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    The Alley

    4.2 (131 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    The Alley Photos

    THE ALLEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Alley

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    Interior
    eamaer mcguigan ..

    A great little speak easy cocktail bar. The secret entrance is great but for you to find!! The bartender made us our own special cocktails to our preferences and they did not disappoint. Cosy place for couples and small groups. I gave 4 stars and drinks were a little pricey. I will still be back though.

    French 75
    Armando M.

    This was such a cool place to visit! It's a speakeasy that has a unique entryway. I would've never have known how to get in had it not been for our friends who invited us to meet there. The space is dimly lit and has some nice spaces to sit. The bar itself looks really nice and elegant. We all ordered different drinks and they were all very good. The bartender definitely knew what they were doing. The friend that invited us there would ask the bartender to surprise her with their drinks. She just gave him information of what liquor she liked and some other information (bartender asking questions about taste, etc). He would give her time to try and guess what was in it before letting us know what they created. This was such a fun experience that I would like to come back the next time I'm in town.

    Simran M.

    A couple friends and I decided to meet at the alley, a favorite speakeasy of one of the ladies in the group. If you have time in your evening to head there a little early, go for it and definitely let your eyes adjust when you walk in :) It gets busier by 11 or so yet I definitely always appreciate the laidback vibe of the night scene in West Seattle than other parts in the area! The drinks are amazing (I had an old fashioned) while the others had the Aviation or a French 75. The menu is by QR code and we ordered appetizers throughout the night. The bartenders were pretty cool; I think the older gentleman got a bit miffed by one of our friends yet I think we were able to smooth it over by end of the night. Coming into the alley is a bit of an adventure as most speakeasys are, yet you will be happy to make it in! Look out for the lockers to get access!

    Erin W.

    We arrived around 7 PM on a Monday and followed the signs posted at the Vietnamese restaurant. It took us a little while to find the alley and entrance. I was impressed by the door design and the live music--especially on a Monday night! The bar had great vibes and interiors. The staff was friendly, and the drinks were delicious. However, we found the truffle fries and pork belly bites too salty. We then ordered the meat and cheese plate, which we enjoyed. We were able to find free street parking nearby.

    Locker to entrance - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    Many bars are located around the downtown area of Seattle (including Belltown and Capitol Hill) so this one being located in West Seattle makes it not as well known, but word has gotten out of this very speakeasy vibes bar so it was still a bit busy on a Thursday night. We went around 8pm while it's still bright (Seattle summers woohoo) and it was fairly hard to find the entrance unless you did your research. Basically you have to find a door handle inside the lockers, but it's a fun adventure. It kind of reminds me of Hanky Panky bar in Mexico City where I had to enter through a restaurant kitchen to get in. The adventure is more appealing than the drinks, but the overall experience was nonetheless exciting and perfect for a date night or a special hangout with friends. We tried the Cosmopolitan, New York Sour, and Hemingway Daiquiri. All of these drinks are the classic drinks you can get anywhere, and they also do it fairly decently but it was not memorable. The ambience inside is nice - fairly spacious and relaxed from the higher ceilings even though the space is a bit small. Overall, it was a nice experience and a place that you can impress other people or a date. Word has gotten out so chances are, a good number of people will have heard of this place, but fortunately, she never heard of this place and found it a very nice adventure to get inside.

    Reach in to find the doorknob
    Tim S.

    Did you know there is a Speakeasy in Seattle? If you are looking for totally different experience, try this place. The address is easy, but how do you get in? The picture I am posting is your clue. Aside from the novelty, the ambience is dark, noir, maybe even romantic. And hey, the drinks are great. They make a fabulous Brandy Alexander, my favorite.

    Dennis D.

    Luscious libations. Nomable nibbles. Merry music. Be careful of the "pickle cucumber salad" if you have a shellfish allergy... It has shramp.

    Cocktails, speakeasy
    Zaza K.

    This is a perfect place for showing off "I know a secret spot"! It's hidden behind the lockers boxes literally. I love surprising my friends every time and my go to spot for drinks being so close by. Great atmosphere and amazing cocktails!

    (L) Hemingway Daiquiri; (R) NA Bee's Knees
    Your M.

    The ambiance and cute speakeasy atmosphere was really enjoyable. Sun & Mon are jazz night which is why we were here. We had a great time.

    Tiffany H.

