8oz Burger Bar

1401 Broadway
Web / Yelp

You can tell a burger joint is good when you arrive at 6pm without a reservation and they won't be able to seat you for at least 20 minutes. That happened to me and my friend Brad. We had just come from happy hour at Lobby, so I definitely wasn't able to wait. Luckily, we were able to try again a few weeks later for lunch and were the first ones to arrive.

The food is delicious, and I like that they have so many sides available to order a la carte. I recommend going with friends and sharing them, and even trading halves of your burgers. Dining with people who are willing to exchange halves or at least bites is the best way to deal with menus full of awesome choices.

I think I found my new favorite urinal in Seattle. It's a keg, and the water shoots down from the top when you flush it. Awesome.



And I love the juxtaposition of the elegant bowl sink sitting on top of and old wooden barrel. You'd expect the sink to be a big cast iron skillet or something. But this is cute.



I've probably mentioned before, I hate chalk and chalkboards everywhere else but in bathrooms. Chalk is just dusty and gross, and the sound on the board is terrible. But I'm fine with it in a setting like this because I can immediately wash my hands. And being able to erase everything once in a while is good; when the graffiti builds up a little too much in a bathroom where it's allowed, you can't really read it any more.



I need to go back. They keep advertising a turducken burger on Facebook. I could go my whole life without eating an actual turducken, but I definitely want to try the turducken burger. Plus, they do a bloody mary bar on the weekends.

canon vs Canlis: Toilet Wars

I haven't been to either, but I'm having a hard time seeing how they won by watching the video. It looks fine, but it doesn't look like it's the best bathroom in all of Seattle.

Of course, lighting is everything, and this was obviously shot early in the day.

Fantastic and Tacky Bathrooms You Can Buy

I never really considered posting bathrooms from homes here, because nobody reading the blog is likely to ever get a chance to see them in person. And we're lucky if most people's bathrooms are clean; they usually don't end up decorated very well.

But I just saw this blog post about an amazingly awful-looking condo for sale, and couldn't resist posting the bathroom.

I kinda love it. I have an issue, though. Everything that's white should be gold. I don't even like gold, but it would be so appropriate here. I'd have a hard time showering in there because it seems wrong to enter without wearing silken robes and a large hat. And there should probably be a hookah next to the toilet. The gold toilet.

I don't normally look at real estate listings much, but this one has haunted me for a while. It's a dream condo for me, and when none of my Mega Millions tickets were winners a couple of weeks ago, I was crushed to learn that I wouldn't be moving in. I really wanted to cook in that kitchen and especially wanted to drink wine in this bathtub.

I'm not even a bath person, but I would be in that one. From what I can tell, you can look straight up and see reflections of the streets below. It'd be like flying, only warm and wet instead of cold and windy. Alright, flying is probably way better, but I still want to do it.

Oh well. At least there's a nice big box of wine waiting at home.

Anyway, go check out these bathrooms while you can if you've got a few mil laying around or are good at pretending you do.

The Saint

1416 E Olive Way
Web / Yelp


It's one of those places I'd meant to go to for years. I could tell by looking through the windows that The Saint was making much better use of the space than Wing Dome did years earlier. About twice as much seating, I'd estimate. My hairdresser had even told me I should go in to see the bathroom for my blog.


We were actually supposed to meet some friends at a different location before seeing the Dina Martina Christmas Show this year, but got a text on our way down saying that there was a strange odor there. I had them meet us at The Saint instead, and it was the first visit for all four of us. Coincidentally, a good friend's girlfriend I've met a few times was working there. And! My hairdresser walked by and I managed to jump up and meet him outside for a minute, though he wasn't able to join us for a drink.


The Saint will always make me a little sad because my ex who passed away really loved tequila, and it's a tequila lover's dream. He would have really loved it. So when I go, I'll have some tequila in his honor. And of course I'll feel much better, because that's what tequila does.


We had some excellent drinks and snacks, and then I had to get to work because it turns out there are two bathrooms. Impressive for a venue that size.


 


My favorite bathrooms have tons of mirrors and shiny surfaces. They're also really hard to photograph. I shouldn't have even used the photo above, but it illustrates my point. Hard to focus, you can see me four times. I couldn't find anywhere to stand where I wasn't in the shot. But it's really pretty.


 


There I am again. Sorry. So, there are two bathrooms and one's pink and one's blue, but they're both unisex. I really do prefer single occupant unisex bathrooms in bars. It's easier to take pictures in them, among other reasons. The blue bathroom's got storage in it, and I always like that. It just feels so organized and smart. 


 I need to go back. A margarita (rocks and salt) sounds really good.

