E Smith Mercantile

Great drinks!!! Service was soooo good. Brian is a great host and Matt makes perfect cocktails. And the store itself was super adorable

I’ve been here several times now and I’m never disappointed and neither are my co-​conspirators (in weeknight drinking). Tuesdays are usually quieter so you can get a seat at the bar and even more personalized attention for some fabulous cocktails. This is one of those places that you won’t regret going off menu: «I’m feeling like X, Y, Z-​style spirit/​drink, make me something tasty please.» I know it sounds nutty, but the jello shots are works of art (in terms of flavor). Imagine tasty artisan cocktails, but in jello form!

My friend and I were walking around Pioneer Square looking for a place to snag a drink. It was about 3pm so not a lot of the bars were open. I took to Unilocal and this bar popped up as one of the best around.
We walked into the small gift shop with it’s very original products and I was instantly delighted. The bar sits out of the way in the back in a horseshoe. There are about 12 seats. Even though all the seats were occupied, the bartender and bar back were quick to provide menus and water. We were just looking for something small. I ordered the Peg Leg Annie and my friend a Campari and Soda. I also ordered the Onion dip and chips.
I don’t know if it was because I was on vacation or because of the ambience, but those chips and dip were pretty much amazing. The tip was out of this world and was topped with the crunchy onions you usually see on your thanksgiving green bean casserole.
I will be coming here again to try other craft cocktails next time I’m in town.

Stumbled into this place exploring Pioneer Square as a newcomer. I adore old whiskey and speakeasy type bars generally, and this place more than fit the bill.
As you enter you see the façade of an old timey apothecary style gift shop. Come to find out the building is actually 150 years old, and in the back sits a cozy bar with limited seating. It’s quiet, but they play some really choice music.
The cocktails are perfection, and they use very high quality, and unique spirits moreso than you would find at any typical bar.
I started with a Horse Feather which was exceptionally refreshing and then told the bartender what I liked and somehow he interpreted that into the most perfect drink possible.
Also, had the marinated olives, and cold brew coffee. Everything was perfect, would recommend.

Fan girl-​ing since 2014!
Discovered this little spot on NYE of 2014. Came in to see the cute things they sell at front and viola~ there’s a bar in the back! Say what!!!
It’s quite a small, dim lit, casual spot. Very cozy as well. Think 10 people max. Maybe 12! But not more. Bar is fully stocked with all the delish herbs and bitters and such. Bartender are funny and super knowledgeable. It kind of has that speakeasy feel but if you know where to look, it isn’t too hard.
Food: you wouldnt think such a tiny bar would have some tasty eats! But they do! Trout spread? Burnt sugar popcorn? How about mac and cheese!!! Or keep it simple and try their local artisanal cheese board! Yummmm!
Drinks~ I’ve had their regular and happy hour concoctions as well as bartender choices. I love champagne and I often go for champagne cocktail with a certain type of flavors and bitters. They always make it right! No complaints there. Mary’s Revenge is my favorite here next to tequila creation~ sweet chili of mine! Also quite enjoyed the sensitive Scotsman! It’s a scotch base (obviously) with lavender bitters which I really enjoy!
Overall, it’s a tiny spot packed with surprises! I come here for a mellow/​quality when I need a peace of mind and get tasty things! No fighting the crowd unless all 12 seats at the bar is full. But even then, you wont be in a mad crowd. Just come back. Come in, relax and sip on the cocktails! Leave everything else at the door!

When you walk in you think you are just in a really cool boutique, but as you walk toward the back you notice there is a bar back there. The cocktails are creative and delicious. I had the coco rosey which tasted like a creamy, floral cocktail. Perfect. My husband had the canary in the cola mine which had a nice cola flavor to it. We definitely enjoyed this place and if we ever come back to Seattle we will stop by again!

Really good drinks but not the best speakeasy in Seattle. The shop was fun (and I actually found an awesome beard balm! I’d come back for the drinks but I’ll definitely be back for the beard balm.

