Capitol Hill
Burger and grub plates, craft beer, full bar
The Smith burger, draft beer, cocktails and whiskey
Our Take on Smith
Smith sits at 332 15th Ave E on Capitol Hill, the gastropub Linda Derschang opened in the summer of 2007 alongside Linda's Tavern, King's Hardware and Oddfellows. The Seattle Times has praised it for good grub and atmosphere in equal measure.
The look is a dim hunting lodge, with burlap-lined walls, cozy wooden booths and a wall of taxidermy that includes a spoonbill. It suits anyone who wants a serious burger and a full bar in a moody room, and reads too dark for a bright lunch crowd.
The room does the heavy lifting. The Seattle Met describes a pub with upscale grub from the team behind some of Capitol Hill's best-known spots, and the taxidermy-and-burlap interior has been the draw on 15th Ave for years. Ownership has changed, with the Gonzalez family taking over in 2023, but the format has held.
The food is the reason to stay. The Smith burger anchors a menu of elevated pub plates, and the bar runs a full cocktail and whiskey list to match. For more of the city, see our Seattle cocktail bars guide, the best bars in Seattle, and the near-me bar finder.
The Move at Smith
The Word on Capitol Hill
- The Seattle Times calls Smith a Capitol Hill spot that serves good grub and atmosphere.
- CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News reports new ownership leaned on the Smith burger to relaunch the room in 2023.
- Regulars flag the taxidermy-lined interior and the booths as the reason the place still feels distinct.
Read the Room
- A burger and a whiskey in a moody room
- A Capitol Hill gastropub night on 15th Ave
- Skip it if you want a bright, airy lunch
When To Visit Smith
Evenings suit the dim lighting best, when the booths fill and the bar gets going. The kitchen runs from late morning into the night.
A weekday early dinner is the calmest window. Weekends draw the 15th Ave crowd, so expect a wait for a booth at peak.
Inside Smith
Editorial by Priya Nair.