"When people hear legendary Seattle bartender Murray Stenson’s name, they usually associate him with Zig Zag Cafe. That is the bar where he became famous in the craft cocktail renaissance of the early aughts. However, Il Bistro was his longtime proving ground in the ‘90s. It’s where he found his stride — and it’s a historic Seattle place for plenty of reasons beyond that one. Il Bistro is a cocktail bar from a James Bond movie that has been open since 1975. There’s nothing more essentially Seattle than skittering down the cobblestones of Post Alley and ducking into this red-lit respite from a rainy Seattle night. There’s a whole libretto of craft cocktails and mocktails well complemented by a side of arancini, and the scotch collection is unmatched in town. Plus, it’s so unexpectedly sexy down there." - Meg van Huygen, Mark DeJoy, Eater Staff
