Best place to hide out in Seattle and get tanked. The Zig Zag Café (1501 Western, 625-1146) is the spot to slink into after (or during) work to ease your occupational and/or existential pain with a few strong and perfectly mixed cocktails. The Zig Zag is tucked in the zig of the Pike Place Hillclimb, right by El Puerco Lloron (another place you should know about if you don't already), and thus suffers no irritating car traffic noise. It's intimate and dim, with the bar glowing ever so invitingly and dapper, sweet bartenders at your service (other restaurant people hang out here, so you know they make good drinks). The windows have velvet curtains that can be pulled in the event of the reinstatement of Prohibition, the menu includes good tapas to soak up the martinis, and a nice little outdoor seating area steps-side can make a sunny happy hour (with drink specials from 5 to 7) pretty damn happy.
This isn't an ideal place for the pub club, but it's an idea for other more high-flown events.
[ 03-18-2002: Message edited by: trask ]