The best of both worlds: a beautiful boutique with carefully selected merchandise, and a fantastic bar with delicious drinks and an intimate setting. I have found beautiful jewelry and gifts in the shop, and had a delicious drink and snack in the bar! I highly recommend. This is the kind of place that gives Seattle (and Pioneer Square especially) its charm.

So Murray works here; all the bartenders are damn knowledgeable about what they’re pouring. This is the jawn in Pioneer Sq; definitely competes strongly for best cocktail bar in Seattle.
It’s a small back bar in a sexy retail shop that seats 10 – 12 people at a time. The atmosphere isn’t rushed and is rather intimate so the patrons actually converse with one another.
Have a date? Meeting friends? In PSQ? Go.
Keep it 100 while you’re in there too, no douching, don’t be a Stan, keep the culture of that place alive and well.

Super-​cool local artisan gift store in Pioneer Square with a tiny hidden bar in the back that opens in the afternoons. In the store, you’ll find unique candles, gourmet kitchen items, bar stuff, skin care products, jewelry, and apparel, to name a few. I love shopping here! Everything is so cool.
The bar only seats 10 – 12 people total at one time. You are only able to order something when you have a seat. They pour excellent cocktails and serve delicious small plates. My favorite cocktail is Peg Leg Annie, which has black pepper vodka mixed with citrus. The tartness and the peppery finish is yum! Their deviled eggs are tasty and have generous amounts of bacon on top! They pickle things well, too. I had their pickled beets once, and they were bomb. I like my pickles on the very tart side, so these were perfect. I ate each and every piece I had in the cute little mason jar they were served in!
Go! It’s awesome.

I stumbled upon this cute bar in Pioneer Square by accident, but I am so glad that I did. They have delicious craft cocktails and hospitable and friendly service. From the outside, you really couldn’t tell there was a bar inside
The front of the house is a mercantile, where they sell books, cards, homemade soaps and lotions, and random keepsakes.
As you walk towards the back, you see a small bar with a pretty large liquor cabinet. They make craft cocktails here and they’re all delicious! We came in at a random hour where there was no actual bartender on staff, so the girl who was working was kind enough to whip us up some drinks. I got a dealer’s choice made with gin and some citrus which I found to be tasty and strong. She got the taste that I was looking for and it was entertaining to watch her make the drinks. They also have the cutest cups to put each of their drinks in. If you are ever in the area come by for a unique drink experience!

I was in the area and wanted to do a little bar hopping before and event later in the night. I’ve been to this store before (storefront during the day and bar in the back for the evening) but this was my first time for drinks.
We got there a little before 7 pm on a Saturday. They basically have the bar in back and a 6 person table they bring out that’s placed in the storefront. It was packed when we got there (limited seating) and we were placed on a list. Definitely not a spot to go with a big group but great for my husband and I. We each for a bartenders choice where you name the liquor you like and they make a drink for you based on that. The waiter who took our order checked on us to make sure we were enjoying our drinks and even informed us as t what exactly was in the drink the bartender made for us.
The food also looked good so il have to try it next time. Definitely a great drink spot!

LOVE this place. We came here on a recommendation from a friend — our plan was to have dinner at Damn the Weather, expecting a long wait, so we popped in here for a drink… I really wish we would have just stayed.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to drink so let the bartender know I liked bourbon, citrus but not too sweet. He whipped up a fantastic drink for me! My boyfriend had a manhattan and said it was perfect.
The food looked appetizing and from the orders we saw around the bar very tasty.
We will definitely be back!

It is a fun idea: storefront, little bar in the back serving great cocktails, as well as fun plates of food. That being said, i think they should make the bar side bigger, as it definitely filled up upon happy hour Saturday afternoon. The bar is tiny, probably about a 12 seat-​er. There is a little two person corner table, and I really do mean little. Their bar appeared to be way more popular than their store part of the business.
With that in mind, the service was great, the food interesting. It definitely took a long time for the hotplates to come out, but overall it is a fun place to experience.

