This was such a highlight during our Seattle trip! The little museum and old timey elevator up to the bar was delightful. My only nitpicky complaint was that the bar was playing 80s rock really loudly and it kind of messed up the aesthetic - jazz seems much more appropriate! read more

Experience stunning views and creative cocktails at a lovely Asian-inspired Speakeasy filled with chinoiserie, atop the historic Smith Tower. The ride up is in a beautiful Otis elevator, complete with a charming operator who will give you a little history lesson on your way up, so have a couple bucks handy to tip the guy. When you reach the top, you will have access to 360 views of downtown Seattle, the waterfront, Space needle, and even Mount Rainier on a clear day. It's a great spot to take out of towners, or even a romantic date, especially in the summer time during sunset. Bonus! Locals pay $12 at the door instead of $19. Just bring state ID. read more

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Okay, I get that the Space Needle and Columbia Tower are super cool spots to bring out-of-towners, but this place WINS. The Smith Tower Observatory Bar is cool as hell. Speakeasy themed and a sweet view? Count me in. My advice to anyone coming for the first time is go out and do the 360 walk and check out the views first, because you're not allowed to bring any food or drinks outside. The views here are breathtaking. As a Seattlelite who has been to both the Space Needle and the Columbia Tower several times, I can say that the view from the Smith Tower is just as beautiful even though it's not as high up. When you're looking at the Smith Tower from the street, it really doesn't look all that tall but once you get up there, you feel reaaaally high up. You get views of the stadiums, the water, the Great Wheel, and more. It's beautiful. The only thing that might turn people off is that the prices are definitely steep, but it's way cheaper than spending time at the Space Needle. It's $12 with a Washington ID to get up, and with a glass of rose and one beer, our bar tab was $17. Still reading? Alright, well, stop. With the weather as beautiful as it is now, you need to go check this place out! read more

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Came here sunday and it was fun but I wouldnt come again. The wait to go in was only about 10 minutes. A lot of us that were standing outside were confused as there were no signs posting that an employee comes out every 10 minutes to let more people in. The front door is locked so it caused so much confusion. so a sign posted on your outdoor window would have been great. Once in it was probably another 5 minute wait to go up which was fine . the host was nice. Once inside they do assigned seating if you're dining and drinking and I wasn't happy where we were sat . we were sat right at a table right when you walk in next to a wall. Table 17. We felt blocked off from everyone. no window views and we just kind of felt like we were in everybody's way. I would have loved to have sat at the window and there were plenty of open spots so the fact that we don't really get to choose where we sat really sucked. Then it gets worse....our waitress never once brought us waters and it probably took 10 minutes before she even acknowledged us. We ordered 2 drinks and my glass was dirty. I ordered just a piece of cake and my husband ordered the grilled cheese and it took 30 minutes for them to bring it out ! 30 minutes to make a grilled cheese??? we also asked for ranch for the salad which she brought out after we were practically done with Our food. And of course...still NO WATER she just wasn't attentive. did not let us know that we could get up at any time to walk around. We had to ask how it all worked.. I feel like we got jibbed on our service because seeing another server he was very attentive checking on all the tables and I just felt like we got the short end of the stick. You guys weren't even that busy we came around 3:30 shortly after you opened. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - This was cute though. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Got a Groupon to go up here and check out the view. Luckily on a weekday it was virtually empty :) I think on Groupon i got 2 tickets for $17-18. One ticket alone I think is about $19. Great photo opportunity of Seattle and Elliot Bay, walk around at the top (walkway) for a 360 walk around. On a clear beautiful day - the views can't be beat! There is a bar/cafe at the top - we didn't eat here as we had lunch elsewhere, but it does look really nice. All the staff seemed very friendly. There is a cute photo booth by the cafe as well and you can email yourself your selfies :) read more

From the the moment you walk in, you get the feeling that you will be experiencing something special. The greeter had amazing energy and got into "character" explaining how to get to the top. I loved walking through the exhibits showing Seattle in the past V's the present. Once we got to the elevator, it brought us to the 35th floor where they served delicious, strong cocktails and mouthwatering, Asian inspired food. The observatory area can be accessed at any point during your stay where you get 360 views of the city. Overall, amazing experience and very much recommended when visiting Seattle read more