22 (formerly 22 Doors)

405 15th Ave E
web / Yelp


I'm not sure when the name officially changed from 22 Doors to 22, but I'm having a hard time with it. I'm all for brevity, but "22" is just a little too succinct for my tastes. It's like when Prince changed his name to O(+>; it feels better to say "the artist formerly known as Prince" than it does to say "22". And just as recently as a couple of months ago, one of their chefs said "22 Doors" on Top Chef: Texas.





Which brings me to the food. It's really good! Happy hour is a great time to make a meal out of a few shared appetizers, and 22's got one of the better happy hour menus around. Tip: split the burger with fries with someone because it's big enough that you'll regret getting one of your own, and by splitting it you'll have enough room for some roasted cauliflower or a miniature skillet of hot olives. Or, of course, deviled eggs.




I'd love to know how the bathroom was decorated, because the walls are a huge collection of cool black and white photos. If it's not, say, a wallpaper you can buy, then whoever assembled this collection did an amazing job if it was done specifically for one space. Most of the pictures I took were from the center of the bathroom while I turned, because I hoped to get the whole thing documented so I could look later. Nothing's worse than taking too long in a bathroom and find people waiting when you come out.






There's also chalkboard up above the photos, and those are always fun because they're interactive and people can get a little bit of that "I want to write on the walls" energy out without doing any damage. I like it even though chalk and chalkboards have always grossed me out a bit. I guess I'm ok with it as long as I get to wash my hands immediately after I touch it.






(A couple of years ago, I accidentally used the women's bathroom instead of the men's. It was also very nice and I'll have to send a woman in or just ask if I can go in sometime if I'm there early and nobody's around. If I do, I'll add another post.)


Not that it matters much this time of year, but 22 has a nice patio, which is pretty rare for this neighborhood. Enjoy it if you can manage to get a spot out there. If not, the barstools inside are some of the most comortable in town.

If you didn't already know, I hate to be the one to tell you that Chapel closed after the end of the business day on Saturday, September 3rd.


 


 We all mourn in our own ways. My ways:

• Go two nights in a row, the second-to-last and last nights
• Grab a bunch of matchbooks and a tattered menu
• Take one last awkward waving photo in the unisex bathroom:
• 

Pour a bit of your martini out for Chapel tonight.

Poquitos

1000 E. Pike

Web / Yelp / Twitter

I could tell, even before going, that Poquitos has a very good chance at a long, successful run, mainly because it's got something Capitol Hill really lacks: spacious outdoor seating. Sure, you can find two or three tables outside certain places, but they're usually on the sunny side of the street, and nothing separates you from the passersby other than a chain or the back of your friend's chair. Not very pleasant. But Poquitos built out a huge deck in what used to be just a few parking spaces.

It's covered and enclosed, too. Very nice. I finally had a chance to check it out the other day when Kat from Barbie Dream Hearse suggested meeting up to give me the t-shirt I ordered instead of mailing it. I jumped at the chance to finally have a female operative to send into the bathroom. But first, tacos and cocktails.

The food isn't cheap, but I wouldn't expect it to be. It's a big, gorgeous space in a very expensive neighborhood, so they've got bills to pay. People always say that they don't want to pay $9 for three tacos or $5 for a hot dog at Po Dog, and to them I say, stay home! When you go out to eat or drink, you're not only paying for the food, you're paying the rent, the salaries of the people who work there, and every other cost associated with running a business. If you don't think it's worth it, buy some Rosarita and take it home, and make room for people with social lives.

But I digress.

The men's room at Poquitos is obviously part of the buildout and is in very good shape. It suffers a little bit design-wise from having to mix modern fixtures which they have to have with the classic style that they want, but it looks nice enough in spite of that.

One thing they do have, which I've never seen, is a peephole at the entrance. Cute.

I sent Kat into the women's restroom with my camera. She said it wasn't very different from what I had said about the men's, so she decided to take pictures of herself. I'm curious about the chair. Men don't get a chair.

It looks like Koala Kare got wind of the fact that people were making their products into baby hanging stations and decided to change the logo. Too bad.

Poquitos is beautiful inside and out, and I suggest you hire Barbie Dream Hearse for a night and make it your dinner stop.

Quinn's

1001 East Pike

Web / Yelp

I was told years ago that I should go to Quinn's, and I wish I'd listened sooner. It's a very lovely space, the food is fantastic, and it's one of those places where all the employees are really nice and seem to be having a great time all night. I admit, I'm unlikely to go anywhere if I have to wait long for a table, so if I'm going to Quinn's, it's early. Usually around 5:15, after a couple of happy hour drinks somewhere nearby.

I didn't take pictures of the bathrooms on my first couple of visits for the same reason I waited at Still Liquor; there's a frosted glass window in the door and I thought it would be weird if camera flashes were seen from outside. Now that it doesn't get dark until after I actually fall asleep, I had my chance last time I went.

