As a wedding photographer, I've seen a lot of venues--but The Ruins in Seattle truly stands out as one of my all-time favorites. We had the chance to photograph a summer wedding there, and I was absolutely blown away by the space, the staff, and the overall experience. The couple we worked with had gotten engaged in Paris and wanted their wedding to reflect that romantic, European flair. The Ruins, with its opulent, maximalist style and stunning hand-painted ballroom, was the perfect fit. Every room felt like stepping into a different storybook, and the attention to detail in the decor made for the most magical, photo-ready moments. Their guests were wow'd at every turn--it was truly an experience, not just an event. From a vendor perspective, the staff couldn't have been better. Friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating. The on-site coordinator, Ruby, is a total gem! Even when a few minor hiccups popped up (as they always do), she handled everything with grace and efficiency, keeping the day running smoothly and stress-free for everyone involved. If you're a couple looking for a unique, visually rich venue that feels intimate, whimsical, and timeless all at once--The Ruins is it. It's gorgeous year-round, and from a photography standpoint, it's an absolute dream. -Becca, B.Jones Photography read more

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This venue has a beautiful ambiance. I attended a fundraiser as a guest, so I have no firsthand account of hosting an event, only attending. The decor is whimsical, and the murals on the walls are practically poetic. Photo ops abound. The food at our even was catered by Landmark, and I literally loved everything. Appetizers, mains, desserts. There was bar service. One room has a Victorian flair with a gorgeous fireplace. I would definitely give it a go to host an event here. read more

Craft cocktails and fantastical ambiance. This hidden gem is a fun spot in the SLU area with street parking. This spot is huge and looks like an old mansion inside. It has a speakeasy and catered events also. Staff is a mix of employees and gig workers. Always good to ask bartenders/servers if they get to keep their tips, because tips only go to the employees of Landmark. Don't forget to ask about the surprise with the giant elephant in the room. :) read more

The Ruins - Main area for dining. The elephant moves!! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I worked with Landmark Event Co. at their Seattle venue, The Ruins, for my 2025 wedding. In less than a year of planning, my husband and I dealt with four different wedding coordinators, not including the venue coordinator. While the first coordinator, Trevor, was extremely accommodating and welcoming, and Ruby, the coordinator we had for the last two weeks of planning was a rockstar, the other two left a lot to be desired. In addition, the constant turnover made the wedding planning exhausting and unreliable since we had to continuously repeat previous conversations. One of the main reasons why we chose The Ruins was because we were told verbally that our dogs could attend the wedding and stay in a side room during dinner. Because my husband and I met due to our dogs, we felt like they were an extremely important part of our relationship and wanted to ensure they were able to celebrate with us. In later planning meetings, we were told this was not allowed. Because we didn't have any proof in writing, we had to scramble for last minute dog sitters. This part felt extremely misleading and incredibly disappointing. The communication between Landmark and my partner and I/the wedding coordinators was very poor. After we signed our contract, Landmark changed their catering structure from à la carte to per-person pricing and repeatedly pressured us to switch. During the tasting event, they only showcased the food that they wanted us to choose from, which mostly were not the meals we wanted to share with our loved ones. To taste test the food we did want, we had to schedule a separate tasting and pay for it. We wanted to ensure not only that the food was delicious, but that it was abundant. We had 70 people RSVP to our wedding, so we ordered: three entrees, two salads, and three sides. As normal, we had no shows -- ten to be exact. So we had ordered 210 entrees (because we had to buy three entrees per person for us to get a variety for our guests), for 60 people. Yet, guests didn't get seconds, and the buffet was getting cleared while people were still going to get their plate. I still don't know where all the food went. Security was also a gigantic issue. Despite being told that security wasn't necessary, random strangers were walked into the venue while the bridal party was actively changing. Later, during the reception, uninvited individuals came in and started eating the cupcakes that we had brought in for our guests, threatened our personal wedding coordinator, and refused to leave until the coordinator bribed them with gift boxes. This type of experience should never happen, especially since they consider themselves a higher end venue. Our bridal suite was also not respected. We were told that this would stay closed as all of ours and our party's personal belongings were stored there. In fact, the staff were using the bathroom in the suite and we had to ask the site coordinator to intervene. While the concept of the Ruins is gorgeous, it becomes clear slowly that upkeep is lacking. The space was dusty, there were cobwebs, and when you looked closely, parts of the venue felt rundown. For a venue that markets itself as high end, and charges accordingly, this was unacceptable. We spent around $30,000 for this event. I felt as if the coordination between us and the venue/staff were highly unorganized and unprofessional. I would not recommend Landmark Event Co. unless you get everything you want in writing, hire outside security, and are prepared to advocate for yourself constantly. read more

