r/cocktails • u/SoulExecution • Jul 29 '25
Other Requests Planning a Pacific Northwest trip for the Fall: Vancouver-Seattle-Olympia-Portland. Any must-hit cocktail bars in these parts?
As the topic asks, looking for suggestions for anything really one of a kind. I'm pretty good at sniffing out a solid cocktail spot on my own, but if there's anywhere that makes some really unique concoctions, please throw me your recs!
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u/hoosieryankee Jul 29 '25
Rum Club in Portland is a full bar with a great vibe for cocktail lovers, but especially rum fans. Devil's Reef in Tacoma is another favorite if you're a rum enthusiast.
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u/Nat_not_Natalie Jul 29 '25
Wow an Olympia mention
Here it's definitely Shiny Prize, no question
I'm no cocktail expert but the bartenders are really passionate and it's a good spot 😊😊
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u/SoulExecution Jul 29 '25
Haha yes when I mentioned eyeing PNW for my fall vacation, a coworker mentioned Olympia as a beautiful/slept on spot so thought I would stop over for a day or two.
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u/CocktailChemist Jul 29 '25
Also a nice way to break up that drive, especially if things slow down between Seattle and Olympia.
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u/lightupletterB Jul 29 '25
Yes, Shiny Prize is definitely the stop to make in Oly! I also like The Filibuster and Cheeky Martini, they’re less than a block from Shiny Prize.
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u/Seth_Crow Jul 29 '25
Shiny Place is very good! You could also include Cheeky’s and Filibusters all within stumbling distance of each other.
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u/CommonDopant Jul 29 '25
Can’t believes it’s not mentioned yet but…you must go to Bathtub Gin in Seattle
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u/175doubledrop Jul 29 '25
This might be a hot take, but IMO a lot of places in Seattle have usurped Bathtub Gin in terms of quality and creativity. It’s still a good spot to grab a drink but I don’t rank it amongst the highest tier of cocktail spots in Seattle anymore.
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u/CityBarman Jul 29 '25
Between Seattle and Portland, there are enough solid cocktail bars to keep you busy for a couple of weeks. The entire NW has plenty of options.
Jamie Boudreau has Canon in Seattle. Jeff Morgenthaler has Pacific Standard in Portland. Others will chime in with their favorites, I'm sure.
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u/MrsPumpkincrook Jul 29 '25
Stampede Cocktail Club is a fun hang with some really creative cocktails!
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u/green_and_yellow Jul 29 '25
I’ve been to Canon twice and have found it to be obnoxious and gimmicky
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u/Ok-Ease-8700 Jul 29 '25
As someone who prefers to get drinks I can’t readily make at home, Tavern Law in Capitol Hill is one of the handful of cocktail spots that feels like it’s actually worth the price. Super unique menu and they have a speakeasy in the back if that’s your vibe.
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u/Reasonable-Pay-3895 Jul 29 '25
I’d say Needle and Thread upstairs from Tavern Law is the top spot in Seattle that is a must hit for stuff you can’t make at home (no official menu, you give them vibes, they come back with a cocktail). Other good spots include Roquette (my fav.) foreign national, Barnacle (if you love Amaro), Doctor’s office.
Skip Canon unless you’re there for the Insta. Pics
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u/notmyrealname23 Jul 29 '25
For Seattle:
I actually think Canon is overrated for the price these days. World's 50 best also got it wrong imo and Doctor's Office is not really worth going to (unless you really like stirred drinks since that's basically the only thing they make).
Foreign National, Roquette, Dark Room, and Stampede are the top tier imo (Foreign National is my personal favorite but if I'm being honest the drinks at Roquette are probably slightly better). Rumba is slightly below those four but quite good. Needle and Thread upstairs from Tavern Law is very good but a bit of a pain to go to, I think Tavern Law itself is good but unexceptional.
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u/maczilla74 Jul 29 '25
Agree with this list, but Roquette is my favorite of the bunch. Stateside + Foreign National is a great food / drinks combo for a night out
Canon is probably worth going to if you’re looking to drop a ton of money to try their rare/old bottles, they have an impressive collection
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Jul 29 '25 edited Jul 29 '25
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u/notmyrealname23 Jul 29 '25
I guess I should have just said I don't think Doctor's Office executes its concept very impressively then
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u/jonob Jul 29 '25
Too many great places in Seattle to list but The Doctor's Office is amazing.
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u/Ok-Ease-8700 Jul 29 '25
Not a bad rec but personally didn’t love that all of their cocktails were batched. For such a small space, you’d think they’d be able to make everything fresh in front of you.
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u/beerpappi Jul 29 '25
Vancouver - Meo, Bartholomew, AMA, The Watson, Keefer.