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View and history lesson is worth the happy hour ticket - but bar/cafe up top is way overrated. Interesting decor - presumably original Chinese style ceiling. But acoustics are terrible - even half empty, the room was so loud we couldn't have a conversation or relax! Drinks were decent but not particularly inventive takeoffs on prohibition cocktails. Food was sad - sorriest excuse for a cheese plate. Not a food and drink destination -but the building is lovely and the views spectacular. Worth a trip in the beautifully restored early 20th century Otis elevator, but skip the drinks and make your way to any of the amazing Pioneer Square spots for refreshment! read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Sad cheese plate. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is definitely worth checking out. I remember coming here years ago before the remodel. It was good then but even better now. They have a whole tour of the history of the building. Once you're at the top, they have a full bar including a food menu. I didn't try the food but the drink specialties I've tried were really good. I'm most likely going to get the annual pass to come up to the bar unlimited times. It pays itself off in just a few visits. Me and my roommate are locals and we actually prefer this than the Columbia tower observation sky view. They also have a Free Selfie Cam which is fun to use. You can send yourself the photos via email. I wish it had its own twitter account so the whole world can see lol read more

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Located in the smith tower, it's a pretty neat bar with some history, including a quaint history tour as you make your way up to the bar. The elevator man has a lot of knowledge about past us presidents. The bar itself has ample seating and offers 360 views of Seattle and mt Rainer. Pretty cool, pricey cocktails and the food options were a bit funny. Overall cool but more for history buffs with lots of historical information about other buildings that you can see from the top. Friendly staff and drinks were delicious. read more

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This is a great bar at the top of Smith Tower. The drinks and the drink specials were great. The ahi tuna app was on point. The service was friendly and accommodating. This is one of the best bars in Seattle. The views are the best in Seattle by far. Can't wait to go again when I'm back in town! read more

We had a drink and the Seoul sandwich. The pork belly and the kimchi slaw was so good. My partner and I shared the drink and sandwich and just absolutely loved it. Along with the gorgeous view. We couldn't have asked for a more romantic night. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Beautiful restaurant with beautiful views. Cocktails were fantastic and a great atmosphere. Service was great. It was really fun taking the elevator up and you have access to the observation deck during your meal. However, the food left a lot to be desired. The vegan potstickers were great, but the rest of our food was very bland and dry. read more

Amazing views and great ambience but a bit pricey!! The views of Seattle and Elliot Bay from the 35th floor of the historic Smith Tower building are truly spectacular, especially if you step out on to the walkway for a 360 degree stroll around its exterior. Great place for taking photos, enjoying a cocktail and snacks. But the $19 per person fee just to go up there feels like a bit too much,. A couple tips to make things easier on the wallet: 1) Check Groupon for discounted tickets - we got 2 tickets to the Observatory level for $17 2) They Jane Happy Hour specials from 4-6pm Mon-Thurs All in all, a very worthwhile experience, but if you can save a few bucks, why not? read more

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Fantastic cocktails, delicious appetizers, friendly staff, and an unsurpassed view of Seattle. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Smith Tower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Visited the tower for the views and they were top tier. These views were accompanied by friendly staff. We were instantly greeted by Joe and Hannah, we then had Tessa as our amazing waitress. The drinks were delicious and very aesthetic. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Temperance is located on the 35th floor of Smith Tower. The only way to access this spot is by buying a ticket for the Smith Tower Observatory. Cost of the ticket is $14 ($10 for locals). There is also an evening ticket for $10 which grants you direct access up to Temperance. I came here with a group to do the Smith Tower tour and visit the observatory, so checking out Temperance was just part of the experience. Once you take the elevators up to the 35th floor, you enter the Chinese Room. The room is quite minimalist as there is a lot of space, which is great since you can walk around with ease. Temperance is located on the south side of the Chinese Room. There is even a small bar seating area. Though it is more comfortable to sit in the main area. The menu here is full of cocktail drinks. There is also a cocktails specials board on the wall. Food offerings consist of small plates, sandwiches and Chinese dumplings. Decided to get a drink here and opted for the Smith Tower Sazerac ($11). It is a classic drink that contains Fremont Mischief whiskey, absinthe, bitters and lemon peel zest. The drink was nice and smooth with a slight bite from the whiskey. This is one of those drinks that has a delayed reaction on your body. The alcohol doesn't kick in right away. My group ordered a few of the food items. Tried some of the artisan charcuterie, salmon poke and Chinese dumplings. The charcuterie is decent and the poke was okay. The Chinese dumpling was underwhelming. Tasted no different than a frozen Ling Ling dumpling. The food prices are also a bit on the high side, so I am glad that I didn't shell out for this. If you are visiting Smith Tower, I think getting a cocktail at Temperance is worth it. As it is nice to be able to enjoy a drink while taking in the wondrous views that the Smith Tower has to offer. Though I would avoid ordering the food here as it is overpriced and not all that appetizing. read more

