5 stars for great indoor and outdoor seating with lovely ambiance, requiring proof of vaccination, making an amazing Manhattan, friendly and warm service, and a great happy hour menu. This was a fantastic gem away from the crowds everywhere on the waterfront, and our dining experience felt safe and lovely. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We just stopped in here to grab a drink. The place was packed, and we had about a 10 min wait to get a table. We each got one drink - they were OK. We didn't get any food. This review is largely based on the ambiance and service. It's a cool little spot, close to downtown. It's worth checking out. read more

A group of four stopped in here for a quick drink before attending another engagement. Doors were promptly opened at 5pm and there were already people standing outside waiting to be seated. There is a small outdoor seating area. We chose to sit inside to better experience the classy ambiance. There were several tables with reserved markers on top of them (reservations are available for 6+ parties). Tabs were easily split. Discover is an accepted form of payment. My wife ordered the Corn and Oil drink for $11 - served in a rocks glass and tasted like Fall. Her next drink was a rum (Zaya) and coke for $10. I ordered two glasses of Washington merlot for $9 each. For snacks we ordered the fried almonds with sea salt for $5 - served about 1 cup of raw, warm and slightly salted almonds. Delish healthy snack that paired well with our drinks. Our friends ordered the Warm Cougenes for $5 - served a quantity of 8. Think mini puff pastries/croissants filled with Gruyere cheese. Not my fave and I didn't get the impression it was their fave either. Get the almonds though! Great job Zig Zag in offering a wide variety of premium spirits. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive. Keep mixing, shaking and muddling Zig Zag! read more

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Funny thing, neither my wife nor I drink. Yet we came here because after a delayed flight and rainy day, it was open and we were hungry. Im glad we did. Im from LA. I know good food and good burgers. While many may not consider it a burger haven, LA is a huge burger haven and has some of the best anywhere from Fathers Office, In n Out, Apple Pan etc I tried the burger here and I have to say, it was probably the best burger I have ever had. Very surprised as its not upfront in anyway. The burger was completely perfect. Right cheese, perfect bun, good density on meat, cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. They did everything right with this thing despite how simple it looks. Highly recommended and would definitely eat there again! read more

My husband and I dined out at Zig Zag last night and really enjoyed our experience. The atmosphere is a little darker and romantic. The octopus appetizer was very good and so were our entrees. My husband really enjoyed the Greek lasagna and I loved the watermelon feta salad. For dessert we had the chocolate creme brûlée which was delicious. I am not a fan of standard creme brûlée, but this one was perfect and not too sweet. They also feature an extensive and unique cocktail menu. Our waitress Katie was attentive and friendly and helped make our time spent here very pleasant. I would definitely return to this spot in the future. read more

Check out the oysters with the ouzo garnish if you come. Excellent whiskey and scotch selection and many hand craft cocktails if you're feeling cocky. Wait staff was attentive and accommodating. Food was affordable, local, unique, and with just enough irreverence to keep the palate wondering. A bit hard to find but well worth the effort. Listen to the sounds of a good time to help with the discovery. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We really wanted to love this place but nothing wowed us. Caesar salad was pretty much just lettuce. The Brussels sprouts were good though.

What an amazing place to dine, have a drink or a date. The ambiance is amazing. The service is the best.

Innovative and delicious cocktails. Great food in a fun spot. Our go to place before Sounders games

I went back to Zig Zag when I saw there were no cruise ships in town from my condo's windows. That meant I could get a seat at the bar. Ricky and Elias were bartending, and with foresight, I began with an expresso martini. With the intent of doing some writing, I pulled out my iPad, and unfortunately it collapsed, breaking a glass. Ricky, being kind, made me feel less embarrassed by explaining the glasses are not expensive, used for the candles. That was a kind gesture. That empathy and warmth is one of the reasons the Zig Zag Cafe is special. I met a couple from Atlanta, via Texas, and discussed 1950s and 1960s Cold War novels and films. They were young, dot com, and at least forty years younger than me. They didn't care, and their interests went beyond the keyboard. The Zig Zag does that. I was sad to leave, but it was Friday evening already, and time to meet my wife. In winter, your windows don't need a good view. Local or tourist, hit up the Zig Zag. read more

Elias was a phenomenal bar tender! Professional and very technical. Appreciate this time to tell us the history of this amazing cocktail bar! read more

The oysters were delicious and I wish they provided more in the portions. I also had the burger which was absolutely delicious! The fries were extra crispy and seems like they make it in house. The ambiance is very relaxing and would awesome for a date night spot. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - Baked oysters - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been coming here for about 20 years, and it's pretty hard to beat this classic for music, ambience, and exceedingly competent bartenders. The server staff know their jobs, and the kitchen puts out consistently high quality comfort food. We don't get down here often, but when we're near the market, Zig Zag is near the top of the list. read more

