I'd call this place the Mullet of Capitol Hill. It's all business in the front and a party in the back. The party is the most chill, comfortable, welcoming one in the hood. I love what the place is right now and don't want it overrun with trendspotters or overly-exuberant revelers. It's great as it is: knowledgeable, patient, friendly staff, a very cool space, good conversation, delicious food, and board games galore for when you crave a little competition with your IPA. I halfway wish there was liquor served here, but I think its absence is what keeps the bar so mellow. I will happily live with a great beer and wine selection. read more

Vermillion redefines the standard of a "hole in the wall" bar. My last visit here was purely by mistake. We saw an art gallery open at 11:30pm - we thought, this must be cool to be open this late. so upon walking in we were takin back by the strangely beautiful artistry in a small concrete floor room. towards the back we saw a crowd of people, as we approached we heard the cool cuts of old school hip hop spinning on vinyls. with limited seating a lot of people stand around making it a little crowded when it comes to ordering drinks but between the good company, heavy drinks and great music i could have cared less :) read more

Frankly put: Vermillion is weird. It's not loungy or dancey like its neighbors Barca and Purr. Vermillion is in a category of its own. It also has some of the cheapest drinks I've seen on the Hill! To get to the bar, you'll have to venture past strange art pieces and occasionally a DJ. All in all, t's a fun place to have happy hour or to prefunk for a crazy night. read more

One of the underrated bars on Capitol Hill. They've recently added some arcade games in the front where the art gallery is. Been here several times and the crowd has never been too crazy. There's room to dance, but it's just a nice change of pace compared to a lot of the other busier bars. read more

Like the bar and the music but... "Donations" are actually just cover. Great indoor music, but it kinda seems to me that they blast music outside just to compete/drown out other music. I've changed my review because I didn't realize donations went to performers. Makes sense. The two specific experiences weren't great overall but I've had plenty of good times here previously. read more

This is a pretty neat little place. I probably have walked by it a million times and never noticed it was there. That being said, it makes it even better because it's like your own little secret. In the front you'll find some pretty neat art. I may have walked through the front a lot quicker than I would have liked most of the night, but I still got to check it out a bit. In the back, you'll find a bar, some yummy snacks, and board games! I was here with a pretty large group and it handled us well. However, I imagine if you were here with just a few people it would be just as great. They have a great selection of wines and I love the juke box in the corner. They had a good selection of meats and cheeses, but I was a little disappointed by the meatballs that were just reheated in a microwave. They were still yummy, but I guess I was just expecting more. Overall, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to come back here again. But remember if friends are meeting you here for the first time you should be very explicit in where it is. Or wait outside so they don't end up walking past it twice trying to find the door - like I did! read more

I made my way up to the hill to meet my husband here after he had to drop off his car for some repairs. I picked Vermillion because it was close to his garage and I had heard some good things about it. I wasn't disappointed! I guess the best way to sum it up is that I got good vibes from this place. The bar has a high ceiling and distressed brick walls. I'd say there are about 10 or so tables that fit 4 people to each and a longer table in the very back to fit a few more people. The bartender was super nice. He chatted me up about my enhanced driver's license and told me how awesome it is to take the Amtrak to Canada. I ordered a glass of wine and the mac and cheese. A few minutes later he brought me out a small bowl of mac and cheese but told me it was only a half order because he needed to make another batch and that he wouldn't charge me for it. Score! I never ended up ordering more because that bowl actually made me kinda full. On the menu they also had a baked potato, meatballs, beets and a selection of meat and cheese. The prices for wine range from $4 to $11 per glass. They also have beers... Mac & Jacks on tap, a few bottles and a couple of 22's. My hubby got a Mac & Jacks and maybe I just haven't had one in a while but it was really good. I don't find myself on the hill very much, but if I'm looking for a laid back place to have a drink next time I'm around I will come back here for sure. read more

This is definitely not a place for everyone - more space is allocated for art than the bar, which I am sure is by design. The upside is it is somewhat quiet if you just want to enjoy a drink in peace! read more

