Skip to content

New Look: Smith Tower’s Makeover Includes Prohibition Era-Inspired Cocktail Bar

The recent overhaul of the the historic 1914 Smith Tower includes new cocktail bar.

By Haley Durslag July 15, 2016

0816essentialsshortssmithtower

This article originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.

When the historic 1914 Smith Tower reopens its 35th-floor observation deck this August after a recent overhaul, a new Prohibition era-inspired bar will be unveiled.

Will there be flappers, gin fizzes and jazz?

The folks at Unico Properties, which bought the building in 2015, were tight-lipped on the details at press time. But with an interior designed by Graham Baba Architects, the firm behind posh downtown eatery Miller’s Guild, it’s sure to honor its place in Seattle history. “We’re honored to enhance [Smith Tower’s] reputation as a premier city landmark,” says Scott Brucker, senior asset manager at Unico Properties. The redesigned space will offer an “unparalleled and fully immersive experience” that mixes the present with the tower’s past, says Brucker, adding that elements from the Chinese Room, such as the Wishing Chair, will be incorporated.

But be careful what you wish for after sipping a few of those cocktails—legend promises marriage within a year to any single woman who sits in the chair.

 

Follow Us

Restaurant Roundup: “Pho-potle” and Yemeni Cuisine

Restaurant Roundup: “Pho-potle” and Yemeni Cuisine

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

This is it. The week (or two) that you, as a food and drink aficionado, wait for every year. A double whammy of epic portions. Seattle Cocktail Week (April 19-26) and Seattle Restaurant Week (April 19-May 2) are finally here. Let’s start with a beverage Seattle Cocktail Week is your chance to get out and…

Seattle Restaurant Week Is Back

Seattle Restaurant Week Is Back

Go out with friends and support local restaurants while you’re at it.

The name still undersells it a little. It lasts two weeks, not one, but it’s a pretty great opportunity to try somewhere new or go back to an old favorite. This spring’s run, April 19-May 2, brings curated menus priced at $20, $35, $50, and $65 to restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, and pop-ups across…

Magical Mollusks

Magical Mollusks

Oysters are one the Northwest’s favorite harvests. The hardworking farmers behind this bounty share a deep appreciation for its source and a personal connection to the processes that yield our food.

It’s hard to describe people who are undeniably connected to the land—often, it’s about a feeling they transmit. Grounded, knowledgeable about their work, and passionate in their care for nature’s resources. Oyster farmers along Hood Canal, like Matthew Macias, give off a certain vibe, as though they have some secret to life that I don’t…

Restaurant Roundup: National Attention and a Sweet Detour

Restaurant Roundup: National Attention and a Sweet Detour

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Just south of Bellingham, the northbound lanes of I-5 have been closed for weeks following a massive landslide, pushing travelers onto Chuckanut Drive (SR 11). If you’ve got the time, we’re here to encourage you to embrace the detour and take the sugary scenic route, so to speak. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of…