Needle and Thread Reviews

I won’t say this is the most mind-blowing cocktail bar I’ve been too, but it’s definitely very good. They know their craft.

The speakeasy concept was fun- picking up the unmarked phone downstairs to ask for admission and the period decor- but does make things difficult. While it was a fun experience, I think we would have also enjoyed drinking downstairs in the regular bar without the hassle of trying to get to the speakeasy section. The cocktails were delicious, though, and the concept of working from a discussion with the bartender rather than a menu had great results.

Go on a weeknight to skip the crowds and trust the bartenders with your life! They thrive on challenging requests and are the most creative mixologists in Seattle. I keep coming back!

Went here for my birthday. My wife was into the secret restaurant behind the bank vault door. It was a bit disappointing that the stairwell has a wide open door to the street, kinda killed the secret vibe. We made the reservation thinking there would be a spectacular dinner, but as it turns out, the entire experience is based around building you a customized drink. The drinks were spectacular, but SOOOO slow. We were there two hours, and I got my second drink with 30 minutes left only after I complained.

Made a reservation for Friday at 6:45 to come during our trip to Seattle since my husband loves places with speakeasy vibes. Located inside Tavern Law through a bank vault door. We arrived 15 minutes early and were told our table wasn't ready but to wait downstairs at the bar and have a drink. Walked around outside for 15 minutes and went back in at 6:45. The woman told us she'd be right down to let us in through the vault door. We waited for 15 minutes, standing in front of everyone eating at the regular restaurant (strange and awkward). Another waitress even came up to us to ask what we were doing. She said to wait a couple minutes and call back up to the speakeasy. Called again at 7:00. She told us we could come up once we paid our tab at the bar.... we never ordered anything at the bar. We were let up a few minutes later. This part of the experience was by far the worst and nearly made me want to leave. Luckily, the bartender in the speakeasy was very friendly and made our drinks based on preference. They were both delicious! We also ordered the cheddar and corn cracklins with serrano fondue.... AMAZING!! They were so addicting, unique, and had great flavor. One of the best foods I tasted during our entire trip. For 2 drinks and 1 appetizer, our bill was around $50 (including a 20% automatic tip). Would probably try this place again just because my husband loved the atmosphere, and the appetizer was so worth it.

This place is really cool speakeasy located upstairs above Tavern Law. It helps to have a reservation to get in. Also easier to get access during weekdays.This was one of the original craft cocktail bars in Seattle and the bar staff does an awesome job making drinks! Highly Recommended!

Be prepared to spend your bucks here as it's $16 a drink plus tax and tips, but also be prepared for a very very cool experience. I'd been itching to go here ever since i read about it, and knowing it was bookings only meant i had to get one. We rang up a few weeks in advance and found you can only book within the same week you want to go, and only Tuesday-Saturday calls between 3 and 5pm PST. So you have to be kind of on it. We got a spot for 9:15 on a Friday night and arrived to be told how to get in (using the phone and entering through a bank door). The bar itself is tucked away upstairs at the Tavern Law where there's only space for maybe 15-20 people in total. We got a little table that had a mirrored window for us to spy on everyone down below. Our barman was wonderful - very charming, asked us a lot of questions and explained how it all goes. In case you don't know, they have no cocktail menu. Everything is totally bespoke and to your requirements. Be clear on what you do and don't like as it helps them refine it for you. We each had 2 drinks and were totally blown away by the craftsmanship of our guy - they were each delicious and so on point to what we'd said. We spent a good hour and a half there and would've stayed longer had it not been expensive enough to begin with. I'm hoping to move to Seattle in the near future and I think this will definitely become somewhere I bring out of towners too as it was a very cool experience. Highly recommend it.

We went for a private event and it was awesome. The concept here is that you describe what you like and create a cocktail that fits. Not everyone they created was perfect but overall very good and it was very fun. The drinks are very expensive and really made for people who love cocktails, not others. I would definitely recommend to try it though.

What a great experience. You must have reservations normally to get in. Book 1 or 2 hours and experience made to order cocktails. As you get to refine, the cocktails get better and better (3). The Salmon is the freshest I have ever had and the tapioca crisps that the manager brought us to try were outstanding.

We were extremely surprised on how much we liked this place. We went on a Thursday night and once we got in, the bartender gave us so much attention, but not too much to the point we couldn't enjoy ourselves. He asked us if we liked light or dark drinks and what type of taste we wanted (sweet, sour, bitter, etc). He then took the info we gave him and came back to us with something he thought we would like... which we LOVED. He gave us a description of what we were drinking and let us be for a bit before coming back later to see how things were going. We talked to him for a bit and it was a really fun and great experience. Nothing like any other speakeasy we've been to. It was a bit pricey but it was totally worth it.

