Smith Tower Visitor Experience

Smith Tower Visitor Experience

Smith Tower Visitor Experience
4.5
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
About
Enjoy Smith Tower like you've never seen it before. Immerse yourself in exhibits that take you on a journey through the past one hundred years. Make your way to the top of the tower for an amazing vantage point from the Observatory, including an open-air deck that will give you 360-degree views of Seattle and beyond. Then take a moment to indulge in Prohibition-inspired craft cocktails and shareable plates with a group of friends or your loved ones. Don't forget to make a wish in the Wishing Chair. It's the perfect selfie to post of your visit to Smith Tower.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Admission tickets
from
$10.00
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
How to get there
  • Pioneer Square • 2 min walk
  • King Street Station • 6 min walk
Reach out directly

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles847 reviews
Excellent
527
Very good
244
Average
47
Poor
12
Terrible
17

Pamela K
Seattle, WA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
A group of friends and myself did the Smith Tower Talking Tour and it was excellent!.45 minutes with our guide Richard, who was informative funny and an absolute pleasure. We were thoroughly entertained! Do it!!

Not related to the Tour, but be aware that the restaurant/bar on the 34th floor, while having delicious food, drinks a great view and good service, charges an ADDITIONAL 20% service fee on top of the 20% pre-added tip to the bill. So, take the tour, TIP YOUR GUIDE, walk on the outdoor observation deck at the end, but think about if you want to pay +40% on the food and service if you stay to eat and drink.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,545 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
This is the first real thing we did in Seattle after landing and checking in our hotel. We met our friends here for a late lunch and drinks while checking out the view. I love historic places and I love heights that give you a view, so this was a natural for us. For me the building is very interesting with its gothic skyscraper architecture with detail decoration and tower like a miniature Woolworth Building. This was the tallest building west of the Mississippi when built and for many decades the tallest building in the West. Nothing surpassed it in Seattle until the Space Needle in the 1960s.

It does offer great views of the city and Puget Sound as well as the two stadiums. Unfortunately, by the time we got there the haze had built up and you could not see Rainer, but you could still make out the Olympics across the Sound. You also get great views of the tallest building in the city, the Columbia Center, as well as the Seattle Wheel and both stadiums. I will say that I think the view at the Space Needle is better, partly location and partly height. While the Columbia Center may be a better view, I loved the Smith Tower for its history. Despite the bars, I really like being able to go outside and walk around for your view of the city.

Finally, we ate a sandwich and had a couple of drinks here. The food was good, and while strange to pay to go to a restaurant, I saw it more as the price of the view. It opens at 3:00 PM, so it is perfect for afternoon drinks and a snack. The decor is interesting in Asian Pacific theme, but it adds to the uniqueness of the space. Another attraction is a beautiful carved wooden chair that is supposed to be a lucky engagement chair. Our wives had to sit in it, but I don't think it provides retro-luck after 30 years of marriage. I really enjoyed this visit on our trip.
Written September 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Relax54648837415
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Family
We took the Talking Tour of Smith Tower and it was amazing! So worth it! Our tour guide Richard was so knowlegable about the building and its past that it was like going back in time! Loved it and the views. Did not eat at the restaurant on the 35th floor but would have liked to have gotten a martini or something... Go! You will love it, especially if you are from Seattle!
Written November 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Suzanne r
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Business
I invited a group of business associates to the mixology class and to observation deck. The cocktail class was ok. The charcuterie board was small and all processed inexpensive cheese and crackers with wilted strawberries and brown grapes and a few hard figs and dried apricots. The charge of $50.00 per person for the food was outrages. I guess it wasn’t busy as they closed the observation deck early so while charging us $22.00 per person, we did not get to go up. Instead they gave us a pass to use if we wanted to come back another time. I don’t think so as the parking cost $32.00 I was so embarrassed In total i spent $125.00 per person, over $1000.00 for the worst appetizers, ok cocktails, premium parking fee and did not get to see the view. This is a really overrated over priced experience that locals and tourist should avoid. We left starving , tipsy and very disappointed.
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonathan K
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
This was almost a 5/5 experience. The tour guide, Richard, was incredible; the building was well worth seeing; the observatory was an incredible place to relax and have a drink. The reason why I'm giving a 3/5 review is because, due to staffing issues, the observatory bar was almost shut down. The experience was saved by the bartender, Justin, going above and beyond for us, and making drinks even without full staffing. But the kitchen wasn't open, and the drinks were understandably slow (because there wasn't enough staff for the guests). Big shoutouts to Justin for doing his best, but when the observatory bar is part of the ticket price, it shouldn't require a staff member doing more than their job to provide what is supposed to be included on the ticket.

