Alibi Room
Categories: Lounges, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown85 Pike St Ste 410
Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 623-3180
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
48 Reviews for Alibi Room
Food: Really tasty!
Service: Martha was our waitress and we all loved her!
Drinks: Stiff! Need I say more?
Decor: Dark, I'm in love with this place
Pricing: I paid for ten people and it wasn't scary
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It really depends on the night and your mood to enjoy the Alibi. Its really dark, and can get really crowded and loud for such a small space. The dungeon downstairs heats up like a sauna when the bodies start moving. Its secluded and trendy which can be good and bad at the same time. The food and drinks are good but by no means cheap. Its best to take the alibi in small frequent doses and when the stars align you just gotta ride the wave and party til 6 in the morning! But I used to live a few floors above the alibi so I am partially biased.
I have to agree with previous posts, after most of the old staff left, things went down hill and it hasn't been the same. I haven't been back in over a year but I hope the good times keep on rollin.
It's really dark in here. I think I tripped over something on my way over to our table. Could have been someone's foot. Could have been a bread basket.. no clue. That's how dark, people!
My Pinot Gris was delightful. The menu extensive, with such gastric delights as Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf and Spicy Mac n' Cheez. Some interesting salads and appetizers on the menu as well.
But really, I did like the ambiance of the Alibi Room. Great date place. Dark and candlelit, with flowers, and tasteful nudes gracing the walls.. I mean, you could totally make out with your date and no one would notice OR care. Cool!
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It was a dark and stormy night. The cobblestone streets of the deserted market were teeming with unsavory characters. Though all signs urged me to turn back, I was a dame with a mission: to find and penetrate the elusive Alibi Room.
Questions poured down like the rain. Upper or lower Post Alley? Where is that damn gum wall? I needed some clues, and I NEEDED a drink. I found my answer directly underneath the famous neon sign. Down the stairs... turn the corner... don't make eye contact with those thugs lurking over there... warm.. warmer... DISCO.
With my mission complete, my smoking .38 tucked away, and my cohorts beckoning, I descended the staircase to the Alibi lounge. I hadn't planned to party much, but my friends can be quite persuasive. Some of them I call coworkers, but one in particular I call "vodka". Combined with seductive dim lighting, stylishly eclectic crowd, and a powerhouse DJ mashing Christina Aguilera, Daft Punk, Michael Jackson, Junior Senior... this club was making me an offer I couldn't refuse.
The next morning, with a slight hangover, I returned to my private office to review my file and close the case. Great bartenders, sick jams, random dance parties, sweet crowd, sultry atmosphere, mysterious location. It had been a tough situation to discover, but then again I'm a tough broad. I slammed shut the desk drawer and slammed the contents of my flask down my throat. Success. For the events of last night, I would need no alibi.
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BLAH! That's how I felt about the Alibi Room the last couple years. The quality had gone downhill and then the view was stripped away due to the construction of the old folks home. But now under new management, things are back in a good way. The downstairs has been rennovated in a good way. Great new owner, and the food is good again. Last night I had some meatloaf wrapped in bacon with mashed taters and green beans, AND housemade catsup. House as in the kitchen not the doctor because he's fictional. I still miss the view and that's why I have four instead of five. Because that giant building of old people makes the place quite dark. And while that can be great at night... It gets a touch depressing on summer days. Anyways, HOORAY for the new owner. HOORAY for having good food again. HOORAY for getting rid of the ugly cement benches downstairs.
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I found this place to be a treasured little secret. Being a stranger to Seattle I was shown this place by a local and would likely have never found it otherwise. The food was very good, I couldn't really see it but it did taste wonderful! We had some very good local beers and listened to wonderful music that I would never have expected most people to have played in my life. This place was great fun! A very private sort of place though, not too busy. It was a bit pricey but the service and food was wonderful! I would definitely love to go there again anytime!
A dark, cozy place place with nice atmosphere. Perfect for meeting high-class women of ill repute. Or perhaps some friends! Ha ha!
The food and drinks were both delicious, but probably on par for the cost, so that's at least expected.
My favorite part might have been the bathrooms. You have to descent a long stairway and take some sketchy corners before you enter the restroom, which is formed mostly from severely rusted metal, probably exhumed from an abandoned slaughter house.