This was all a good experience with the exception of how expensive it was. To get a reservation you have to put down a $100 deposit which don’t worry you’ll spend that. Once we got inside, it cost no less than $24 per cocktail. I had an old-fashioned so $24 for 3/4 of a cocktail. They also charge a non-optional 20% tip. That puts a cocktail at $29.00. 4 of us went and had 4 cocktails and some cheese and tomatoes and it ran us about $150. It’s not worth it for the price.

We made reservations and were excited to try this out as first time visitors from Chicago. The whole concept is awesome, especially arriving! Daniel did an excellent job taking our food and drink order and Carly made us delicious drinks that we loved and explained them very well. We thought both made our evening even more special with their kindness and attention to detail! We made reservations for 1 hour but loved our drinks so much we stayed for 2 hours, they just moved us over to the bar. We didn't intend on eating here but had the baby beet salad, Sockeye Salmon Crostini, Tavern Burger and fries all of which were delicious! Our whole experience was so awesome that wanted to return another night just ran out of time and the prices were quite high, didn't want to pay that much a second night. Overall would definitely recommend a visit despite the high drink prices.

Needle and Thread, a speakeasy-style bar hidden above Tavern Law, is a great place to go with friends or a date. They don't have a drink menu, instead they talk to you about what you like and what you don't like in an alcoholic beverage and then they concoct something for your pleasure on the fly. We spoke to one of the bartenders and he said they rarely use recipes, they really do create the drinks as they go. And they do a great job!

Some friends told us about this place. It is truly special. I don't want to spoil the fun, but it is a secret speakeasy hidden away near Tavern Law. You need to have a reservation and it can only hold 25 patrons at a time. For those lucky enough to get in, the two hours you are allowed to stay will be lots of fun. They never answer the phone so you must leave a message if you want a reservation. I am pretty sure Nucky Thompson recorded the greeting. You must call in advance. Probably not even worth trying the day of. They will call you back about the date and time that you requested. If you don't hear from them in a day, call again and speak clearly. They have a voice mail system that uses voice recognition (and we all know how reliable that is). So lets assume you have a reservation and the secret needed to gain access. You will climb stairs bedecked with antique pictures of women 'toute déshabillé.' You will arrive in a Bordello type area, and be led to your place in the bar. The bar master (they are much more than tenders) will then ask you some questions about the spirits you enjoy, flavors you like, juices you fancy, etc. Then they will leave to concoct a cocktail like none you have ever tasted. Every drink is unique and made to order designed for your palate and taste buds. They have a virtual pharmacopeia of tinctures and bitters to perfectly accent the cocktail for you. Don not go here if you are looking for appletini or lemon drop (in fact they don't even serve vodka). However if you really want to have a cocktail experience par excellence this is definitely the place to go. We had a great time, and would return again in a minute if we can get back in. They offer a few food items, but don't go for the food. The phone number is hidden on the Tavern Law website front page....look carefully. Cheers!

You need reservations or I guess dress appropriately because they had 4 people at the speakeasy and we couldn't get in because we didn't reserve 😳 Very nice drinks and I would recommend but disappointed we couldn't even look around upstairs.

Was solo for a weekend in Seattle and a friend recommended making a reservation to this speakeasy. Was a little concern going by myself but I should not have worried. Link and Nathan the bartenders made me feel right at home. There is no cocktail list. You just tell them flavor profiles and they make something just for you. Delicious and so fun. The food is delicious also. Had oysters that were buttery soft and pork cheeks with sweet potato purée. AMAZING! Plan to make a reservation well in advance. I tried to make it the day before and they were booked for the weekend. They suggested I come Thursday (day I called) and was so glad I did. Definitely a worthy stop.

This is a fun speakeasy that not many of the locals even know about yet! Call and make reservations. Great small plates and craft cocktails. Super intimate atmosphere.

We heard about this place while visiting a bar near Pikes Place. We made the reservations and arrived on time, then it was upstairs for a couple of cocktails. The bartender was great in his selections, though at the steep price we had one and were done. It's a cool experience, so if you have the time and are in Capital Hill, make the reservation and enjoy a libation. :-)

This was a very cool secret bar. We were able to get in by calling on the black phone. We had to call back an hour later but it was worth it. Bartenders were great and make your drink based off of your taste- sweet, salty, savory,etc. I requested no gin. My drink was amazing. I accidentally hit a table and found a ton of notes written to a ghost. Not sure what the story was there, but a cool idea. Highly recommended!

Good drinks, but it's a shame the service was so douchy and snobby. I've been to a lot of cocktail bars in a lot of different cities, and I've never seen such horrible service in a high end cocktail bar. Upon entering we were aggressively interrogated about our IDs. I showed my very valid New York ID (which was accepted in numerous cocktail bars in Seattle) and was told that they cannot accept it because it was too faded and that it was Washington state policy. I explained how it's an older ID but how it was valid and was never rejected anywhere else. The bartender told me that I need to get another form of ID or I cannot drink here. I was already incensed but thankfully my hotel was close by so I grabbed an Uber and got my passport. Upon returning there were no apologies, just excessive scrutiny of my passport. I told the bartender that I'd appreciate a comped drink given this nonsense and he just laughed and explained how my original ID cannot be accepted and how he cannot comp me anything. He was very rude and condescending. The entire place is a pretentious joke. Avoid at all costs, there are so many better cocktail bars in Seattle like Canon and Zig Zag Cafe.

