Excellent find in Seattle. Tavern Law has the speak easy vibe with excellent drinks and food. I sat at the bar and had an old fashioned that was served smoked under a glass dome. Very cool presentation and of course tastes amazing. The food menu is small but really good! The server and bartender were exceptional! I would definitely return next time I get to Seattle! read more

Tavern Law - Great restaurant/bar with a huge bourbon selection! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Handsome gastropub with impressive mastery of craft cocktails. Had a delicious grapefruit champagne cocktail made to order. House made syrups and tinctures, expert bartenders on hand to create to taste. A few others who seem to agree: Gayot Top Five New Chefs 2011 FOOD & WINE "The People's Best New Chef" nominee 2011 Seattle Met Top 10 Best Bars 2011 Seattlelite Top 5 Best Cocktails Consistently over-capacity Thurs-Sat, which detracts from pub setting and ability to enjoy craft libations. Overall, has become a Seattle standby for me. read more

Recently went out for a GNO. It was last minute on a Saturday night, but they were able to accommodate us. Very extensive craft cocktail menu. Tried a bunch. Didn't love all of them, but I really enjoyed my Raspberry Smash and Green Ranger. Food wise, we got the burger (yummy), and the popcorn chicken based on Yelp reviews and server recommendation. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! And the housemade sauces were the bomb. Everything was pretty good overall, except the service. Which was EXCELLENT. Definitely worth the 5 star rating. Brody, Beau, Adam & Pretty Ricky at the bar totally styled us out and made it a very memorable birthday celebration. read more

Tavern Law - Raspberry Smash - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The experience was great, and walked in here thinking it was the Needle & Thread (apparently their speakeasy). Bartender was great, making custom drinks for us all night, and the griddles raclette cheese was super amazing. Would def make this a go-to place if I visit Seattle again. read more

Tavern Law - Griddled raclette cheese. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My favorite cocktail bar in Seattle! You cannot go wrong with the Eggspresso Martini. Rachel is an awesome bartender/server too.

What an awesome night we had! The service alone, was superb. Our server made our evening fun and special. He was very interactive and he knows his whiskey. The cocktails were excellent and handcrafted. Then I don't know how they cook their popcorn chicken and fries, but it was also amaze-balls! We came in with a party of 8, and we were so lucky to get the booth. Then the surprise birthday candle was a nice touch. Thank you Tavern Law! You made all of us a fan! We will be back! read more

Tavern Law - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Drinks are mediocre for the price we paid. I was expecting some creative concoctions for a $18 drink but found the drinks to be either too sweet, too dry or too basic (could make it ourselves). Hope Needle and thread is better. read more

Tavern Law - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If I could give this place zero stars I would. We walked in and one of the employees, Brody (maybe a bouncer or a waiter?) was CLEARLY coked out. He was running around high and sweaty essentially doing nothing. He was very condescending the entire time we were there, just a few friends getting drinks in Capitol Hill. He was being rude but we didn't care much until we tried to close our tab. My boyfriend asked him to close out our tab, and he turned around to tell us that he hasn't paid and couldn't leave until we paid. We were very confused because the bartender had taken his card and he was simply asking if he could and where he could close his tab. Brody continued to tell him that he was too drunk, we had one drink , that they never take cards and that we had to pay before we tried to leave. As if we would try to walk out on our tab, we were literally asking how to pay for our drinks?? My boyfriend continued to the bar with Brody and he had the nerve to tell the bartender "this man is confused, he thinks you took his card for his tab". That's when the bartender gave him his card back and closed out his tab. They had the card all along. I formally complained to the bar since we were treated so poorly, but honestly fuck you Brody and fuck tavern law. read more

I've been going here since moving to the city. Drinks and drink recommendations are always on point. Servers are wonderful. Management is kind and accommodating. They have great Parmesan potatoes. They're fried chicken nuggets are great with their BBQ and Ranch. Burgers are tasty as well. But really, I come for the seasonal chocolate cake, it's always rotating. My favorite was still the chocolate with the peanut butter mouse. They've got a nice speakeasy as well connected. Highly recommend this place to relax and grab a drink after a long day. read more