    This is a nice spot. That's a little bit tricky to find. We saw several Instagram videos and decided to take a trip here when you get dropped off in an Uber Lyft or taxi taxi they take you to the front. You actually have to walk to the back of this trip, it's hidden and it looks like you're going into the back of our restaurant. It's a nice very clean, staff are friendly, and love the music. The ambiance and decor are wonderful. I had the paper playing which was a delicious drink I definitely recommend and I hope that you enjoy your experience as much as I did.

    Derrick M.

    This place is truly a hidden gem here in Seattle. Absolutely loved the drinks, the truffle fries, and even the live band that they have perform on the weekends. This is an amazing place for a date night. I will absolutely continue to visit here.

    Bar area
    Cheyenne G.

    Found this gem while I was looking up jazz spots in the city. Had no idea I would be experiencing the most precious speakeasy!!! It's a small room that feels so intimate and luckily not packed on a rainy Monday night, I had seats very close to the band. Absolutely loved their set!!

    Hidden, dark & cozy...

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    1 month ago

    Super small and quaint. Corey the bartender was friendly and offered some great suggestions on beverages. We will be back!

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    2 years ago

    Loved this place! Finding it & getting in was quite fun! Had a couple yummy drinks. I need to come back on a night they have live music.

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great service, Dream was excellent and made the drinks perfect. The tequila sunrise is to die for . Will come again!

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    4 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Great ambiance and drinks were delicious! Would recommend for date night or an event out with friends.

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    1 year ago

    Garlic knots were so yummy! My son thought the cast iron Mac and cheese was the best he's ever had!

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    The Alley Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Alley

    Are you open? I was there a month or so ago on a Friday and you looked closed. Would love to stop by tomorrow.

    Are babies allowed in?

    Babes only

    Is the entrance wheelchair accessible?

    There are no stairs, but the entrance could be a little tricky just due to the "secret" entry. Would need someone to potentially "unlock" and "open" the entry.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Box Bar

    Box Bar

    4.6
    (114 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I'm updated my review to reflect a recent takeout dining experience…read more A couple weeks ago, we ordered 2 salads, and 2 sandwiches. We ordered pickup. Upon arrival to our house, the order was incorrect, whoopsie! We called back and the waiter who answered mentioned that we had accidentally taken a staff meal home. None of our to-go boxes were labeled. How could anyone know? This is a rookie mistake. It's been a while since this Goblin worked in food, but that's a non-negotiable. Especially given a place that prides itself on catering to restricted diets and lifestyles. This is exactly how you let a pumpkin seed slide into a seed allergy order. Instead of letting us keep the meal, she asked us to bring it back to the restaurant. We were happy to do so. Everyone deserves to eat. Should we have kept it for ourselves? We bring the food back, and the waiter explains that there was a mixup, and apologized. They handed us another to-go box (which wasn't labeled) and tried to end the conversation. "Have a good night!" We had to then explain to this waiter that our wives demanded something in return for the error, which was true. The waiter/bartender had a puzzled look on their face. Customer? Demanding I make something right? In my workplace?! A direct statement void of passivity about the quality of my service? With conditions? The audacity! We live in a world where we, the customer, bring back your incorrect order for you, waste our time, and we just get a, "thanks, have a good night!" This goblin had to claw his way up the ranks pillaging for gold which doesn't come easy. Everyone knows food cost in Seattle went up ~%46 since 2019. Wages haven't. We told the waiter our wives wanted a slice of cake. The waiter was shook by our audacity, and moved towards the fridge behind the bar to consult with two chefs who were shutting it down. We were arriving near/at close on a Monday. The other two chefs body language exuded "just give them the rest of the cake". There was a couple moments of pause and hushed conversation. The waiter pulled out a large serving plate with only a small chunk of Chocolate Mousse Cake left. Instead of putting that into a box, apologizing, and fixing the problem. They conferred about the legitimacy of our claim with the chefs. Hesitantly, they cut the cake into a small slice, put it in a box (which wasn't labeled) and handed it to us. What's hilarious is that they would leave such a small piece going into the next day of prep. Why not just 86 it right there? Why was it so hard for this person to acknowledge they made a mistake, and do something kind for us in return? The chefs clearly understood these fundamental building blocks of customer service, had they not been there in the front of house, I'm sure the waiter would've made an excuse to not remedy the situation. From all of my years in food service, if something is wrong, you make it right, end of story. By owning the error, you keep your integrity. Even a small gesture like 10% off one item, between the hours of 7:35pm- 7:45pm every third Monday, however inconsequential and trivial, makes people feel like you've made things right. These basics need to be addressed with FOH staff. With food cost nearing the price of rent each month in Seattle, customers should feel empowered to speak their mind respectfully. My only reason for going into excruciating detail is the hope that this can be a teaching moment, and more people can eradicate passivity. Passivity is a threat to community, culture, service, and so many other integral parts of our society. It's OK to disagree in public. It's OK to check someone. It's OK to tell your server "No, honestly, it wasn't that good, here's why..". When we deny the truth about our experiences for fear of disrupting the status quo, we withhold an essential part of building stronger, more diverse and resilient communities. "Goblin D, don't you think this is a bit too deep for a food review?" No, and if you've made it this far, the two stars are for the two chefs who made sure we got our cake.