Went here for the first time the other day, right when they opened. I was waiting for a big group of knitting girls to show up (i was about an hour early) so I settled in and made myself at home. The macaroni and cheese was delicious, and the cordial I ordered was a perfect lovely little treat. The server was very nice and knowledgeable about the drinks. I wound up having another wine - a very light sparkling wine - on his recommendation, and it was very good. A note to those that like to go here on weeknights - wednesdays there will be a bunch of knitting ladies and gentlemen here. taking up half the bar. I may be one of them. This might not be the best night to go if you are looking for a nice quiet drink. Just sayin. Also, I liked the artwork. That is pretty rare for me to say, since I am probably the harshest art critic i know. so that gets a star right there! read more

I lived so close to Vermillion and it took months before I finally stepped foot inside. Glad I did, finally. It's an understated spot sharing a block with Barca and Grey Gallery, so it's easily overlooked. Worth checking out. The Space: More of an art gallery than a bar/restaurant, at least from the storefront. The ambience of the back area where the actual bar is located is quite cozy and inviting. The starkness of the front gallery is misleading to what lies beyond. If it weren't for the signs out on the sidewalk, I probably would never have thought there was food and drink back there. It's a little awkwardly laid out, but you get used to it. The Food: I didn't have a full entree here, but the cheese and wine were delicious! They have Humboldt Fog, which automatically makes this a favorite spot. It's worth going here for happy hour. The Service: Surprisingly, happy hour on a Friday wasn't very busy at all. Service was great at the bar. The staff has good recommendations on food/wine, and attentive to my beverage status. The Other: Happy hour is daily 4-7pm. read more

Hanna and I engaged in a night of bar-hopping last Saturday - and for some reason, we decided to hit up a bunch of fancy-pants bars, this one being the first. I admit: we arrived fairly early to this place, and it was almost totally empty, so that could have hampered our enjoyment a bit. Coming down the long hallway to the bar was kinda cool - until we sat down, and realized that our backs were essentially to the door (the bar is L-shaped). It felt a little...disconcerting. I think this is in part due to the HUGE ceiling and warehouse-y feel of the gallery section. I almost wish the bar was a little more sectioned off to give the place a little coziness. About the drinking & eating: So far, they just have beer & wine, which is all good. The food menu looked to be delish AND reasonably priced, so I'd like to hit it up again for some pre (or post) drinking nibbles. I'm pretty sure my star rating will rise at least one, as soon as I try their mac-n-cheese. :) read more

I almost don't want to write a good review, because it's so centrally located I am always SHOCKED that it's not jam packed. I love this gallery because it is well curated, the bar is full & fabulous, the service is excellent and it's one of the few quiet places... yes quiet places (on Pike & 11th)... where I can have a drink and enjoy a conversation. The sidewalk seating has been truly rocking my summer, as well. I've never tried the food. But I hear good things. read more

I have been here exactly three times. Twice for birthdays and once on a date. The first birthday was a wonderful time - wine was flowing, snacks were plentiful... The date...well that was rubbish. We got mac and cheese, a beer and a cheese plate. Four things instead of the three-item special. Apparently this is $29 in vermillion money. Fast forward to Friday, November 13. Ben Hills' 25th birthday party. Vermillion has changed for me. Forever for the better. read more

I came here after I had dinner for a friend's birthday, only cause I saw the Yelp $10 for $20 deal. I was able to get a midori sour and long island iced tea for $10. I'm not sure if it was because I got the deal or not, but the drinks didn't taste like they had much alcohol. The ambiance is very dreary. You walk in this dark corridor, with creepy artwork on the walls. There isn't really much of an area to socialize. Not the best place to hangout with friends. read more

Came here when they were showing the Flourishing Remnants collection. Though the gallery is a bit scant, the works were interesting and engaging enough, and there was a dj spinning some earthy beats that made me want to linger in the front for longer than I needed to check out the art. The dimly lit bar is in the back. There were a number of specialty cocktails detailed on a blackboard behind the bar. I chose the John Daly, which, as you might have guessed, is an alcoholic's take on the Arnold Palmer. Very nice contrast between the sweetness of drink and what I can only describe as a very tart layer of lemon foam on top (bartender explained that he used lemon and some sort of gelatin to create the frothy texture). Creative and humorous drink concept. It wasn't crowded on the particular night I was there, so I was able to move freely between the gallery and bar. This is my kind of place. read more