It's nice to find a bathroom labeled "WC" once in a while so the blog name makes more sense.


I've always loved tile like this and miss having it in my own bathroom.


Cruelty-free taxidermy.


Back at the table, a nice view of the room's wonderful windows.

Pop in for a drink, for sure, but check their menu before going for dinner. I think the food is amazing, but I know that some people just wouldn't want to try anything on it. For those who do order dinner, start with the frites. I've never had anything quite like them anywhere else.

Unicorn

1118 E Pike

Web / Yelp / Twitter

I admit it. I'm currently in the grips of a major new obsession. If I'm going to go out, I want it to be for a Pike/Pine burger at Unicorn. It's that good.

But there are tons of other reasons to be there as often as possible. The menu is full of state-fair favorites like elephant ears and fried candy bars, but also includes delicate treats like a beet and apple salad. They even make a new batch of gourmet Jell-o shots every three days. (Follow them on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Jell-o shot info.)

I typically like to go for weekend lunches or happy hours any day. The decor is awesome and I like to be able to see it. Recently, I was the first person there, so I asked if I could take pictures in the women's restroom, which I don't usually get to do.

The blue men's room is a nice companion to the women's restroom, and looks like a fancy, magical version of the ones at their mortal cousin around the corner, Pony.

I don't usually post so many pictures of the rest of the venue, but Unicorn is the kind of place that makes it hard to put the camera away.

They're currently working to renovate the basement space below to add a dance floor. There were so many more dance clubs when I moved here which have since closed. Capitol Hill has a lot more live music now, so I hope they focus more on DJs. I'll be around either way.

Now you can have bathroom beer.

I wouldn't call the bathroom at the Elysian great or even good, but they're currently serving The Men's Room Original Red, which is quite tasty and is for a good cause.

If you do end up in their men's room, be sure to look in the grout above the urinals for teeny tiny puns. About Grout. Not even kidding.

I hope this picture of the bathroom at Bus Stop was taken on Halloween.

Big thanks to Cap to the Hill for the link!

Seattle Magazine's review of The Living Room wraps up the article with a quick blurb about the bathroom. It's good to know that people are interested in these things, but that nobody else wants to be the weirdo with the camera in the loo.

Still Liquor

1524 Minor

Web / Yelp

Capitol Hill has been cursed in recent years. Developers trying to cash in have kicked everyone out of apartment buildings intending to rebuild or remodel into condos, only to abandon the projects halfway through leaving empty lots or deserted buildings. Those of us who live here are left to wonder what they were even trying to accomplish. Why try to sell a neighborhood if you're closing its signature businesses and bringing in tenants who won't like living there anyway?

The last year or so has brought about a nice change, though. Businesses who were shooed away have found new, better homes. Empty storefronts are becoming cool new businesses.

The biggest cultural shift is the auto business exodus. Capitol Hill was at one time a major car dealer and auto shop destination, but several have left and others are on their way out. These are large spaces and properties which are ideal for dining and nightlife conversions. One such conversion which is coming along nicely is the Melrose Project. Still Liquor is mentioned in the link, but is already open.

I got the feeling last night at Still that it's not quite done yet, but that they were excited to open and to become a part of the neighborhood. The only real decor aside from some of the furniture is a lovely hammered copper bar.

The rest? An open, airy room tucked below sidewalk level with some windows to peer up. A better view than Laverne and Shirley had, but one where you still feel hidden away. As of this posting, the bar's sign has not yet arrived, so visitors really are hidden, if they manage to find the place.

The bathrooms are clean and lovely, but again, I'm not sure if they plan to decorate them more. If they do, and I'm back with my camera, I'll have a small challenge: photograph a bathroom with a glass door while hoping nobody outside sees the flashes. How embarrassing.

The Living Room

1355 E Olive

Web / Yelp

The concept behind The Living Room is one I really get. A lot of us living on Capitol Hill and downtown have studios and end up going out to area bars with our friends to escape from the tiny rooms where we eat, sleep, and sometimes even work from home. Monika Proffitt understood that we all need a living room, even if it's just so we can get away with leaving our beds unmade.

I was worried as I headed over last night that the bathroom would be a little too Christmassey and that I'd end up with a holiday post instead of one that was representative of how great the bathroom there normally looks. Only a couple of strings of lights were added, along with a couple of tastefully large ornaments. It looks great in there.

You can tell Monika is really enjoying running this business when you meet her. And you will meet her, because she's around quite often and is very friendly. And I must say I was impressed last night when I messaged her via Twitter to make sure the bar would actually be open last night and got an answer right away.

They're closed today for Christmas, but after today you can visit every day from 4pm until closing time, with happy hour every day until 7pm. Last night, I finally got to try one of the new meat and cheese plates, which was so good that I was kind of sad to be sharing it.