Unique, dark, and decidedly hip- Tavern Law exudes "cool". Their cocktail menu is so extensive it borders on overwhelming. I had the bartender surprise me. He asked me a few questions about my tastes and whipped a really well crafted cocktail. It was a little on the bitter side, but it was fun to try something new. This place isn't cheap by any means, and the food selection is pretty limited, but the attention to every little detail sets Tavern Law apart from other capitol hill spots...I even thought the bathroom was awesome! Pros: Atmosphere Unique cocktails Cons: Expensive Capitol Hill parking read more

Tavern Law - Better looking than Tom Cruise! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Saturday night: packed. That's fine, we squeezed in between some lovely people who were on dates just like us. We ordered two signature cocktails with scotch in them (concealed weapon & rob Roy). Dangerously strong. Mine was smokey goodness. Ordered olives and my favorite their dashing sweet and salty nut mix. Had to order their foie gras as well. For a small charcuterie to myself. DH wanted fried chicken at the hour. Best seat in the house to people watch is a table right in front of the telephone and hidden door leading to needle & thread. Had a fun night & server Brandon took care of us very well. read more

Tavern Law - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is my first official post. I have to say that I was so compelled to leave a review that I'm still sitting inside the restaurant whilst I do it. The restaurant/bar is amazing! Seriously a wonderful experience!! The drinks are superb! Don't miss out on the speak easy phone either... read more

Tavern Law - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Our table was placed less than 2 feet away from tables on either side, was extremely cramped. Drinks were all above 25 dollars a piece. Service was slow. Left before the waiter came to our table to take our orders. read more

Overheard brunette waitstaff with bangs (Rachel I think) call my husband and I assholes for asking where our cocktails were after 30 minutes of waiting and watching other people get their drinks who ordered after us. blonde staff with glasses was lovely. read more

The drinks here are expensive, but they're quality. Two drinks were enough for me to feel preeeetty good. There's a speakeasy that was closed when we went, but the bartenders who work it did the dealer's choice with us in the main bar. read more

Happy Hour Times: 5-7pm Everyday, All day Sunday. Happy Hour Specials: $7 select cocktails A very cool place to stop by for some drinks! We stopped by on a Saturday night and sat at the bar. Our bartender was very attentive and super nice. I ordered the El Puente which I really liked! I can taste a mild hint of the tequila but it doesn't overpower the drink because the grapefruit masks it. I also ordered the Lake George but didn't remember much of it. We also ordered some oysters during our time here but those I would not recommend. They had a variety of other dishes as part of their happy hour menu so you won't have a hard time choosing. I really liked the atmosphere of the bar. I think that it isn't given the credit it is due and would recommend for people to try it at least once! read more

Tavern Law was a surprising and delicious place. First of all, their drinks are delicious. I had one of their specialty Mint Juleps for the Kentucky Derby and it was such a great surprise. It was not all sweet and sweet mole syrup ridden. It was well balanced drink that highlighted the bourbon. And I normally HATE "craft cocktails" that are 1oz bourbon and the rest some special flavor d simple syrup they made. The Tavern Burger was delicious. But everyone has to try the Cheese and Corn Cracklings with Serrano Fondue. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!!! read more

Tavern Law - Cheese & Corn Cracklin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The ambiance is chill and vibe could be great for a first date . The drinks would kill any chances you have with your date though . The drinks are pricey and ours DID NOT pack a punch that made it worth it . If you are not on a sexy date to impress and want time to chill with friends . This is not the place for you - seemed snooty . We overheard staff from upstairs ask another staff member if a patron "was cool enough to come upstairs ". Two stars because the lady bartender and the male bartender from Michigan were super nice . read more