What a great venue for a wedding! The site itself was stunning and the entire staff were helpful and generous with their time and talents. Planning a large event could have been stressful, The Ruins staff made it seamless and calm. This venue provided everything I needed for my dream wedding. read more

The Ruins - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hidden jewel in Seattle in which we spent a society-sponsored event. Externally, the place is almost not recognizable as a desirable entry. But the inside was a mixture of castle and theater place. Cool and an unparalleled option to sit down and spend chatting with friends and colleagues. I am not sure whether the food was created there or catered to the place. read more

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I went to a wedding here and couldn't imagine a more beautiful and intimate venue! It was like we had stepped into another realm! read more

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Disgusting behind the scenes. Fifteen plus year facility is in total disrepair. Housekeeping is a concept lost on this group. The food I saw and tasted was also disgusting. I suspect they count on the fact that your probably already buzzed by now, and don't mind the crap they are serving you. The shitty well liquor they present, and the mandated ounce and a half pours make for some pretty terrible drinks as well. The staff are dour, back-stabby, worried more about spying and narcing on their co-workers then they are about you. It's obvious no one there is truly in love with their job and that could care less about the client so long as the check clears. read more

Beautiful venue and beautiful sunsets we where the production company for a wedding there and the staff was fantastic and everyone had a good time the only downside is you have to keep the volume kind of on the low side due to neighbors complaining but for an intimate party it is perfect, would definitely return to that place read more

My wife and I had our wedding at the Ruins and it was absolutely wonderful. If you don't already know, The Ruins has their own wedding planner, their own florist, and their own catering. Not having to shop around to find those separately helped a lot, and all of them are fantastic at their jobs. Madeline, the wedding planner for The Ruins, deserves every kind and wonderful word that has been on every review we have read. Planning a wedding is stressful, but every time we spoke with or met with Madeline, there was always some stress relieved because of how on top of everything she was and how confident she made us feel about our wedding. Her communication was always top notch, and she was always available to answer questions when we had them. During the day of the wedding, she kept things moving smoothly. Sarah, the Events Coordinator also did a great job working with Madeline to keep everything moving as well. The florist, Amanda, did a fantastic job with understanding the ambience we were going for in our conversations, and when we saw everything in person, she absolutely knocked it out of the park. The catering was delicious, our guests raved about the food. While my wife and I are both meat-loving omnivores, we had a number of guests that have dietary restrictions, and it was very easy to have delicious gluten-free and vegan options for them. They no longer have an in-house bakery, but they take care of the cake through Morfey's, and it turned out perfectly - both with how it looked and how it tasted. The photos on their website (as beautiful as they are) just can't compare with seeing the venue in person. There is a personality to the venue that is elegant, artistic and timeless. The ballroom is especially breathtaking. Our photographer said that the Ruins was so visually captivating that he couldn't take a bad shot if they tried. Our guests were so impressed with the beauty, uniqueness, and classiness of the venue, and stated it absolutely fit with my wife and I's unique style. Despite having our wedding during the pandemic, Madeline and the staff at the Ruins did a fantastic job navigating the changes and mandates that we were subject to, and ensuring us that we had a beautiful and unforgettable experience. I would recommend anyone to have their wedding or event at the Ruins. Not just because of the how visually impressive the venue is, but because everyone who works there does a fantastic job of making sure your event is perfect. read more

