Mountaineering Club Reviews

We stopped in to check out the rooftop bar (having seen the sister venue in LA). We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, right at opening (3 pm) and couldn’t find a table outside (or inside) due to reservations. So we sat at the bar and had two different drinks (Not Coming Home Tonight and Under a Log). Both drinks were really good and made me believe the rest of the list would be equally well crafted. But the fact that we stayed for an hour plus, and the reserved tables that we were not allowed to occupy remained empty for that entire time, left me thinking the view wasn’t quite worth the effort. So the takeaway is: make a reservation if you REALLY want to visit this bar.

I can't say this was the best restaurant I've been to; it was fairly noisy and seemed to be aimed at a younger crowd. The view was wonderful and I enjoyed that it was so high up, 14 floors, I believe. The staff was friendly but not so attentive, most seemed hard to get ahold of. We ended up only having cocktails, when we meant to enjoy dinner. We almost ran out of time before our movie and went to Shawarma King instead.

The new Graduate Hotel, which replaced the university district landmark Hotel Deca, relocated the bar from the basement level to the penthouse floor, where it has spectacular views. It was already bustling on a Friday night only a week or two after opening. Specialty cocktails are interesting, wine list limited to 3 choices (last time I had Blaufränkisch was in Austria, but that's their only red.) Fans of the Deca will lament the hotel lobby's new decor, but no denying the view from the Mountaineering Club bar.

It's a place to take in the beautiful weather. I went here for a group event. The staff, food and drinks were great! The patio surrounds the bar 300 degrees. If you're not going for an event, I would expect reservations are key. As we were leaving the place was filling up and the line at the bar was long.

Reservation for a particular kind of seating taken but not honored. The rest of the available outside seating was high tops with very uncomfortable seats. Turns out that a lot of the ‘lounge’ seating is also uncomfortable. Service was ok but slow to get the check. Not happy to be stuck with an automatic 20% gratuity, not mentioned on the menu. Great view, but have a massage scheduled afterwards.

We needed somewhere for a drink and meal after 8pm and this place was close to the residence inn we were staying in. The bar is on the 14 floor (I believe) and has magnificent views of downtown Seattle, Lake Washington and Lake Union. Iam sure that on a clear day you can see Mount Ranier. The drinks menu was quite extensive, and the bartender did a good job. The food menu, on the other hand, was funky, to say the least. A big hotdog with crab sprinkled on it in a bagel bun, A "BLT" that turned out to be belly-pork with some kind of sauerkraut on it. We had hoped for something less exotic at that time of night, but as the kitchen closed at 9pm, we took our chances. There was a DJ. even though it was Monday, so we sat outside. Thankfully, the overhead heaters worked well and we soaked in the views. Go for the experience and the drinks. The place was about three-quarters full and seems to be a popular place.

This is place you go to drink really. They will try to act like there's some posh atmosphere, but it's really a bar on top of a hotel.

Have been to this rooftop bar a couple of times and I continue to go back for the fabulous views and easy, central location in the U District. However, we have yet to have a cocktail there that we would actually order again, and we've tried a few of them. Most notorious was a mountain blueberry concoction that just tasted like bad, essence of grape cough syrup. To their credit, when our server realized my Dad didn't like his drink, she offered to bring something else, but at that point, he was done and didn't want another experiment (the drinks seemed to be odd combinations of things that sounded much better on paper than they tasted in real life - perhaps the staff need to have a cocktail sample night and review the list?). We were also disappointed that the bar didn't have much to offer for sharing plates - most seemed like they were made to be small meals (mac 'n cheese), not something to nibble on with your group while enjoying the view. In any case, I now know we only go for a beer, friendly service and an amazing view, then find food/actual cocktails elsewhere...

Rude service, they don’t seem to want customers there. Definitely a place to avoid due to unfriendly people at the front desk and throughout the Graduate hotel.

Enjoyed a martini at happy hour which came with a snack. Sunset was fantastic! Staff was knowledgeable & friendly.

We were staying at the hotel so initially considered this just an amenity. But we were nonetheless impressed by how many people were pouring in late afternoon just to hang out at the rooftop bar. It is its own destination And it was packed--what virus? No one there was the least bit worried about Covid-19. The bar even has it's own concierge. Everything but the St. Bernard--it's a guy in hiking gear with a stocking cap and thermos of hot beverage on his stand who has the magic key that sends the elevator to the top. Views from the rooftop are stunning, furniture's comfortable and the servers are friendly. A list of house cocktails plus all the usual bar stuff awaits. There's a menu for gnoshing, but we didn't try the food. Open until midnight.

