A Whisky Lover's Travel Guide to Seattle

Seattle, celebrated for its coffee, craft brewers, and cocktail culture, is also a great destination for whisky enthusiasts. The scene is anchored by whisky bars like Canon, which has over 4,500 spirits, and Westland Distillery, whose terroir-driven single malts helped establish American single malt as an official whiskey style.

Today, Seattle’s distilleries spotlight Washington-grown barley and maturation in barrels from local sources—including craft brewers, winemakers, and coffee roasters—to create the character of true Pacific Northwest whiskey. With a dining scene where legacy venues and bold new concepts thrive, Seattle delivers a whisky journey as layered as the Pacific Northwest’s famed garryana oak. Here’s how to experience the best of the city in two days.

Day One

Start your day at Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market, one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the U.S. Since 1907, this bustling nine-acre maze of stalls, shops, and hidden corners has drawn locals and visitors alike with its colorful displays of fresh seafood, flowers, crafts, and produce, all set against sweeping views of Elliott Bay. Skip the line of tourists queued up at the original Starbucks location, and instead slip upstairs to Lowell’s Restaurant, a beloved local institution since 1957. With its multilevel waterfront seating, Lowell’s offers one of the city’s best breakfasts. Tuck into one of their signature Benedicts, piled high with fresh Dungeness crab or smoked king salmon, while soaking up sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, the perfect fuel for your day of exploration of the city’s downtown and Capitol Hill.

After taking in the spectacle of Pike Place’s famous fishmongers slinging their catch, head down the waterfront to Copperworks Distilling, a standout on Seattle’s craft spirits scene. Housed in a sleek industrial-inspired space overlooking Elliott Bay, Copperworks specializes in grain-to-glass production using locally sourced Washington barley. Its gleaming Scottish copper stills—the inspiration for the distillery’s name—produce an acclaimed range of spirits. Learn how Copperworks continues to push the boundaries of American craft distilling by taking a tour, including a guided tasting, for $25 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Take a break from your first whiskey visit with a lively stop at the waterfront patio at Here Today Brewery and Kitchen, where you can refuel with their indulgent totchos— tater tot nachos loaded with chorizo, queso, and black beans—alongside one of their award-winning craft beers. After lunch, don’t miss the breathtaking Seattle Central Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, to admire just how aspirational a public space can be, with its hyper-modern, diamond-patterned glass façade and the ingenious four-story Books Spiral, which lets visitors browse the entire nonfiction collection in a seamless flow across multiple levels.

Following a short ride on the Link light rail from downtown, make your way to Esquin Wine & Spirits, a Seattle institution that has been serving the city’s spirits lovers since 1969. With an impressive selection of rare single malts, coveted bourbons, local craft whiskeys, and global bottlings, Esquin is more than just a retail shop; it’s a hub for the whiskey community, offering a packed calendar of tasting events, educational classes, and seminars led by distillers and brand ambassadors. Just two minutes around the corner, make your way to Westland Distillery, one of the pioneers of American single malt. Westland’s tasting room invites guests to explore a range of regionally distinctive expressions, from Garryana—aged in native Pacific Northwest oak—to limited-edition collaborations that highlight Washington’s grain-to-glass spirit. Tasting flights, exclusive distillery releases, and behind-the-scenes tours ($25) offer a deep dive into the distillery’s innovation and craftsmanship. Beer lovers will delight in finding Ghostfish Brewing Company restaurant and taproom across the street from Westland, or diehard whis key fans might opt for a short walk to 2Bar Spirits for a taste of its lineup of bourbons (Wednesday and Thursday by appointment and Fridays 12-6), or Oola Distillery, just a four-minute drive south of Westland, producing bourbon, gin, and vodka, but requires a reservation to visit.

Once you’re back downtown and ready to explore Seattle’s cocktail scene, head to Capitol Hill to The Doctor’s Office. This intimate 12-seat destination offers the rare opportunity to sample a whisky from Howard Hughes’s personal collection alongside an extensive list of creative originals and impeccably crafted classics. End your evening at the luxurious and historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel, where the Founders Club bar welcomes guests into a sophisticated speakeasy-style experience complete with warm ambiance, overstuffed leather chairs, and a staggering spirits list that spans rare whiskies and vintage cognacs. Settle in with a final pour and soak up the timeless atmosphere of one of Seattle’s most iconic hotels—a fitting close to a day of world-class drinking and dining.

Day Two

For a change of scenery from downtown, head north to the Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods, known for their quirky and artistic energy. To get the day started, stop by Byen Bakeri, a traditional Scandinavian bakery, for locally roasted Fonté coffee and a lingonberry cream cheese Danish. Then make your way across the canal to the Fremont Sunday Market, one of Seattle’s longest-running outdoor markets. Part flea market, part international street food bazaar, it is a rich cultural experience in the heart of town. Spend some time exploring the 150-plus vendors before making tracks to Fast Penny Spirits. This women-owned distillery takes a laser-focused small-batch approach, producing two flagship amari crafted with organic and wild-foraged ingredients. Just a short stroll from the market, Fremont Mischief Distillery offers a laid-back tasting room across the street from the canal, where you can sample their bourbon and rye in a cool industrial setting.

Back across the canal in Ballard, line-caught wild Pacific cod fish and chips await you at Macleod’s Scottish Pub, along with a selection of over 100 scotches and a crisp pint of Tennent’s lager. The authentic, cozy Scottish decor will have you thinking about a good book, so make your way over to Book Larder, a cookbook store. Nearly as iconic as Pike Place Market to devotees of Seattle’s culinary community, Book Larder is a destination for hard-to-find and autographed copies of cookbooks from around the world.

As evening approaches, head to Triangle Spirits, a neighborhood favorite housed in a historic, narrow triangle-shaped building. Inside, you’ll find one of the city’s most impressive and extensive whisky lists. Enjoy a flight of their private single barrel selections, or ask for an Old Fashioned made from one of the over 200 American whiskeys on the backbar. Just don’t forget to order some of their famous fried chicken to soak it all up. And when you’re ready to head back downtown for a nightcap, The Bookstore bar and cafe at the stylish and modern Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel awaits you. Boasting yet another of Seattle’s most extensive whisky lists alongside a chef-driven menu, this elegant space offers the perfect setting to reflect on two unforgettable days spent exploring one of America’s most dynamic and rewarding whisky cities.