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Visited the bar & observatory last Saturday evening. Love the architecture of the building and old fashion elevator. This is not something I would frequent as you'd have to pay an entrance fee to get to the observatory and a separate fee for your drinks. The observatory is nice and you get a 360 view of downtown Seattle! I wished they would have online reservations but they unfortunately do not. You have to sign up on the waitlist in person and then be notified via text when space becomes available. I had the autumnal equinox which was delicious. The bar has a great vibe to unwind after a long day. Definitely not something I would regularly but a great place to bring friends who are visiting from out of town! read more

Absolutely the best experience! I hope you have the pleasure of being served by Patrick Gibson. He was not only enthusiastic and welcoming but he really made our experience too notch with recommendations and his great personality. We arrived around 5:30 and there was a line at the entrance of Smith Tower. We didn't think we would get a table but the host greeted us outside and took our phone number for the waitlist. He mentioned it would be 45-60 mins before we could get a table but we received a text right after and we were able to go up to the 35th floor. Food was outstanding and view was out of this world. 10/10 recommend! read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Breathtaking speakeasy atop Smith Tower. $10 ticket price for Seattle residents, $13 for non-residents -agree it would be nice if this was applied to a drink credit. Ticket includes self-guided tour of historical exhibits showcasing Smith Tower's past taking you back to the 1940s, ride up the original elevator with an attendant/guide, and access to the redone Chinese Room with outdoor roof access. Fairly limited bar snacks, so don't expect full meal here. Bar is open til 11pm. As prior reviewers have noted, limited seating - more of an observatory room with some bar tables and couches. Protip: To beat the crowds, come for a weekday sunset. Literally one of the best places to view the gorgeous Seattle sunset. read more

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Love this place! Its cocktail heaven and obviously the view is fantastic! The ambiance is unmatchable because they have kept it true to its historic character. My brother was visiting from Boston and I took him here because it's one of my favorite places. One can head up and visit the observatory section with ordering food or drinks, but I couldn't resist. I had my 11 year old son with me and it was no issue at all to have him join us for drinks, but not at the bar. We had to get a table since he was with us. Also, they offer a 15% military discount for entrance but not the food or drinks. Love this place! read more

My boyfriend and I tried to go to Smith Tower Observatory Bar for a drink around 7:30pm on a Saturday. Unfortunately, when we got there we were told it could be a 1.5-2 hour wait so we decided to just go up and look at the view. The view was disappointing, especially for the price. I would not recommend. If we go back we would definitely go before dark since the man at the front said the long wait is from the people who wanted to be up there at sunset. The Fog Room is a great spot if you want to watch the sunset, the view is a bit different but it is beautiful and you can make reservations. read more

Provender: this review is solely for the observatory bar. You get a 360 degree views from the top of the tower. You can see the bay, Safeco field, and so much more. The bar has a chill vibe with Asian decor. Prices: they charge admission for the bar, which is around $20. Theres is a wide selection of booze, which are reasonably priced considering the location. Bars like this in LA charge an arm and a leg. Parking: there's a paid lot across the street from Smith Tower. I wouldn't recommend the street parking (if there is any) since the neighborhood is sketchy. People: adults, and very few singles. Perks: the staff were friendly and the views were awesome. This is a great place for groups. Carlton on the first level was a great resource. Definitely ask him about Seattle. read more

