Pioneer Sq., with its financial reliance on vacationers, workplace employees, and stadium occasions, was possibly the a part of Seattle most impacted by the pandemic lockdown. As folks hunkered down of their properties, the downtown neighborhood shut down, and lots of bars and eating places had been compelled to shut. However Pioneer Sq. has been rebounding, and there’s no higher signal of its revival than the swanky new rooftop bar that’s opening atop a swanky new lodge.
Referred to as Firn (we all know how you can pronounce this however we gained’t let you know), the bar goes to have an intriguing menu that focuses on ice — suppose fancy shaved ice and slushies. However the principle attraction is the view of the encircling downtown skyline, the kind of view you don’t have entry to until you’re friends with somebody with an condo in a close-by high-rise. It is going to be the neighborhood’s solely rooftop bar, and it’ll be open till 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, comparatively late hours by Seattle requirements.
Firn will open on Might 21 together with the remainder of the lodge it’s hooked up to, Populus. That is the second location of Populus, a high-end, eco-minded, “carbon-positive” joint that opened in Denver final 12 months. (Populus additionally contains a restaurant known as Salt Harvest and a restaurant area that can serve Monorail Espresso espresso.) The developer who constructed it, City Villages, is making a significant guess on Pioneer Sq.: It’s also behind the even bigger mission subsequent door, known as Railspur, which can include one other lodge, three Renee Erickson eating places, and a brand new location of famed cocktail chain Loss of life and Co., all set to open later this 12 months.
It is a lot of growth, and a whole lot of modifications, for Pioneer Sq., which is usually known as “Seattle’s unique neighborhood” and is notable for its historic buildings and underground excursions. A brand new model of Pioneer Sq. is rising, barely sleeker and extra tinged with eco-futurism than the brick-and-grime model longtime Seattleites could also be accustomed to.
There are many different openings hitting Pioneer Sq. quickly. Listed here are just a few:
Caffe Vita is open within the Smith Tower
First off, well-liked native chain Caffe Vita has opened its tenth location within the floor flooring of the enduring Smith Tower. The press launch we received describes the brand new espresso store as “designed as an upscale, artwork deco-inspired vacation spot that pays homage to the tower’s wealthy historical past and architectural grandeur.” It’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood if for no different purpose than it would keep open till 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday (it’s closed Sunday).
Smith Tower is getting one other tenant: Moto Pizza
Proper subsequent door to the brand new cafe is an empty area that will probably be getting a giant identify. Moto Pizza, maker of a Detroit-style, Filipino-influenced pizza that took Seattle by storm a pair years in the past, is opening its fifth location on the base of the tower, chain founder Lee Kindell introduced on Instagram final week. It should open doubtless someday this fall or winter. Kindell was already speaking about increasing Moto into extra of a series when Eater Seattle profiled him in 2023, and it seems he’s attempting to make good on that promise.
The Corridor is opening a stadium-side sports activities bar any day now
The Corridor is what the Queen Anne Beerhall was once known as — the house owners who purchased the enterprise in 2020 up to date the menu and have expanded to a second location in Kirkland. The third Corridor goes to open someday in Might with the identical form of beer and pub fare–targeted menu (sure there’ll clearly be smashburgers), plus a view of the waterfront from the second story of the bar.