If management sorts out the staffing issues and is able to reliably keep the observatory bar adequately staffed, I'm happy to revise this review to a 5/5, because everything else deserved it.
Written May 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello O3851OOjonathank, Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent visit to Smith Tower. We are thrilled to hear that you found Richard's tour incredible and enjoyed the building's historic charm, as well as the ambiance of our observatory. However, we sincerely apologize for the challenges you experienced with the observatory bar during your visit. It is disappointing to hear that staffing issues impacted your experience, particularly with the kitchen not being open and delays in drink service. Your feedback regarding the importance of having sufficient staff to ensure a seamless experience is invaluable to us, and we are committed to addressing these concerns promptly. We greatly appreciate your recognition of Justin's exceptional service despite the staffing challenges. Justin and our team strive to exceed expectations, and we are delighted that he made a positive difference during your visit. Please be assured that we are actively working on improving our staffing protocols to ensure that all aspects of our guests' experiences, including the observatory bar, meet our high standards moving forward. We would love the opportunity to welcome you back to Smith Tower in the future and provide you with the exceptional experience you deserve. If there's anything else we can do to make amends or if you have further feedback to share, please feel free to contact us directly at info@smithtower.com. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback and for giving us the chance to improve.
Written June 19, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CleopatraBunny
Flagstaff, AZ1,815 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
During this time, masks required inside except at the bar/tables up top. No tours are available and you can't buy tickets online so get there right at opening to secure a table (it opened at 3 pm on the day we went). You can go outside and enjoy the incredible views and then enjoy drinks inside.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MK
London63 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We’d booked after visiting the Space Needle, so wondered if it was worth it, boy was it! In fact, the whole experience was tremendous, from the room staging, which really brought the place to life, providing a glimpse of what life was like back in those times. The views from the top is superb and we were lucky with the weather - a beautiful sunny day.!

Highly recommend!
Written October 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael S
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
We paid $75 per person for brunch. The eggs were not just powdered eggs, they were exceptionally badly prepared, served by people with no knack for their work, and we left hungry, being as we had to hike up and down the dozens and dozens of stairs. (The elevator was out of service.) Bogus.
Written November 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hystericalhappiness
Austin, TX648 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
I call ourselves Seattle tourists in residence. We made a pact last month to explore our city as we live in the downtown neighborhood of Belltown. We went to lunch in a Tuesday at 2:30. As locals the trip up was discounted to $12 each. It's an informative guided elevator trip to the view landing. We walked around the covered and fenced top area surrounding the restaurant. Since January and post lunch for most, we had the place almost to ourselves. Attentive wait staff that's experienced with 3 years or more tenure. Martini and prosecco on point served with half dozen Dabob oysters (my favorite since small yet briny). The shrimp in the soba noodle salad were large and perfectly cooked. Not a fan of the texture of the noodles and the waiter adjusted final bill. Not asked for so a nice touch. My husband enjoyed his pepperoni flatbread pizza. Desserts to die for! Grand Marnier chocolate ice cream out of this world. The chocolate mousse cake decadent. Highly recommend!
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Thank you for the great review, I am so glad you enjoyed yourself. We have a great program for our local guest. The Rum Runner Membership gets you and a guest unlimited access for the year and 20% off your bill at the bar. It’s a great deal for any locals who want to make smith tower a regular spot. We hope to see you again! Cheers, David
Written January 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Alissa P
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
We arrived around 4 and purchased tickets to go up to the observation area. Great view! We decided we wanted to have drinks and dinner there but weren’t ready to eat yet. We came back around 6:30 and put our names on waitlist for a table. We went and explored the city a bit and received a text when table available (about an hour later). Since we had already paid for the trip up, we didn’t have to pay a second time. We were able to just pay for dinner and drinks upstairs and enjoy the view again.

We ordered a variety of apps and drinks/dessert (highly recommend the charcuterie, flatbread, and the pork potstickers. For drinks we ordered a few including the fogcutter and fuego nocturno (spicy and unique)! Great service and amazing view. Recommend the angel food cake and passion fruit cheesecake for dessert. Perfect evening in Seattle!
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Smith Tower Visitor Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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