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The bar has some tasty food and drinks to enjoy while you check out the city and sound views. The tour is quick and maybe slightly overpriced. I would return to try more of the menu. read more

Atmosphere is horrible. Stuffy and hot. I thought this place was more like a roof top bar but I can't even bring the drinks outside. Lots of old people inside and just not what I expected Cocktails were okay but very expensive. It's a one time thing read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Cardigan and whiskey sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After a tour of the Smith tower and viewing the observation deck, you'll be glad to stop into this bar. This bar is located on the 35 th floor of the Smith tower. After taking in the panoramic views, we stopped in for a few libations. In addition to libations, they have a food menu. We weren't hungry on our visit and enjoyed a few old fashions. The views from this bar are amazing and we had an excellent time here. Drinks and service were great!! A must while visiting the Seattle area read more

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This bar/restaurant is embarrassingly poorly run. After paying $22 for an elevator ride, to find out they are "out" of half the items on the menu (chicken pasta, basic bar drinks). Service was awful. We waited 45 mins for a cold basic sandwich - the place wasn't busy. Flu don't recommend wasting your money. The small exhibit before the elevator was neat - disappointing they couldn't make the experience at the top worth it. read more

Worst experience I've had in Seattle. Totally enclosed space with no noticeable ventilation much less A/C on a 70 degree day. It was an oven. We weren't waited on for an hour. We waited 20 minutes for drinks after that and left. Complete debacle. read more

We got the best seat in the bar! Table 13 ;) Obviously, I love me a good old fashioned and a flight of some tasty whiskey. But seriously! The view here on a sunny, cloudless day is stunning!! There is an admission fee though (discount if you have Washington ID) but we didn't really see much of a museum type history exhibit so it's mostly a small bar with a bomb view ^^ come visit if you're into that lol read more

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When visiting the Smith tower observatory deck we walked through a very unique bar/restaurant. So we decided to check out the menu and see what it had to offer. The food was surprisingly affordable and all options sounded appetizing. So we asked if we could stay and eat, they had no problem sitting us right away. I thought it might be exclusive and I didn't expect to be allowed to stay since we were just viewing the Smith tower, but it wasn't a problem at all. However I do believe you have to pay for entry to the observation part in order to be allowed into the dinning bar area. It's definitely worth it to experience the outdoor view of the city and then come in and dine in history with a view. Its absolutely stunning and remarkable. The staff is nice, very friendly. I did order food a flat bread pizza and it came with a house salad dressed in apple vinaigrette, very delicious. My spouse got a house cocktail because he wanted the whole experience. I however can't drink this trip because I am expecting, but the waitress suggested a mom cocktail so I can still feel included, I was super excited about that. I highly recommend stopping in for the views, history and a drink. read more

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This place was SUPER delicious and a great experience! The people on the first floor were all very friendly and lively. The bar itself has amazing decor and the food/drinks were AMAZING. We loved our waiter and the views! 100% will recommend to anyone traveling to Seattle. read more

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An interesting place to visit. Parking was across the street in a paid garage but found a discount rate on the Smith Tower website so that helped. $5.00 for two hours. Interesting building history but the real fun was the Observation lounge at the top. We got there right when it opened so we could get a table at the window. Food was good and server super nice. Given the fact you have to pay for building admittance in order to sit in lounge area it was pretty pricey when you add in drinks & food. Glad we did it but prob would choose another attraction. read more

After walking the observation deck, I stopped in to the Observatory Bar for an adult beverage. There's food here too but I just had a frosty beer and looked out the window at the skyline for a bit. Staff was friendly and the vibe here is definitely cool. read more

The stars are for the ambiance and views. Unless you like limited options for really mundane food and drinks (or you really dig cauliflower), plan on going elsewhere before/after. If you're vegan, there is literally no dinner for you. This is a real shame, since before the pandemic the food and drink menus were vastly more extensive and creative, and included multiple vegan options. Used to be one of the few places where I could have a really good meal with my carnivore friends, and all of us were very happy. No idea what happened (since they refuse to answer or even acknowledge my very polite queries), but it's a real tragedy. read more

