From the outside, it looks kind of like a tattoo shop but inside it's a beautiful bar. Love the menu at Dark Room! There's pages of drinks that are all unique. My drink even included a polaroid picture. They even have non-alcoholic drinks which are pretty inclusive. The staff are super friendly and made my visit even better. read more

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I'm a big fan of Dark Room! This is my second time coming (this time during their version of happy hour) and it was still as cozy as the first time I went. Each time the staff have been so friendly and helpful. Kimchi Pimento Cheese (5/5): the cheese to kimchi ratio is so good. We always make sure to eat every bit of it. Mini Meatball Rice Bowl (2.5/5): it's was overly salty and a pretty small portion even for happy hour Vegan Shin Ramen (5/5): the added vegetables were very fresh and complimented the ramen. I can see myself getting this after a night of drinks. If you're looking for a place with delicious food and great cocktails this is it! read more

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Food was tasty and beautiful. I loved my drink, it even came with a cute polaroid picture for me to take home! Our server was super sweet and kind. My only critique is that the music is way too loud. I could barely hear myself or my date. Besides that, the place is great and I cannot wait to come back! read more

The name speaks for itself, from the very moment you arrive at the bar. My first impression was that the bar looked like it was closed since the door is completely dark, with the only evidence that they are actually open coming from the noise inside. On a Thursday night, it was not busy at all, so we could choose anywhere to seat. Perhaps there were about 6-8 tables occupied, but the bar was completely empty, so we took advantage of that to be seated at the bar with an excellent view of the liquor selection. We tried 3 cocktails total - Rich & Famous, Quarters for the Seoul, and Coco Mango Milk Punch. The Rich & Famous is a very interesting drink, which reminds me of one of the drinks at the Anonymous Bar in Prague. Upon receiving the drink, the bartender will take a polaroid. We requested an additional polaroid so the both of us get to keep the memories, but do keep in mind they do charge $5 extra per polaroid. It is okay, since it is a souvenir and of high quality. The drink is fairly strong - more alcohol forward with hints of citrus, though it is sweet enough to not be very bitter like a martini. It obviously is more expensive with less elegance, as the polaroid was not signed, as well as the cost of living. The Quarters of the Seoul is the drink that I came here for, as I am a visual drinker and enjoy nice presentation. This drink is presented in a SPAM container, and the drink itself is soju-based and fruity in a more tropical manner since they use passion fruit and banana. It is very easy to drink and I would 100% order this again if I come back. The Coco Mango Milk Punch is less elaborate of a drink but still delicious. It is a vermouth based drink and more alcohol-forward, since it is a more concentrated drink, and the reason this drink stood out was the use of clarified mango, involving a thorough process. Price wise, these cocktails are about average to above average, but they are well worth the price based on quality, presentation, and experience. read more

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Returned with some friends recently that hadn't been to Dark Room. We shared a few dishes. Two were the same as I had on my last visit but this time the Golden Glizzy dog off of the Golden Hour menu 3 Sisters uncured beef hot dog, kimchi pimento cheese, caramelized onion, pickled jalapeño, fried red onion, dijon, housemade poppyseed milk bread bun. Amy one of the co owners is a wonderful baker on top of being the chef so you know the bun was perfect! Matthew one of the other co owners is an excellent mixologist cocktails here are always well balanced and fun. Finally tried the Pisco & Paparazzi comes with a Polaroid of you that you can keep or put on the wall delicious drink as well. Sat at the bar this time cause I ran onto another friend that happen to be there I actually prefer to sit at the bar when I'm on my own or one other person. Always fun watching the cocktails being created read more

