Support Us Button Widget

Where to drink alone in Seattle

Pull up a bar stool.

A low-lit bar in Seattle with plush seating and velvet couch pillows

The Founders Club’s speakeasy aesthetic should allow you to keep a low profile.

Photo via Founders Club

Don’t know what you’ve heard during this lovey-dovey season, but “one” is not the loneliest number. Not by a longshot.

Treating yourself to a nice, quiet drink or meal solo is one of life’s great pleasures. Particularly in Seattle, where there are so many cool nooks to curl up in on a winter’s day. Here are a few local options that should satisfy all the lone rangers out there.

For dive lovers

  • Twilight Exit | Central District | The neighborhood haunt offers warm vibes, good convo, and stiff drinks. What more do you need?
  • Waterwheel Lounge | Ballard | This place is solid when the bartenders pal with the regulars and Pabst leads the beer list. If you’re brave, grab the mic during Waterwheel’s epic karaoke nights.

For bookworms

  • Chuck’s Hop Shop | Seward Park | This bottle shop with rotating drafts shares a space with Third Place Books, so you can have fresh reads and hops.
  • The Fireside Room | Downtown’s Hotel Sorrento | Cozy seats, roaring fires, and silent reading parties make for boozy literary dreams.
A lounge with a green-accented fireplace and leather couches

The Fireside Room is worthy of winter hibernation.

Photo via Hotel Sorrento

For foodies

  • Off Alley | Columbia City | The space is tight, but the wine list and rotating snacks with creative uses of offal is even tighter.
  • TOMO | White Center | Grab a seat at the bar during low-key hours — and make sure you order those mounds of icy deliciousness known as kakigori.

For 40+ singles

  • Founders Club | Downtown’s Fairmont Olympic | The speakeasy located behind an inconspicuous bookcase offers a sophisticated atmosphere without pretension — see who catches your eye.
  • The Doctor’s Office | Capitol Hill | Cure whatever ails you with a well-crafted cocktail or rare spirit at the intimate 12-seater. If bartender/local historian Andrew Bohrer is there, chat him up — he has some stories.
More from SEAtoday
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
Grab your biggest buckets — these Seattle neighborhoods offer the best treats, no tricks needed.
Here’s the deal — the thrift and vintage shopping scene in Seattle has great finds. These are your must-see stops for a perfect haul.
There’s never been a better time to support locally owned-pharmacies.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Reach your local community with our help.
Consider these our Hollywood signs.
We’re highlighting the best kid-friendly activities that Seattle has to offer — complete with art classes, animal encounters, and outdoor fun.
When you find yourself suddenly with a free afternoon on a beautiful Seattle summer day, here are some quick ways to get outdoors and bask in our rarely seen sun.