Best Happy Hour: Donna’s
By Seattle Mag November 10, 2025
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of Seattle magazine.
We’re still not over the loss of vito’s, but Donna’s, the moody bar on the corner of Olive and Melrose on Capitol Hill, brings a similar late-night vibe. The small watering hole operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with a few tables downstairs and another batch upstairs. Nostalgic touches include gold disco balls, a good, old-fashioned pile-everyone-in photo booth, and art over the bar actually salvaged from Vito’s. Cocktails are balanced and intriguing, served in vintage-style glassware, and a selection of these libations is only $10 at Donna’s daily happy hours (there is an after-work standard and a late-night option). Order the Holy Bull, the bar’s savory twist on a martini, featuring tomato-and-basil-infused gin, dry vermouth, and basil oil (thank us later). Also on the menu are $10 bowls of pasta, wings, parmesan fries, and other bites. Don’t sleep on the spiked slushies—they’re a fun throwback to a childhood summer favorite, and just $8 during happy hour.
1355 E. Olive Way, Seattle | donnasseattle.com
About Best of the Best
Everyone loves a winner. And when it comes to Seattle favorites, there’s no shortage of opinions on which places, spaces, and bites deserve top honors. This year, we did things a little differently—our staff weighed in, debating and voting to determine the best of the best across the city. We also ran our annual Readers’ Choice poll for comparison (and yes, there was overlap in just one category). Here’s to celebrating all the winners, no matter who cast the vote.
Follow Us
Best New Restaurant: La Loba
An exercise in global fusion, La Loba successfully brings together Spanish technique and Northwest ingredients, with a hint of Japanese flair. Located in the recently opened 1 Hotel Seattle and helmed by James Beard-nominated chef Oscar Amador, La Loba offers à la carte options (tableside butcher’s beef tartare, patatas bravas, a selection of meats, pastas,…
Best Outdoor Dining: Westward
In a city known for unmatched water access—and rainy weather eight months a year—outdoor dining becomes a coveted prize. And while there is no shortage of options for enjoying a meal with a view, Westward is a tried-and-true pick, unique in its full-city snapshot straight down Lake Union. Originally opened in 2013, Westward became a…
Best Pizza: Bar Del Corso
After more than a decade of serving up Neapolitan-style pizzas in its Beacon Hill niche, Bar del Corso has become a mainstay, not just for the neighborhood, but for the city at large. (In July 2025, the New York Times named the joint one of the top 25 restaurants in Seattle.) Opened by chef Jerry…
Best Burger Joint: Red Mill Burgers
Nothing hits the spot quite like a burger and fries. Despite the dozens of places to pick up a patty around Seattle, Red Mill Burgers offers straight-up classics featuring juicy beef and melty cheese, all at an affordable price. (A deluxe cheeseburger for less than 10 bucks? Almost unheard of these days.) With roots extending…