#1895 #S1070 - Q, Seattle - 9/15/2011

Queu at Club Q, Capitol Hill, Seattle

The owners did not want Q to be positioned as a gay bar -- answering questions about that with "At Q, everyone is welcome." I must admit that "New York City big-room style" electronic dance music clubs are not my favorite kinds of music or bar, so I'm not sure how to judge this one. But I do like the fact that they don't have the ridiculous VIP rooms, and that they have a whiskey bar in back. And of course it's super gay.

1426 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Est. Sep 8, 2012 - Building constructed: 1912
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: qcapitolhill.com - facebook
Reviews: eatinseattle - seattlegayscene - edgeboston - thrillist - capitolhillseattle - eater - yelp

#1894 #S1069 - Rumba, Seattle - 9/15/2011

Rumba is a new craft cocktail bar from Travis Rosenthal (Tango) serving rum-centric, tiki and Caribbean drinks. The drinks are quite good and the look is classic Hemingway era Havana.  Original cocktails are from bar manager Connor O’Brien, who has been making fine tasting drinks at Vito's the last couple years.  The unusual focus, romantic vibe, and 250+ rum choices make this a great addition to Seattle cocktail options.



Historical notes: I can only find hints of one previous bar here, the Nikko Garden Tavern in the late 80s / early 90s.  I have no clue what this tavern was like, but an older version, closer to downtown was described as "a go-go joint with awful dancers, but if you complained, a barmaid swatted you with a stick."

1112 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 583-7177
Est. Sep 14, 2012 - Building constructed: year
Previous bars in this location: Nikko Garden Tavern
Web site: rumbaonpike.com - facebook  
Ranked Reviews: seattlemet - eater - seattleweekly - seattletimes - measureandstir - seattleite - capitolhillseattle - therumcollective - thestranger - yelp

#1893 #S1068 - Tippe and Drague, Seattle - 9/13/2012

Before you try looking up those Shakespeare characters you missed, "Tippe and Drague" is an old English-ey dressing up of the hot air ballooning term "tip and drag." The bar of that name is a beer-centric, neighborly, little place on Beacon Hill with 16 taps (and a "no crap on tap" policy) and various hit and miss comfort food items.

3315 Beacon Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98144 - 206-538-0094
Est. Sep 1, 2012 - Building constructed: 1926
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: tippeanddrague.com - facebook  
Best Reviews: seattlebeernews - thestranger - ratebeer - yelp

#1892 #S1067 - Essex, Seattle - 9/8/2012

Try the: Moab


I don't think you'll get your very favorite cocktails at Essex, but what you will get are very good cocktails and very different cocktails -- lots of home-made ingredients and tastes that you have never quite had before. I most enjoyed the Moab (Reposado, red pepper, pickled chile brine, lemon, salt, pepper) and the H.M.S. Theodore Roosevelt (Voyager gin, Extra Special Orange (house version of Grand Marnier), Campari, sparkling wine).  We also tried the Red Medicine (house aged rye, Delancey fernet, Rachel's Ginger Beer, rhubarb) and the George Brown (Gin, wood-roasted peach, citrus, Meyer's float), which were also interesting but not quite as good as the aforementioned.

Jordan our bartender was very friendly and happy to discuss the place and their cocktails. It is owned by Brandon Pettit and Molly Wizenberg of the adjacent, excellent pizza joint Delancey, assisted by bar manager Gary Abts (Licorous, La Bete). It has a nice, homey feel with damask wall paper featuring sperm whale silhouettes, and a small, pleasant patio out front. Along the top shelf you can see bottle after bottle of bitters and infusions, promising any number of interesting concoctions in the future. It has some very nice cheeses and small plates (though if I were there really hungry I would definitely just save the room for a Delancey pizza and Jersey Salad).


All around, it is the sort of place you want to come back to often.

1421 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117 - (206) 838-1960               
Est. Aug 15, 2012 - Building constructed: 1926  
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: essexbarseattle.com - facebook
Best Reviews: link - seriouseats - meandmrpants - thestranger - seattlemag - seattlemet - thrillist - yelp

#1891 #S1066 - El Quetzal Bar, Seattle - 9/8/2011

The quetzal is a colorful bird that was sacred to ancient Mesoamericans, and the national bird and name of the currency in Guatemala. El Quetzal on Beacon Hill is a bar / gallery from Almendra Sandoval, with a lot of art (much of it erotic) and apparently quite hopping on weekend evenings (gangster rap was lingering from the previous night). It's a very cool, little space and serves some fairly good magaritas.  You can also order some fairly good Mexico City-style street food from the restaurant portion next door.

3209 Beacon Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 - (206) 329-2970
Est. Jan 29, 2012 - Building constructed: 1927
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - thestranger - urbanspoon - yelp - tripadvisor   

#1890 #S1065 - Ambassel Restaurant, Seattle - 9/7/2011

Ambassel is a good Ethiopian restaurant with a small bar that serves very basic drinks and a web site that is a marvel of animated gifts, scrolling text, jumbled frames, and other circa 1996 web design. Some of the staff's understanding of American accents is imperfect so you may need to take care (e.g. the bartender heard our request for "menus" as "Manny's").


1224 East Jefferson Street Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 860-7074
Previous bars in this location: Simon's Place (70s)
Building constructed 1909
Web site: ambasselethiopianrestaurant.com - facebook     
Reviews: yelp

#1889 #S1064 - Zobel Restaurant, Seattle - 9/7/2011

Zobel ("gathering place" in Amharic), is one of a large number of Ethiopian restaurants in this part of the Central District of Seattle. It was created in 2003 by Enana Kassa, who immigrated from Ethiopia in 1983 and eventually established the smaller Blue Nile in the same area. The food is good and the bar is casual and just the basics.

1219 East Jefferson Street Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 323-1408
Est. 2003 - Building constructed: 1949
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: zobelrestaurant.com - facebook  
Reviews: yelp - urbanspoon