Frolik happy hour: downtown's easiest rooftop

Frolik sits on the fifth floor of the Motif hotel, which is exactly why nobody talks about it: too low for a skyline view, too central to feel like a discovery. It took me two years of walking past on 5th Ave before I finally went up, and now it’s my default answer to “where can we go right now?” — I’ve walked in at 5pm on a Friday and gotten a fire-pit seat without a wait, more than once.

The happy hour

Weekdays from 3 to 6: $8 cocktails, $6 beers, and a snack menu that’s better than it needs to be. I’ve done the math against every other rooftop downtown and it isn’t close — this is the best value in the city core, full stop.

Manage expectations

The view is city canyon, not panorama — you’re looking into office windows, not at mountains. The first time that disappointed me for about four minutes, which is roughly how long it took for the drinks to arrive and the fire pit to do its thing. I come for the pits, the prices, and the fact that I never have to plan ahead.

Best time to go: weekday happy hour, 3–6pm.

Photo courtesy of Frolik Kitchen + Patio, Hilton Motif Seattle.