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An Epic Guide to Chefs' Favorite Seattle Cocktail Bars

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It's been revealed where Seattle bartenders like to drink incognito. Now, continuing on with Cocktail Week 2013, it's time to find out where our local chefs like to drink after punching the clock.

Here, in no particular order, are the bars du jour of some of Seattle's cooking contingent. And for Throwback Thursday, might you revisit the favorite dive bars of Hollywood Tavern chef, Angie Roberts and the preferred cocktail stops of Spinasse's/Aragona's Jason Stratton?


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Taichi Kitamura, Sushi Kappo Tamura: "I really think Ravish is the best bar in town because the guys that works there, especially Luke Mckinley, are super nice and friendly. After serving at the sushi bar, it's really nice to be served by guys who knows what it's like in this industry."

[Photo Credit]

Fireside Room at Sorrento Hotel

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Mike Easton, Il Corvo: "I really love the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel. Not that the cocktails are anything out of the ordinary, but it's more about felling — like I've been transported to another time. And besides, when you sit in one of those big leather wing back chairs by the fireplace, you just want to be drinking a scotch."

[Photo Credit]

Rocco's

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Dana Tough, Spur/Tavern Law/Old Sage: "Rocco's. They're getting creative with their cocktail program."

[Photo Credit]

E. Smith Mercantile

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Brendan McGill, Hitchcock: "This week, my vote goes to the Back Bar at E. Smith Mercantile. It's a unique concept, boutique and bar, and the cocktails are delicious. Plus, I feel really lucky to have a tiny cocktail lounge right across the street from Altstadt."

[Photo Credit]

Garrett Doherty, Kraken Congee: "The Essex in Ballard: small, loud, strong drinks, good bartender. Also, the small back bar at The Bitterroot BBQ: good beer and great food."
Charles Walpole, Blind Pig Bistro: "Essex is my favorite. They make a lot of their stuff including their version of fernet and the bartenders are cool. Plus it's stumbling distance to my house."

[Photo Credit]

Wedgwood Broiler

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Mark Klebeck, Top Pot Doughnuts: "The Wedgwood Broiler. Great happy hour with old furnishings and old patrons."

[Photo Credit]

Oliver's Twist

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Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants: "Oliver's Twist. I can walk home. And they're very nice people."
Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table: "Oliver's Twist. Robert is rad, cocktails are de-lish, staff rocks; it used to be my second home. Get a Gin-Gin Mule or a Duff & Blathers."

[Photo Credit]

Tavern Law

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Daisley Gordon, Marché: "I really enjoy both Tavern Law and Canon. Both of them are serious about liquor and cocktails, as well as both spaces are well appointed."

[Photo Credit]

Palace Kitchen

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Mark Fuller, Ma'ono: "Palace Kitchen — great classic cocktails and plin; the horseshoe bar, chandeliers and the mural of the service-staff partying on the royal leftovers.
Lorettas Northwesterner: No one is judging what you do or don’t do while you are there. Double burger, single burger and fries. Beer and cheap whiskey.
Big Mario's: movies, pull tabs, great pizza. People watching – transient crowd
Mission: cozy, warm, nachos and margaritas.
Hooverville: hotdogs, darts, Buck Hunter, and the very low bar stool. I haven’t been in a while."

[Photo Credit]

Hazlewood

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Tyler Palagi, Radiator Whiskey: "Being a shot and a beer kind of bottom feeder it's rare I go out to find a crafty cocktail. But if I did I'd go to Hazlewood in Ballard. I'm happy with a Manhattan just about anywhere, but dive comfort is my cup. Jules Maes in Georgetown, Beveridge Place Pub in West Seattle. Brouwer's in Fremont. I usually take out-of-towners for the coldest beer in town at Lowell's in the Market. Hella frosty."

[Photo Credit]

Jason Franey, Canlis: "Canon is my favorite late night spot. Jamie Boudreau's cocktails are unprecedented."

[Photo Credit]

Zig Zag Cafe

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Thierry Rautureau, LUC, Rover's, Loulay: "A Manhattan at Zig Zag. So well balanced from alcohol to bitter to perfect sweetness."

[Photo Credit]

Cafe Munir

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Eric Tanaka, Tom Douglas Restaurants: "It's not so much a bar, but a tip. I like Cafe Munir to drink a little whiskey. They have a tone, 100 or so, and have odd specials on them every now and then."

