Edmonds is good at a lot of things: art of all kinds, beach days, holidays…and the same commitment to quality and excellence applies to liquid entertainment. The city is bursting with opportunities to meet the people you love for a drink, or to sip on something delicious with the best date you’ll ever have: you. 

A non-comprehensive list of places to enjoy a drink or three in Edmonds follows. We’re talking everything from booze-forward cocktails to mean mocktails and a bunch of fun sippers in the middle. Bookmark it for your next outing and don’t be surprised if you happen upon a new-to-you haunt while you’re out. Progressive bar-hopping is highly recommended. 

Cheers to you and whatever you’re celebrating—being alive counts as much as anything—and to the locals mixing, fermenting, shaking, stirring, and pouring. In Edmonds, you’ll never go thirsty.  

EdWay Taphouse

For Beers

The town’s newest craft beer destination, EdWay Taphouse is committed to local brew culture. It’s a family-friendly place in the Westgate area across the street from QFC. For your little under-agers, they even have non-alcoholic slushies. 

Salish Sea Brewing

Salish Sea Brewing Downtown, Salish Sea Brewing and Maize & Barley offer large selections of local beers, and Salish brews its beer in-house just a few blocks down the road at its second Edmonds location, Salish Boat House. You’ll want to check them out for the art and live music alone, but if you’re at all intrigued by home brewing, try your hand at coming up with an ale at Gallaghers Where U Brew right next door. For an endless, rotating variety and coolers full of bottles to go, park yourself at Brigid’s Bottleshop. Got a canine or a kid? Bring them, too. 

Bar Americano

For Cocktails

The tiniest and—arguably—most famous bar in Edmonds (with a history dating back to prohibition), Daphnes Bar launched a little sister location, Bar Americano, last year that, while younger, boasts more square footage, along with a patio that makes summer sipping that much more enjoyable. Order a spritz and close your eyes. You’re on an Italian terrazzo now. 

At Charcoal, enjoy a Harry Callahan (duck fat washed rittenhouse rye, allspice dram, orange bitters) with a side of fine art—you’re drinking inside an active artist’s community! In the heart of downtown, pull up a chair on Kelnero’s deck and people watch while you sip from one of the cocktail bar’s world-class libations. This is a place you’ll want to check out to read the menu alone, which is a love letter to the art of mixology. Got a date you want to impress? Start here.

For Happy Hour

If you want to go where the locals go, stop by The Channel Marker for daily happy hour from 2-5pm. Sidle up to the bar and order one of their daily specials while you’re there, too. We have a special affection for their Halibut & Chips (Fridays). 

If your tastes are more pinky’s up than pool hall, pop across the street to Epulo Bistro where daily happy hour is from 4-6pm and offers nicely-priced bites alongside $8 mules. At The Loft, lift your spirits (in every sense) with a Strawberry Lemon Drop and an order of Kobe Sliders. 

Scratch Distillery’s GINiology Class

For Spirits

Scratch Distillery sits right next to Cascadia Art Museum and Epulo Bistro, creating an art-forward triad just a few blocks from the ferry. Got a few minutes before you catch the next boat or want to understand the complexities of an aquavit? Every spirit owners Kim and Bryan create starts with local, organic ingredients. Their menu includes gins, vodkas, infused vodkas, whiskey, aquavits, brandy, and bier schnaps. For a super-special date night for your resident gin-lover (Scratch started from Kim’s discerning and personal love of gin), consider Scratch’s GINiology program. You’ll taste 33 different botanicals that are used in gin and develop a gin to take home. Even cooler, your recipe will be stored so you can come back and order your gin the next time you visit. 

For Wine

Vino has become one of the very best ways to explore Edmonds, so we dedicated an entire article to it. Some of our favorite places to start your adventure, where you can get a glass and a side of learning? Artista Wine Cellars, Dusted Valley, Vinbero, and Vie & Vin.  

Bar Dojo

For Good Drinks and Great Food

Hey, we get it. Sometimes drinks turn into dinner, so why not start at a place that could be the perfect place for both? ChurchKey Pub right downtown makes one of the meanest scratch margaritas in town. It also offers Bavarian soft pretzels you’ll dream about long after you go home. For heartier pub fare, order a Reuben or one of their mouth-watering flatbreads. If you’re throwing a fancier fete, pop next door to Salt & Iron, which is constantly offering new and delicious food and drink specials. Bar Dojo at 5 Corners will set you up with the perfect pairing to bring out the layers of flavors in your meal. Head next door to Casa Oaxaca for a mean mezcal margarita if you want to make a night of it. Let their knowledgeable staff lead you or choose your own adventure from their fabulous menu.

Rollerball at The Victor Tavern

Bonus: Make It A Mocktail

There are so many wonderful drinking holes in Edmonds that it would be impossible to cover them all. Here are a few that not only make delicious spirit-forward sippers but also offer more than a small handful of zero-proof drinks: Fire & The Feast, Leftcraft, and The Victor Tavern are all beautiful spaces with lots of creative options for your whole crew. Plus, if you end up at The Victor, you could challenge your party to a game of shuffleboard or Rollerball Bowling. 

Whew! Be responsible out there, party people. And show us where your drinking adventures take you. Tag us in your photos (we’re @exploreedmondswa) so we can tag along. 

Photos by Matt Hulbert