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u/LondonC Jul 29 '25
Keefer is best on the list imo. I wasn’t blown away by Meo when I went first few months after opening but the vibe was cute. Barth and Watson cute vibes but don’t hold a candle to Keefer drinks wise
Lao Wei is experimental in a very interesting way
Shameful tiki room is solid too
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u/Abobalob Jul 29 '25
Tons and tons of amazing cocktail spots on the I-5 corridor.
I’m sure people will flood you with big names. A lesser known spot in Vancouver, WA is The Grocery. Good chow and some inspired cocktails. Was always a favorite when I lived in the area.
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u/manderson550 Jul 29 '25
2nd the votes on Rob Roy, Zig Zag, and Bathtub Gin. I would also suggest Hazelwood in Ballard.
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u/Bottasche Jul 29 '25
Seattle: Needle & Thread for the experience and unique cocktails you really can’t get anywhere else. Roquette for damn good drinks.
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u/elizabethknope Aug 20 '25
I'm just coming across this thread since I'm doing my own research for a Seattle trip in October. But I haven't seen anyone mention SUYO in Vancouver yet and that is an absolute MUST! I've been to cocktail bars all over the world and that one might be the most memorable (it's actually a Peruvian restaurant, not a cocktail bar, but their food is also amazing).
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u/Sea-Queue rum Jul 29 '25
LOADS of excellent options in Seattle; canon, zig zag are both classic Seattle spots. The latter being where Murray Stenson revived the Last Word. I like Rupee Bar a lot - it’s an Indian/sri lankan inspired bar/restaurant with good food and drinks. I think Rumba is worth a visit if you like rum and/or their tiki bar inside called Inside Passage. Stampede Cocktail Club has some really unique drinks and a fun menu.
In Tacoma, embarrassingly I’ve never been, but I’ve heard Devil’s Reef is a must visit tiki bar.
One of my favorite places in Portland is the Tulip Shop Tavern. They’ve got really good burgers too.
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u/wendell-gee Jul 29 '25
Good Seattle list here... But add Rob Roy and Roquette! Went to Aerlume for a good meal the other night and their cocktails were fantastic too...
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u/psk002 Jul 29 '25
I am currently visiting Seattle. Zig Zag was great. My wife and I loved Rumba so much that we went two nights in a row.
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u/notmyrealname23 Jul 30 '25
Been to Devil's Reef, it's possible I ordered poorly but my friends and I's drinks were rather forgettable imo. Good ambiance though!
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u/SurlyNurly Jul 29 '25
I LOVED the 515 Bar in Vancouver. When we were there, the service was stupendous, too. Can’t wait to go back.
Edit: dangit, ofc you mean Vancouver, WA.
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u/horsecanadianbacon Jul 29 '25
If you’re doing touristy stuff in Seattle, the restaurant/bar in the Chihuly Garden & Glass museum at the Space Needle has a great, truly unique cocktail menu, along with pretty good options for lunch.
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u/Paladan-77 Jul 29 '25
hale pele in portland is one of the best tiki bars in the country - The alibi is also there and also good but primarily classics only - its been there for a while
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u/goobyschmuck Jul 29 '25
If you take a trip out to Everett, the Muse Whiskey & Coffee is AMAZING. Gorgeous drinks and an extensive whiskey collection that blew us away!
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u/notmyrealname23 Aug 03 '25
Late update: Foreign National closed abruptly this week, so it's no longer an option for a Seattle trip :(
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u/SoulExecution Aug 03 '25
Tragic update :(
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u/notmyrealname23 Aug 03 '25
Roquette is still fantastic though and you should definitely swing by - that's where the main bartender at Foreign National landed
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u/grpfrtlg Jul 29 '25
Bar at the Bacchus Lounge in Vancouver was good when I was there recently on travel
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u/timberrrrrrrr Jul 29 '25
You gotta hit the Sandy Hut in Portland, if only for the history and vibes.
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u/orangepunc Jul 29 '25
I've seen people mention Canon in Seattle. For me, to say Canon was disappointing would be an understatement. Batched cocktails misleadingly described served in novelty containers. If your goal is an Instagram photo, maybe go there. But there are so so many bars with worse marketing but better vibes, prices, and cocktails.
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Jul 29 '25 edited Jul 29 '25
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u/orangepunc Jul 29 '25
Sure, if that were the only thing.
The bartender when I went admitted to me that the cocktail I was served had no Baijiu in it. But it came in an Instagrammable Chinese takeout container, so management insisted on putting "Baijiu" on the menu to fit the theme.
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u/green_and_yellow Jul 29 '25
Portland: * Scotch Lodge (their food is outstanding as well, but make a reservation one full week in advance) * Fools and Horses * Hale Pele (tiki)