French restaurant Bastille Cafe and Bar, a longstanding Ballard favorite from Seattle restauranteurs James Weimann and Deming Maclise, was forced to shutter during the pandemic. The two bounced back by rebooting as Sabine Cafe & Market in the same location in October 2020. Over a year later, Bar Sabine opened in the former space of Bastille’s Back Bar, featuring bold cocktails — like the Born Again, made with hibiscus gin, vodka, Szechuan peppercorn, rooibos tea aperitif, and lemon oil — and a Middle East-meets-Pacific Northwest menu.

Fremont’s upscale sandwich shop Crumby offers exceptional menu items like braised beef, crab cakes, or buttermilk chicken sandwiches, and the spirits side of the menu is just as robust. Check out Crumby’s blackberry cocktail made with bourbon, all spice, and egg whites, or the “build-your-own bloody mary” options on Sundays.

Former gastropub Lazy Susan in Queen Anne has reopened as SZN under new owner Jack Cheung. Diners will find similar playful decor and Korean-Mexican snacks on the menu as before, but the drinks side is where the spot really shines, with some inventive twists on classic cocktails. Try the SZN old fashioned with rye whiskey, Angostura bitters, and maple; or the Bustling ID made with vodka, lychee, orange liqueur and lemon.

The Doctor’s Office is a cozy, 12-seat Capitol Hill bar from actual medical professional Dr. Matthew Powell and bartender Keith Waldbauer. The main draw is its extensive list of spirits that spans many different prices and countries of origin, including Indian single malts, Japanese brandy, and Peruvian rum. Given the limited number of seats, it’s a good idea to make an appointment, er, reservation, beforehand.

Located in Bellevue’s Hotel 116, DwnUndr is an all-ages bar and grill with heated outdoor courtyard for cornhole and bocce ball games. There’s also plenty of indoors entertainment like Jenga, pop-a-shot, darts, and more. DwnUndr’s menu features comfort classics, beer, and cocktails. It also has specials like free hot dogs during Seahawks games.

“Viet style tree house” Phocific Standard Time (PST) is an intimate bar right above Pho Bac’s downtown location that serves cocktails made with Vietnamese ingredients and flavors. Try the trung muoi, made with a pho fat washed Japanese whisky, cream sherry, carcavelos wine, and salted egg yolk; or nuoc mat, a cocktail with soju, Cocchi Americano, logan, and citrus and jasmine flavors. Co-owner Yenvy Pham has whipped up a playful menu with offerings like a creamy, cheesy crab dip that perfectly compliments PST’s drinks.

At this sibling bar to next door Rumba on Capitol Hill, there’s an over-the-top oceanic fantasy mood, with a giant tentacled sea creature hanging from the ceiling, thatched booths, and a variety of tropical-leaning cocktails in elaborate mugs made for Instagram. Check out the Ballard fog cutter, a cocktail you can drink out of a horn, or the dinglehopper, a drink inspired by The Little Mermaid.

Canon is simply one of the premier booze destinations in Seattle, known for an extensive aged spirits selection and expertly crafted drinks. After a long hiatus, it reopened in August with a full menu and indoor seating, serving up classics and some seasonal concoctions, such as the Anning martini (with oyster shell gin) and the Summer Fashioned (with bourbon, rum, apple brandy, and lingonberry).

A New Orleans-influenced speakeasy recently opened in the back of West Seattle’s Lika Love clothing boutique, with a Big Easy cocktail list that includes Sazeracs, Hurricanes, and Ramos fizzes, along with a few substantial bites. For those who really want to party after shopping, $2 Jell-O shots made with rum and passionfruit juice are on offer as well.

White Center’s wrestling-themed bar Lariat aims to be a destination for Seattle’s underserved wrestling fans, as well as a cozy spot for locals. Filled with nostalgic wrestling memorabilia, notably from the 1980s and 1990s, Lariat also has TVs and a mini wrestling ring.