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I would recommend the Ruins and specifically, venue manager Madeline, to all brides. We had a wonderful experience working with Madeline over 5-6 months planning our wedding. Not only is Madeline a truly wonderful person, but she was also patient, calm, a great communicator, offered expert advice and was a huge support to us. She had our best interests in mind and was really accommodating and understanding when COVID disrupted our plans and decisions. The venue itself is stunning, quirky, and so unique. We loved that there are 3 different rooms to utilize and create surprise and delight for guests when you transition from ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception. There is nowhere else in Seattle that can even compare to the vibe of the space. Bonus - you won't need much décor in this space because of all the character already in it! As Madeline was out of the state on our wedding day (sad!), we had Sarah as our day-of venue manager, and she did a great job. All the staff, especially the bartenders, on the wedding day were attentive and fantastic. Our guests were totally blown away by this venue they had no idea existed. The only iffy experience we had was during our paid two tastings where we weren't super impressed with the food. To our surprise, the food on the wedding night was much better and only got a couple comments on the flank steak being chewy. Looking back on the wedding day, I am so glad we chose that venue and that we got to work with Madeline during it. Book it! read more

The Ruins - Ceremony in the Dining Room Photo by Sarah Anne Photography - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We held our 120-person wedding reception at the Ruins during July 2019 and honestly could not have asked for a better experience - we wouldn't have changed a thing. Communication throughout the entire planning process was easy, simple and efficient. Our guests have been raving out how unique the Ruins is - it captured the 'New Orleans in Seattle' vibe that we were striving for. The space has so much character! Working with Madeline (event coordinator), Amanda (design/florals), Mark (chef) and the remainder of the Ruins team was truly a dream. This is a hidden gem within Seattle and I cannot recommend the Ruins highly enough for weddings or any special event. Notably, we felt like the 120/125 guest list for our event was just right (did require dinner tables in two separate rooms) and the venue certainly lends itself to smaller events as well. read more

I just hosted a dinner at The Ruins to celebrate my birthday and it was truly memorable!!! The venue is amazing; it's an eclectic and sophisticated place with a lot of character. Furthermore, I was very impressed with Mark's food, he presented us with the right menu for our intimate dinner, and his coconut/pineapple birthday cake was unbelievable! Madeline Wogstad helped me plan the event, and from day one until the end of the celebration, she was very professional, responsive and always attentive to my expectations. I am so glad I selected this place for my birthday party!!! My husband and I are really considering celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary there next year, this is how great it was! We would love to become members of The Ruins but still thinking about it... we live in Bellevue and we don't go to Seattle that often, so we are not totally convinced about the membership yet; however, we love that The Ruins is now opening its doors for certain events where non-members can enjoy this wonderful place! read more

Heya... I recently (last Saturday) hosted a birthday party at The Ruins, after becoming a member in January. Sheesh, what is NOT to love about this venue?!? The Staff is absolutely wonderful--shout out to Madeline and Sam--the ambiance can't be matched, and it lends itself completely to an evening of magic, or just about whatever you can think of... I've attended Fiona's wonderful Valtesse shows, had dinner in the captivating library dining facility and hosted a party--LOVE THIS PLACE. It is my new home, complete with my tribal members. I can't thank The Ruins enough for a memorable birthday party, along with the loving welcome I've received from every person affiliated with The Ruins. You folks are THE BEST! read more

