Prime 21 Spirits Lounge

Really nice place where you can spent time with your friends. Also it’s goo place for business.

One of the swankiest spots on the Eastside just got better. Twenty-​some stories up with intimate seating overlooking the lights of the Bellevue this former cigar bar turned wine lounge, now craft cocktail bar is still providing the same lounged-​out atmosphere but now with a great spirits selection. Through the double glass doors from Daniel’s always busy and frequently loud bar, Prime 21 delivers calm; this is one of the only bars in Bellevue you could go on St. Valentine’s day.
Wine is still a presence here. The by-​the-​glass menu isn’t large but isn’t a shame with Schramsberg’s lower end brut rose and Pride’s Merlot — a rarity on glass pour lists. No beer is served which is a delightfully snobby touch for a craft cocktail bar. The Schwartz Brothers haven’t gone so far as to ban vodka but the back bar is mercifully clear of flavored Stoli and the cocktail list is bourbon heavy. I hope to see some more gin cocktails when the weather warms.
The bar is currently lacking a celebrity bar tender but makes it up with a staff passionate about service and creating a great experience for guests. If the Schwartz Brothers can keep the current team in place and provide them mentoring, a la John Howie, they could be responsible for creating Seattle’s next cocktail star (and they’d get an extra star from me too). Given the level of investment corporate food service joints put into their people that’s a big «if» but this location deserves as much attention to its people as has been put into the luxe sofas and modern fireplace that make the space so inviting.
Food is from Daniels, of course, with a lot of meat heavy items on the small plates list. More vegetarian items would be a good touch for the snacks but the tuna and two different shrimp small plates do well for folks avoiding sliders and steak. Prices on the food items are good and the full dinner menu is available.
A lot of reviewers have commented on the prices and though the cocktails aren’t cheap they only run about what any high end craft bar is charging these days. On one hand I’d defend Prime 21 by pointing out that they knock $ 3 off any of the drinks on their menu during twice-​a-​night happy hours (the second HH starting at 9 PM weekdays). On the other hand: get over it: if you want a Cosmopolitan for cheap there are plenty of bars fitting four people to a square yard but precious few places in Bellevue where the noise disappears, you can find a seat, get a carefully made drink, and take in the sunset.

Lame attempt at the speakeasy trend. Just go to Seattle and try Canon, Zig Zag, Tavern Law, etc. if you want something done well. This place has styrofoam corporate ceiling, water that tastes like chlorine, and supposed craft cocktails (in my case, the Suburban) that taste like a bad mix drink at a dive bar. No redeeming qualities.

Nice Try
Ambience: 4
Food: 3
Drinks: 3
Value: 2
In an attempt to latch onto the ‘speak easy’ trend, Daniel’s Boiler has turned their little used back room in a special upscale mixology bar: Prime 21.
The outcome is expensive, though less than compelling. The food menu shares a lot much with main Daniel’s room (except there are no happy hour discounts). The drinks… are super super expensive, a la 15 – 17 cocktails. The drink itself isn’t even that great. We had both of the whisky menu drinks and neither impressed us: one was saccharine, the other was overpowering with little nuanced flavors.
All in all, pretty disappointing and not worth the money.

I give Daniels a lot of credit, they’ve managed to create an intimate place within one of the most crowded bars in Bellevue. Prime 21 is tucked into the back corner of the bar, and the double glass doors do a very good job of keeping out most of the commotion of the main bar.
If you can secure seating in either of the back corners, you’ll have room (comfortably) for 10 people or so. Liquor selection here is better than average, but it’s more expensive than the regular bar. Also, their HH is really limited, and the same drink costs more in Prime 21, but if you’re drinking here I’m hoping you’re not here for HH. Be adventurous and splurge on a bourbon or whisky that wouldn’t ordinarily have.

You can tell that D’s Broiler is trying hard to have the talk-​of-​the-​town lounge after the remodel, and for the most part, succeeds. 21^st floor view of Downtown Bellevue not as great as made out to be.
Appetizers surprisingly affordable considering the Daniel’s ownership. Calamari was standard, and fresh. Turns out they have an auxiliary kitchen to support the lounge, so they don’t have to walk over to the restaurant every time for a short order.
Bountiful selection of Bourbons, Whisk[e]ys, and Scotches, though the prices are a tad high. Thankfully, they offer sampling of their offerings, so bonus points for letting me try that Auchentoshan Three Wood! (that’s a triple casked Lowland Scotch).
They claim to be a bar in speakeasy fashion, but there are already a handful of crafted mixed drinks typically martini fashion already on the menu. I may be a pragmatist, but I’d hope for some more emphasis on the traditional speakeasy style of ad hoc drink mixing determined by the bartender’s skills and the customer’s preferences. It keeps things a bit fun and interesting.
Overall, solid décor and ambiance, not too loud, seating is not too packed. I can imagine all the seats filling up quickly on a Friday or Saturday night. Entrance through the double glass doors within Daniel’s Broiler restaurant gives the appearance of exclusivity. Biggest qualm is the pricing of the whiskeys, but given the ownership, it comes at no surprise, and is a bit to be expected. There will be some growing pains as Prime 21 eases into itself, but I have a positive outlook on its success, especially in the heart of Downtown Bellevue.

Located in one of my favorite places this bar with in a bar is stunning with views to Die for, delish food and tasty beverages!