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This is a review for the early bird weekday, one cocktail w/nibbles, solo but curious customer (6/6/23). I was able to find free two hour street parking a block over from Greenwood. There are nearby private pay lots and also located near Metro bus routes. Dark Room had opened in early Feb 2023 in the former Teacher's Lounge site. It is cool how this radius spanning 85th & Greenwood has an evolving collection of cafes, restaurants, and bars/cocktail spots. I sat at a central two top facing the entrance and sidewalk window. Not really dark per se, since I arrived shortly after 4pm, lol. I was able to see employees doing some photography and prepping new menus at the front tables taking advantage of the natural light. The music playing during my visit was not hip hop, but a pleasant eclectic mix of rock and blues. The wait person was very welcoming as I was brought the menus and water in the ubiquitous self serve bottle. I liked the interior with the play on photography, like vintage cameras, and a featured local artist's photo collection. I ordered the following: Deep Roots ($17) - strong and smooth with a large ice cube and citrus garnish, cocktail crafted with Uncle Nearest whiskey, Jack Daniels, demerara orange bitters and angostura bitters. This was sipped slowly and made sure I consumed most of my water. I was able to also glance at the updated cocktail menu - hot off the press - during my onsite visit. Kimchi Pimento Cheese ($9) - updated pimento with local Beecher's cheese and kimchi, served with a dozen Ritz crackers. Korean Meatballs ($13) - loved the succulent beef & pork meatballs served with a delicious rice porridge, sweet and spicy sauce, cilantro, and sesame seeds. This was a generous and savory late afternoon - dunch/linner - happy hour kind of visit. I was not stuffed, but likewise, had enough to absorb that solid cocktail. Innovative cocktails. Tasty eats. Service from start to finish was pleasant and on point. A terrific addition to Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood! read more

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I was immediately drawn to this bar even from the mysterious exterior. The inside is indeed dark, eclectic and fun. The service was very attentive, helpful, and patient in describing the character of some of the drinks. The crowd was also eclectic, maybe skewing toward 30-40+. There were quite a few couples. The food menu looked really good, I'm not sure if it's fully Korean or not but I don't remember all what was on there. Some sort of pork and shrimp sandwich, and some bowls that include delicious savory proteins. The drink menu really stood out with creative combinations and some interesting variations of amaros and liqueurs. The drink I had was old fashioned like with a bit of a piney twist. I was happy with it and always glad to get a big rock when I pay a lot for a drink. Prices are around $18 per cocktail. They also offer some creative events. The one that stuck out was a 4 course meal with 3 cocktails and a movie. That sounds really fun and I'm hoping to attend one sometime. This just struck me as a great place to come in and get lost in reverie at the bar alone, or one of those interesting venues to bring friends, and clearly a good date spot! read more

Perfect for happy hour drinks! Cute, cozy, definitely a dark place but it fits the vibe perfectly! Old fashion was great! Had the circular ice cube that I love! read more

It is so nice in here. Super dark, cute vibes. Great date spot! The bartenders are so nice and knowledgeable. Unique drink menu, but they will also make whatever you want. The space is cozy and very lush. read more

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WARNING: THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER HAPPY HOUR! I have been wanting to check this place out for a weeks since they opened, and finally had the opportunity to do so this Tuesday night with a friend local to Greenwood! Parking was a breeze: there's a cute mall strip around the block with plenty of pay to park spots.The restaurant lighting lives up to name and you're immediately greeted with old school hip hop that makes it impossible not to nod along to. Our selection of cocktails for the evening included: Espresso Yourself, Pisco and Paparazzi (comes with a polaroid), and Guns N' Rosé. We each ordered a second, and agreed that this was the most impressive happy hour we have had in 2023. The drinks served as a pleasant interlude to the small plates. We split the Korean Meatballs (came w/ 4 & a delicious porridge), Banchan, and the Kimchi Pimento Cheese. The appetizers were dainty yet filling. The plating was as moody as the ambience, and those who are chopstick insecure do not fear (forks included). Each plate was perfectly paced and our water glasses were never empty. The real star of the evening was the rice bowl with soy braised beef and a soft boiled egg. The salad and mac mix together perfectly to create one of the most sophisticated dishes I have had in Seattle. We will be back. What a wonderful addition to the seattle food scene. I am excited to see what is to come! read more