I didn't travel for Christmas this year and definitely miss my family. However, my boyfriend, my friends, and the fun we're having around town make me realize that I actually am home for the holidays.

Cafe Vitta learned via Twitter today that someone is decorating their bathroom.

15th Avenue Coffee and Tea

328 15th Ave E

Web / Yelp

There's not much to say about 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea that hasn't already been gone over so many times before. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a Starbucks-owned coffee shop that isn't Starbucks-branded in the spot where a Starbucks used to be. Confusing, eh? Their web site describes the shop as being "inspired by Starbucks" which really doesn't make sense if you think about it.

I can't say that I have a real problem with it the way so many people did. If a coffee shop chain wants to open a new coffee shop with a different feel than the rest, I say go for it. Just be prepared for all the extra unnecessary work. Will each shop like this have to have its own web site and stationery? What a pain. Or is "Street Level" the actual brand? Beats me.

The one person I think has a valid complaint is Linda Derschang. The shop looks way too much like her restaurant next door. Except not as nice. Take the bathroom, for instance.

To me, it looks just a bit too much like someone had a gift card from Michael's and no money for paint. I really wouldn't have even bothered posting about the bathroom at all, but hey. It was clean, and the shop was spacious and has outdoor seating, which is unique for 15th Avenue.

Now that the media frenzy is over, we're left to wonder what the big deal is, and why they're doing what they're doing. It will be interesting to see if this lasts. Remember Circadia and Cafe Starbucks? Didn't think so.

I found a cute drawing in one of the bathrooms at Pony last night. I'm glad my phone's camera can get good shots as long as there's enough light.

Coastal Kitchen

429 15th Ave E

Web / Yelp / Twitter

Coastal Kitchen is a Capitol Hill institution, mainly because of its location. Down on Broadway, there are tons of competing restaurants, but up on 15th, you've only got a few choices if you need some brunch. This is why it wasn't until after about six years of living here that I finally went in; every Sunday morning, there was a huge crowd waiting out front.

I love their bathroom. Orange is my favorite color for bathrooms and they've got a lovely shade of it on the walls.

I also always appreciate when there's a little bit of art to liven the room up.

And these hand dryers are amazing. Have you used one? They blast the water right off. The air isn't warm, so you don't come away with that satisfied feeling you're looking for, but your hands are actually dry enough that you won't wipe them on your pants. Unfortunately, it's placed so close to the sink that there's not enough room for the next guy to wash his hands while you're drying yours.

I think that this bathroom has got to be one of the hardest ones in Seattle to maintain. Not because of any challenging surfaces or plumbing issues, but because they always record a language lesson to play as a companion to their ever-changing country-specific menu. Right now, they're doing Cuba.

This leads me to the main issue with the restaurant. Their menu changes constantly, always focusing on a new cuisine, and I don't think they ever have enough time with any of the menu items to get used to making them well. Which isn't to say that they're bad, they're just not great. I was thankful that I had an early bird special there a couple of days ago, because I felt the prices matched the quality only after the discount.

Do stop in sometime and see for yourself, though. Consider ordering off the regular menu instead of the regional one.

Chapel

1600 Melrose

CLOSED

In the grand scheme of things as we move forward with urban planning, there are certain types of businesses that no longer make sense in certain neighborhoods. The BMW dealership just moved off Capitol Hill, and I suspect many other luxury car dealers eventually will as well. Capitol Hill has become a residential and nightlife district, so the cost of a large car lot is hardly worth it. A similar out-of-place business is the funeral home, and several years ago, one of the hill's two funeral homes converted into an office building. Its stunning chapel is now a bar. A fabulous bar.

There are three very different bathrooms onsite. One is a unisex bathroom which makes excellent use of the "infinite mirrors" effect, wherein you see copies of your reflection trail off into the beyond. It's always an amusing effect, but it makes it impossible to get a picture without you in it.

I'm serious. I tried.

There are two more bathrooms near the front door. One was once unisex, but is now girls only. Because I'm a dedicated journalist, I went in anyway. It used to be a little nicer, back when it wasn't so brightly lit.

They did make nice use of the mirrors again.

The bathroom next to it has a urinal and a stall, which is why it has always been for men only. Like the one next to it, it was nicer when it was lit a little less. My flash didn't do it any favors, either.

But really, how often do you see cool details like columns in a bathroom? Still great in any light.

Happy hour at Chapel is now daily 5-9 in spite of what their website says, and they also have a great upstairs lounge area and outdoor patio. For you furniture freaks out there, they've got hilariously tall barstools, fabulous white vinyl padded seating along the sides, and a whole bunch of those really famous Vitra Panton chairs. A lot of bars in the neighborhood have come and gone since it arrived, and I'm glad it has become a fixture.