Speakeasy is located on the side of the restaurant, where a black telephone on the wall allows you to communicate with the hostess upstairs at Needle and Thread. Bartenders were very friendly at both locations and I still think about the melon cocktail downstairs (I think it was the Melona Spritz with shochu, grapefruit liqueur and citron sauvage - "light, clean, and refreshing")! We had to wait a bit downstairs as the speakeasy was full, but the atmosphere is quite different - more of a pub and and a much louder scene below. Once you are seated upstairs in a small, intimate, and dimly-lit space, the bartender takes your preferences by hand on a napkin/piece of paper and then makes a cocktail based on what you like. They even serve foie gras! read more

See all

The food is pretty good here! The place is 21+. There isn't a lot of seating, I recommend arriving earlier than the "night" crowd. There is a lot of stools available to sit, but only a few tables. I have been here twice and the first time was very impressive. The second time, not so much. The burger was a little soggy, maybe the meat wasn't bonded well enough, or sat out too long. The flavor wasn't too impacted but texturally it was off. The popcorn chicken was great! No complaints there. I didn't try the Mac & Cheese, therefore I won't comment on the flavor, but I included the photo. The drinks were pretty good! Definitely recommend the sangria! It doesn't have a lot of fruit but it's good! Overall, it's a good place to stop in and eat. If you happen to pass by, it's great. Also, if you are looking to get into Needle & Thread, you do need a reservation which you can make 7 days ahead. However, Tavern law offers the same drink styles made at the speak easy, and it's the same price ($18). I recommend just staying the restaurant. Enjoy! read more

See all

Wild this place can be a bit noisy during its weekend and happy hours of the food selection the drinks and the services are really good. Parking can be a bit of a challenge seeing as how you're on Capitol Hill but I can't really penalize them for them not providing parking. If you have a good server the odds are you're food will come quickly but don't count on instant service because this please get popular and busy and sometimes things get slow deal with it. They had crème brûlée last year and it doesn't look like it's on the menu anymore but the popcorn chicken and the beer are really good. read more

Service was excellent. The drinks were so unique and so delicious. The salmon croquettes will blow your mind.

It's a secret...shhhhh! Needle and Thread??? Ambience. A Service. A Food. A Price. C Love this place. Great low light ambience. Small number tables in main room. Door person, waiters are all nice tonight on early Friday nite. Ordered special cocktailwith egg whites, chili's and gin. Trusted mixologist to create. Got something with gin, turmeric, bakers spice chili and some sort of citrus. Delish. Now this auto gratuity added as well as tax now makes going out %25-30 over the bill. Wow. Two signature cocktails was $32. And then another $10 for gratuity /tax. Ouch! I'm a fan to visit at times . Forgot they have a good happy hour. Will be back for the Happier pocket book moment. read more

See all

Wow! What a disappointment. Visiting from the bay area, I asked a bartender at the Cider House for a recommendation, she suggested Tavern Law. At first I was stoked, they have a special "old school" rotary phone you have to use to see if space is available upstairs. You then get buzzed in through a vault door. Awesome, right?? Plus, they do not have a drink menu. Each cocktail is specially made to your specific taste. Now here is where I am really confused and disappointed. After my second drink, having pre-ordered a third, I was told that there is a reservation for a one- top and I would have to leave. I asked to speak to a manager and they denied the request. They told me to pay my bill before I talk to a manager with the intent of getting their money before any issues were resolved. They finally told me that a manager was too busy to come and talk to me, I requested to get my jacket to leave, they refused. I told them that I had my house keys in my jacket, and they finally broke down and gave it to me. The bouncer then grabs me by the wrist and tries to escort me downstairs, I pulled away and he did not continue to pursue any sort of physical action, but over all I have to say I am very disappointed and would not recommend this place to anybody visiting the Seattle area. I will be calling to file a complaint tomorrow morning, hopefully with the restaurant manager. read more

Cozy digs with extremely friendly staff, both in front of and behind the bar. Thoroughly satisfying , substantial bar food and expertly crafted cocktails. Extra star for a kitchen that stays open later than most. Will definitely be back. read more

Stopped for a drink and a bite on my way home from a work meeting. The Bitter Giuseppe ($13) was exactly what I wanted- bitter and boozy mix of cynar and carpano antica with a dash of bitters. Roasted cauliflower ($14) was also very good. Good selection behind the bar, so would definitely return to try more of the menu. read more