So this place was interesting. It's a bar/art gallery that features rotating local artists. The back section has a DJ/music area & the bar, & the front of the place has the "art gallery" which can feature some pretty...umm..."strange & interesting" art pieces. It's a good conversation piece as you grab some drinks. The ambiance is a bit "hipster~ish" as to be expected since the place is located in Capital Hill. They do offer a limited menu of a few appetizers & whatnot, but I didn't really try any of them as I was mainly there with a few friends for drinks & to see what they had in the art gallery. The bar has a decent selection of liquors & a few bottles/cans/drafts of beer as well. Prices are reasonable for the place (bout 5 bucks for a well drink). Overall I think it's a very interesting place that deserves a visit if you get the chance. The art gallery is a bit small, but it definitely gives you something to talk about/discuss as you're enjoying your drinks. If you decide you've seen enough of the art (it's a pretty small gallery) you are able to go in the back where the bar is, have a seat, & attempt to talk over the music they have playing back there. read more

A few friends and I came out here for a Structure event and it was rapturous! Such a unique space and in a busy spot of town. The music, bar, dancing are separated by a hall making it pretty easy to enjoy both without being distracted by the other. Like others have noted they curate great art. Staffing was friendly and fast but it wasn't overly crowded either. Definitely will make my way back again! read more

A hidden gem. Well, not that hidden, except the bar is tucked away in the back so it looks like just a gallery from the street. Hands down one of the best places on Capitol Hill to engage in conversation on a Friday or Saturday night. Low key drinks (wine and beer only) are served in a surprisingly large bar, where getting a table has not been a problem. The artwork selection was an eclectic modern overview. Great conversation pieces hang on the wall. I love the fake windows and wicker light fixtures in the back bar, creating a warm and welcome glow. If they had hard alcohol, I don't know why I would go anywhere else. The prices are reasonable, wine starts at $5/glass, PBR is $2, and micros and imports start at $4. Extra points for having 22 oz. of Snoqualmie Wildcat! read more

Went to Vermillion last night and really enjoyed this bar/gallery. Low key, but not dive bar (I do like dive bars, too, just not all the time). The best part was the board games - I finally learned how to play battleship. Oh, and the little carafe my house red wine came in - it's nice to be out of the house but have it feel homey. read more

This place is awesome. Good for a group. Good for a couple. Just all around good. The bartender gave me free cupcakes and chatted with our group for a while. He was really cool. I knocked one star off because of the weird smell. It hits you as soon as you walk into the place and takes a couple minutes to get adjusted to. I can't place it. Either way, I'll be going there again. read more

Chameleon - Vermillion Ambience: 4 Food: - Drinks: 4 Value: 3 An art gallery, a bar, a DJ music venue... Vermillion is a place with many faces. It is a gallery in the front, and if you walk to the back there is a bar and an open space. On this weekend, the first weekend of the moth, it was Steady Groove Saturday, a local DJ event, hosted by one of our friends. When you mix good drinks (go for the Boy George: gin, st. Germain, grapefruit, bitters), with good friends, with good music: goodness ensues. A fitting choice for many occasions. read more

I don't know what this space is... performance space? Art gallery? bar? cafe?... but thats what makes it kind of awesome. IT's super chill, very friendly, and overall great atmosphere. The well drinks were super cheap... and they tasted like it... i would recommend sticking with beer here. read more

I "discovered" this place today... Apparently they've been around for 2 years. Eh. Awesome art display. Saw showings from 3 or 4 artists today. Decent drinks and nice crowd. read more

Summary: What's not to like about art and booze and light food? Pros: Great concept, very casual, reasonably priced food/drink. Board games too, if you are so inclined. Cons: Hit or miss on the exhibits but that is a matter of taste. read more

Came here last night to pre-funk before a Spin the Bottle variety show at Annex Theatre. It's an interesting art gallery in the front with a bar in the rear. There are about a dozen tables to post up at. And since there are no servers to help you - make sure to order your own drinks (and food) from the bar. The bartender this particular night was attentive and friendly. We didn't get food, but the menu (written on a huge chalkboard on the wall) looked yummy. Last night's menu included: Mac & Cheese, chorizo chili, meat & cheese platters, and desserts like lemon lava cake. There are a variety of board games in the corner bookcase to play, if you and your peeps want. My only gripe about this place was the loud, loud music! They must have cranked the volume up to 11 because it was incredibly difficult to hear myself think, let alone hear the peeps we were with. read more

