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    Smith Tower Observatory Bar

    3.8 (326 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM

    Smith Tower Observatory Bar Photos

    SMITH TOWER OBSERVATORY BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Smith Tower Observatory Bar

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    Sucia's secret mezcal cocktail
    John P.

    What can I say. This is my first time in Seattle and I love this Observatory/Bar more than any other tower. Really enjoy the history behind this place but also all the people who work here and come to enjoy the views and drinks. Bartenders and hostess are super friendly and professional. Clean and presentable. Very easy to talk to staff. Drinks are phenomenal. Definitely coming back.

    Manhattan
    Karen G.

    Took my boyfriend to Smith Tower since he's never been. Definitely a fun way to experience a slice of Seattle history with a view! We went right when they opened at noon, which was perfect because it wasn't crowded yet. The Observatory Bar is super convenient, you can just kick back, sip on a cocktail, and soak in those gorgeous 360 deg panoramic views of the city, the Sound, and beyond. It's giving old-school charm with a cozy, vintage vibe that makes you feel like you've stepped into another era. Scott was our bartender and it happened to be his first day, poor guy was definitely thrown into the fire trying to figure out where everything was! But despite the chaos, he handled it like a champ and made some mean cocktails. Cheers to you, Scott! If you're looking for a chill bar to enjoy the views without the typical touristy chaos, come early, grab a drink, and enjoy one of Seattle's gems!

    Carolina C.

    I mean this place has some fantastic views of Seattle! This will definitely be a place to take out of town family and friends. This bar gives off polished, speak easy vibes, with wonderful staff, tasty food and also, easy parking! Today, I was here for an awesome Botox event, and the staff really did a wonderful job!

    Old fashioned flight
    Kyle W.

    Historical building definitely is the appeal for this place - oldest skyscraper in Seattle and even the west coast! I would give a 4 stars for the general experience if you only go there to visit the observatory and the museum and the elevator to get up. However, this is with regards to the bar / restaurant up top which I had a very comically bad experience. Most of the observatories allow you to visit the bar / restaurant for free but here you need to pay extra on top of the meal. Sure, if you never been here, it's worth it but if you been here and want to go here just for the food and drinks (I wouldn't recommend) then it's a rip off. We went up and the hostess made us visit the outside first in a way where she doesn't want to serve us immediately. There's a better way to phrase it, like encouraging us to check out the outside panoramic view before eating. She didn't even put us on the waitlist so when we came back we had to wait 15 minutes extra. The menu was given and also some plates. The waitress did not bother seeing the plate was broken - what??? And the utensils were very dirty like did they not put these utensils in the dishwasher at all? Very unhygienic. We got some food - edamame hummus, stir fry noodles with vegetables and chicken, and pork belly sliders with chips. We also got the old fashioned sampler for $36 which is fairly steep for 3 of the old fashioned of your choice and from past photos, you used to not need to choose and get all 4 for cheaper. It's misleading to have 4 cups and the missing one you don't get is sparkling water. When it was my turn to order I only said one thing and she took the menu out of me and cut me off from ordering another dish. Sure if you don't want me? I had to call out I'm not done. What's the rush??? Edamame hummus is worth it as it was unique. Skip everything else. Stir fry was watery and had a weird aftertaste and they didn't even add chicken and it was a $7 surcharge of nothing. The pork belly sliders were stale and pork belly was more dry than crispy. The chips served were super crushed like they scraped the bottom of the barrel for us. As stated above, service was comically horrible and the food is terrible outside of the edamame hummus. It was a chore to flag someone down for more water and other requests. Only go for the historical aspect of the oldest skyscraper in the west coast, but stay far away from the overpriced and subpar food and drinks.

    Pam W.

    We finally visited the Smith Tower! The first floor has a small exhibition about the history of the tower, including who built it and stories about its construction. Then we went up to the observatory. The view is absolutely stunning! The elevator is still the original one, and we could see its historic details. The elevator operator tells stories about past residents of the building, adding fun information. Even though it is not the tallest building in downtown Seattle, you get a 360-degree view of the bay, Bainbridge Island, the city, the Eastside, and the mountains to the north. The Chinese Room bar has lots of delicate decorations and the best view! However, the bar service was just okay. We ordered two cocktails. The Aviation was so artificial and chemical-tasting that we didn't even finish half. The other cocktail was just okay. We didn't order any food. The service was a bit slow. We needed to go to the counter to get our bill. I hope the bar service improves and offers higher quality, given the price we paid and its fantastic location.