There’s a nice little bar tucked away, for petes sake, does it get any better?
LOVED the qwerky cute stuff in the shop area, funny cards, great books, gifts, keepsakes, lots to look at! And then, there’s the bar! Get a great cocktail in a secret bar I wouldn’t have known about if I just stroll in to just shop! If you get to your tour area early, I suggest walking around and stumbling on this place for a lovely beverage!

Having a store in the front and no so secret bar in the back is a pretty cool concept. I was visiting from out of town and we were trying to find a place to eat and have a drink before the Sounders game. They do happy hour on the weekends until 6! So we grabbed two drinks that were on the happy hour list and some onion dip, a deviled egg, and seasonal pickled vegetables. My drink had pepper vodka in it, which I thought was very unique. I loved the onion dip! But then again, I’m usually the person at a football party hoarding the onion dip, so it was a given that I would love it. Their food menu is quite limited, so we had to move on to find something more substantial. Next time, I want to do a dealer’s choice for drinks… I have a feeling it will be amazing!

I LOVE THIS PLACE! It is definitely my new favorite little shop and bar.
We were waiting for our seat at Damn the Weather and bounced on into this spotl
You walk in and its a very charming ambient little shop with glass jars, local handmade soaps and lotions, delicious smelling candles and exposed brick walls. Everything is strategically placed and in the back there is a cute little inviting bar.
We ordered lighter fare, brown sugar popcorn, olives, deviled eggs, and the duck sandwich.
I have never experienced nicer bartenders and staff they were soo friendly and accommodating. I wanted to try something interesting with lemon, bartender made me an elderflower lemon drop it was divine. They were also kind of enough to dig out their charger for me to charge my phone so I could get an Über.
I cant wait to go back!

Descriptive phrase: dark and cool back bar.
The unexpected charm of the back bar at the E. Smith Mercantile store was a highlight of our time in Pioneer Square. The front area is a unique (thought pricey) gift shop, but the hidden bar area is what we came in for (discounts on the Monday night we came).
It’s dark, it’s small, but it’s chic. Our server Sara was friendly and helpful. While I thought the Burnt Sugar Popcorn ($ 4) needed more salt, it was a tasty treat to nosh on. My Deviled Egg ($ 1.50) was decadent. We had the Ford ($ 8) and the Robert Burns ($ 8) cocktails, both of which were expertly crafted in front of us with quality ingredients.
E. Smith Mercantile’s back bar is a delightful respite from the slightly-​grungy area nearby, and I’d highly recommend it to those in the area.

Best-​kept secret this year. Cozy speakeasy neatly tucked behind E. Smith Mercantile. The apothecary storefront is a lovely space in itself, beautifully appointed. The Back Bar’s charm speaks volumes — from the horseshoe bar, vintage feel, to a stellar cocktail program. Bartenders make you feel at home, with craft cocktails and neat pours. Bartender’s choice always a good idea. Tasty bar snacks are worth mentioning — steak tartare + martini Fridays ftw, bacon deviled eggs please thank you. Bar is cozy, fits 12 total.
See you soon, E. Smith. Yours truly, E. Liu

I am kicking myself for not stopping by sooner, especially since I work nearby. Anyway, I came in after work yesterday for a cocktail. I ended up getting the Cure All. and it did cure all. Sweet and strong and right to the point. Hey.
Foodies. I wanted to try the deviled eggs, but decided on the special because bacon. Bacon-​wrapped shrimp in spicy romesco sauce. I didn’t know what to expect because I couldn’t see a kitchen, but the food was dellllicious. It took everything in me not to lick my plate. The sauce was garlicky and nutty and went perfectly with the shrimp.
I love the dark, cozy bar in the back of the store. It’s a smaller space than I remember from peeking back here in the past. Just bar seating (well, maybe one teeny tiny «table» in the corner I believe, but it’s a squeeze). The bartendress was super sweet and attentive (and so were the other bar peeps). Very knowledgable about her drinks. I’m usually not and frequently ask for suggestions and she hit it right on with the Cure All.
.back.again.and.again. I love the Back Bar.