Dark Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is popping. We came on Valentine's day for dinner and nearly all the tables were full. The whole time folks kept streaming in. It's a cozy space and as the name suggests, dark. Here's the food we ordered from most to least favorite: 1. Pork and shrimp sandwich. We loved the sweet bread. We split everything, but my partner said that next time, he'd just order 2 of these for himself. 2. Kimchi pimento cheese. Nice savory dish to snack on before the mains come out. 3. Meatball atop congee. Pretty good, and well-sized. 4. Beef rice bowl. I had high hopes for this dish but it was a bit off. The rice was mushy and the pickled veggies didn't taste very pickly. Hopefully this was just an anomaly. Since there are other dishes we haven't tried yet, and since we enjoyed the sandwich, we will skip this next time. I don't drink, but my partner was a huge fan of the beer lineup, and enjoyed his cocktail. Dark Room is a solid 4/5, but I'm rounding up to 5 since this is a new spot. We look forward to returning, and are excited to have this in Greenwood. Perfect for date night! read more

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The staff were so kind. The ambiance was dark and laidback. The drinks were GREAT! And we loved the Rice Bowls! Happy Hour prices were cool... but be prepared, the cocktails were on the pricey side. read more

Wow, wow, wow!!! Absolutely love this place! The Dark Room named after the photography/dark room/camera vibe that is all over this place. Oh and it's also "dark", very dim lighting and killer ambiance. It's pretty small so I would recommend coming with just a small group or a party of 2. We were lucky in that we got to be seated right away, but I can tell that won't always be the case depending on the size of your group and how full the place is. We got the last table, so like I said we lucked out. My friend got the Pisco & Paparazzi which we didn't realize but it comes with a free polaroid (remember those from back in the day?). Nice little souvenir of our adventure in the Dark Room. Also, there is a nice red sign that says "Take some shots" which is fun to do some photo ops right here in front of the sign. Drinks are around $11-$18 and they also have a food menu too but since we went around 10pm we weren't really hungry at that hour. Staff were attentive and helpful. I love all the photography/dark room decor they had (there is so much to look at). There is also a "polaroid wall" near the bathroom (which is also helpful as there is only one bathroom, so if you have to wait, you might as well be entertained while waiting for the bathroom). Great music and I feel that the "dark" theme works really well to make this place seem cozy and classy, as I'd been in the space before when it was a different bar and back then it just felt "small". It's amazing how decor & lighting can really change a place, and give it that much better of a vibe! read more

Dark room is such a great addition to the neighborhood! My partner and I came here for dinner and drinks on a Friday night around 6:30, and they were quite busy! We didn't have to wait or anything, but we did grab the last free table. They have such an interesting drink selection! My partner got the Kimcheech & Chong, and I got the Guns 'n Rose since I'm a total sucker for any drink with egg white in it. Both drinks were great! For food, we ordered kimchi pimento cheese, banchan, mayak egg, pork and shrimp sandwich, and the congee. The kimchi pimento cheese was so good esp with the ritz crackers. I loved the banchan! The night we went, they had eggplant, cucumber, and broccoli. They were all delicious, but the eggplant was def my favorite. The mayak egg is a pretty small rice bowl, so don't expect a standard size rice bowl, but it was so good! The mayak egg was cooked perfectly so the egg was jammy. My partner got the sandwich which he loved, and the congee was so good too! It was a thicker congee, so not very soupy and more a thicker oatmeal consistency, and it came with four meatballs which were really flavorful. This is probably our new favorite neighborhood cocktail spot! Will definitely be coming back and trying more of the drink and the two things we didn't order on the menu lol. read more

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I tried this place last night for the first time for happy hour, and I absolutely loved it! The food was fantastic, service was great, and overall ambience was pretty chill - not sure if they always do this but during my visit they were playing absolute 90s hip-hop bangers the whole time. My theory is this place would be a solid first date spot because the happy hour menu 4pm-6pm is pretty reasonably priced so no big pressure on cost and the portions are smaller for happy hour so you wouldn't be super full after your date. 10/10 would go again I also hear they do movie nights where they sell a multi course meal during the duration of a movie... so cool I'm definitely coming back to try that too! read more

