A beloved Queen Anne watering hole has earned national recognition: Bar Miriam was named the fifth-best bar in the United States by Food & Wine in a story published Wednesday. The cozy cocktail bar, named after owner Brian Smith’s grandmother, marked the honor on Instagram, writing that it is “truly an honor to be recognized and a privilege to be here serving our community night after night.”
In its ranking of the country’s top 10 bars, Food & Wine praised Bar Miriam for its laid-back atmosphere and “thoughtful cocktails” featuring herbal notes and warming spices. The publication also singled out the low-alcohol cocktail Where’d You Get the Pearls, noting that the bar’s “low- and no-ABV section in particular shines.”
The food menu earned recognition as well. Now led by executive chef Ashley Ewing—whose résumé includes time with Tom Douglas Restaurants and The Carlile Room—the menu stood out for dishes like the lobster roll and the “pretty-in-pink” roasted beet tartine, both highlighted in the review.
Curious about the rest of the list? Here’s how the top 10 U.S. bars ranked:
- schmuck. (New York City)
- Anvil Bar & Refuge (Houston)
- Best Intentions (Chicago)
- Bar Next Door (Los Angeles)
- Bar Miriam (Seattle)
- La Factoría (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
- Owls Club (Tucson, Arizona)
- Yacht Club (Denver)
- Sweet Liberty (Miami)
- Platypus (St. Louis)
Food & Wine wrote that the list is meant to be “a snapshot of what best-in-class bar culture looks like right now.” According to them, this means not just well-made drinks but also relaxed bars with an “easygoing, unpretentious atmosphere” that offer “an experience as much as a drink.”
The ranking is part of Food & Wine’s fourth annual Global Tastemakers series. According to the publication, it “polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers and wine pros from across the globe” to generate nominees across multiple categories before finalizing the rankings.
The Emerald City received one more nod in the series: Seattle’s coffee scene was ranked fifth best in the United States, trailing Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