Dining in Wonderland with Alice. I think for people to truly appreciate the restaurant you'd have to have dined at this place years ago when the dining experience was very exclusive and Seattle's wonderful cuisine life had not hit the NW yet. Not to say this place isn't fine dining. It is uniquely fine dining. Back then the Ruins was a very well kept secret and hardly anyone knew about it, this place felt like a secret retreat from mainstream dining. Now it seems to have become a novelty that people are hyped up for and get disappointed after they eat there meal and go home. Membership has grown and it feels less and less like a members only club. I do believe more people should be allowed to enjoy the food at this club, it is a shame that this diamond in the rough is exclusively for members and there guest only. In my opinion this restaurants success weighs heavily on the dining experience, more so than the food. This is not to discredit the food. The food is excellent and can be unique at times. There use to be revolving chefs that cooked different menu items, but that no longer is the case. I've seen the same chef cooking there for about a year now. For those who don't know, the menu changes every few months with a few staple items that are always on the menu. Beef wrapped in Bacon, grilled perfectly with hand cut fries and french onion soup. I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have ordered here. If you have the opportunity to go, while you sit down at your table, close your eyes, open them and soak in the attention to detail, the ambiance and think about all the craft and hard work that went into building this restaurant. This might help someone appreciate the importance of atmosphere and the complete fine dining experience that this restaurant truly provides. On a serious note...Where else can anyone find a life sized mechanical elephant from the worlds fair that still works? read more

The Ruins - The huge elephan! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Like a book, this is so much more on the inside than the outside. From the outside The Ruins looks like just that, an old warehouse building with trees growing out the broken windows. But once you get inside your transported to an opulent space where you can grab a drink and wander through various rooms with beautiful art, ornate furniture, a grand piano and foliage of all kinds. We saw Sam Morton sing some country songs, he was extremely funny, soulful and had a unique stage presence. Would love to come back here again. read more

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My husband and I had our wedding at The Ruins. It was absolutely stunning and a magical day that we will remember forever! Everyone we worked with was incredible throughout the planning process, which was also complicated by the pandemic. The venue has their own events manager, catering, floral, and bakery partner. It was wonderfully easy to design and coordinate all of these features. They also have other partners for entertainment and such. The venue is beautifully eclectic. We were attracted to the unique space and stayed because of the delicious food and easy to work with staff. We had an incredible wedding planning experience and an even better day. We highly recommend The Ruins! read more

The wedding we attended here was one of the best. This is the perfect quirky setting for a soiree. Each room is slightly different, but elegant and unique without being over the top. We even discovered a room with an animatronic elephant! It was amazing to walk into what looked like an abandoned warehouse and find such treasures! It is also incredibly hard to find, but that is part of what makes it so very interesting. The staff was truly exceptional as well. I have never attended an event where my drink glasses were never empty the way it was at this event. The staff were always on the move to make sure everything was perfect. The only reason I removed a star was that the food was not very memorable. I had a vegetarian option, which consisted of a stuffed pasta dish, but the side was mashed potatoes. These dishes didn't really go together. That said, my husband had a special vegan meal, and his was amazing. So, consider this review more of a 4.5 stars because really everything else really shone. read more

I have attended several events at the Ruins, and I am always impressed with the accommodations the incredible staff provide. Extra shout out to Madeline who ensures all of the guests are so well cared for. The space itself is utter magic, with a treasure trove of ornate details in every room. The compartmentalized "theme" feeling in each room allows folks to explore. The food spread is always very well curated for the crowd, ranging from classic crowd pleasers to tasty fusions. I still rave about the pork buns on the menu during a Valtesse show. read more

My daughter has been in Seattle for 5 years and has embraced the alternative lifestyle of the new breeds that lead the way around performance art. What a pleasant surprise to find this local venue! The false front does it no justice - yet hides a beautiful and stylish decor! We experienced "La Vie"! Fiona's vision and theme made this work with no hesitation or pretense. Thanks for the experience! read more