    Loved the portobello french dip sandwich! Lots of shrooms, cooked perfectly and very well seasoned…read more My spouse said the barbecue sandwich made with tempeh was good but not great. My friend very much enjoyed the tofu bahn you. Although we all really enjoyed the nachos, they were not what I expected. I expected cashew cheese sauce that was cheesy tasting. It was very different from that but tasted great. The lentils and tomatos were very well seasoned. They are not spicy but are yummy. The kale salad was good but I have had a better vegan one in SF. The service was friendly but slow. On the plus side, there was zero pressure to rush. I look forward to going here again when I am next in town. I want to try the mac and cheese and one of their pretty cocktails.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Box Bar
    Outside

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    Outside
    Shadowland

    Shadowland

    3.5
    (428 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Drinks for the drinkers. A decent food menu, but I'll get into that more in a bit. It has a nice…read moreatmosphere, but wait staff can be hit or miss. You might have to wait for them to remember what they are selling, or flag them down for a check. If there were drink specials that made more sense, I could see a legitimate reason to spend time here drinking. This Goblin would pass on the food. I don't come here to eat. The food: expensive for what it is. Long ago dear reader, this Goblin worked in food service. He can spot "ready-made foods" from a mile away. This place leans more "eating to satiate", than "eating to satisfy", no matter how hard I fight my Goblin brain. Each meal, I come to terms with the sucker I am for eating a $27 omelette before tip. Herein lies our problem dear reader. Do I want a hummus plate for $12-15, that is essentially a disassembled and then reassembled menagerie of pre-made product on a plate? Or how about a cup of some mid-gumbo for $8? As a Goblin I have eaten many old soups out of a dirty cauldron, but Mid-Gumbo tastes like how Jack Harlow must feel waking up and telling himself he got blacker. Concerning the food (and Jack Harlow), it's about more than just lack of seasoning.

    God their steak is so terrible. I got their steak and fries and I have never had steak so tough. I…read morewanted to make sure it was not just me and my partner who got a salad with steak sad the same thing. The steak was dry and tough to chew on. On top of that the fries are a huge salt bomb and mostly ends. No potato. Save yourself some money and just buy a beer.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Cheese steak with wayy too much fried pickle chips.
    Cheese steak with wayy too much fried pickle chips.
    Coffee and a bloody mary

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    Coffee and a bloody mary
    Circa

    Circa

    4.3
    (525 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Circa is our absolute favorite neighborhood gem in West Seattle. We love it so much, we actually…read morespent New Year's Eve there and had their special baked Alaska dessert! I've been meaning to check out their Thursday lunch special- 3 courses for 27$! Staff is always friendly, love talking to the owners, and love their rotating specials. Ingredients sourced from local farms when possible. This is everything you want in your neighborhood food spot. It feels great to eat there because we love the food, and we love supporting them! I also follow them on social media so I can always see what their new delicious specials are. We once went in specifically for their bread pudding special!

    First of all, I loved our waiter. He was so friendly and full of personality since it was the first…read moretime that we've been there, he did a great job helping us order our food and drinks. We heard that they had a great burger, so couldn't wait to try it and the rumors were right. The burger was delicious. What we didn't know is how good the fries were. It makes me rethink all the fries that I've had lately. I don't even know why I've bothered, they've just filled my tummy. These fries were delicious. We enjoyed a couple great cocktails and I had a yummy nut brown ale that was made in a healthy way I guess so I didn't get the headache that beers usually give me. The steak salad dressing was really good. The steak was a little chewy but otherwise the portion was fair and it was tasty. Id be willing to try other dishes here but i don't know if id be able to order anything but the burger.

    Photos
    Circa
    Partially eaten Veggie Monster omelet with Seattle style hash browns and toast with jelly
    Partially eaten Veggie Monster omelet with Seattle style hash browns and toast with jelly
    Negroni cocktails.

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    Negroni cocktails.

    The Alley - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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