See all

Beautiful delicious cocktails and great food to boot. I ordered their foi gras which was delicious. Sweet and salty on toasted buttered bread read more

Will never visit Capital Hill again. Inconsistent crowd and environment. The cocktail at Tavern Law was okay, but nothing to write home about. Truly disappointed by the customer service - if you say that you can fit a couple people into the speakeasy, Needle and Thread... do not have the couple wait at the bar for over an hour... just say that it doesn't look like the waitlist is an option. Do not waste customers time. read more

Oooh 1.50$ oysters! Great happy hour although service was just okay. At first Katie seemed like she was great, I asked a lot of questions about the food... maybe I annoyed her because then she didn't really take good care of us. We ordered fries that never came, a salmon thing on happy hour I really wanted to try, that never came either. Oysters were great so was the mac and cheese, fried chicken bites were lacking flavor but the house made ranch was the bomb! So they still were pretty good dipped in ranch. I would like to check out The speakeasy sometime so I'll probably come back, maybe update my review read more

Tavern Law - Smokey Mac & Cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I had so much fun at this bar, its beautifully decorated with really great staff. Alec was our bartender and took great care of us. He had extensive knowledge over the the whiskey and bourbon at the bar and made great reccomentaions for cocktails. I can't remember the name of the carrot cocktail with the whole egg & sherry, but it was to die for. Super perfect dessert cocktail. We heard about how great the upstairs bar is but it is seemingly difficult to get a reservation. Can't wait to come back for dinner and see what else this place has to offer!! read more

We came here on a Friday night around 10pm and were able to get seats at the bar within 5 mins which I thought pretty good for a popular bar on a Friday night. Both my cocktails were imaginative and tasted great. You could really taste the different flavors in them. I liked the smoking cinnamon stick in my tiki drink (can't remember the name). It ain't cheap but for a couple of really nice drinks in a buzzy sexy atmosphere, I have to recommend it. read more

I've never been so blatantly discriminated against. Who ever the bouncer is, he's rude and doesn't value common decency. There was myself and two of my girl friends and he immediately accused two of us of having fakes! He says "if it's fake we gotta take it", cool, they aren't. He takes our IDs to the back and comes back five minutes later and hands them back and says we can't accept these WA STATE GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDs. What happened to taking IDs that were fake? No reason was given. I get wanting a certain type of person in the bar but flat out lying and being accusatory isn't acceptable for an establishment that survives on locals. I hope that among all of these reviews a member of management who cares about integrity finds this and offers a little customer service training for your FOH staff, if they are okayed to continue to pull stunts like this then at least train them to come up with a valid/believable lie. read more

This place never fails. Good food and drinks. The parking is a pain, but so is everywhere in capital hill. If you can get the reservation to go upstairs, do it! They make drinks off the menu, and all you gotta do is tell the bartender what drink based on your taste and feeling. Weird as it sounds, it works . Come here and check it out! read more