We dined here before the PNB Nutcracker, and it was a beautiful and delicious start to our Christmas Date Night. My husband is allergic to gluten, and Chef Garrett modified each of the courses to make them safe for Josh to eat. We started with the Beef Tartare and Foie Gras Torchon with house-made Fig Jam, moved to an incredibly rich and smooth Caramelized Onion Soup, and ate the Braised Pork Cheeks with Fried Brussels Sprouts and the Grilled Swordfish on Buckwheat Polenta and lemony Mizuna greens. Each dish was seasoned well and pretty well balanced. The ingredients were fresh, well prepared and thoughtfully combined. The ambiance was amazing. Apparently there are full time decorators who maintain the property. From the really unique style of the building to the richly colored Christmas baubles and greenery, the experience was well worth it!! I'm not sure if it's a members-only access - we are lucky to be friends with the chef - but if you can get in, definitely go and make a night of it. read more

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The Ruins is the Newest and Best Kept Secret in the city.. OMG the physical place is a labor of love created by my very dear friend Joe McDonald..My husband and I got married there.. Dreamy and perfect experience. !!.It was a private social club (of which I was a Charter Member in 1984) that at the time was the Studio 54 of Seattle. It is called The Ruins because it was created as a RUIN.. The outside of the building has broken windows to allow the full grown trees to peek into the street.. AND you have to know where it is 570 Roy St.. No signs.. No outside advertising.. ie A PRIVATE CLUB .. The Inside is like a French Versailles Mansion with hand painted 24 karat walls of Native NW Scenes on the walls and ceiling.. Just MAGNIFICENT.. But what is newly magnificent is VALTESSE ....Bold, sexy, classy, tasteful, erotic Burlesque directed by ...Fiona Pepe www.valtesseproductions.com. Valtesse Productions. She has transformed this venue into a SOLD OUT venue of art, music, jazz, dance and club bar with Restaurant...ALL Beautifully done.. Great Food .. Amazing Drinks Joe would be looking down from the heavens so pleased to see the well dressed and multi ethnic young people in the club that he had created with my dear friend Virginia Wyman. . Times change and normal changes. GOOD !!.. The staff and talent are just spectacular. The new owner is also First Class. He owns the Foundry in Freemont.. Oh la la.. Another hidden gem.. Valtesse Productions has done Joe Proud.. read more

We had our wedding at the Ruins and it was absolutely magical!!!! Madeleine was so supportive to my aunt and uncle (w/ us on FaceTime) during the tour and our planner Sarah --- KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. Sarah kept us on schedule, she was fun, she was amazing and did it all with a smile on her face. Having Landmark run the food + beverage was so seamless and efficient and everything was perfect. read more

We are sooo happy we chose the Ruins for our wedding venue! So, where to start... The venue is like a speak easy since you would not expect all that when looking at the outside. We love a good speakeasy :) The venue inside is just so unique and beautiful. It's fun to have all the different rooms for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner/reception... Most of the venues in WA seemed to be just a huge blank room (very industrial or a big barn, etc...) which I'm sure works well for others but we enjoyed having the different spaces and all the decor already there so all we had to add was a little flowers and candles and the place already looked beautiful. The service was also amazing, especially Madeline. Whatever you are paying her, she deserves a raise!... and probably a vacation since she seemed to be working at all hours. She is a gem and was so incredible to work with. So sweet, detail oriented, on top of things...everything and more you could want when working with someone for your wedding. It was also amazing to have them have the decor/flowers in house, the cake in house, the catering, etc. Made planning much easier. And they did s beautiful job with it all. It's not a cheap venue but when you consider everything you're getting for your money it actually seemed much more reasonable than many of the alternatives out there. Many of the venues would've required a number of rental items which gets expensive and is a pain. The venue is beautiful as is (no need to rent chairs or chair covers as I would've likely done for most other venues I saw), no need to rent a bar (also saw this at many venues), no need to buy vases/candle holders for the tables (they had a few options for us to use), no need for linen rentals (many choices to choose from), we even used their table numbers, which were lovely. All that stuff adds up and is a pain to deal with, so I appreciated that it was included. The food was delish and our guests all said so too. They made a special French menu for us and our cake was delicious and beautiful. We even had a croquembouche made too. Which was awesome. :) The flowers and decor were beautiful too. Our photographer even said my bouquet was the nicest he'd ever seen. All in all, we were extremely happy to have our wedding there and would definitely recommend it! They were exceptional on all levels! Thank you!!! read more