    Espresso martinis
    Siscily E.

    Seattle native and first time in! The day before was 13 hours of snow, we lucked out on a gorgeous Saturday only a handful of other visitors and blue sky's. Would highly recommend the espresso martini's, shrimp cocktail and memorable cocktail sauce & the pork dumplings. You can pick a table with a view catch up with a friend and soak in Seattle waterfront views.

    Gilded elevator doors
    Brandon M.

    After much reflection, I decided to review this hidden gem in Seattle. My son and I made Same day online reservations for a Monday afternoon viewing while dining at a nearby Irish bar. When you enter the lobby before the elevator, you will go back in time to see and hear how Smith Tower came to be, with photos, exhibits, and interactive items. You then take the classic gilded elevator with an operator to the 35th floor, where a beautiful Speak Easy bar and restaurant await you. You then walk to the open but gated 360-degree observation deck of the city and bay. My son and I were the only two tourists there for almost 30 minutes. It's windy, so watch your hat and your phone. After the observatory, I had the servers choice Observatory sour cocktail and enjoyed conversation with our server in the restaurant. He said the venue is busier during the summer season, when many cruisers visit. I wanted to keep it a secret because other locals had mentioned how much nicer and less crowded it was than the needle. It is so lovely and classy, and it was a good experience so I had to share. I recommend a weekday afternoon visit, giving yourself 1-2 hours. The tickets were $25 each.

    Aviation cocktail and a Yesler Old Fashioned.
    Jon H.

    This place is an amazing date spot. 35th floor, stunning views, cool history and ambience, and EXCELLENT drinks. The bartender knows really their craft. To top it off, our server Aaron was first class. I'll be coming back very soon.

    Old fashioned flight
    Jen V.

    Very neat gem in Seattle! The views are absolutely beautiful and I could see how it would be a really fun date idea if visiting Seattle. We happened to visit it in the middle of a clear day so we really enjoyed the views and the drinks. The espresso martini was yum and the old fashioned flight was very creative. I will say, for being the middle of the day, service was really slow. Our waitress was very kind but it took awhile between orders and getting our food. Regardless this is definitely worth a visit!

    Views
    Zarifa A.

    Smith Tower is a cool place to check out in Seattle where you'd be able to get a quick history lesson, views, and food. It's a bit pricey for what it is as they charge you to just go up Smith Tower, but it's worth checking out once. We made the bar in time for happy hour. I only ordered the vegan potstickers. These were pretty good and it had a decent spice to it which I appreciated. The presentation of the dish itself was also really nice. Although I didn't have anything to drink, the prices for them during happy hour were super reasonable. The ambiance of the restaurant is really nice! Not only does it have rooftop views of downtown Seattle, the interior was also really warm and lux. The service here excellent as well and our waiter checked on us several times during our time there and made sure our waters were always filled.

    Upstairs bar
    Alexa D.

    This is definitely one of my favorite spots to take out of town visitors! The museum itself is cool- I love that you can touch things and interact with the material. It's so cool to see what old Seattle was like! The elevator ride up in the old 1920s elevator is always so fun and feels like a Time Machine. I love that they have the original elevators! The view up top is incredible. While you can't see the space needle, you can still see a lot of the city and get some great photos on the amazing balcony. The upstairs bar is really funky and cool. Lots of fun photo opps. The service was pretty good and the drinks are a little pricey, but overall you're paying for a really cool experience.

    The bar.
    Tony B.

    FUN BAR AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER. I had to pay $15 at the desk on the ground floor. Then you walk through a small museum about the history of the tower. It includes a short film along with some furniture and artifacts from the days when the tower was the tallest building in Seattle. Then you ride up to the observation deck in one of the original elevators. A lovely "elevator operator " gives a short speech about the tower on the way up. The view is tremendous. The bar / restaurant has a very short bar menu. The staff are friendly and attentive. I sat at the bar and was served a draft pale ale promptly. I perused the menu which seems to have an Asian theme and orderd the vegetarian potstickers. Not the best, but not the worst. They were OK. Anyway. It's not about the food. It's the ambiance. Sitting on top of the tower with a beer and a some snack food. It is fun and easy to strike up a conversation with the tourists. I met a fellow and his wife visiting from Chicago. They took the train! It was definitely worth the price of admission. I am awarding five stars here because of the uniqueness of this experience and enjoyable time I had at this famous landmark. Hey if you like my reviews please say so by clicking one of the little icons on the bottom. Cheers!