The smaller bar downstairs had a few tables and a medium-sized dance floor, which I actually found myself wanting to return to to gyrate my body in expressionistic ways.
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I'm going three stars, but I like the place, nope, yep, I guess this is a 3 star spot, it has a great feel and the food is solid, you just have to be in the mood for it. They have upstairs eating and downstairs drinking on the weekends. It is sort of hard to find deep down in the market and gives it that allure.
I've happened in here twice over the last couple of nights. Once on Thursday for a few beers and it just feels warm, the service is good and friendly. And then the other time, last night, it was too busy and we didn't have reservations, so we took off rather quickly. Not knock on them though, we should have called.
And way back, I've eaten here, and always remember it tasting great. The kitchen is sort of in the bar which makes everything smells so great.
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If you can find this place, you're in for a treat. It's cute, cozy and romantic, the service is great and it's pretty cheap too.
The food is absolutely wonderful. I've never had anything bad here, but the meal that actually stands out the most is the omelette I had at brunch one Sunday. It was filled with chevre, cambazola, and a ton of delicious herbs. I've tried replicating it at home and just can't. Hmm, guess I'll have to come back next time I am in town!
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I have been to the Alibi many times for cocktails. It's tucked away, which makes it a great place to take guests. They feel so "in the know." I prefer to sit at the bar and nosh on appetizers like Anastasia. It's worth a visit if you've never been.
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Great food, drinks and service. I took my mom and fiance' here for dinner and they loved everything about the Alibi Room.
I especially loved the fact it has an open kitchen so you can watch you food being cooked and the smell from the kitchen is amazing.
I recommend the Alibi Room to anyone looking to impress a date or looking for an intimate dinner with friends or family.
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This place is such a great find. The atmosphere is very sexy and romantic and not very loud as with most places in the area. They have a nice 'by the glass' wine selection with the exception of the Syrah I had. The dinner menu is short and sweet, though I really prefer to sit up at the bar and enjoy the appetizers. The last time I was here, I shared the apple and brie plate that came with these wonderful little crustini's. I also ordered the beet sald with horseradish vinigrette...very nice and simple. This I enjoyed with a great glass of Shiraz.
This place is located at the Pike place market underground, near where the old theater used to be. Most people have either never heard of it or can't find it. The prices are good and I highly reccommend the Alibi Room for a first date or just a nice place to meet a good friend, as the quite atmosphere allows for easy conversation.
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it's a revolution
After taking my LSAT's (yes, i can now have a life again) my sister, my good friend Colin and ---took me out to celebrate. Where should we go? Colin, Mr. Cool, said, "Alibi room"
When you enter the alibi room, you feel as if you're transported to an era when Al Capone ruled the streets and there are talks about a revolution. Perhaps it's the antique bricked walls or the dimly lit room, in either case, you feel as if you're part of a conspiracy that would lead to a new government of some sort . Then, after your conspiracy talks you can go dancing to celebrate life at the dancing area downstairs.
Also, their vanilla martini is deeeeeelishhh. it's like a vanilla ice cream in your mouth with vodka in it. yum yum.
I believe it was the vanilla martini that lead to the cuban revolution, at least that's what Wikipedia said.
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No fourth star because as someone who doesn't drink, but does love atmosphere I could use a little more attention than just black tea. What they lack in non-alcoholic beverage Alibi makes up for in ambience though, which brings me back happily each time. Low key enough for a mid-evening stop off, sexy enough for date night. The name is well suited.
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I do absolutely love the location of the alibi room, however I'd have to say that the service (mostly bartender downstairs in a Hawaiian shirt) left a lot to be desired. he was sarcastic in a bad way and i'm among the variety that believes the staff makes the place. hopefully alibi will go back to the way things used to be, sans the hawaiian shirt guy.
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Hidden, dark, mysterious, cozy. Just the way I like it. If you haven't been to the Alibi Room lately go soon. Corey Ramey from El Gaucho bought the place a few months ago; he learned a lot at El Gaucho about making guest feel welcome and serving up a nice atmosphere with great food. The menu is a feast for the eyes with Spicy Mac n Cheez, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, Coriander Encrusted Chicken Breast and, oh yes, a Pot Roast sandwich. YUM. Can't wait to go back.