My family have been longtime members of The Ruins and I have always dreamed of getting married there. However, the venue recently transferred ownership and working with the new owner and his team was a huge disappointment. DO NOT GET MARRIED HERE! It was a logistical nightmare! - After confirming the time with the event coordinator the night before, they were an hour and a half late and we were locked out. Hair and makeup was rushed and we missed out on a lot of pictures due to the delay. - The event coordinator, Alyssa, was incompetent. She was visibly stressed and jittery all day, ignored several of my logistical requests after multiple meetings and email confirmation, and even messed up the seating chart! (when I say messed up, I mean ignored entirely. with several family dynamics to consider, this was a very important aspect) - They were under staffed and our guests had to help set up because they weren't ready in time - Cocktail hour was supposed to start at 4, they did not start pouring drinks until 4:30, at which point the guests were frustrated and my step-mom had to get behind the bar and start serving people herself. - They did not clear any of the drink prices with us and we ended up with an extra 2k on our bill - In the end, they threatened legal action if we did not pay them the additional cost that was incurred, no apology. It was a mess. read more

What a hidden gem! I wouldn't expect a place to exist in a city that is known for it's grunge scene. It's such a beautiful venue! The Valtesse Production is amazing and is a must see. I want to check out this venue for some other events in the near future. read more

The Ruins is beautiful and the wait staff is excellent. That's where the good part ends. Other than that the RUINs stand up to their name, as they effectively RUINed my wedding day. I had my wedding here in 2010. Here are only a few of the HORRIBLE things that happened: 1. Many of my guests suffered from violent food poisoning and had to leave the reception early. 2. Although EVERYTHING was laid out on paper and discussed at great length prior to the wedding day, the coordinator came up to me, THE BRIDE, and interrupted my dinner to ask questions. The first was who was giving toasts. She had it on the schedule! I stuttered and couldn't remember, so I just said Maid of Honor and Best Man. I FORGOT ABOUT MY FATHER. He didn't want to upset things so he didn't say anything. I can NEVER have that moment back. UNFORGIVABLE. 3. I had asked that my 3 small cakes be brought near the bar area so guests could pick their flavor of choice. I did this because we had 1 flavor (there were 4) which included nuts. We ALSO discussed this at length prior to the wedding. The coordinator came up to me AGAIN during dinner, interrupted conversation with family, to ask if they could put a sliver of each flavor on a plate for each guest. Again, being overwhelmed and distracted, I said yes without thinking. I recently found out that a child with nut allergies came into contact with the almond cake and had to be whisked to the hospital!!! 4. It was also discussed that the florist was to decorate the cakes with fresh flowers after they were delivered. We had NO toppers. They didn't do it and now all my cake photos are sad. 5. Before I walked down the aisle the curtains were supposed to be CLOSED so I could have a moment to gather myself before walking. The coordinator had them WIDE open and I was crying because I was stressed and overwhelmed. All the guests in the reception hall were staring at me. Then I walked down the aisle and turned the corner, at which point the coordinator should have straightened my veil and train. She didn't and it got twisted and caught on the chair legs -- WHICH TORE MY $500 CATHEDRAL VEIL. These are just a few of the many many many reasons why you should stay far away from this place for your wedding. I wish I could do it all over again and pick a different location. Hopefully my experience will prevent another ruined wedding day for another bride! read more

