#1680 - Tiki Joe's Wet Bar, Kirkland, WA - 2/15/2012

"Are you going to start your own tiki bar?" the bartender asked me, and I walked around taking photos.  I didn't have the heart to tell her that I have more tiki stuff in my basement.  Tiki Joe's is a small dive that serves strong drinks to a crowd in their lower 20s and wearing popped collar polo shirts.

106 Kirkland Avenue Kirkland, WA 98033 - (425) 827-8300
Est. 2004
Previous bars in this location: Smokie Jo's
tikisbarandgrill.com - facebook - critiki - yelp

#1679 - BeachHouse Bar and Grill, Kirkland, WA - 2/15/2012

6023 Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast, Kirkland, WA 98033 - (425) 968-5587
beachhousekirkland.com

#1678 - Suite Lounge, Bellevue, WA - 2/9/2012

 This is a pleasant place if you enjoy hotel bars, and I do.  It's got the typical benefits of hotel bars, such as the rolling cast of characters, many more interested in chatting than the locals are.  And it has a few unusual touches as well -- they have aerialists performing on weekends.  I had a pleasant bar chat and some good cocktails here from Joe, whom I met at Pop Kitchen in the EMP.

10500 NE 8th St, Ste 125, Bellevue, WA 98004 (Hyatt Regency Wintergarden) - (425) 679-6951
Est. Sep 22, 2011

suitebellevue.com - opening night photos - yelp

#1677 - Big Fish Grill, Kirkland, WA - 2/8/2012

10426 Northup Way Kirkland, WA 98033 - (425) 827-2722

#1676 #S999 - Lecosho, Seattle - 2/7/2012

Update: Lecosho closed at the end of 2020

Lecosho is Chinook for "pig," and Lecosho the restaurant was created by Matt Janke of Matt's in the Market, so you know there's going to be some tasty eating.  In the former location of Koji Osakaya on the Harbor Steps, Lecosho serves some quality cocktails at the bar and upscale preparations of a varied cuisine.  My scallops were excellent.


The Harbor Steps, 89 University St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 623-2101

Est. Sep 21, 2010 - Closed Dec 31, 2020 - Building constructed: 1994
Previous bars in this location: None known
lecosho.com - seattlemet - seattleweekly - seattletimes - thestranger - seattlemag - seattlest - yelp

#1675 #S998 - Amber Den, Seattle - 2/6/2012

Update: Amber Den was closed on June 16, 2012, and retooled into Nick's Off Market.

This place serves a small but pretty good selection of local wines and beers, with various tasty small plates.  It's too bad that it's located in a condo building, and feels like a hotel lobby fern bar.

1556 Northwest 56th Street Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 783-0131
Est. Feb, 2012 - Closed Jun 16, 2012 - Building constructed: 2000
Previous bars in this location: None
amberdenseattle.com - facebook - thestranger - ballardnewstribune - myballard - eater - yelp

#1674 #S997 - The Kraken, Seattle - 2/4/2012

Update: The Kraken closed March 4, 2023, after the new developers that purchased the building did not want them occupying it.

The Kraken is a moderate re-make of the Galway Arms, with some of the employees having become owners.  Part of the redecorating included modifying the stenciled ships on the wall to now include the squid arms of kraken wrapping around the vessels.  It's a fun, small place with character and characters, fairly good beers choices and food, and punk-ish live bands.

5257 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 - 206 522-5334
Est. Jan 1, 2012 - Building constructed: 1919
Previous bars in this location: Galway Arms
facebook - seattlebands - thestranger - yelp