ABOUT US
Tavern Law is a long-time Seattle cocktail bar on Capitol Hill, tucked into the historic Trace Lofts building at 1406 12th Avenue. Since opening in 2009, our room has been part of the neighborhood’s modern speakeasy era, named for the 1832 Pioneer Inn and Tavern Law that first allowed Americans to legally gather and drink in public. We focus on classic and modern cocktails built with care, seasonal ingredients, and hospitality that feels more like a living room than a lobby. Every syrup and bitter is made in house, every build is measured, and every pour aims to leave a memory in the glass.
Upstairs, our sister speakeasy, Needle & Thread, carries that story forward in a small room hidden behind a vault door and reached by an old telephone. There is no printed menu; guests share what they like and the bartender builds each drink to suit the moment. Over the years Needle & Thread has been honored in national lists and guides, including GQ’s “25 Best Cocktail Bars in America,” and today we are proud to be the third generation of owners keeping this Capitol Hill classic alive.
Nearly a century ago, the American bar learned to whisper. Prohibition tried to silence the shaker, yet behind unmarked doors the work went on, kept alive by bartenders, curious guests, and dog-eared bar manuals. Tavern Law and our upstairs speakeasy, Needle & Thread, are our way of keeping that story going in Seattle. The Golden Age is not something we dress up as for a night. It is a set of habits and standards we return to every time we reach for a mixing glass.
Our bar reads like a living library. Classics arrive as their authors intended, cold, balanced, and aromatic, while house signatures riff with modern tools and a little mischief. We clarify, chill, and cut ice to fit the glass. We build bitters and syrups with the same care a kitchen gives its stocks. Choose faithful standards or the Quick Decisions list. Ask for spirit-forward, bright and citrusy, or quietly dangerous. We will tailor the pour.
Our History in the Spotlight
We’re honored to be featured by the press and our community. Explore stories that capture the spirit, creativity, and people behind Tavern Law and Needle & Thread.
Lonely Planet — “An ultimate weekend in Seattle”
Recommends Needle & Thread inside Tavern Law for an intimate speakeasy experience.
The Infatuation — “The Most Fun Seattle Bars”
Lists Needle & Thread and notes entry through Tavern Law as a classic Seattle cocktail move.
The Infatuation — “Tavern Law” Review
Calls Tavern Law a polished Capitol Hill cocktail bar with sister access to Needle & Thread upstairs.
Capitol Hill Seattle Blog — “Capitol Hill craft cocktail long-timer Tavern Law has new owners”
Reports new ownership and ties the venue to the neighborhood’s cocktail history.
Capitol Hill Seattle Blog — “A third generation of owners at Capitol Hill cocktail classic Tavern Law”
Profiles the new leadership and vision while preserving the Tavern Law and Needle & Thread legacy.
Eater Seattle — “13 Fun Bachelorette Party Destinations”
Highlights Needle & Thread as an upscale speakeasy above Tavern Law with custom cocktails.
Seattle P-I — “Seattle’s coziest speakeasies”
Explains the vault-phone entry from Tavern Law to reach Needle & Thread.
GQ — “The 25 Best Cocktail Bars in America”
National accolade that includes Needle & Thread as a standout hidden bar above Tavern Law.
Seattle Met — “Tavern Law Opening , mentioned in NY Times”
Early coverage that links Tavern Law to the modern speakeasy movement in Seattle.