I also learned that they have a 'party' room in the basement available for a $400 minimum food & beverage fee. A good deal. You and your guests will be treated very well.
Its romantic and cheap. My boyfriend and i shared a plate of clam/mussel with white wine. We both got a bowl of clam chowder. Its pretty good. The place is cool since it is down the alley of the pike market, so it is not open to many tourists. We got to meet some of the friendly locals there. The waiter thought we were cute. He gave us some extra bread for being nice and chatty.
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I dig this place because the food is above average (better than your normal bar food), drinks have never disappointed me, and everything about it is pretty damn easy and to the point.
It's a fun place to go as an alternative to the normal downtown scene.
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We arrived at the Showbox too early for the main act, and contemplated eating in the Green Room. I suggested we go here instead. I used to come here all the time, but just for the weekend parties in the basement, so I wasn't sure it would be good.
But it was. We had cocktails, two appetizer plates, and coffee. The only problem was the lack of any real dessert items, but everything else was delicious. At that hour, it was empty enough that the chef personally gave us a "You're Welcome" for the thanks we gave.
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I went here the other night with a friend and really liked it. It's super cozy and very chill. It was pretty quiet, but it was a Monday, so I wasn't surprised. They had a pretty good selection of drinks.
Getting to the restroom was a little mazey...wonder what it's like if you are drunk...
I'm definitely interested in having dinner here next time and I will be back!
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The Alibi Room used to be the place to go for slow, moody service, expensive food and an attitude. In the last year or so, however, it seems to have completely changed. The service is still a little slow, but not annoyingly so. And the attitude has gone from annoyed with you for being there to spicy and fun - like a good bartender. And the food is solid and completely reasonable - especially given the location. Alibi Room is back on my good list.
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This is where I take my friends when they come into town and play at the Showbox. We can eat an earlier dinner here, get some good drinks and always make it to the show in time for them not to be too wasted.
Ps. The Mac and Cheese at this is AMAZING. After having it for the first time, I craved it for days. I still dream of it. Sometimes I think about going to get my fix, but then, all my friends are touring Europe right now. Boo Hoo.
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My BF and I happened upon this hidden gem on my birthday night- he without a dinner gameplan, me getting hungered and a little irritable because of aforementioned state. In comes Alibi Room to save the evening, recommended to us by the hotel concierge. It was about 10PM at night on a summer Friday, and it was recommended mostly because it was one of few places still open and serving what I was in the mood for.
I liked it for several reasons- I liked that it was off the beaten path, I liked that it was dark (hence cosy), and I liked the atmosphere.
I DIDN'T care for the noise level, which bordered on intolerable, but it WAS a summery Friday evening and there was another gal celebrating her birthday with a large, intoxicated party so I let it slide. Reading other's reviews of this place, I kinda wish it WAS empty when I came, but I still liked it nonetheless.
We had dinner here, and the food was quite good. Unfortunately I can't recall exactly what we had, but I rememberd my boyfriend had some sesame-crusted, seared ahi tuna type deal which was well prepared and I had a roasted chicken or something that was quite good.
Now that I finally remembered what the hell this place was called, I will definitely be making it part of my rotation when in Seattle.
I don't need no alibi to come here!
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Looked like a cool place, but was completely empty all night long.
Maybe Wednesdays are "For the love of Flying Spaghetti Monster! Do not go downtown!" days or something.
All I know is that no one else entered the bar for hours with the exception of a pair of completely deranged dudes who were babbling like cavemen or the like. They soon exited stage left.
Seriously. Was downtown closed tonight?
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The first time I was to the Alibi room was for a first date with a new cute boy. When I walked in I immediately loved the feel of the place, kind of dark and excluded, a little hidden treasure in the market. The food was great, the drinks were stiff and the service was on par. A month later I found out why my date chose the Alibi Room, he was married and didn't want his wife to catch him, needless to say I never saw him after finding that out.
Anyways working near the market I've been back numerous times for drinks, they are no longer as stiff but still good. If your man says he's going to the Alibi Room I highly suggest going with him.