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Darkroom is good, verging on great (so I'm rounding up). Overall, a stellar addition to the neighborhood. Things I was enamored with: The cocktails. I mean, wow. Creative. Not too boozy or too sweet. Just -right all around using interesting booze and mixers. We've been 3 times and every time I have to stop myself from trying the whole menu. Every time there is a selection of new & interesting things to try. The bites. Love that in this time & place where all the food is comfort food you can come here and get smallish portions at reasonableish prices of not-too-heavy fare. On our most recent visit we ordered rice bowls and an anju and this was perfect. Things I was less enamored of: I'm old, and cranky. I get that the theme is, well, a darkroom. But, it's dark in here. Like I couldn't make out all the things in my rice bowl because the room was too dark-- which is scary when you are a vegetarian-- but it worked out everything was delish! Two out of three times the music has been super loud hip-hop. So, I pretty much love everything about this place but the vibe. At $17-18 for most cocktails it's definitely on the spendy side. I lean toward "worth it" but, yeah. read more

This is hands down the best bar in Seattle. The bartenders are knowledgeable and the cocktails are smooth. If you're just looking for food then this is also a great option, everything on the menu is delicious. They have options for any liquor you care to drink and the space is a cool one to hang in and chat with friends or if you just want to sit read a book just look around you can do that too. 15/10 imo I haven't been to a better more inviting bar in my life read more

Went there on a Friday evening, parking was a bit painful to find but there was no wait! We were seated immediately (we chose to sit at the bar though there were a couple of table empty). The place had the perfect ambiance for a date night. I'm trying to stay away from alcohol these days and I was hoping to have some mediocre drinks. I saw a couple of drinks in the non alcoholic section. I ordered the paparazzi one. $16 for a non alcoholic cocktail looked too much but I went for it and it was amazing! I later realized the alcoholic one for the same drink came with a Polaroid! There should have been one with the non alcoholic one too! I next ordered the non alcoholic ginger based drink and it was okay. For appetizers we got the Anju and Banchan. They both were great! read more

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This is purely a Cocktail review as I came in right at opening, and ALL the owners are in the room, making food and cocktails and playing the jams. Here's my take on the Dark Room: this is your new date night spot while the kids are at grandmas/neighbors/sitter! Super elevated cocktail menu that is unique and creative, prices were 14-17$ and a simple yet tasty looking food menu of Korean inspired dishes. The rice bowl sounded YUM! I'll definetly be back for my own date night! read more

This bar reminds me of Miami in a bad way - possibly even worse. The music is blasting super loud, so you can't really hear what anyone you're with is saying, and it's not even good music either. You're just meant to drink up and shut your mouth if you're not eating or drinking. The name says it all: it's extremely dark and almost pitch black inside. The itty bitty faint candles they have aren't enough to read the menu. That way you miss seeing that all the drinks are basically $20 rounded up (over $20 after tip and tax). When we got seats, it took forever for them to take our order. Then from there, it took even longer for the drinks to finally arrive. No apology from the staff or anything at all. Just oops, here's your drinks now. I'm "only" in my early 30s and feel way too old to be going to places like this. The Oaxacan Sockem' Rumbots drink had a giant ice cube and was only filled halfway with the ice cube inside, so basically without it, it would be 1/3 or less of the cup for $20+! Nobody enjoyed their drinks that much either because they were so strong flavor-wise. Guess they use too many mixers because we could definitely taste each ingredient of each drink, but they didn't taste good together. read more

Dark Room - OAXACAN SOCKEM' RUMBOTS - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My favorite newish cocktail bar in Seattle and as a bonus, it's in North Seattle! The Dark Room takes over the former space of the Teacher's Lounge, and the room is well, very dark (hence the so so photo of my cocktail). My favorite cocktail here was the Deep Roots - Whiskey, Jack Daniels, demerera and bitters, Tastes like a more complex version of an Old Fashioned. Also loved the Teacher's Pet, which was based on calvados and with some nice accents from the walnut bitters. I love genever, and their Night Caper was interesting wit the caper brine, but loved the martinez with genever even more. The food menu is also very interesting with a twist on Korean food and I really enjoyed the meatballs as well as the Shrimp and pork sandwich. The food was very flavorful, fresh and not dry at all and paired well with drinks. The place can get very crowded on weekends, but the service is solid. But weeknights are quieter and definitely more chill. Either way, definitely worth a stop! read more

