When you told your friends you were headed to Seattle, what was their reaction? They likely assumed you’d center the trip around the Space Needle or the first-ever Starbucks, right? Of course, the iconic Pike Place Market’s reputation of farm-fresh wares, local art, and inspiring eats precedes itself. Fried chicken-butter-hole-biscuit sandwich, anyone?
Of course, Seattle is for outdoor adventures, coffee, and hipster vintage shops, right? Sure, there’s an impressive niche art scene too, remnants of the 90s grunge era, and more. But did you ever imagine sipping on a Beaujolais, sampling a delectable Dutch-Hollow piece of cheese while relishing a perfectly designed space reminiscent of France’s most exclusive bars?
Bet you didn’t. The truth is, Seattle’s wine scene is impeccable. You don’t have to be in Europe to have great wine and an amazing experience. While some places on this list are best for a glass of wine and small plates, others double as delectable restaurants.
And if you have too much to drink? We’ve got you and your friends covered with unique, nearby vacation rentals, so comfortable that you might forget about the hangover!
But for now, you need a nighttime itinerary. Here are some of the most unique wine bars in Seattle to take a friend, loved one, or yourself.
Le Caviste
- Price point: $$
- Address: 1919 7th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
- Famous menu item: The cheese plate- this wine bar is as dedicated to its cheeses as it is to its wines.
“Caviste” means “wine merchant” in French — you could imagine his look. A beret might come to mind, but you’re thinking of France. Seattle’s caviste might wear a brown leather apron. He’s an experienced, knowledgeable wine merchant all too willing to share his top picks with you.
What’ll it be? A Châteauneuf-du-Pape, please! How about a steak tartare too, you deserve it.
Whether stopping in to have a glass or picking up from the bottle shop, this wine bar offers all things French wine. Le Caviste receives constant praise from big names like Time Out, Eater Seattle, and Food and Wine.
Enjoy a cozy cup of wine indoors or enjoy outdoor seating — a treat for Downtown Seattle summers. You’ll be transported across the Atlantic with their delicious, fresh charcuterie boards, extensive wine selection, and French menus. (Don’t worry, the servers can help)!
La Dive
- Price point: $$
- Address: 721 E Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122
- Famous menu item: Mister Helios o Kupios white wine
Located in Capitol Hill, La Dive is a fun and hip establishment with an amazing selection of foods, wines, and cocktails. Dumplings with an Oregon Willamette Valley pinot noir, perhaps?
This would be a great place to take a date or to have a girl’s night out since it’s open until 2 am. While you’re there, take an a-la-mode selfie in the mirror-covered bathrooms!
While La Dive may sound like a nightclub in one sense, it’s really just a wine bar that appeals to a lively, energetic crowd. But it’s suitable for a casual nightcap, too. If you’ve had a bad day? Try the “Long Day Home” pour — a glass of wine filled to the brim. Seems like La Dive thinks of everything!
Light Sleeper
- Price point: $$
- Address: 1424 11th Ave Suite D, Seattle, WA 98122
- Famous menu item: Non-traditional pizzas!
Located in Chophouse Row, Light Sleeper features a crisp, calming, and modern aesthetic. This wonderful wine bar offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Not only does this natural wine bar offer an extensive wine list, but they also offer a delicious selection of dinner and desserts. Squid ink gnocchi? Squash bolognese? Perfect pairings with a playful Pinot Grigio.
While Light Sleeper does not have a wine shop in-house, you can also head down to Wide Eye Wines, Light Sleeper’s wine shop!
Chez Phinney
- Price point: $$
- Address: 7400 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle WA 98103
- Famous menu item: Chocolate truffles
Located in northwest Seattle’s Phinney Ridge, this wine bar was inspired by the owners’ experiences traveling to European wine bars. The atmosphere is warm, casual, and fun, and all wine is self-serve by the ounce!
This allows customers to try the wine before they commit to a larger pour. All you need to do is exchange your credit card for a “wine card!” Chez Phinney offers 24 different wines at a time and offers a selection of small snacks, such as charcuterie and dips.
Footprint Wine Tap
- Price point: $$
- Address: 1222 E Madison St, Suite C, Seattle WA 98122
- Famous menu item: ‘19 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Patterson Cellars
Located in Capitol Hill, Footprint Wine Tap is the first sustainable wine bar in Seattle that offers keg wine on tap. Environmentalists, to the front! This is the bar for you if you want to put your money where your mouth is.