I came here the first time for a party, and although I knew it was a gallery I was surprised at how much more of a gallery it was than a bar. In fact, if you didn't know ahead of time that there was a bar there, you might just think it was a teeny-tiny hallway of a gallery. But it was nice and spare like you expect a gallery to be until you walk back to the bar where it suddenly turns into a kind of dive-y hipster bar. It's a pretty stark difference, but I guess that's kind of cool. The bar itself is not especially well appointed and even the shelves of liquor looked kind of sad. That said, my gin and tonic was good and they seemed to be serving the HUGE amount of people with little problem. I'd like to stop in here on a night when there's not an event and see what the atmosphere is like. People seem to really like it, so maybe it just takes some warming up. read more

I love the space: the decor, the art, the set-up. Five stars for all of that! The bar was a solid four stars...not exceptional, but still better than a lot of nearby options. My biggest complaint is the crowd/vibe. Maybe I just come on the wrong nights, but it's very cliquey and the flow of the bar doesn't do much to help mingling. read more

Well lemme tell you guys a something special, i do like this place as much as i like hamburgers. And that's alot lemme tell ya. I eat about 6 hamburgers a week, i take my dog Theodore with me as well and treat him to one to. I don't like tomatoes on my hamburgers though, but Theodore does oddly enough, weird huh? Anyhow I digress.....so i went to Vermillion after my wrist massage appointment a few weeks back because my friend Dickran Phillips suggested it to me saying that the place had wonderful lighting and great Evan Williams whiskey, and boy not only was he right about that, he was also right about the fine urinal unit in the mens lavatory, i never seen one of those in such a clean condition before, Theodore loved it, well at least that's what he told me. I also ordered some of the meatballs and a cheese plate, from the amazing bartender named Alex I recall, he was a sweet man, great taste in music, he suggested the foggy cheese, along with some others and a fine salami from Europe. These things were almost as good as my daily hamburgers, and Theodore sure liked them too. As for the drinks i had a few but i knew my cut off limit is about 7 drinks so after that i stopped and looked at the art on the walls, there was a bunch of animals mounted with rifles and skulls, i felt like i was in a western movie based in a urban setting, like oh my god wow these animals could be real and dangerous, then it was all ruined when i saw the polar bear in the window because polar bears don't exist in the wild west or in the city........well nor do whales either.......Theodore and i were confused so we went and ordered some drink on the menu called like "john Denver" or something and discussed mens underwear with some blond girls in the corner, they loved Theodore i told them about his love of hamburgers, they laughed with joy and splendor!! laughter filled the room and bounced off the walls like rainbow jello, and speaking of jello these girls had alcohol jello shots!! I never heard of such madness, i almost spit my john Denver out all over Theodore and the lovely ladies ......oh boy I'm glad i didn't do that, they may have got up and walked away. By that time it was about 6pm and i had been there for nearly an hour and a half and my daily hamburger was calling, so at that moment i closed payed my bill, grabbed Theodore and jogged out the door into the city night, the gay guys yelled at me saying things like "wow now theres a hamburger man if ain't seen one" and "gosh look at him go, he must be the hungriest person on the hill, i wish him and his little friend the best of luck on their hamburger ventures." With that being said i conclude my Vermillion experience with a 5 star rating and a smile....thanks vermillion.....you guys are good. read more

Totally cool space. I went here for a friends birthday party and loooved the way the art is displayed and how each space is unique. Good selection of drinks and food and not hoity-toidy artsy-fartsy. Just cool. read more

What a cool spot nestled away in Capitol Hill! I love the idea of featuring the work of local artists in a bar. Walking through the door you're greeted to a room filled with whatever the current offerings are. You can either meander about enjoying the pieces of artwork or beeline to the back of the joint where the bar is located and where the music is loudest. I chose to check out all the artwork as I'm a bit of a fan. Some of it was really, really cool and other items were simply 'meh'. I did brave the short walk into the bar to check that out. The layout is a little odd but there were plenty of people enjoying beverages and chatting it up. The few songs I heard while there were pretty good as well; they seemed to fit the spot quite nicely. I'm planning on working Vermillion into my rotation so I can check out local art a bit more frequently than I'm ashamed to admit I've done lately. I'm a fan. read more