I love that this place looks like a tile store in SODO from the outside. Its awkward location/exterior looks are just one more odd grenade to throw into the melee of The Ruins. But you know..I kinda like it. Once inside, the entrance is like walking into the Paris in Vegas: It's like you're outside, but you're still inside the building. Plants, inner French-style patio doors etc. In its inner INNER rooms, it is strange and beautiful: brilliant paintings from ground to ceiling, pillars, heavy velvet, and interesting art on the walls and all around. If you've seen the movie Baron Munchausen, I think you'll agree there are some similarities. I've come for a wedding reception, and my guy has eaten here a couple of times separately with friends (who are card-paying members here; you know, the kind of people that store their wine here ;) The food was good, but I was suprised it wasn't...I don't know...more fairy-tale like, but I think the ballroom makes you feel that way. My salmon was overdone, but I understand it's hard to cook at such a high volume and keep the quality. The wine flowed freely here; if you turned your head too long, one of the many servers were trying to top off your glass. I wanted to ask how much the wedding cost, but you know, that would be rude, right? I wouldn't pay to have a membership here, but I would come for a special occassion or tagalong any day :) read more

A huge shout out to Madeline, part of the management team. I left my debit card behind and was in a panic since the office would be closed for 3 days and I live in Port Angeles, about 3 hours away. Not only did she call me back on a Sunday but met me to hand deliver my card on her way to a family outing in PA that very night! This goes well above and beyond and I hope her boss is smart enough to hang on to this shining star!!! read more

I would only say that it is worth visiting the Ruins to see the sheer over-the-topness of it all. A local artist has painted the walls floor to ceiling in detailed murals, there is an elephant room with a mechanical elephant from the 1930-something fair in Paris, the chocolate room, a library room, and a grand ballroom with impressive chandeliers. But really it is a terrible place. The food is boring and bad, the service is slow, the paint is peeling, and who really wants to sit around with a group of old rich farts in a private club anyway? My boss is a member and loves it there (likely for the exclusivity and air of wealth) so every special lunch we end up at the Ruins, hence my regular visitations. Occasionally I can talk my boss into places like Campagne or Lola or Union (when they did lunch), but usually it is the Ruins. As it is a private restaurant going or not going may not be a choice you have the liberty to make, but trust me you really aren't missing anything. If you can tour it, especially during the holidays, do that but give the food a miss. read more

We held our 25th Wedding Anniversary party at The Ruins. It was absolutely fantastic! Our guests loved every minute and the venue is truly out of a movie! It's a full service venue so they take care of everything and you just write the check (which does add up!). Five stars! read more

Wow, this place is a hidden gem in lower Queen Anne. They call themselves "Seattle's Best Kept Secret" and wow this totally is! This place is a private dinner club but I was happily invited to a dinner there for a work event. SCORE!! Can I just say how gorgeous this place is? This is a perfect event space for a wedding, dinner, just for fun? Probably cost a pretty penny but worth it. It has different size rooms with different style all very elegant. One of the rooms even have a life-like animatronic elephant. how cool is that? We started in the Ballroom with cocktails and wine. Their bar is pretty stacked considering how small it was but they made great drinks and their wine selection was unbelievable. They also had small hor d'oeuvres which consisted of cheese puffs, stuffed mushrooms and I forgot the third one. When it dinner was ready they called us into the Chocolate Room which had a long table with name cards on the table. WOW, so much silverware. They started off with a butternut squash soup which was great, has a bit of heat to it which balanced with the sweetness, they did a wine pairing with a pinot noir which was great and even the bread was good. 2nd course was a gorgonzola salad which was also perfect. 3rd course was steak, scalloped potatoes and asparagus. MY FAVORITE COURSE!! the steak was juicy and cooked perfectly, OH MY GOD, I wanna go back just for the steak which was paired with a cab (one of my favs!!). and last course was homemade vanilla ice cream with a pear tart, delicious. I was able to talk to the manager about the dinner club, wow, its very expensive but the food was amazing and now i'm trying to convince my work to get a corporate account, wish me luck. read more

