Unicorn (Seattle)

Unicorn
Unicorn
	The bar's exterior, 2012
Restaurant information
City	Seattle
State	Washington
Country	United States
Coordinates	47°36′51.3″N 122°19′2.3″W / 47.614250°N 122.317306°W / 47.614250; -122.317306

Unicorn (sometimes Unicorn Bar)^[1] is a bar and restaurant in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, in the United States.

Description

The bar Unicorn, located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, has been described by Eater Seattle's Gabe Guarente as a "French circus-arcade-and-Jello-shot destination". Unicorn has a "downstairs sibling" called Narwhal.^[2] Thrillist has described the bar as a "ridiculously high-concept French-circus-styled drinkery with vividly striped walls and zebra patterned/faux-period furniture", with a Sunday brunch buffet and drag variety show called Mimosas with Momma.^[3]

In 2019, Time Out's Olivia Hall described Unicorn as a "trippy", "circus-themed place" worth visiting, but "not really a local hangout". She described the interior as "drenched in wild colors with an impressive collection of animal heads that watch your every move".^[4]

Unicorn and Narwhal both serve carnival foods such as corndogs, funnel cake, popcorn, and "unicorn balls" (fried pork balls with ginger and jalapeño).^[5]^[6] Cocktails on the drink menu include the Cereal Killer (Froot Loop vodka, Rumchata, Sprite, grenadine) and the Fantasy Island (brown sugar bourbon, cream soda, orange soda).^[5]

History

Unicorn opened in January 2010,^[7]^[8] replacing the Satellite Lounge.^[9] Narwhal opened in 2012.^[10]

Adam Heimstadt co-owns Unicorn, as of 2010–2020.^[2]^[11] Mama Tits has performed at the venue.^[12]^[13]

Unicorn and Narwhal both closed for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, but re-opened with limited seating, a smaller menu, and no arcade games in September 2020.^[14]

Unicorn Two in White Center

An "offshoot" of Unicorn called the Unicorn Two in White Center is under construction, as of 2020.^[2]^[15]^[16]

Reception

Thrillist's Kevin Schlittenhardt included Unicorn and Narwal in his 2017 list of "The Wackiest Themed Bars in the World".^[5] Olivia Hall of TimeOut ranked Unicorn number 13 in her 2019 list of the city's 19 best bars.^[4]

References

^ Fortier, Sam (August 2, 2016). "Seattle Stories: The brusque bouncer at Unicorn Bar". Seattle PI. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ a b c Guarente, Gabe (January 15, 2020). "A Super Early Preview of Famed Unicorn Bar's Massive Upcoming White Center Location". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "Unicorn". Thrillist. October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ a b "The 19 Best Bars in Seattle for Any Type of Drinker". Time Out Seattle. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ a b c "The 13 Craziest Themed Bars in the World". Thrillist. January 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "Happy Hour of the Week: Unicorn". Seattle Met. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "The Unicorn set to debut this Friday". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ Van Streefkerk, Mark (February 24, 2020). "Celebrating 10 years in the Capitol Hill circus, The Unicorn readies its big top-sized second location". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "The Unicorn: New bar to replace Satellite Lounge". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "Pike/Pine dives deep as Narwhal ready for debut 'neath the Unicorn". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ Clement, Bethany Jean. "Bar Exam". The Stranger. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "What a Drag: Brunching on Tic Tacs and Glitter with Mama Tits". Eater Seattle. Vox Media. July 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^ Schmader, David. "Wigs and Eggs". The Stranger. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^ Guarente, Gabe (September 14, 2020). "Tex-Mex Purveyor Oaky's Makes Progress on New Central District Restaurant". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "UPDATE: Unicorn White Center looking at Fall 2020 opening; Big project has seen setbacks". Westside Seattle. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "Unicorn Two bar coming to White Center; Largest bar in community". Westside Seattle. June 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

External links

Official website
Unicorn at Zagat
Unicorn at Zomato

[1] Fortier, Sam (August 2, 2016). "Seattle Stories: The brusque bouncer at Unicorn Bar". Seattle PI. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[WC-2] Guarente, Gabe (January 15, 2020). "A Super Early Preview of Famed Unicorn Bar's Massive Upcoming White Center Location". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[3] "Unicorn". Thrillist. October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[Hall-4] "The 19 Best Bars in Seattle for Any Type of Drinker". Time Out Seattle. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[Kevin-5] "The 13 Craziest Themed Bars in the World". Thrillist. January 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[6] "Happy Hour of the Week: Unicorn". Seattle Met. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[7] "The Unicorn set to debut this Friday". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[8] Van Streefkerk, Mark (February 24, 2020). "Celebrating 10 years in the Capitol Hill circus, The Unicorn readies its big top-sized second location". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[9] "The Unicorn: New bar to replace Satellite Lounge". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[10] "Pike/Pine dives deep as Narwhal ready for debut 'neath the Unicorn". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[11] Clement, Bethany Jean. "Bar Exam". The Stranger. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[12] "What a Drag: Brunching on Tic Tacs and Glitter with Mama Tits". Eater Seattle. Vox Media. July 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

[13] Schmader, David. "Wigs and Eggs". The Stranger. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

[14] Guarente, Gabe (September 14, 2020). "Tex-Mex Purveyor Oaky's Makes Progress on New Central District Restaurant". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[15] "UPDATE: Unicorn White Center looking at Fall 2020 opening; Big project has seen setbacks". Westside Seattle. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[16] "Unicorn Two bar coming to White Center; Largest bar in community". Westside Seattle. June 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.