This was such a fun place to visit. Cool little atmosphere with fun people watching. I loved to pick out and then drink those tasty cocktails. Also got some tasty apps yay! read more

How have we missed this spot on all of our years visiting family in Seattle?! We had a great stop here for happy hour. Lovely outdoor area to sit and relax. Lots of drink choices and very well made. And the happy hour bites were delicious -- we got the hush puppies (absolutely delicious!) and Brussel sprouts. Very friendly staff. As we left we were already talking about stopping by again when we come back this summer! read more

Seems like people come here for the drinks more than food. Lots of folks drinking at the bar. We had Special of the day which is beer battered tuna belly with crispy potato salad - the crispy potatoes were perfect and the tarter sauce is also amazing. However he fish was extremely dry. Service is good. Everyone is really nice and attentive. Zig zag burger ($16) - tasty and cooked medium perfectly as requested. This was a good burger. It's a rather small burger for $16z Cheese Gruyeres (can't spell) - not good. They should be light and fluffy with hint of cheesiness but these were big giant dense gruyere. It was disappointing. This is located in pike place but for the price I paid I wanted to be a little more wowed. seems like food could be hit or miss. read more

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Great ambience, knowledgeable bar tenders providing exceptional service and I can't complain about the food. The worst thing about coming here is I always end up walking past 1-2 times but the location is also part of the charm. read more

My husband and I stopped in for drinks on a Sunday night around 5, shortly after they opened. Though the sun was out, this place was dimly lit and the decor and jazzy vibes gave it a classy, old-timey feel. We sat at the bar, which is the best seat at cocktail bars like this where you can watch the bartenders work. They had an impressive list of bottles for every type of spirit/aperitif, as well as a manageable list of house cocktails which I appreciated (sometimes you go to cocktail bars and their cocktail list is big enough to be a book, ya know?). The drink I chose had an obscure Haitian rum that I'd never heard of. When I asked the bartender "what is this?" he kindly detailed the flavor profile. My husband ordered a bourbon based drink with a spritz of absinthe over the glass. Both drinks were nuanced and well-balanced, cost about $13, and were perfectly boozy. The 'tucked away' location on the hill climb behind the market adds to the unique atmosphere...that is...until you have to head back up the stairs post-cocktail. ;) Can't wait to come back another time for HH, and food! read more

Delicious, but r.e.d.i.c.u.l.o.u.s.l.y. over priced (food is, at least) cocktails run $13 which I guess is standard, but the food price is crazy. I ordered the chicken skewers, and they were about the size of a larger tootsie roll. There were 3 of them and they were $12. The pita bread with dips is $7, when a reasonable price would be about $3. Pros: the cocktails were actually really good, I had a mezcal based drink with honey and lemon bites, and it was delicious. Also the service was great. Random cons: this place is so hard to find. There should be a sign or something. It took me about 10 mins after my uber dropped me off to find this place. I'd come here again, just for a drink though, having already eaten a full meal. My overall rating for this place is 70%. If the portion sizes were bigger or more reasonably priced, I'd give it 4 stars. read more

We are not locals and had difficulty finding this place, but we eventually found it. Once we got in, it was pretty nice. Ambience was great, I'd say perfect for a date or small group of friends. Drinks: I ordered a cocktail called captain finger guns, loved it. My husband ordered a beer. Food: We ordered Taziki with pita and deviled eggs, we loved both. Our orders were mixed up and took too long, since the food was good I can let that slide. This place definately deserves another visit. read more

I was traveling alone for business and wanted a relaxed, upbeat place to grab dinner and a drink at the bar. This place fit the bill with great food and a fun vibe. The staff was very friendly and helpful, especially when they mailed the shopping bag I left behind back to me in Philadelphia. I will definitely make sure to stop back in the next time I'm in town. read more

I came here after an event at the aquarium and it was the hardest place to find! We had to ask around and go up and down some stairs, but eventually found it. Since we came on a weeknight around 10pm, there was no wait, but still a good crowd. We sat at the bar and stared at the extensive list of drinks. To be honest, I forgot what kind of cocktail I got, but it was really well crafted so I recommend it! The ambiance was dim lighting and actually reminded me of Beauty and the Beast with the roses on the tables, the dark lighting, and the lampshades. Overall a pretty cool place to hang out with a date or friends. read more