Footprint cares more than the average wine bar about sustainability, yet they still offer all the amazing features of an excellent wine bar. Sourcing all their food and wine from the Pacific Northwest, Footprint Wine Tap has a fantastic charcuterie board selection, along with flatbread pizzas. The wine bar is small, cozy, and intimate: perfect for a pre-dinner meet-up with friends.
Purple Café and Wine Bar
- Price point: $$$
- Address: 1225 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
- Famous menu item: Jean Vesselle’s “Oeil De Perfrix and Gorgonzola Stuffed Dates
You’ll find Purple Café and Wine Bar in Downtown Seattle, just a block away from the 5th Avenue Theatre. Why not indulge in a whole bottle of Jean Vesselle’s “Oeil De Perfrix?” You’ll feel satiated and the perfect amount of tipsy before catching a show.
Besides being paneled in glass, the restaurant and wine bar showcases a 30-foot tower of wine at its center, awarding the restaurant its elegant and romantic ambiance.
The Purple Café exudes grace in every way — even its endless accommodation for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
Flight Wine + Chocolate
- Price point: $$$
- Address: 1300 East Pike Street, Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98122
- Famous menu item: Gold Status Bar — 70% Dark Chocolate, with cocoa nibs and French sea salt, covered in gold!
Flight Wine + Chocolate is a flight-themed wine bar in Capitol Hill — the owners affectionately call it “Your Neighborhood Getaway.”
This fun, creative, and inviting wine bar offers customers the options of flights or bottles of wine. Doubling as a great place for dessert, it also offers a lovely chocolate selection, all made in-house. Chocolate flight, for one, please. Once you have your sweets, try a wine flight and experience a rosé or pinot.
Flight Wine + Chocolate also offers complimentary “In-Flight Snack Mix,” comprising pretzels, gluten-free cereals, crackers, and spiced olive oil — an elevated nod to the coveted free in-flight pretzel baggies.
Bottlehouse
- Price point: $$
- Address: 1416th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
- Famous menu item: House mac and cheese
Imagine sipping a rich Font du Loop red, switching between cheeky sips and indulgent bites into a freshly baked baguette with melted burrata. We know — decadence we can only dream of.
But in Seattle’s Madrona neighborhood, Bottlehouse offers you a bright yet calming atmosphere where you can sip du Loop to your heart’s delight. We’re thinking romantic date night, or a sophisticated soiree with your friends. Wine and cheese pairings are this wine bar’s bread and butter, and they also offer local and natural wines.
The Tasting Room
- Price point: $$
- Address: 1924 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
- Famous menu item: Artisanal Cheese and Divina Tapenade
After a fun afternoon trying on vintage clothes and exploring record shops in Belltown, stop by The Tasting Room. Located near Pike Place Palace, it’s a short drive to your next glass of wine.
If you’re after an old-world-style wine bar, this is it.
West Seattle doesn’t host a competing bar with this many wines — The Tasting Room offers 60 different wines every day, only from winemaker-owned wineries, no exceptions. Some suppliers include Sagemoor, Wilridge Winery, and Camaraderie Cellars.
Care to dibble and dabble? Your group might try multiple tasting flights with some cheese, olives, and almonds. Pro tip? Visit on Thursdays for a day-long happy hour!
Rapport
- Price point: $$
- Address: 700 Broadway E Suite A, Seattle, WA 98102
- Famous menu item: Mezcal Smash
Rapport is a café by day and wine-bar kitchen by night. Located in Capitol Hill, Rapport offers a unique wine experience where patrons can self-serve their own wine — we can’t think of a better way to try a bunch at a fair price. On top of that, they feature delectable, farm-to-table fare from wild mushroom linguini to Hungarian salami and leeks.
The joint has impeccable reviews for its food, wine, ambiance, and friendly staff. Once you finish gazing at the latest exhibit at the nearby Asian Art Museum, Rapport invites your palate and conversation.
Savor Seattle Wine with a Cozy Vacation Home
Who says you can only find great wines in California? Seattle’s suave wine scene competes with a fabulous selection of wine bars in nearly every neighborhood. But you don’t want to cut your trip short, do you?
Of course, you should take a cab home after a night at a wine bar — but what if your abode was mere minutes away? Talk about convenience.
You deserve a Seattle vacation that brims with exciting new wines to try, but most importantly, warm memories. We’d be honored to help you achieve it with a luxurious, comfortable Seattle vacation home. Explore our listings today!
Featured Image Credit: Michael Coonce