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This is a place you'll only find Seattlites. Tucked away in the arch across from the gum-wall in Post Alley, it's not someplace you will find without looking for it....and that's part of the charm!
They have rotating art that is something I always look forward to. "Wonder what kind of weird painting they'll have on the wall this time?" And I mean weird in a good way, if I could afford to buy art, I would consider getting something here.
Dark and romantic, a bit mysterious, and overall charming.
They have good happy hour munchies, I recommend the hummus plate it's garlicy-superb
Their house red is always a great wine and the bartenders are usually well-schooled in their vino which is nice.
One time I went to the downstairs room and there was music and it was a little bit different scene, not dancing really, just louder and a little more up-beat. Upstairs if pretty chill.
I heart Alibi Room
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I just ate two little pink discs of pepto bismol. We'll call it a gastro-intestinal pre-emptive strike. My stomach has been cramping for the the last couple hours and I am really hoping that it is psycho-somatic because otherwise, it would have to be from the mussels and clams at the Alibi Room.
Now, I know that serving bad sea food is a fairly serious charge, but I've cooked in a few different restaurants that served mussels and on a few occasions after not working the saute station for a few days, I would come in to set up and find a 6 pan of mussels that some one left forgotten in the nether areas of the reach in for a few days too long. It is a smell you will never forget. And a milder version of that smell is how the mussels I got at the Alibi Room earlier tonight tasted. I even tried a second one just to make sure that it wasn't a fluke that the first one tasted a little off. It wasn't. After a couple minutes of staring at the bowl wondering If I had really been served off mussels, I mentioned it to my fellow diners and then tried yet another one to make really certain. It was really certain. I spit it out and sent them back.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, the table of guys next to us ordered and ate two bowls between the three of them after I sent mine back. The waitress said that the cooks reported they had just got the mussels in this morning but she bought me a beer anyhow. So, like I said, with any luck these periodic sharp pains racking my stomach are just tricks of the mind and I won't be upgrading from Pepto Bismol to Kaopectate before the night is through.
Despite the mollusk mess at the start of the meal, my Prime Sirloin was charred on one side and barely marked on the other and still somehow ended up less done than the medium-rare I ordered it. I can deal with bloody meat but it wasn't how I ordered it. The 'yam fries' that came with the steak were julienned yams that had been pan fried so like the often disappointing home fries, they were charred in some spots and limp and raw in others.
One of my fellow diners got the stuffed chicken which was a bit dry and over cooked and the mashed potatoes that came with it were totally bland. Another person at our table said that he felt the place 'has gone down hill in the last year or so.'
The only reason we ended up at the Alibi Room in the first place was that we were downtown, super hungry, and our first couple options had hour long waits. I won't be going back. At least, not for food.
A good escape from the tourists in the market. Quiet and intimate atmosphere early in the evening but reading others' reviews, sounds like it gets rowdy later.
I judge bars on how well they can make my fave drink, a dirty Sapphire martini, and the one I had here just wasn't that good and in fact, it was almost warm sooo...3 stars.
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I like it, the atmosphere is good and the weekend brunch is awesome. The Banana's Fosters French Toast will make you moan it's so good. This is no exaggeration either!
The Bloody Mary's are the best in town, the drinks are decent and fair, not cheap but fair.
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Great place to escape tourist-hell. Wait a sec, I don't live in Seattle... I guess that makes me a tourist. Still, I'm from SF & this is the kinda place I love...yummy food, funky space, and a cool, mellow vibe.
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One of my common landing places. I like the laid back atmosphere, the music that is not so loud as to prevent you from having a conversation, and the wine selection is not bad. And, I like that the art rotates monthly - in fact, I bought my favorite painting after seeing it at the Alibi Room (which never ceases to amuse my friends!). I hear there's a dance floor - but I haven't explored the lower level more than to find the ladies room, so I can't say whether it's good or bad (and I probably won't ever try to find out). The service is a little spotty - I've had really great attentive service and I've also been there when I apparently forgot to turn off my superpower of invisibility. All in all, it's one of my standbys and I can't complain!