zig zag is a perfect spot for an after-work happy hour drink with friends, and seems like it would fit the bill for a romantic evening or first date. Pros: the patio! what a treat to be able to sit outside and also feel tucked away and secluded. after zigging and zagging down the stairs to find the place, i was seated in the corner with a view of everyone stuck in rush hour traffic on the viaduct. the road is far enough away that the noise isn't an issue, and the stairs offer some fun people watching. - the service was also impeccable. i don't think my water glass ever got less than 1/3 empty before it was refilled. everyone was very nice and attentive, but not overly so. - the food! great happy hour options. my date and i had the dip sampler with pita and the cheese plate. they do not skimp on the pita, which i really, really appreciated. usually you have to awkwardly ask (and probably pay) for more, after a small serving. not here. cheese were good, but you'd find better at a place like le pichet or bottlehouse. still great. - the drinks are phenomenal and the server did a great job recommending some options. good HH drink specials as well. $8 strong old fashioneds with a variety of liquor to choose as the base, as well as some other deals. Cons: don't have any! having only tried a small portion of the menu, i can't speak to their dinner service, but i imagine it's good. this spot had been on my list of places to visit for far too long. do yourself a favor and go! read more

Zig Zag Cafe - Outside patio - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love Zig Zag Cafe...the staff was accommodating, the ambiance was warm and the fdod/dribks were all very good!!! We walked in and there weren't any tables available so the hostess found us a place at the bar until she could get is a table. By the time we knew what we wanted a table was available. We sat down, we ordered 3 cocktails the Greek fries and the Chicken Kebobs. EVERYTHING was good. The Greek Fries- they were crispy on the outside and seasoned just right. They came with a a Greek Ranch Dressing and Feta Cheese that we put on the side. I asked for ketchup on the side too. (The Greek Ranch was soooo gooooooood) The Chicken Kebob- came with three skewers, a slaw and Greek Yogurt. The chicken was cooked to perfection (not dry at all) and the slaw was a nice pairing. The Kebob was a great compliment to the fries and cocktails. We only had a couple appetizers bc we were bar hopping and if you're wondering, I would recommend you try both apps if you're not sure what to get. DRINKS: We ask the servers what their fave drinks are and try those; we are really trying to stay open minded. We got the Coconut Collusion, the Ginger Snap and a drink made wit Mezcal. The Coconut Collusion was my fave. read more

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Zig Zag Cafe is the real deal guys! The atmosphere is super chill and intimate. Despite how popular this place is on Yelp and how close it is to touristy attraction, I've never had an issue with it being crowded. Maybe it's because it's tucked away underneath Pike Place Market and can be a bit difficult to find. It's a great place to grab a drink with friends or come here with coworkers for happy hour. Honestly the food menu features weird Mediterranean food, but don't come here for the food, come for the drinks! The cocktails here are not crazy, just renditions of classic drinks, but they are so well prepared! The prices are not bad either even during non-happy hour. The waiters are very knowledgeable and attentive about their menu so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations! Just a place with a great jazzy, easy-going vibe. read more

The bread putting was awesome! The service was great, music and ambiance was real cool. I'm a beer guy so their rotating tap was awesome.

Many locals told me this was the place to be and they were right. Their drinks menu is outstanding, only to be outdone by the drinks themselves. The bartender, Elias (I hope I remembered his name correctly) is outstanding and makes a delicious cocktail. Tempted by their dessert options, I went with the honey yogurt cake and it was delicious and I ate enjoyed every single bite but one so I felt better. This place is highly, highly recommended by locals and that says a lot. For a visitor like me, it can be a bit tricky to find, but I asked a few people and they led me in the right direction. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here for drinks with my mom. Arrived a little before 5pm so we were the first to be seated. The place is very nice, cute ambiance, and our waitress was ok. We ordered our drinks, don't really remember when they were called. My mom got a coconut one and I ordered a cherry drink. When our drinks came out I was surprised with how tiny they were but figured they would be strong. The coconut drink was a little stronger than mine but we didn't Really care for it. The cherry drink wasn't strong at all and tasted like cherry juice with ice. The drinks we had upstairs at Place Pigalle were a lot better and WAY stronger. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Had drinks and appetizers there. The house drink I ordered was average. The baked oysters were average. But the thing that makes this place a one star is the snarky service we got. We had come from an out door event and we're not dressed up, maybe they thought we weren't good enough to be there. read more

Dark and cozy, with delicious bites and strong cocktails. We had deviled eggs, the pork skins, and almonds and olives for snacks before dinner at Cutters. The eggplant dip with the pork skins was the highlight. It was silky smooth, and not like baba ganouj, if that's what you were thinking. There's an off-menu cocktail-with-a-story, if you're interested. Called the Chas, it's bourbon, Cointreau, and other potent tastiness. A Pike Place institution, you must come to Zig Zag if you're in Seattle. read more