Dark Room - Deep Roots - Uncle Nearest whiskey, Jack Daniels, demerera, Orange bitters, ango bitters. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First off, We walked through the door and they we're playing deep cut hip hop tracks that I haven't heard since I was a lil boom bap loving knuckle head. This is a huge win in my book! We sat down (starving) and looked at the menu and since we couldn't decided which small plate we wanted more, we just ordered the whole damn menu! The meat balls were "smack your auntie" good! Honestly, every dish was perfect and well thought out. Now let's talk cocktails. Whoever is running the cocktail program there is not playing around! So much creativity in these drinks! We had 4 off the list and will be back to try every last one. My favorite was the "Teachers Pet". We don't get out much these days, but my partner and I couldn't have been more impressed with this amazing little place. We will be back to the Dark Room as often as we can get a chance! Cheers! read more

My friend and I have been trying to come here for months and finally got to check it out! Their cocktails and food was amazing! We wanted to try everything on the menu, but we were so full with the items we tried, we will be back! The pork and shrimp sausage sandwich and Korean meatballs were my favorite!Amy the Chef did an amazing job creating this beautiful menu and pairs well with the cocktail program! We loved the $3 shots when this one song comes on and the bright light of "take some shots" helped! Go check this place out! We would have taken more photos of the food, but the room was to dark! read more

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This place was such a fun vibe & the food was amazing!! Loved the rice bowl w spam especially. Getting a tasty drink with a complimentary Polaroid photo was also super fun :) read more

Surprising food. Innovative cocktails. Incredible service! This place is a gem. It's going to continue to expand the growing bar scene in Greenwood. One more top spot like this, and the area will explode! Check it out. read more

Amazing cocktails, awesome atmosphere, fantastic staff. Definitely recommend!! Best Moscow mule I've ever had, best old fashioned my partner has had. read more

I liked the ambiance and the music they were playing, but the service was terrible. I sat at the bar and the place was nearly empty. The bartender said he'd be with me in a minute, but 15 minutes later I was still sitting there waiting as he chatted up another customer. I eventually gave up and left. read more

Kimchi dumplings were on point. All the other food was just ok especially given price points. Came back another time just for the dumplings but the Korean owner was out of town on business and the only one that makes them. Drinks were hit and miss. Ambiance makes this place for me to come back. It gets busy so service is a bit slow. read more

Great music, great cocktails, great bartenders and service. I wandered into Dark Room for a drink while waiting for Thai food. Excited to go back soon. read more

Very dark! Loved the meatballs and the rice bowls. The pimento cheese was also good. Cocktails are pricey! Good spot for a date. Very moody

Great vibe, amazing decor, some of the best drinks in Seattle (and affordable!). Music is always great and the food is incredible. Highly recommend!!! read more

Great neighborhood cocktail bar! An awesome romantic spot for date nights. It's dark inside, obviously. There are many good (and strong) cocktails on the list so it will take many trips to try them all. read more

Over the last 7 years, I have never been able to find a really good craft cocktail bar in seattle. Now I come to discover this place and it's in my neighborhood - WOW! Had a great experience there last night and I'll definitely be coming back. The cocktails are amazing and I really dig the 'dark room' ambiance - it feels like a secret find that I'm almost reluctant to tell people about because I don't want to share! lol! read more

Three friends and I went for drinks the other night. The atmosphere is great as us the music and the drinks but the staff really is not. For almost $20 a drink, they could be a little warmer and friendlier. The worst was when the wait staff came to our group and asked us whether we wanted separate checks or not and we hadn't asked for them - they were just waiting for us to leave. I would not come back here, unfortunately , because of all of that. read more

Had the worst service we could've ever asked for here. We came because one of our friends recommended the place for a great Asian fusion spot. We asked about the menu and our server gave us a condescending laugh and was pointing to the menu and was basically like look it's written on the menu what do you mean. Lol for anybody who's never been here, it's dark- really dark in the room. So sorry we were unable to see. Don't ever come here if you're having a good day and want to keep it going. Or if you can't see well in the dark. read more

Drinks were awesome, food tasted great. Cool vibe in the bar. Good place to hang. I'll definetly be back.

Drinks are delicious, but pricy (18$!). Rap music? Korean food ok, but a little sweet.

Cool little spot! Great for date night. Enjoyed the food and cocktails. Unique experience. Will be back