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I really like the Alibi room. I'm not sure why. It could be the dive feel when you first walk in. It could be because the bar tenders make great drinks or it could be because the food is always yummy. They sometimes have a DJ spinning upstairs after around nine or ten and the crowd is usually subdued and easy going. It just feels like a nice place to grab a couple of drinks if you down by the market.
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Uber-hipster spot that turns even trendier after dark. Upstairs is more of a bar/restaurant and downstairs is more scenester lounge. I prefer the upstairs, especially when you can snag the corner by the window. Definitely best after dark!
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This place has a decent atmosphere. Pretty relaxed. The pork chop was a fine choice. It came with super good baked/chopped potatoes. They were like potato flavored candy. My friend got the trout and said it was pretty tasty too. The bathrooms are a throw back to an era when Seattle was so grungy that you could buy a guide to the city's best restroom graffiti. The service was friendly, but only came by our table every hour or so (well... not that negligent, but you get the idea.)
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i dont know why i kept saying i've been here before. but, that night, i was being a broken record player. my gimlet tasted a little shabby for my taste (boo)...but that didn't stop me from having two of them. i love how dark and intimate this place is though .the seating downstairs especially is much to my taste.
unfortunately, the crowd that was dancing that night....really...wasn't...my kind of people. there was a lot of really bad dancing...like you know those ugly girls that shallow hal thinks are hot-but they aren't...and the dance they are doing when you see the fullness of their ugly selves??
yeah. that was what i have to view while drinking at the alibi.
i'm sure with the right combination of good lookers/good dancers plus lack of pretension, plus rounds and rounds of vodka neat (which is what i really should have stuck with)...alibi room would get many more stars from me.
unfortunately...for the night i revisited-and decided to review for yelp....its standing at 3 stars.
complaints and protests will be disregarded on this matter.
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Purely as a restaurant with good food and drinks and a different atmosphere, I like this place a lot. I defer to fellow Yelpers to rule on other aspects of the Alibi Room. It's less stuffy and/or touristy than other restaurants in the area. We found it after seeing Reefer Madness-- the Musical a few doors down.
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Being a film geek and a film industry professional full time I do kind of have a bias when it comes to the Alibi Room. I love the atmosphere the setting, the kind of hidden away feel and the hints of exclusivity.
What I don't like is the fact that they don't carry basic liquor like Captain Morgan. I am the furthest thing from a "frat boy" that you will ever find, matter of fact I rather despise them and take great pleasure in mocking them when they are drunk and rubbing up on each other, but I drink only Captain Morgan. Apparently, as pointed out by a fellow reviewer, Alibi seems to think that drinks like Captain and Jack are for "frat boys", so I am left trying to decide what to drink half the night.
Drink prices are a little high but they are good pours. Food prices are a little high but the food is amazing. The staff is kind and fairly social but they do manage to hang on to that "holier than thou" attitude unless you drop $100 in tips.
Great place to eat lunch, get away from the crowds. Great place to see and be seen. For those who like to get work done in a great setting this is also a great place to write, work on that pitch, or just plain read a book.
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Went there on Friday night with friends for happy hour. It was dimly lit and the service was good after a shift change took place. Apparently they do offer Jaeger these days... at 6 bucks a shot. Ouch.
I like that it's sort of hidden away from the rest of the Market. Indeed, I had never been there before and had to call a friend who was already there to help me navigate toward the entrance. I like the place, and I'll definitely be back for lunch one of these days.
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Being a vegetarian, the Alibi's meat-heavy menu used to be something of a turnoff, although I still liked going there for drinks. But they have a new chef now with a lighter menu consisting mainly of fresh seafood (from right next door at the Pike Place fish market) and creative veggie options. The food is really excellent. The scallops over roasted butternut squash is especially recommended.
The downstairs bar/lounge has a new sound and video system and they're hosting weekly Monday night film invitationals where people bring their own projectors or DVD shorts to show while guest DJs or musicians play. Fridays and Saturdays are still dance DJ nights.
When it's not in use, the downstairs is available for private parties (either bring your own DJ or iPod or hire one of the regulars there). Some friends of mine did this recently and it was a blast!
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Haven't been here in a long time, but from the times I spent here in the past I remember nothing but good drinks, great electronica and disco house, and lots of attractive people. Maybe I should go back this weekend?
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