    Sunset at Smith Tower observatory bar
    Laura E.

    It's recommended that you buy your ticket online first to make sure there is space. When you check in, tell them if you'd like a spot at the bar or not. Views are great all around! My friend and I tried the bartenders choice cocktail, giving them our taste palate, and they were both delicious! This feels like such a hidden gem because it's a lot less busy than the space needle but still have lovely views. I've also attended a cocktail class, which was a fantastic time! We made three different cocktails. They provide all of the ingredients and supplies as well as some snacks to keep the cocktails from hitting too hard. Admission to the observatory is included with the cocktail class so make sure you stop at the rooftop before/after class! I will definitely be back

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Smith Tower Observatory Bar

    Where is a safe place to park while visiting Smith Tower?

    Diamond Parking - Sinking Ship Garage 515 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 is directly across the street from Smith Tower and as safe as it gets.

    I have a young adult in my group. Do restaurant patrons have to be over 21?

    No they don’t have to be. They also had food there and the views are wonderful

    Hi, 2 questions: the rum runner card waives the entrance fee to the elevator / observation deck, is this correct? Also, does having the rum runner card benefit you while waiting in line, I.e bump you up to the front or expedite wait time?

    Hello! Thank you for your questions. Yes, the Rum Runner card waives admission for you and a guest when visiting Smith Tower. Unfortunately, you would be subject to the same wait times that apply to everyone else.… Read more

    Does the rum runner card work for happy hour?

    Hello! The Rum Runner card will allow admission for you and a guest, but The Rum Runner card does not apply for additional discounts on food and beverage on top of happy hour pricing. The discount would apply to regularly priced items. Let us know… Read more

    Do we need a reservation to visit the bar? Is it recommended?

    No it's first come first serve

    Do you need to purchase a ticket to visit bar?

    Hello Jenna, Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in Smith Tower. Yes, visiting the… Read more

    Are minors allowed in the bar? I'm taking my 17 year old niece out for a night on the town

    Yes. They are just not allowed at the bar top.

    So do we really need to buy a ticket just to get into the bar?

    Yes. You really do. However, tickets are half off if you have WA State ID or other proof of residency.

    Are kids allowed?

    I did not see any children up there, now that you mention it, although it was at an odd time -- 5:30pm on a Friday. That said, their website says you can bring strollers (https://www.smithtower.com/visitor-faq.php) so I would take that as a yes.(I… Read more

    Is there a dress code for the bar?

    No, definitely not.

    If you want to just go up to the Smith Tower bar, do you still have to pay the $19 entrance fee for the tower?

    Hi there Stephanie, The admission fee is to the Observatory, similar to Seattle's other… Read more

    Does smith tower have WIFI available?

    There is WiFi available in the Observatory, just ask the staff for the password.

    Does the bar ever stay open later than midnight on Fridays and Saturdays depending on how busy it is? Website hours say till midnight. Just curious.

    The Observatory and bar are open 7 days a week: Sun-Wed 10am to 11pm and Thurs-Sat 10am to midnight... The last elevator to the Observatory is an hour before closing and food service stops two hours before close. Hope this helps :)

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    This was my first time at deadline and i will be coming back! As soon as we walked in, we were met…read morewith a Kenny G saxophone + bridgerton-esque playlist which I personally enjoyed nodding my head to instrumentals of my favorite songs. The front of the bar is standard tables with the back of the bar having cute seating areas. I got the gingerbread expresso martini which was really yummy! Our drinks did take a while to get to us despite sitting right at the bar but we did have a table of 7 so understood. We got our appetizers before our drinks: Brussel sprouts (SO YUMMY), oysters, and truffle fries (towered in parm!). These went down super quick. I then ordered the pork arepa for my entree and wow...not what i was expecting but will never regret! One of my favorite dishes I've had in a while that I'll keep thinking about. All the flavors worked so well together and the arepa itself was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The pork was sweeter due to the marinade and not salty at all which i preferred. Will 100% be back!

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    Fun specialty cocktails and beautiful space. A favorite bar of some friends my first time…read morevisiting. Stopped by before dinner near by. Always love finding a good craft cocktail bar. Staff is friendly and helpful in making decisions that suit your taste. I started with the Suede Umbrella, my friends had a Tuk Tuk Tang and Guavacita. Second round they had the Panic Button and I had the Roquette Martini. Well balanced cocktails. Extensive list.. would definitely visit again when in Belltown.

    Smith Tower Observatory Bar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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