What can you say about one the best view bars in Seattle. Meh. Once you get past the elevator bs and then get seated it’s underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong the views ARE stunning 360° but you either bake on the west deck or freeze on the east deck or sit inside. The drink menu is goofy as is the food. They try to make it “campy” so your salmon avocado toast comes in a can. Or your stew comes in a Tim’s chip bag. Pricey for what you get. Atmosphere is the young and the restless. Loud music. Blah blah blah. Just do it, but only once for me...

I am so glad I tried this rooftop bar. Enter through the charming vintage Graduate Hotel Lobby, gawk at the photo of Jack Sikma (circa 1978?) and ride up the elevator to the wonderful rooftop bar. We visited in October yet it was a sunny afternoon perfect for the outdoor tables. The cocktail menu is extremely inventive and delicious. We had a couple cocktails each, tasty and refreshing. The appetizers were equally ambitious as far as being inventive...but not super tasty. I will definitely be a repeat customer and maybe I will score a little better next time with food. One last shout out for the view: where else in Seattle can you see Lake Union, the Space Needle and Lake Washington and Husky Stadium at the same time? Absolutely mesmerizing!

This place is new.. only been opened for one month. They are still trying to get their bearings. Wait times on the weekend or two hours. They only let a few people up at a time in the elevator based on space available upstairs. Service was horrible. $14 drinks were inventive, but overpriced. Food or food is simple, a hipster take on “camping food” and way overpriced. How do you recommend they do not take any reservations, except for one area for 8 to 10 people. The entire rest of the bar needs to be open for first come first serve.

We visited The Mountaineering Club for brunch on Sunday, June 30, 2024, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. We had a reservation for a group of 10, and the staff handled everything effortlessly. After checking in at the hotel lobby, we were escorted up to the rooftop where we were seated quickly and comfortably despite the size of our group, the service was organized and smooth throughout. The brunch menu was great, with a solid variety of dishes and drinks that were both delicious and beautifully presented. Everything came out quickly (which isn’t always the case with larger groups), and the timing couldn’t have been better. And then there’s the view. Easily one of the best in Seattle. From the rooftop, you get sweeping views of the city skyline, the water, the surrounding woods, and even the mountains in the distance. It’s a picture-perfect setting that really elevates the whole experience. The only downside worth mentioning is parking there’s not much nearby, and it can be a bit of a hassle. I’d definitely recommend a rideshare if you’re visiting during peak hours. That said, everything else about our visit was flawless. Great food, great drinks, incredible views, and excellent service. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in Seattle.

My husband and I came for drinks on a late afternoon on Saturday. The views were so spectacular and so were the cocktails. They were slammed because of a private party and because of the beautiful weather, but the bartenders were still pleasant and chatty. We enjoyed it so much, that when we left, we made reservations for the next day for Sunday brunch so we could bring our son (a UW student). Brunch did not disappoint and we were lucky with another beautiful day. Prettiest view that I have seen in Seattle.

I called two weeks in advance to make reservations for 20 people on a Sunday night to have drinks and dessert. I was only able to leave a voice maiI but no one called me back even after 3 tries. I also sent some e-mails with the same result. Finally, I went in to the hotel in person but was advised to e-mail them. About three days before hand, I did get a response and was told that for parties larger than 8, there was a minimum of $39 person. (this includes tax and 20% tip). There was no way that I wanted to spend $800, so we decided to take a chance and go without a reservation. The bar was about half full, so luckily we were able to get in. My guests loved it and enjoyed the view and the ambience. There is an interesting but spendy drink menu but not much in the way of wine choices. Music with a DJ was loud and definitely geared to a college crowd.

The view was spectacular and ambience was nice. Disappointed that they were out of several things on the menu. The service was slow and not very friendly. The reason was evident when I got the bill and there was an automatic 20% added (the server did not mention that either so I was happy that I noticed). The bathrooms were not clean and the toilets didn’t flush well. The food we had tasted very good (Seafood Bake and Chicken Melt) but that was overshadowed by overall poor experience.

Went for a celebration but could barely hear each other talk. It's 1 1/2 hours after leaving and my ears are still ringing. Make sure it's not DJ night when you go. Ordered food. Main courses to share were brought to the table but without any plates. Food got cold waiting for plates. Had to flag server down every time to reorder drinks and food. They add a 20% tip but I expect the server to mention that so you don't add a tip on top of that. All in all, less than satisfactory experience but a really nice view!

Such a nice atmosphere. We came early in the evening and were able to get a table outside. Beautiful views spanning the mountains all the way to downtown.