When Steve and I were in Seattle, we met up with Sylvan (an old friend from Sweden) and his girlfriend for drinks at Inside Passage which is a tiny bar tucked inside another bar called Rumba.
The name, Inside Passage, refers to the famous waterway that runs between Washington and Alaska, winding through islands and icy blue inlets. Fitting, because stepping into the bar feels like diving into a surreal, underwater world. There’s a giant octopus figure hanging from the ceiling, and the whole place is dark, cozy, and wonderfully weird.
The bar isn’t very big, and getting a table can be tricky, especially on weekends, but thankfully, Sylvan had booked in advance. We were only planning to have one drink, but the menu was just too tempting, so one quickly turned into two… and then three, for some of us.
Cocktails are around $22 each, and they’re worth every dollar. One came disguised as an Amazon package, another was served in a mini rice cooker, and dry ice and LED lights seemed to be recurring themes. Inside Passage has become something of an influencer magnet (the underwater octopus ceiling kind of guarantees that), but the bar also draws a crowd of serious cocktail connoisseurs—and rightfully so, because the drinks are surprisingly good. There’s definitely substance behind the spectacle, and Inside Passage is a great place for cocktails in Seattle.
Inside Passage, 1108 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