My friends and I went there for a fun drink experience. It is a Speakeasy bar hidden above another bar. You don't order your drinks off a menu, but instead the waiter comes and discusses what you like, dislike about alcoholic beverages, and based off of that they create you a unique drink. The drink itself was $18, but considering the taste and the experience, it was well worth it in my opinion. This is an experience and one should view it as such!

I love, and seek out, a good speakeasy but this one was extra special in that you had to trust your bartender. What these master craftsmen created was solely based on what you conveyed to them in the way of likes and dislikes. The more adjectives we used, the better the cocktail was. It was tiny, dark, and secretive...everything you want in a good speakeasy.

One of my friends told me about this place, and the way he described it, I had to go. You go into a regular bar, then in a corner there's an unmarked door and an old-fashioned telephone. You call up and give them your name, then they'll buzz you through. You climb a narrow staircase to a little lounge, decorated in prohibition Era furniture. Through a one-way window you can look out on the downstairs bar, but you're a world away in a quiet, private little nook. Anyone who has never been to a speakeasy-style bar needs to try this place. There's no menu, but the bartender will take your tasting notes and create a unique concoction just for you. It's a very special experience.

Couldn't ask for a better place to celebrate my birthday. I love the secret phone entrance. The bartenders make incredible craft cocktails, and the place is small so there is a personal vibe. Definitely would go back. Be sure to make reservations as the space is small and fills up on the weekends.

No drink menus here! Tell them what you like (and don't like) and they'll make a special drink just for you! mine was so good! It was some kind of gin, rasberry and egg white for texture. I was a little scared to try, but I was pleasantly surprised. Me and the bf were in Seattle for the first time last weekend and had to stop by and experience this hip speakeasy while in town. Definitely make reservations a few days in advance. It is a very small bar, perfect for date night. It was a bit pricey, $90 for 2 drinks ($16 each), mac and cheese and a burger. Gratuity is included. But at those prices, you might want to skip the meal and stick to drinks only! My only complaint would be the music. The bar has the prohibition era theme going but with Iggy Azalea and Jason Derulo playing on their speakers, it just didn't seem right. I would have loved for them to have jazz instead. Still had a great time.

Read the reviews and was excited to take people here. Besides the arrogance of the young hostess....we’ll that was the highlight. Don’t waste your time. Many other restaurants in the area so you have other options, use them.

After waiting 30 minutes to get in, the hostess rudely told us we had 50 minutes before another reservation was due at the table. After sitting for 20 minutes, we ordered our custom drinks. Another 15 minutes passed before our drinks we delivered; they were fantastic. Before we could finish our drinks, we were told by the hostess that we needed to hurry up and leave. Could be a great place, but hostess was snotty and rude.

Make sure to make reservations, you can go to Tavern Law web site and click on Needle and Thread and make online reservations. If onsite at Tavern Law there is a big door with a phone next to it that you can use to make reservations. Needle and thread doesn’t have a lot of seating so if you don’t make reservations ahead of time you may not get in. Once it’s your reservation time you pick up the phone and they buzz you in. You walk upstairs but notice the speakeasy art work on the way up. Upstairs the place is a little dark and situated for experience of good conversation not a typical bar setup. They have restrooms upstairs which is good news. The food menu is the same as Tavern Law downstairs however when it comes to drinks you are in for an experience. The bar tender asks you a couple of questions on what you like to drink and then produces quite the drink mix that was some of the best drinks I have ever had. For as small a place it is you can have a good conversation with whomever you came with. I don’t remember seeing a TV upstairs but you won’t need it or miss it. Remember they ask everyone for ID when you enter Tavern Law. The 20% tip is included In Your bar bill and you can add more tip if you wish.

Made a reservation for a Saturday night. Such a cool concept. You call on a phone next to a bank vault door. You are then buzzed in and up you go a narrow staircase to a gorgeous seating area. Very small, cozy and quaint. No drink menu, they just ask what you like and custom create a cocktail. 3 people in our group asked for Absinthe and WOW!!!! Presentation was amazing, the absinthe was set ablaze in the glass and on the table... the cocktail was delicious. Dont ask them to recreate any drink, they are made especially for your order. Such a cool experience and cool place, will defiantly be back!

This is a cozy bar above Tavern Law. There is no beverage menu, but the bar team create drinks for you based on your responses to their questions. Its not a quick process, our reservation gave us two hours, and we had time for two drinks, but it was fun to see what they came up with, and to try something new and different. There is a small bar snack menu if you want food. We had a good time, and would recommend it.

I loved this place! Not just great service and cocktails but a fun experience. Make your reservations a couple days in advance.