Founders Club

Ambiance: located inside the exquisite Fairmont Seattle, this speakeasy is behind a bookcase in their main lobby bar. It's a little unclear how to get in but I suppose that adds to the allure. I was able to make a reservation online, and we waited on the couch outside the entrance until a server came up to us to check us in.Drinks were definitely on the pricey side, most were over $20. I chose the Apollo View since it has my absolute favorite rhum. Drink was well made but I wouldn't get it again for the price. My dining partner had the sazerac which really missed the spot. I've had sazeracs in New Orleans and so many other speakeasies, but this one was too sweet, not balanced, and just weird tasting. We were both disappointed.Summary: There's better bars out there. This would be a nice place to stop for a quick drink if you're staying at the Fairmont, but I don't think I would travel all the way back here from Tacoma.

Intimate, private, dim-lit, and exclusive. Make reservations for this spirit enthusiast 1920s inspired speakeasy. Each drink was an experience within itself. The mixologist were masters of their craft and happy to guide you through the myriad of ingredients, juices, syrups, bitters, and shrubs. We had a great time.

Founders Club is a brilliant speakeasy with an entrance in a busy hotel lobby. On average, it's probably the priciest cocktail bar in town. Sure, you can get pricier cocktails like the vintage ones at Canon ($750 Sazerac!). But "normal" cocktails will be a bit pricier but also well worth it. You are here for the experience and service as well. And details matter, like the etched glassware, copper top bar, and a staff donning formal jackets. I started off with a classic Hanky Panky switching out the gin with genever. And I just had to try their Founders Manhattan which the Seattle Times recently mentioned as the priciest "normal" Manhattan in town. At $54 it is pricey but not crazy pricey. Made with Coalition Rye Whiskey, Rooftop Vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino,Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Lot 35 Creamy Earl Grey Tincture, it has ingredients you can't find anywhere such as a house made vermouth, which gives it a unique taste. Would I order it again? Maybe not, but is it worth trying once? Absolutely! So stop by for a special occasion or just to try some great cocktails in a place that will make you feel special.

Made a RSVP online and was seated upon arrival! The entrance is behind a bookcase, but it's not as "speakeasy" as some might want/expect. Nevertheless, the interior was nice - dark and intimate but still upscale. They have plenty of cocktail options that range from classics to monthly/seasonal specials and they allow custom requests as well. When we were seated, we got some mixed nuts to snack on while we waited for our drinks. We tried:Between Continents 10/10Quinta Punch 10/10Apollo View 8/10 (had a lot of ice)All the drinks had good flavor that was complex, yet paired well together. They were all fairly strong, which most would like given how pricey the drinks are! Staff were friendly and they brought me some complimentary treats for my birthday, which was nice!

What a swanky spot for a drink. Great service. Loved the nuts they provide. Their fall cider specials are delicious.

I had the most amazing time here having some drinks and celebrating my birthday! This amazing, sleek speakeasy is behind a bookshelf in the Fairmont Hotel lobby. To start, make sure you make reservations well in advance as it can fill up with no walk-in option. As far as the drinks go, they were all deliciously crafted. Though there is no food option, there are some complementary nuts. I can't wait to come back soon and hangout.

I went on a Wednesday night and the hostess sat my friend and I without a reservation so that was nice.The drinks were really just okay and really overpriced. The only bartender of the night there (he had black hair) bragged about custom drinks but made me an overly expensive classic mezcal cocktail (Naked and Famous). I've had custom drinks at Needle and Thread before and that was truly custom and this was nothing like it. I said I wanted something sweet and salty for the drink so he added a dash of salt to it. That was the only customization. I couldn't even taste the salt. The cocktail was $40 because he used some crazy special mezcal but didn't tell me it would cost that much. I could have went to any bar in Seattle for a well balanced classic cocktail!!My friend who doesn't drink much wanted a girly light on the alcohol tiki kind of drink, think like fruit and berries, and she got a rum heavy Mai Tai which she didn't like at all. We should have went to Rumba instead or Foreign National for the girly juice drinks.What is the point of custom drinks when you're just pushing out classic cocktails and not even listening to the customer for what they want?The Fairmont has nice atmosphere and the book shelf is super cool, I'll give them that. It's a charming, sophisticated place for dates of you want to impress someone. Drinks are really meh and way too expensive for not that much added value so consider what you're paying for...the ambiance.The complimentary roasted cashews they served were great though. Cashews are expensive so I guess that's where my friend and I tried to claw back some of the value.There are many other BETTER more creative cocktail bars in Seattle. Try Deep Dive for almost the same vibe/decor but better tasting concoctions and Instagramable garnish.

This is a story of true serendipity. My friends and I decided to explore the drinking scene in Downtown Seattle and chose The George as one of our stops for the night. As we headed to the restaurant, we saw some people exiting from a bookcase and just had to investigate. There was some seating outside this bookcase entrance where we talked to the host and hostess. Although we didn't have a reservation and it was a Friday night, they put us on the waiting list and gave us some menus to peruse as we waited for our group to be called. Thankfully, we only had to wait 20ish minutes to get inside for a table of 3. The interior is amazing and evokes the spirit of a true speakeasy. Dim lighting with red and brown accents. Very intimate. Great place for a date. The space itself is small - there were only 3 other groups within - 2 couples and one large group of 5-6 people. Regardless of the size, it's definitely one of the most aesthetically pleasing speakeasies I've been to in Seattle. Very much pleasantly surprised. This was awhile ago so sadly I don't recall all the drinks we got but I do remember getting the French 75 and Hemingway Daiquiri. Both were great cocktails. I don't know much about bartending but I could sense that they were mixed well and could also see the bartenders work their magic. Our server was also pretty great. He was informative, attentive, and friendly. He not only gave us advice on which drinks to order based off our preferences, but also gave us some insider information about the Downtown Area. I'm so happy fate was on my side that random Friday night or else I wouldn't have discovered this speakeasy. I urge you to treat yourself and head over to Founder's Club asap!

We were here for a private party after Christmas and really enjoyed the speakeasy style cocktail bar vibes. It's a pretty intimate space but surprisingly has quite a bit of seating in the long, narrow room and a long bar, making ordering easier.I was drinking mocktails that night, and they were really good! The cocktails the husband of mine ordered were also apparently quite excellent. The bartenders were friendly and put on a great show displaying their mixology skills. The hors d'oeuvres served for the party were beautiful and decadent looking, and everyone really enjoyed them. Everything ordered for the party had gluten, and after I'd asked a member of the waitstaff for the third time off what she was carrying around was gluten-free, she took it upon herself to have the kitchen bring me out two plates of gf items not on the nights menu! It was wonderful and so kind of her considering I'd been negligent in showing up to a party without knowing the gf status of the food. Space is fun with a hearty ambiance, food was delicious, and craft cocktails creative. What more can you ask for.

This place is great! We've been to the bar in the lobby and the restaurant at the Fairmont but this spot was a first. It lived up to the fun hype. The drinks were great. They're pricey but you're paying for the experience too. There isn't any food. But they did bring us a little dish of nuts. And they were tasty. I'm pretty sure you need reservations. We went for NYE so we definitely needed them. But I don't know what it's like on a regular night. The reservation was for 90 minutes but that was a perfect amount of time for us. Definitely check it out for a fun night out or a special occasion.