete a full 360-degree rotation and return to its starting point. It was wonderfully uncrowded, with only our table and one other party in the roped-off area. Access to this section is restricted to guests 21 and older, although visitors of all ages can enjoy the surrounding observation areas. During the fall season, the entire lounge floor is reserved for guests 21 and older. The fall-season menu features exclusive cocktail and culinary experiences, complete with show-stopping mixology and eye-catching food towers. Reservations must be prepaid, and guests select their preferred tower when booking. Each package also includes VIP elevator access to the lounge. Depending on your selection, the price can be quite steep; however, it also includes admission to the observation deck, which alone can represent a $100-plus value for two. Whether you visit at sunset or after dark, The Loupe Lounge offers a wonderfully romantic setting, with a unique vantage point that makes the experience feel even more special. We'd love to return one day in the fall or spring and reserve the full experience.

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The Loupe Lounge - View from The Loupe Lounge (rotating glass floor)

View from The Loupe Lounge (rotating glass floor)

The Loupe Lounge - Wild Salmon

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The Loupe Lounge - Butcher's tower

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Needle and Thread

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4.1(566 reviews)
1.0 mi•Capitol Hill
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I LOVE THIS PLACE! I heard about it from one of my friends, had no idea it existed before that…read more It's actually located inside Tavern Law, which was another bar I've been trying to go for a while. They are reservation only and when you go inside, they take you to a door and give you a landline phone to call to have access to their upstairs space. Super cute speakeasy concept. The vibes are perfect, it's a super small space and intimate atmosphere. There is no menu so the bartender will ask you what preferences you have for your drinks and the flavor profiles you like. I ended up getting a pretty good sweet, citrusy cocktail I loved. We only got one round but you can order more and they'll tailor it based on how you liked or disliked the prior drink. Would totally recommend!

My recent visit end of August 2026 still maintains that this bespoke cocktail bar has amazing…read moredrinks. However I unfortunately need to voice some concerns about the new ownership. Past visit 2+ years ago the reservation is through Tock. Recently the reservation is through OpenTable so I thought the points credits will be honored here as they are in the OpenTable network, so I redeemed points to discount $8, only to not be applied to the bill since the reservation $15 per person is a deposit and refunded on seating, instead of most places where the deposit deducts the cost of the final bill. None of the bartenders could do anything, and didn't bother raising this to management (probably downstairs at Tavern Law could've remedied the situation but the short turnaround time implied they didn't try). Additionally, when I got my drink, the bartender did not bother taking a second look to see there's a bug. It was deep inside the drink, not at the top, so the bug did not just fly and land on the drink after being served. So it was a bit negligent, especially given they jacked up the price from $21 to $25 in just 2 years. The price increase did not justify the quality, if anything, price went up significantly and quality dropped... The bartender addressed the issue by remaking the drink but the drink was noticeably smaller than the original one. It would only have made sense if I drank a lot of it, but I only had small sip stopped when I saw the bug. The experience was very frustrating overall that I didn't wish to tip, only to find out they added a 20%+ service charge without my consent when I looked at the credit card statement. That is fraud. Fraudulently adding a tip to yourself earned you a 1 star. Otherwise this would've been more a 3 star experience due to the miss from the bug, and the OpenTable issue.

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Needle and Thread
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Needle and Thread - Perfectly crafted cocktails

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Polar Bar - lounges - Updated November 2026

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