Polar Bar

Atmosphere is on point, if you like dim, quiet places with jazz music and the possibility that something seedy is being discussed in the dark corners of the bar.
Happy hour is from 3 — 6 pm and includes half-​price off «bites» which is a long list of items varying from edamame hummus to wings. Happy hour also includes a cheap ($ 7) cocktail-​du-​jour, but I chose not to partake and stuck to my regular non-​wells.
Service is exceptional, as you would expect in an atmosphere that would make my grandfather delight. And you can’t overlook the fact that it is never busy. You can always get the servers attention and they will take good care of you.
Seems like there are a few regulars that come in for a drink after work, but the rest are out-​of-​towners like myself (damn, it feels weird to say that) who are just looking to keep to themselves.

A place for a mixed drink in a dark old school atmosphere. Not the place to be if you are a bourbon or single malt scotch person looking for something new. But the place is good at what it aspires to be. I ordered an Arctic Club Old Fashioned. $ 12. Rye, Cointreau, Sloe Gin, Sugar, Bitters and Orange Zest. That’s a lot of stuff! But the mixologist did her job well and the beverage was tasty. I think I will have another. Posted a pic.

Great ambience and just a friendly classy place to hang for a drink. Comfy seating options and excellent food. Stay at the hotel and up the ante!

Not the place if you are a true whiskey lover but great atmosphere. If they just knew their liquor and drinks. I overheard the bartender tell a customer, «well, I can’t really tell the difference between rye and bourbon.» The drink tasted fine (as in adequate) for about 3 mins then watered down.

I absolutely love this place and it is definitely the aura of this place that keeps me coming back. I will always bring guest here for a drink or two before heading out on the town. They are known for their absinthe and they do it well. The same bartender (wish I could remember his name) has been here for as long as I have been coming here. They also make a mean old fashion as well.
Anyhow, it was once a true gentlemen club for the rich made famous around 1908 by the Klondike Gold Rush and you definitely feel that once you step in. The massive fire place on the far end of the lobby, dark interior, and comfy seating takes you back to the early 1900s. Now owned by the Hilton chain not much has changed expect it is harder and more expensive to get a room here; it seems they are always sold out. Also take time and go upstairs and checkout the dome, what art work!
So if you find yourself near Pioneer Square you owe it to yourself to stop on in. If you are travelling in the area book well ahead and get a room. Heck splurge and get a suite with an outside balcony and enjoy the hotel.
And the clock in the picture behind the bar has been there since around 1908.

Stopped in for happy hour, and then some, with a friend after work. I would probably give this place 4 stars had the service been a little better though. They were super busy so the servers were slow to get around to everyone (or at least our corner of the bar). I’m not sure if this was a particular server issue or lack of staffing but either way it took a long time for us to get refills on our drinks.
The drinks themselves were top notch! Gin martinis and sazeracs were our drink of choice that night and damn were they tasty! We also snacked on truffle fries (glad someone figured out that a little truffle oil goes a long way finally) and some pretty fantastic fried green beans (oh how I love thee)!
The atmosphere is slightly upscale feeling but casual at the same time. Kind of old timey I guess. I could totally see this place in the Mad Men era — all full of smoke and nicely dressed men and women drinking fancy cocktails.

Beautiful place, drinks were good. but Glenn’s the bartender has ZERO personality. Couldn’t even manage a smile… zero eye contact… disappointing…

The Polar Bar is classy and casual. The look and ambience reminded me of The Gold Room bar from the movie The Shining. Their Old Fashioned is dangerously good, so be careful. Pool table inside and plenty of comfortable seating.

I was really excited to check out Polar Bar and brought about 10 folks with me after a work event. It was a real bummer to find out that it was closed on a Friday night for an event. Wah wah. We headed downstairs, where they were completely unprepared for the extra traffic. We waited for almost 20 minutes for someone to take a drink order before chasing down a server. Then they forget to bring a food order out. Never came back for a second round of orders. Just not a good experience all around. I’d like to say I will try it again, but it was just such a bummer — the closure, the lack of planning to have extra staff downstairs, the slow service, the lack of concern over the slow service, etc.

Came here for a post work happy hour, great spot for a couple cocktails and some appetizers, with a good selection that are half off during happy hour. The bar has great atmosphere, in that it is a grand old hotel bar with inviting seats, and is great place to converse with people. Had the NW 75, like a French 75 but with a PNW twist with Douglas fir liquor in it. Corpse Reviver #2 was solid and boozy. Only gets 4 stars due to service was lacking at times, draft selection is just 2 beers. Look forward to coming back again and again!

Terrible service. The bartender seemed to take every order as some kind of personal insult. Maybe he was late for an important appointment. A group of us were celebrating a friend’s retirement. No server stopped by the table; we all gave up and ordered from Mr. Congeniality at the bar. As a local, I shudder to think of the tourists this bar (in a hotel!) has alienated.
Chairs were super-​comfy, drinks were fine, the bear remains awesome.
Just don’t go there if you’re thirsty.

Stumbled in here by happenstance and at midnight for last call. Fell in love with the place I felt like we kind of stepped back in time and entered the twilight zone. In a good way.
Dark old wood, comfy seating, lovely cocktails and a classical old school bartender. I want to go back earlier next time to experience more of it.
The huge polar bear in the corner is lit up glass? Really very charming I felt underdressed but not out of place.
I will glam it up a bit next time, dahhling ;)

My absolute favorite bar when I lived in Seattle. This was one of the only places that I could not only order, but GET a Sloe Gin Fizz without a frown-​y face and a «We don’t have sloe gin, would regular be okay?» NO! I want my sloe gin fizz and I want it now! Well, I’m decidedly more refined when I’m out, but you get the point.
Bonus points for making feel like I stepped into «Double Indemnity» every time I walked through the doors. Those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, go to the bar, then google, and you’ll get it.

Located in the Arctic Club hotel in downtown Seattle, this was one of the classiest bars/​lounges we have visited so far in Seattle.
Interiors are superb, have that premium feel throughout, plenty of luxurious and comfy seating.
Good collection of drinks and food, but for me, the interior elegance and ambience was the best part.
Definitely one of the those places that you can come to celebrate a special day.
Pricey, but no complaints as it felt totally worth it!

Classy bar inside the Artic Hotel (now owned by Hilton/​Doubletree). Great art-​deco inspired décor, plenty of places to sit both at the bar and couches/​seating areas, and you can reserve sections of the bar if you have a big party (drink minimum applies). Nice option in this otherwise kind of dead section of town — financial district, between downtown core and pioneer square.
Viktor — the bartender who I believe has been running this place since the beginning of time — pours a mean drink and keeps his cool even when the place gets over-​run by a bachelor party’s worth of douchebros all wanting shots at the same time.

Wow, this place is so nice. This is the kind of bar you take a date who you really want to impress. The place is darkly lit with a masculine feel to the décor. I loved the seats by the fire, that was definitely the best part. And Victor the bartender was an added bonus.
I suggest trying out the Amadeus drink. It tastes like a liquefied gummy bear, AKA amazing. The bar only stays open until midnight though instead of 2, that’s the only drawback I can think of but it’s not a big drawback at all in my opinion.
A+, will definitely be back.

The Polar Bar is located in the lobby (ish) of the Arctic Club hotel. My boyfriend and I were staying there, and after a few drinks at happy hour elsewhere, we ended up here.
It has a very cool/​old-​fashioned ambiance and I liked the dark décor. There were two bartenders in and out during our couple hours, and neither were overly friendly, but got the job done.
I had a few specialty cocktails and they were all fantastic. My boyfriend asked for muddled orange with his vodka after seeing the bartender do it for someone else, and he really enjoyed that.
I loved the pool table, and since it wasn’t too busy, we were able to play a few rounds uninterrupted. The bartender brought our drinks to us which I thought was a nice touch.
The drinks were quite expensive, as others have mentioned, but overall I had a good time and I’d certainly be back if I’m staying at the Arctic Club.

So this is what is feels like to go back in time.
Polar bar is a very interesting place. It is in a hotel; however the hotel is historic.
The Arctic Club was basically a Fraternity house for Gold Miners going up to the Yukon for the Alaskan gold rush… and where the Polar bar is (on the first ground level floor) is they’re gathering place.
The drinks are a bit more pricier (in the $ 12-​$ 16) range for well drinks; however I think you are more paying for the experience. There’s an old school pool table, the décor is amazing, and the bar tender was very friendly. Last but not least, there is a giant polar bar in the bar.
Yes this is review coming from a tourist (from LA)…locals don’t hate.

This definitely has a giant antique absinthe service set on the bar… which adds a certain golden age appeal. The giant polar bear made of plastic in the corner is tacky, though.
I had crabcakes and several cocktails, and everything food wise was spot on. Service was good, especially considering it’s a hotel bar! I will definitely be back.

I haven’t been to the Polar Bar in awhile and was invited to go out recently. I used to go there more when I first started working nearby.
I’m not an absinthe fan so that’s not the draw for me. This is a good place to sit down in a big chair and catch up with a friend. If that doesn’t work, they have a pool table where you and your friends can hang out. I like that the seating is spread out and conducive both to being with others and obtaining a bit of privacy. The space is beautiful and historic but a bit too fancy for my taste.
I like to drink Moscow Mules although apparently, when you order one, they require a card to hold since people have been stealing the mugs. Seriously? The drinks are the usual downtown fare — $ 9 to $ 11 or so. They have a ½ price happy hour menu. The calamari is fried crisp. The truffle fries are more fries than truffle. If you like truffle fries, stay away from these as they are disappointing in flavor. The red pepper hummus is good but there’s an inappropriate hummus to pita ratio. I don’t like having to eat my hummus with a spreader because the pitas are long gone. Raspberry habanero hot wings are quite good. They have a nice amount of spice and meat. However, I think it could be fried a bit crispier.
Overall, a decent happy hour. What more can one ask for?