Walking into the Ruins is falling down the rabbit hole; every room has a theme and they are all impeccably decorated. The rents were of the first bunch of members, back in the day when our hometown rock stars were still reasonably young and the Sonics fucking ruled. We would go here for dinner before Supe's games, become well fed and lubricated, and then stumble back after for some Hennessey and maybe a desert. A couple of years into it, I ordered my usual Greyhound of the quadruple variety (have I mentioned that I don't drink anymore?) and it was delivered to me after about 15 minutes (which just about killed me, I mean come on! I am a booze hound and the only person you're waiting on!!!! HURRY THE FUCK UP!) I soon discovered what the problem was - the young server did not know how to make one. Apparently none of the folks he asked did either - it came to me with GIN instead of Vodka. Please take a moment and think about how very gross Gin and Grapefruit juice would be. Yeah - sick. So you might wonder why all the stars? This was my only downer, and I miss the place terribly. Something went way south at some point and my step-dad, who makes me look like a super reasonable person with simple taste, told them to fuck themselves and joined the Rainier Club. Ah...well...it was really cool while it lasted. The Rainier Club smells like old people and I will never share a cigar with Chris Cornell there. The brat is not pleased. read more

Loved the Valtesse Show! The service was great, the venue is unique and intimate. A bit hard to find, but that adds to the atmosphere. Loved everything about my experience. read more

Sorry. The trek to Seattle for a closing dinner at the infamous "Ruins" was not to be rewarded. This "members only" hideaway restaurant was a huge disappointment. Very so so food, decor while unique did nothing for me. People either are too easily impressed or I must have left the land of the sane... read more

My husband used to work for a company that held it's annual holiday party at the Ruins. The space is nice for a party. There's a smaller room for cocktails and two larger rooms for dining. But the food is just lousy. And the service sucks. It takes the staff a solid 15 minutes to get entrees out to everyone. Bland fish, undercooked meat (meant to be in the French style but really just raw), cloyingly sweet salad dressings and unappetizing, forgettable desserts. For all you people who can't get in to the Ruins, you are not missing anything. read more

My wife and I recently got married at the ruins and they got all the details right. The food was great, the venue classy and beautiful, the night was a blast for everyone. Most importantly my bride was happy. Thank you Ruins!! read more

Magical decor. Delicious. Great service.

Played tagalong for visit, can read other reviews about the general ambiance and decor. "Tradesman's entrance" in the alley was a little odd - figure they do that when the restaurant is only part booked. Dined in the faux Victorian lounge. Novel setting for sure - like sitting in your nan's front room if you grew up in England. They certainly wanted the experience to feel expensive and eccentric. Menu looked like it was fixed by Month. Wine list was brief and simple, usual selection of half dozen meats and fish per course. Lack of a signature cocktail or two was unusual. Got a decent g&t anyway. Appetizers were pleasant. Burned to char bread served up with one of our appetizers was a surprise. Steak asked med-rare, ended up well done at one end, rarer at the other (1/2" variation in initial thickness by the looks of it). Tried Cod too - was fairly tasty. Kitchen seemed a little rushed, less time-sensitive dishes turned out better. Dessert was fresh, simple, and quite tasty. Needed to prompt for after-dinner drinks. Armchairs damn uncomfortable to eat from, but great for after dinner. Portions were just right, I could have done with a side dish of veggies to balance the protein. Why 3 stars? I can't help but feel a little disappointed. For a self-hyped exclusive venue I expected more. As others have observed there are similarly priced exceptional venues within a stones throw. read more

When I went there in 2004, I was never told the name of the place and I was horrible with directions. I kept asking my friends in Seattle (except the two people who took me there) about this place that's around the "Nordic neighborhood", a place that looked like a deserted warehouse on the outside but a fancy house with elephant and piano inside... None of my college friends knew what I was talking about and thought I was crazy...Eventually I knew it's called the Ruins, and I was surprised to find so much information about it on the Internet. Didn't my hosts say it's a "secret"? I don't remember the food, except that we're sitting near the kitchen area. It's somewhat dark and we're sitting by several book shelves (Isn't it cool that Seattle doesn't have earthquakes?) Oh, I do remember the menu doesn't tell you the price of each dish. It's only years later that I realize it must have been ridiculously expensive. I was fascinated by the place, and how each dining area had a different theme. It's almost like eating in a museum. I guess everything's exciting back when you're 21... read more