After years of anticipation, one of the country’s most influential cocktail bars is finally making its Seattle debut. Death & Co. will officially open several weeks past its original opening date on September 1, at 419 Occidental Ave. S. inside the RailSpur development in Pioneer Square. We originally reported an August 7 opening date, but the bar is now “firm” on the later September 1 opening.
The opening marks the brand’s fifth U.S. location—joining New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, and Washington, D.C.—and its first location in the Pacific Northwest. Since opening its original Manhattan bar in 2006, Death & Co. has helped shape the modern craft cocktail movement, earning accolades including Best American Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu at the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. It’s also behind now-classic drinks like the Oaxaca Old-Fashioned and the Naked and Famous.
Seattle’s location will bring the same dark, intimate cocktail lounge atmosphere that made the New York flagship famous, while incorporating the character and architecture of Pioneer Square. The bar will also share the ground floor with concepts from chef Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures hospitality group.
Interestingly, Seattle almost got a different version of Death & Co. Four years ago, The Seattle Times reported that the company was planning a Capitol Hill location, with CEO David Kaplan—who moved to Bellevue several years ago—later saying he hoped to open there. So why Pioneer Square instead?
A spokesperson told Eater it ultimately came down to “the alley entrance, the sense of discovery/destination, the personality of the neighborhood, the space itself—all the pieces fit.”
It’s hard to argue with that logic. If there’s anywhere in Seattle that naturally evokes the feel of a classic speakeasy, it’s Pioneer Square, with its century-old brick buildings, hidden alleys, and historic charm (not to mention the fact that the neighborhood was probably home to the city’s very first speakeasies). The setting feels like a natural match for Death & Co.’s style.
The bar was originally targeting a summer 2025 opening, so it’s good to finally see the project come to life. Death & Co. typically accepts both reservations and walk-ins. Stay tuned for more details about opening-day festivities or special events on September 1!