See all

Tavern Law reminds me of the celebration of our Speakeasy Histroy of 1919 Volstead Act and providing thirsty patrons with crafted spirits in hidden rooms and dark basements. Voted the best 25 bars in America by GQ Magazine. Still one of my favorite places to get a well crafted cocktails, fine wine and masterfully prepared food that makes my tongue dance all night long. Unassuming exterior, but walk in with bartenders and staff dress up to the nines. Large wooden bar that invites you to sit at the bar with coat/purse hangers under the bar and large comfy stools. A wall of books to give a feel of a law library. A two way mirror which can be a tv on special occasion. A vault and a telephone to another secret passage to the upstairs of Needle and Thread. Even the bathroom is very nice and clean with individual towels to wipe your hands and soap with this incredible addicting smell. Some of my favorite bartenders have left but new dedicated talented bartenders just as good replace them with the art of mixing drinks. The difference is Tavern Law has an extensive cocktail menu or make a cocktail with your liking of favorite spirit, choice of words like spicy, savory, sassy, sour and choice of bitters. If I am not in the mood of a crafted cocktail, I normally order a Old Fashioned or Mint Julep...if I am, I want a spicy, sour with fresh grapefruit juice (they squeeze fresh squeeze fruit juice), bitters and vodka. Also, TL happy hour is killer with cocktails only $7 like my favorites cocktails of Moscow Mule, Vesper (007 Bonds Drink), and Jack Rose. 10% off food. I believe Sunday is all day Happy Hour. The food is also masterfully prepared to play with your tastebuds. I like the fried chicken and smash red potatoes, pan seared trout with eggplant + squash, Foie Gras Terrine with basil huckleberry + warm toast, new pork shoulder, and my FAVORITE The Natural Beef Burger with this amazing red wine reduction onion jam, provolone melted cheese ($15) and adding a pork belly ($4). A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ! ! ! If not the best burger, one of the best burgers IMO. If you haven't visit Tavern Law to drink a couple of tasty crafted cocktail drinks or taste any of the masterful food menu, then you are missing out! read more

See all

I was first introduced to Tavern Law because I saw it in a bunch of Websites and Magazines such as G.Q being Featured as being Best 25 Bars in America. This led me to experience what the Hype was all about for myself. I am more of a Cocktail drinker than a beer drinker and the Drinks they make are Delicious. One helpful tip is that if you tell the Bartender what you like, they can whip up an Excellent drink for you. I tend to prefer Sweet, Fruity, Tart, Gingery, and Citrus Drinks. Not only do they have Fantastic Cocktails but just like Quinn's, Spur, Old Sage, and The Coterie Room the Gastropub food is Unbelievable. Food: Spiced Fried Chicken- This is the kind of meal that can bring a Lil Sunshine to anyone's day. The Fried Chicken has my Favorite Fried Chicken Skin Ever! Chicken skin, if prepared right can be more delicious than Bacon. At Tavern Law The Fried Chicken has the most Amazing Crusty Exterior with Honey Drizzle for something sweet in your life. The Spices used in the Batter are a flavor Roller Coaster for your Taste Buds. The Chicken has been Brined for Days and Sous Vide to make it extra juicy. One of the Best Fried Chicken Dishes I have had in My Life. Natural Beef Burger with Pork Belly- Imagine the Quinn's Burger with a Big Phat Chunk of Pork Belly on top with Red Wine Onion Jam. The Burger The Red Wine Onion Jam was quite a surprise. Goes really well with most drinks. The Shoe String Fries that it comes with are also very good as well. read more

See all

We grabbed a small bite at Tavern Law since we had reservations at Kneedle & Thread. I like the ambiance here. It's dimly light, lively and wasn't stuffy. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating. We shared the burger and added the pork belly. The burger was delicious and pork melts in your mouth tender. I loved the red wine jam that it came with. They do craft cocktails here but we saved that for upstairs. Great place for dates or catch up with friends. read more

Tavern Law - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Is it just me or do you guys ALSO feel pretty darn cool when you walk in, head straight to the rotary phone, and get let in upstairs? That space is just so impressive. I love the decor. This last time I used the restroom upstairs, and loved that they have little hand towels that you throw in a basket when you're done with them (instead of paper towels that get thrown away). It just FEELS better. So, the main reason I came here the second time was because one of the Seattle visitors I was helping entertain is gay. He wanted to relax in a quiet lounge and get a taste of Seattle's "gay district." I decided to step it up a notch and make his experience a little MORE special by taking him to the upstairs section that you have to be in-the-know to know about. The two travelers and my local friend LOVED it! The staff members were pleasant and this time the drinks came right away. The boys each enjoyed a cocktail while we girls downed glass after glass of water. My friends were a tad bit disappointed because they are/were on a raw diet, and all of the food options contained meat, fish, and/or a dairy-based sauce. I ended up trying what I think was the trout with some... peas? It was very tasty, but I wasn't sure if it was QUITE worth the $14 price tag to me. Oh, and his wish to see the the "gay scene" in Seattle? Most definitely granted! A whopping 3/4 of the couples that we saw come into the upstairs lounge were attractive well-dressed 20-30something men. Obviously we were ASSUMING that they were there on a date and not just as friends - but, it was an assumption we were happy to stick with. read more