Zig Zag Cafe - The Chas (off the menu) - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Zig Zag was a great dining experience. We were looking for something open later as most "dinner" spots close earlier and we tend to eat late. We were greeted at the door warmly and prior to being seated provided proof of vaccinations. We had this on our phones and were able to easily provide. The "host" was graciously apologetic but wanted to make sure every patron was safe and had a good experience. The interior was warm, stylish and well decorated. The bar was well stocked and looked like any request could be made. We sat inside but there was also patio dining and dogs were welcome. For the drinks I had a delicious Manhattan and my wife ordered the Turn the Vit Around which she liked. For food we shared the delicious Jalapeño cornbread (just like my grandmother's), a mixed green salad and the BEST pork chop I have probably ever had!!! The server was kind and pleasant and the "host" kept checking on us to make sure we were doing well. He did this with everyone in the restaurant. Turns out he is the owner and this little gem has been open for 20+ years! Ben, thank you for a wonderful evening and another memory to add to our first trip to Seattle. We will definitely be back and see you again! -the LeBruns read more

tl;dr - This place has a cool, intimate atmosphere. I would come back for dinner or drinks. Great date place! First off, this place was a little hard for me to find initially. It's located off Western Ave, but just make sure to go downstairs instead of upstairs. I made the mistake because the sign said 2nd floor. I went there for dinner around 7pm on a weeknight with a friend and was able to get seated immediately. They don't take reservations but they have a standing bar which you can grab a drink while you wait. It's a relatively small place and was rather dimly lit but had a really cool speakeasy feel to it. I ordered the harissa lamb and my friend ordered the chicken. Both were delicious and well cooked. The lamb was extremely tender and flavorful with a bed of beans and greens. The chicken was also very juicy and had skin left on which was perfectly crispy. One thing I would note is that the food seemed to take a really long time to be served. We were busy talking so it wasn't a problem this time, but had I known it would have taken so long, I would have ordered an appetizer. read more

My 5 star rating is completely attributed to the deviled eggs. It was the most amazing deviled eggs I've ever had. the boiled egg wasn't soggy as it often times is. The yolk, mayo, paprika was mixed to perfection and the thinly cut chives added great textural variety. The overall mouth feel was spot on. Next time, I think I'll have a platter of my own :P My friend and I both had the Sayonara, which I'm assuming is the Last Word. It was fine, but nothing mind blowing. Also, the ambiance is super sexy and modern. Such a great place to feel alive and hang with friends or bring a date to relax in an unique cafe/bar. Very cute very cute :3 read more

Zig Zag Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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What a whimsical menu and location! Highly recommended by the locals and has oodles of class. A little tough to find, but well worth it.

BEST HAPPY HOUR. So many fun drinks and yummy snacks. They have one of the most extensive cocktail menus I've ever seen and it was hard to decide on just one (okay, two) to try. For snacks we had the fries which have a great balance of salt and dress black pepper and the crispy pig skin which came with a fantastic aioli. We arrived around 5:30 and were able to get a seat on their small patio, but the inside looked nice too if the patio is full. read more

I was iffy about coming here because you literally walk down like 400 stairs. Im not even kidding. Especially in the rain, its soooo dangerous. I literally could have cracked my head open. Anyways, finally made it to Zig Zag. Its all RED inside. So burlesque esqe LOL. The drinks were strong AF. I like the vibe. Super chill and kinda hipster. We didnt get any food cause we ate dinner before but from the people around us, it looked bomb. Especially their Pita bread platter thing. And i heard their Deviled eggs are the best in the world. But i Couldnt stuff anything. SOOO FULLL. Next time I am in Seattle, Ill def come here for a meal cause the walk back will def burn it all off. STAIRS STAIRS AND MORE STAIRS!!! read more

Great place for drinks and snacks. The peanut appetizer and devilled eggs are really good. A nice unique selection of cocktails as well. The place is a little difficult to find as it's somewhere in the middle of the stairs but it's great. read more

Zig Zag has been on my Seattle bookmark for ages - I had expected this place given on Pike's Place to be fancy and modern. But actually, it's a more casual but dimly lit place and the food was solid. read more

Giving it a slightly higher rating since I'm a big bourbon fan and they have a wide selection with reasonable prices. The drinks here are a bit pricy, but the bourbon is too notch with some really good top shelf stuff. read more

What's not to like about this place. Stellar service, ambient lighting, great menu and it's sexy! Wow, the bartender approached our table three times to make sure the drink my date ordered was to his liking. And the service of how we we were doing to filling our waters was outstanding. I will come back to meet sexy people and take the staff for a drink or house fries (which are delicious). The sexiest place I could recommend! read more