I was so excited to try this spot out for a drink and in the end it was just okay. Through the entrance, we paid the $12 entrance fee to basically get up to the bar. We didn't care about the history this particular night so skipped on through to the elevator. Once upstairs, we were warned it was busy and there would be a wait to get any service whatsoever. After paying to get up the bar, it's not what I would've expected to now be prepared/warned about slow service. Aaaaand that's basically how the night went. We waited for a menu. Then waited again to give our order. Ordered 3 drinks that took maybe another 15-20 minutes to get and voila by then I was so over it. Luckily the building and views made it somewhat worthwhile but I'm not sure I'll be back. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here on our last night in Seattle. First of all the entire experience from the time we arrived for check-in to the bar experience was just strange. We arrived on time for our ticket reservation for the tour and entrance to the observatory. There were three people working behind the counter at check-in and totally inefficient. They had two people helping one person and no one was greeting guests that were coming in. When we checked in they said it's not guaranteed that we can go up to the observatory deck even though we had tickets/reservation, but we got through. The tour is interesting and the building is gorgeous. We went to watch the sunset and the view was cool, but not as nice as the Space Needle view. When it was time for us to be seated, the first employee who greeted us was nice. He sat us at a table with one seat facing the window and the other to the right of that seat. I sat at the seat that was facing the window and an employee with a shaved head and a tattoo in old English on his forearm RUDELY barked at me to move the chair because I was blocking the walkway. Well, the chair was already there and the employee who seated us should have known that and moved it to the correct location. The previous occupant who sat there probably moved it 1) for the view and 2) because there was another person at the table to the left sitting close to that side and it would have been awkward. I think he was supposed to be our waiting and never acknowledged us at all and when the employee who seated us saw that were waiting a while he came over and took our order. The drinks and food were mediocre. If you're going to order drinks, go with something that can't be messed up like a glass of wine or beer. Don't do the cocktails. Foodwise, we got the deconstructed spam musubi since we had dinner reservations. I could have just made it myself at home by frying up sliced spam and eating it w/ plain rice. Go for the architecture, decor and view. Go somewhere else for cocktails and food. read more

Fun time here on my first visit. Went for drinks and a quick dinner. The service was great and friendly. We got the charcuterie plate and I was pleasantly surprised by how much food we got. Lots of tasty things! Myself and my friend both enjoyed our cocktails that were recommended to us by our server. The views are lovely. The decor is nice. The vibe is chill. Worth the ride up. read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - This view is especially good when the sky is clear! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This bar is great! I loved being able have access to the outside balcony and to walk around the top of the building to view sites such as Mt. Rainier. As for the bar itself, we each just had a glass of wine and the prawn cocktail to share which was excellent and fresh. I would definitely return here for a drink in the future. read more

Absolutely beautiful! The unique furnishings, the one-of-a-kind view of Seattle and the well-crafted cocktails made this a great stop. It can be a bit pricey since you're paying $12 to even get to the bar and the drinks aren't exactly cheap, but you get what you pay for and this was worth it for the history and the view. read more

$19 an adult to gain access to the museum and top 7 floors , it's full of Seattle history and the still operational original elevator is an experience in itself. The prices at the bar are steep, but the views make up for it. Make sure you make a wish in the wishing chair, it's such a beautiful piece of artwork it makes you feel majestic just sitting in it. Bring cash for tips the elevator operator and the bar tender both have tip jars and are knowledgeable and personable when filling you in on the history of the place. It's supposedly haunted so keep an eye out for spirits. Definitely a must stop in Seattle the views are different from the space needle so you need to visit both to get the whole Seattle experience. read more

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If it's 12 and a Saturday and you have the time to do something modestly touristy, the kind of thing a local still might do despite it being popular, check out The Smith. Not as busy nor as kid crowded as the needle, nor as pricy, nor as rushed, you'll enjoy a great view with hand craft cocktails. In other words, why go to the needle? read more

Smith Tower Observatory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington