The Chapel Bar

Hands down my favorite bar in Seattle. It’s a crying shame that this place is closing. If you get the chance to check it out before it closes, get yourself a John Candy and a Citrus, and toast to your good fortune.
Thanks for the good times and great memories, Chapel. We’ll miss you.

I love their martinis here! So far I have tired their Bruce Lee and John Candy martinis and those were tasty to sip on.
The music here is alright. House and dance music are not my first choices but I could see myself dancing here if I chose to stay late. Also, if you only want to come here to sip on drinks and chat don’t stay here too late because they play their music very loud.
One big turn off about the place: The ladies bathroom. I walked in and the sink was covered in puke. *gag* You’re better off using the co-​ed bathroom.
A note to all the short ladies: don’t wear pencil skirts if you sit at the bar. It was a pain in the ass trying to climb up my seat while sporting one.
3.5 starts for now…

Really great cooked to order Jimmy burger and cheese plate. Great presentation for bar grub. It wasn’t busy so the bartender and waitress were very nice to me.
Sad it is closing at the end of the month but might have to hit it up before it does.

I handed my id to the bouncer, he looks at it then looks at me, he looks back at my id then back at me and then I give him my signature smile. «You’re really cute» he then hands me back my id, «Thanks,» I say turning over my wrist for the stamp, «Yeah, you are really cute» his friend says, «Nice tattoo too» the bouncer says after stamping my wrist. I mumble another thanks. Always does a girl good to be told she’s cute. :)
Anyways, it was Saturday and it wasn’t exactly packed but getting through the dance floor to the bar, that was difficult. But not as difficult as being «5’1» and trying to get up onto a bar stool, I literally had to climb up it. and it took me two attempts, two! My friend just laughed at me, he’s a jerk.
There were 3 bartenders behind the bar, but it took almost 10 minutes for us to even get an order in. Only one bartender actually seemed to be doing something. Once we ordered it only took a few minutes to actually get our drinks, I ordered the Curious George, it was delicious. I was so tempted to order another, but I knew we’d be hitting another bar next.
The atmosphere is pretty cool, lights going, music blasting. It’s really difficult to hold a conversation. The music was okay, not exactly my favorites but okay. The lights though, maybe I was having a bad night, but I felt like my eyes were melting out of their sockets. I glance up at where the DJ is situated and I see a scantily clad girl dancing, not exactly well either.
Having to hop off the bar stool was pretty difficult, but having to maneuver around the sweaty dancing bodies (many who were just making out and had no regard for anyone) was even more of a stretch. But on the bright side, I was pretty tipsy by the time we left and feeling stellar.

Lord, please don’t crush Chapel because this former church/​old mortuary on the Hill has been turned into a rather dark restaurant-​bar.
I guess it is a lounge by day and a club by night, the décor boast the original 1920’s architecture and I think it makes it look classy.
The menu is recognized as one of the most extensive and varied martini selection around town. I recommend the Blood Orange Martini. It is pretty dam tasty… yum!
The staff is friendly and fast with the drinks but slow on the food. Nothing on the food menu really said wow to me but I did enjoyed the cheese plate my friend ordered.
You can rent out the VIP balcony lounge that can accommodate up to 40 people for a private event that is great for parties or special events.
This is the spot if you want a Martini.
I’m not 100% sure it is true, but I heard Bruce Lee had his service here.
TIP: Happy Hour time is 5−9pm.

I love a bar with character and a bit of history and The Chapel Bar has just that. It’s located in an old funeral home and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect while walking up the stairs…
When you walk in though, it FEELS like you’re heading towards Jesus in a church, but instead, you’re walking towards a beautifully color-​lit bar with all the tasty hard-​a you can ask for (that is seriously the best way to describe it). I love the hardwood floors and it only adds to the character of this bar. Along the perimeter are white couches with tables as well as small 2-​person tables along the middle. Around the bar are these really tall, white bar-​stools. To the right are huge floor-​ceiling mirrors and on the left-​side are these HUGE windows (resembles stained glass windows, but not exactly). As you can tell, I really loved the décor here. :)
I ordered the «What dreams may come» which seemed like a fruitier AMF because of all the different alcohol in it including Coconut Rum (yum). I had two and I was good to go. :) I also ordered the grilled cheese, which was standard, but still delicious. The waiter was great and kept a solid eye on our tables. Another AWESOME feature is their outdoor patio that is HUGE, has ceiling heaters, speakers and I believe they also put a bar out there on some nights. It doesn’t get a lot of sun, but it’s a great place to smoke or get some air.
I came here on a Sunday evening, but I’d definitely come back to see their no cover-​nightlife!

My first time at Chapel bar was a good experience although I will need to go back to get more of the atmosphere and try some of the different foods they offer. The drink I had was really good although I can’t remember the name, but it was recommended by a member of our group who had arrived before I got there so I figured why not.
The décor is very stylish and the people both at the bar and behind seemed to fit in very nicely. I have heard this is a great place to hang out on a Friday or Saturday night and even though I live just a couple blocks away, I have not had a chance to check it out.
Four stars for now and I’m pretty sure that will hold after I’ve been here another time or two.

Walking, I knew this place was close by, but I couldn’t find it! I ask the dude at the Phở joint — -«Over there! Across street.» His left arm shot straight out (like that one dog from Looney Tunes that direction-​freezes when he’s onto a trace of something). So, back outside and I look over there… law firm… OH… omg, I missed that? It is easy to miss!
As I approached, I thought was it open? It’s quiet and dark from outside… 2 chicks arrive by taxi and head up — oh they must be open I thought (I was gonna check anyway, but I figured this had a nice view going up). Whoa, this would be a perfect bar for nightlife in Midgar in FFVII. Quiet, chill for Monday night. I pull up at the uncomfortable bar seating (no adequate foot rest and the bar chair stools suck). I rested my toes in the gaps beneath. The bartender was cool and seemed like a dwarf from sitting there. The lady cook in back looked like an angry Xena; not sure if that’s normal or just her trying to see in the dark space from the well-​lit kitchen (contrast). For Unilocal Drinks Week, I sipped on the Chloe Martini… wooo. The grilled cheese was good, as was the edamame (despite taking forever for these simple soybeans, they were a soft delight, warm, and subtly salted enough). I can see myself perhaps getting a table here with a girl. =P
## If staff is reading, please improve bar seating comfort. ##
Sometimes I wonder if Bruce Lee got his Cha-​Cha on Capitol Hill? o.0
PS: Shall upload night pic of bar section later.

Chapel is one of my favorite places to go for drinks. If their service was as spectacular as their drinks, I might have given them five stars, but considering their service isn’t all that great, they deserve four… maybe even 3.5 stars… but with that said
They have happy hour everyday from 5 – 7 and 10-​close Sun-​Thurs. They have a large selection of martinis on HH so I’m sure everyone will be able to find a drink that suits their taste buds. As far as food goes, I usually stick to their hummus plate. Their wings aren’t too shabby either. The drinks (the main event!) are stiff, but tasty! And for $ 5 per drink its well worth the buck. But I must forewarn, the amount of drinks consumed can get dangerous… well at least for my girlfriends and me! We have yet to come here and not over consume on alcohol. We have tried various methods:
Attempt 1: Come at the beginning of HH and pace ourselves
Fail: We have a longer period to drink, thus more is consumed
Attempt 2: Come towards the end of HH so we won’t have time to over consume
Fail: We down the martinis because we are on a time crunch
Attempt 3: If HH ends at 7, arrive at 6:50 (enough for only one drink)
Fail: We order a few drinks at a time
Attempt 4: Come on a weekday with work the next day
Fail: (worst idea!) Work is completely forgotten and we drink like its the weekend
We have come to the realization that over indulging will always be a problem for us… so now instead of fighting it, we accept Chapel for what it is, a great place to grab drinks and hang out! They even have a live DJ on the weekends spinning pretty good music!
Drinks I recommend are: Chloe, Lavender, Hibiscus and Dirty Janes

I love the feel of this place and they have nice martinis. I love that it used to be a mortuary and they call it Chapel. hehe.
I’m taking one star off because: wth was a bar trying to charge cover?! You’re not a club!
I want to come back for happy hour when they have cheaper martinis next time.

It’s cold inside…
Geisha was good… sake warmed me up.

Chapel is a good standard for a Capitol Hill bar, as far as I’m concerned. This isn’t a place I come to for food or quiet conversation, although earlier in the night and especially on weekdays, it isn’t particularly crowded and you can cuddle in a corner with your date (or bff, whatever). I come here for the extended happy hour — 5 to 9, $ 5 house martinis which are super creative, some made with in-​house infused vodka, all delicious.
The location is excellent, and the atmosphere is darkly sexy. It used to be a mortuary, so it’s properly creepy but the high ceilings, big wall mirrors and tall bar lend Chapel an air of shadowed sophistication. Until about 10pm, when it’s packed with gyrating hipsters. Just kidding, hipsters don’t gyrate. All the same, come for happy hour and stay for a creatively named cocktail… or three.

Music: 4
Setting: 5
People: 4
Drinks/​Prices: 5
This is my favorite bar in all of Seattle.
The UPS man’s daughter, oh yes, it exists and it’s good.
This is where, allegedly, where Bruce Lee’s body was viewed. It really was a Chapel! This is now a hip place for some of best fruit infused drinks in the city, and some great beer choices. There’s a nice outdoor seating and an upstairs lounge area. The place is candle lit most of the time and has that mystic aura about it.

The prices aren’t the greatest for happy hour, but the selection is pretty sweet.
PROS:
1. Interesting martini flavors (lemon mirengue, anyone? With a graham cracker trim?)
2. Spiced marcona almonds for $ 3! Need I say more?
3. Half-​plate options for some of the appetizers and entrees.
4. Late happy hour time (5−9pm!)
CONS:
1. Prices could be better. $ 5 for a martini is not a happy hour price, if you ask me.
2. Super salty prosciutto flatbread pizza. Then again, it IS prosciutto.

Today, my cure…
Sometimes, you do dishes about five times before three, and make several fresh avocado, fried egg and pepperjack English muffin breakfast sandwiches and heat up day-​old (amazing!) chipotle chicken chili for lunch (made from scratch, last night, as usual) for two, and go to QFC and Rain Shadow Meats so you can prep dinner early (from scratch) early, and cart laundry back and forth down to the basement, and run and do yoga. All in about six hours.
And so you’re a tired bitch.
And in that case, all you want is a quality drink or two outside in the sun. In Seattle, in Capitol Hill, in May. Is that too much to ask?
Thank God, no. Enter Chapel Bar. Happy hour, Monday afternoon sunshine, quality fresh drinks (a lovely and excellently balanced French 75 and a surprisingly massive Peach Cooler, with Cava and other lovelies), and sitting outside on the patio with a friendly breeze blowing through Melrose to Bellevue and back. Music at a great volume, wafting through the open-​to-​the-​patio doors, and a friendly and quite skilled bartender. Varied Happy Hour, tasty fresh-​juiced drinks, and good apps. Not to mention comfy, moveable chairs and tables to follow the fall of the sun as it intensifies over the early afternoon, lower and warmer and ever more relaxing.
Bask, bitch, bask. And so she did, and found equilibrium again. Enough for walking home, and tending to slow-​roasted sage and orange chicken, steamed artichokes with aioli, and broccoli with lemon butter. From scratch.
Thank you, Chapel Bar. I’ll be back, and hopefully in, um, good form. Again.

My first clue that this place had GONE DOWNHILL FAST was when (upon entry) I noticed the bridal bachelorette party and white trash girls dancing where there’s no dance floor at 11 PM on a Saturday night. When my eyes finally adjusted and I saw the string of streaming, battery-​powered lights in the bride-to-be’s train /​vail, I really should have aborted my mission and ran for the door. Alas, against better judgement, we did not. I was SORELY DISAPPOINTED in the SERVICE, the DRINKS, the PATRONS and all that this place stands for.
Certainly, the VENUE IS COOL, no doubt about it. A lounge in an old mortuary and church is absolutely unique. But, they used to have a fabulous cocktain menu that was one-​of-​a-​kind and extensive. They have narrowed that down considerably and added a lot more food, all of which has gone WAY DOWN HILL. It’s too bad. This used to be a favorite stop of mine when I was in Seattle. But, I won’t be back.

What can I say — you gotta love any bar that used to be a funeral parlour. Ok so what I really love about the Chapel are the coconut martinis! That is the one drink I always order. A friend of mine once took me here for a private party for his company. They closed down the entire bar on a Friday night and we had free food and drinks the whole night. Since the drinks were free I think I tried like 5 different martinis but the coconut is still my favorite.
What’s up with the super duper high bar stools? As a woman it is so hard to climb up there. So much for looking graceful. And trying to get down after a few martinis — well that’s downright dangerous!
The lighting is great. The unisex bathrooms are fab. Love the upstairs more private area. The downstairs seats are also nice and swanky — white looks nice.
Typically this place is pretty pricey but happy hour rocks. Unfortunately it’s rare that I can make it out during happy hour
This is def a fav among both my straight and gay friends!

Great ambiance and interior! I went here for happy hour and it was great. The drinks are all interesting and yummy (I had 3 martinis: John Candy, Milkman’s Daughter and Lavender). Milkman’s Daughter was my favorite — banana and coconut with cream. Yum. Drinks are not terribly strong but I liked being able to have several since they were all good! I am definitely gonna come back for another happy hour to try out more drinks!
The music was pretty loud considering there was no dancing (this was on a Sunday).

If you love an impressive setting, pricey juicy martini’s, and apparently dancing on Friday nights… Chapel might be your kind of joint.
Me? I was impressed with the décor and the tastiness of the Akira (sake, pomegranate, lime?) martini, pleased enough with the nice server, and may return for their $ 5 martini happy hour.
As for the other things? Those martinis were more fruity than boozy (which I don’t like when I’m paying $ 7.50-$ 9 each) and we weren’t too happy that Leffe was going for $ 6 per small glass. It’s ON TAP and it does NOT cost that much! Needless to say… we’re sticking to only getting THAT one from the store from now on (where it’s $ 10 – 12 for a 6-​pack).
What left me a little upset at the end of the night:
The server did not have us start our own tabs, so when I went up to the bar to do so for myself I told the bartender what goes on my card. When I got the bill, the martini wasn’t on it. I’m «good» and whatnot so I told the server about the mistake. He said it was fine and made me very happy b/​c that meant the overpriced weak (but delicious) martini was free.
Well… not so much.
They split up the bill and decided to charge my friends– who are here on vacation– for it. Thankfully we got it sorted out, but I was a bit annoyed b/​c I had to charge my card twice AND the friends almost had to pay for it b/​c I went outside thinking that I was done in there.
Chapel… I really expected more from you. I’m a little bummed that you didn’t come through on that.

I feel good about:
— the fact that Chapel has happy hour every day of the week from 5−8pm!
— $ 5 martinis at said h² with exotic components like rosewater, lavendar, lemon basil vodka, and orange bitters.
— the delicious factor of the mozz flatbread we ordered. Yummo!
I feel lukewarm about:
— the fact that Chapel used to be a funeral home. The décor is still a little reminiscent of that past.
— the single unisex rr. Eh.
— the semi lack of tables inside.
— several of the food items being crossed out since they weren’t serving them and/​or ran out today. :o (to no almond joy sundae.
I feel grossed about:
— seeing the bartender shake a martini into a glass, notice it was nearly overflowing, stick her bare fingers into the drink to chuck a few cubes of ice out and then send it over to the waitress to serve… and then proceed to fix her ponytail. What is wrong with this picture?