Entry No. 34 — the Seattle file — filed under: speakeasy-bar
Founders Club
Concealed behind a swinging bookcase just off the lobby of the grand Fairmont Olympic Hotel, this 1920s-styled den seats only about 30 and is built around rare and vintage spirits. Regulars can store bottles in private liquor lockers, a nod to the captains of industry who once funded the hotel. The hidden bookcase entrance and hushed, connoisseur-focused mood make it feel like a members' refuge even when it's open to the public.
The story
You walk past the high ceilings and marble columns of the Fairmont Olympic lobby, looking for a wall of books that isn't just decoration. Give the swinging bookcase a push, and you step out of the public grand lobby directly into a dim, 1920s-style den built for thirty people max. It functions as an intentionally concealed sanctuary tucked inside a hotel originally bankrolled by Seattle’s early industrial elite.
The room's entire reason for existing is high-end, rare liquid. Private liquor lockers line the space—where regulars store their personal bottles—alongside a bar stocked with hard-to-find vintage spirits and vintage-curated lists like cognacs broken down into distinct flavor expressions. It’s a room built for serious pours, where a single Manhattan crafted with rare vintage spirits can run up to $54.
What it's like
Find the bookcase off the hotel lobby and swing it open to enter a hushed, dark room that feels more like an exclusive private club than a hotel bar open to the public. With only about thirty seats in the entire venue, rolling up unannounced on a weekend is a gamble. Reserve a spot in advance, or show up right when doors open at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday or Wednesday to snag a seat at the bar.
The move: Find the bookcase that swings open off the Fairmont lobby and splurge on a pour of rare vintage spirit you'd never buy by the bottle.
📍 Before you go Open Tue-Sat 5pm-midnight; seats ~30, so reservations are encouraged. Entrance is the bookcase off the Fairmont Olympic lobby.
- 📍 Downtown, Seattle
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101 (inside Fairmont Olympic Hotel)
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Mayflower Park Hotel — Compare the Fairmont's hidden 1920s speakeasy vibe with another surviving 1920s hotel landmark located just a short walk north downtown.
- Bathtub Gin & Co. — Follow up the Fairmont's plush hotel hiding spot with a subterranean cocktail tucked into a former 1920s boiler room in Belltown.
- Tenzing Momo — Trade the rare spirit bottles behind the bookcase for the rows of apothecary jars at Pike Place Market's oldest herbal shop.
Good to know
How do you find the entrance?
The bar is located inside the Fairmont Olympic Hotel at 411 University St. Look off the main lobby for a swinging bookcase that opens directly into the bar.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are strongly encouraged. The space only seats around 30 people at a time, so walk-in availability is very limited.
What are the operating hours?
Founders Club is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5:00 PM to midnight.
What kind of drinks do they serve?
The menu highlights rare and vintage spirits, spirit flights including specialized cognac categories, and ultra-premium twists on classic cocktails.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: fairmont.com · seattletimes.com · seattlerefined.com · Yelp · fairmontolympic.com
last checked: 2026-06-24