This is the type of place I LOVE to visit when I travel. Why? Because it's different, and has something unique to offer! Tavern Law specializes in pre-prohibition drinks. Their menu is divided into many categories, with a glossary at the end to educate you on the difference between sours, flips, fizzes, swizzles, highballs, and more. Their bar has an assortment of bitters, and odd things to mix into your drink, including eggs, milk, absinthe, nutmeg, fresh-squeezed juice, etc. Many of the menu items even have a year printed next to them to indicate the time period that it came from. If you're a little overwhelmed, it's not a problem because the bartenders are completely knowledgeable, friendly, and creative. Just tell them what you like and what you don't like, and they will concoct something for you! Seattle has a law that all places that serve alcohol also serve food. This is quite the advantage for me! Their tapas were delicious! We had pork belly, duck, foie gras, yukon gold potatoes, and butterfish. Each person could not agree with each other on what our favorite dish was, so I will not report which was the most tasty. They were all good! There is an old phone that you can use to call upstairs to let you in to the special area. Nice couches, dimmed lights, very vintage! We didn't get to eat up there, but they let us take a look around. I very highly recommend this place as an interesting spot for any connoisseur, as it is fun to try something interesting and new. The drinks and atmosphere made me feel like I was in an episode of Mad Men! Pictures of the tapas uploaded. read more

See all

I have mixed feelings about this place. I like the decor and ambience. Also their infamous popcorn chicken is pretty good. We were there for happy hour and tried a couple cocktails including Gimlet and whisky shots. Their happy hour menu runs through 7pm and is a good bargain ($10 cocktails). The only reason i didnt like it here was the bar tender. He was not nice and attentive. I gave him my order a couple times and he didnt even nod to acknowledge he heard me. That was while i was sitting right in front of him. After a couple mins, he asked with vodka? So he clearly had heard me but chose not to even respond. Anyways, i might go back with friends again. read more

Holla! The drinks are da effin bomb baby. Yah. I said that. So, my company hosted our annual Holiday Party upstairs, private party, we had two bartenders to ourselves. To get upstairs you have to be really stealthy. It's locked down with an old safe door like at a bank. And I mean locked. We had to pick up this phone next to the door and tell em who we were and get permission to enter, and then the door does this unlock thing, and you can then use your might to pull it open and head up the stairs. We couldn't see anything but stairs, and we heard very different music than what was on downstairs. It was great. An early 1900's style place with hooded chairs and a super fancy bathroom. OMG, so awesome. Note - there are all these cute little rolled up hand towels in a basket in the bathroom, you can use them to wash your hands (or face, I suppose). Now, if, like me, you get a bit too lit, and you want to adore the cute little rolled up towels by patting them like kittens, you run the risk of, well, eh hem, knocking them all over like dominoes. It was pretty entertaining. See, free entertainment in the bathroom for drunk people! Even better. Open bar. They did it Speakeasy-style: you tell em the flavors or elements you like in a drink, and they come up with something fantabulous. And stiff. I had at least 4 stiff ones that night. Oh boy, and these are new coworkers for me! Thank God my boss and some others were lit, too. I asked for fruity and girlie with vodka. I got some kick ass drinks with a twist, and not too sweet. Drool. Want. More. The appetizers were fancy and yummy, all except for one thing, I didn't really want that kind of food with my alcohol. Fios Gras - really? Yuck. I know it was high quality and all, but I was barely able to swallow it without...well, let's just say I had only one. The rest of the appetizers were absofickinlutely fantastic, and rich, as I mentioned. Mmmm. The servers were top notch friendly folks who were happy to hold a conversation and make sure your needs were met, and just get to know you in general. It was cozy. This place is at the top of my list for where to host a party for say 15-30 people with room to breathe. read more