[Photo Credit]

Lottie's Lounge

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Zoi Antonitsas, Westward: "I love Liberty for the negroni swizzle & black walnut old fashioned. Also, Lottie's is my neighborhood joint. Nothing fancy, but great people — one of the most diverse in seattle — and a legit stiff drink."

[Photo Credit]

Ravish

Taichi Kitamura, Sushi Kappo Tamura: "I really think Ravish is the best bar in town because the guys that works there, especially Luke Mckinley, are super nice and friendly. After serving at the sushi bar, it's really nice to be served by guys who knows what it's like in this industry."

[Photo Credit]

Fireside Room at Sorrento Hotel

Mike Easton, Il Corvo: "I really love the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel. Not that the cocktails are anything out of the ordinary, but it's more about felling — like I've been transported to another time. And besides, when you sit in one of those big leather wing back chairs by the fireplace, you just want to be drinking a scotch."

[Photo Credit]

Rocco's

Dana Tough, Spur/Tavern Law/Old Sage: "Rocco's. They're getting creative with their cocktail program."

[Photo Credit]

E. Smith Mercantile

Brendan McGill, Hitchcock: "This week, my vote goes to the Back Bar at E. Smith Mercantile. It's a unique concept, boutique and bar, and the cocktails are delicious. Plus, I feel really lucky to have a tiny cocktail lounge right across the street from Altstadt."

[Photo Credit]

Essex

Garrett Doherty, Kraken Congee: "The Essex in Ballard: small, loud, strong drinks, good bartender. Also, the small back bar at The Bitterroot BBQ: good beer and great food."
Charles Walpole, Blind Pig Bistro: "Essex is my favorite. They make a lot of their stuff including their version of fernet and the bartenders are cool. Plus it's stumbling distance to my house."

[Photo Credit]

Wedgwood Broiler

Mark Klebeck, Top Pot Doughnuts: "The Wedgwood Broiler. Great happy hour with old furnishings and old patrons."

[Photo Credit]

Oliver's Twist

Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants: "Oliver's Twist. I can walk home. And they're very nice people."
Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table: "Oliver's Twist. Robert is rad, cocktails are de-lish, staff rocks; it used to be my second home. Get a Gin-Gin Mule or a Duff & Blathers."

[Photo Credit]

Tavern Law

Daisley Gordon, Marché: "I really enjoy both Tavern Law and Canon. Both of them are serious about liquor and cocktails, as well as both spaces are well appointed."

[Photo Credit]

Palace Kitchen

Mark Fuller, Ma'ono: "Palace Kitchen — great classic cocktails and plin; the horseshoe bar, chandeliers and the mural of the service-staff partying on the royal leftovers.
Lorettas Northwesterner: No one is judging what you do or don’t do while you are there. Double burger, single burger and fries. Beer and cheap whiskey.
Big Mario's: movies, pull tabs, great pizza. People watching – transient crowd
Mission: cozy, warm, nachos and margaritas.
Hooverville: hotdogs, darts, Buck Hunter, and the very low bar stool. I haven’t been in a while."

[Photo Credit]

Hazlewood

Tyler Palagi, Radiator Whiskey: "Being a shot and a beer kind of bottom feeder it's rare I go out to find a crafty cocktail. But if I did I'd go to Hazlewood in Ballard. I'm happy with a Manhattan just about anywhere, but dive comfort is my cup. Jules Maes in Georgetown, Beveridge Place Pub in West Seattle. Brouwer's in Fremont. I usually take out-of-towners for the coldest beer in town at Lowell's in the Market. Hella frosty."

[Photo Credit]

Canon

Jason Franey, Canlis: "Canon is my favorite late night spot. Jamie Boudreau's cocktails are unprecedented."

[Photo Credit]

Zig Zag Cafe

Thierry Rautureau, LUC, Rover's, Loulay: "A Manhattan at Zig Zag. So well balanced from alcohol to bitter to perfect sweetness."

[Photo Credit]

Cafe Munir

Eric Tanaka, Tom Douglas Restaurants: "It's not so much a bar, but a tip. I like Cafe Munir to drink a little whiskey. They have a tone, 100 or so, and have odd specials on them every now and then."

[Photo Credit]

Lottie's Lounge

Zoi Antonitsas, Westward: "I love Liberty for the negroni swizzle & black walnut old fashioned. Also, Lottie's is my neighborhood joint. Nothing fancy, but great people — one of the most diverse in seattle — and a legit stiff drink."

[Photo Credit]

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