I really loved this place. Very reasonably priced beer and wine, cool art, chill/low-key space... and it seems somewhat undiscovered by the people who sometimes make Pike/Pine an unreasonably snarky and hipster-in-a-bad-way scene. They also have a variety of food which I didn't try but look forward to checking out in the future. read more

Location of this particular bar sets it off as sort of a gem from the blatantly crowded and deafening noise of the surrounding clubs and lounges. Fronted as an art gallery with various artists on rotation, there is a decently sized bar in the rear which is actually equipped pretty well when considering its diminutive size. You used to be able to find a seat rather easily, but it seems word has caught on that Vermillion is not simply an art gallery and we had a bit of difficulty attempting to find a seat. Though we could have simply lingered about with drinks in hand out in the gallery, it feels almost awkward because there is such a separation from the art and bar scenes. Hopefully, this does not deter anyone from trying out this little gem on the hill, but it is in fact a rather tight space to be standing in so try to be a bit aggressive when people are leaving to score yourself a seat. read more

What a nice place to stumble into on a Saturday drink. Great place to hear some underground tracks with a cute atmosphere. Would return

Hung out at Vermillion for the first time to check out Art Ache, their monthly art/vintage/misc event. Loved it! Lots of booths crammed together in a small entryway. I showed up on the later end (~8pm) and a bunch of the vendors were amusingly wasted. In fact, everyone I spoke to was pretty blasé about their sales, with the exception of a very-impassioned gourmet salt seller and a fussy vintage dealer who slurred heavily and recommended I buy several hideous mu-mus. The whiskey sour was standard (i.e. nasty sweet n sour mix) which felt scandalous at $5, but whatever. Seeya next month! read more

One of the last bars worth hanging out in on Capitol Hill if you want to avoid the Chads that take over Pike/Pine on the weekends. Arcade games and an art gallery up front, cool little venue in the back with DJs occasional live bands and often enough peace and quiet to actually talk to people. The food selection is small and bland but no one's there for that anyway. Make it your office after 4pm if you've already had too much coffee. read more

I like the art gallery/bar concept, reminds me of 111 Minna down in San Francisco. But the cocktails just aren't that great and the seating area isn't all that comfortable or interesting. I feel like you need to be wearing skinny jeans and a scowl to fit in here. read more

who'd a thunk there was a bar in the back?!?! i totally passed right by it!! what a lovely place for small gathering to celebrate the greatness that is our lovely michelle b! great set up... loved the lighting, the brick walls and the bar made from the lanes at leilani in greenwood... the staff was friendly and naturally upbeat... something not seen too often! loved the art!! i love the concept of combining art and refreshments... definitely makes me want to stay longer : ) what a nice alternative when other establishments on this street can get a little crazy at times... read more

It was bound to happen. I was bound to come across such a cool place-- an art gallery x bar. They have a live DJ, cool things on the walls to showcase, and rad bartenders. I'd choose this place over other crowded places on Capitol Hill. I absolutely love Vermillion. read more

Vermillion is very much a Capitol Hill kinda place, if I know Capitol Hill, and let's face it, I really don't, not at all. It actually reminds me a lot of some of my favorite performance spaces back in Chicago, though, and that's a compliment. I first went there to attend a spelling bee put on by the good folks at Quiet, and I had a blast there; it's a small but serviceable art space, clean, easy to navigate, and interestingly laid out. The drinks are cheap as hell and the bartenders are good people, and there's usually something interesting happening, making it a solid place to stop in and see what's happening after dinner, before a show, or whenever you're strolling around the neighborhood with some time on your hands. It's unspectacular but very homey and comfortable for an art gallery; you probably won't ever become a regular, but you'll feel like one after only a few visits. read more

If u wanna dance with live rap music you can but you can also be in a quieter room with seating & still hear the music & have a conversation! There's a small patio out front for some fresh air & the drinks are strong :). The bartenders are friendly & helpful & the door guy is a delight! There are arcade games in the front for some entertainment! The vibe is so chill & comfortable, no judgements. It's so much more spacious than the entrance makes it seem and there's never a line for the bathroom! read more