Lee's operates as a cocktail bar in University Place, built around a bar program that regulars single out first — well-constructed drinks poured by a staff that's developed its own following. Food stays light and secondary, running to pizza and tapas rather than a full dinner menu.
The room itself reads cozy and tucked-away, the kind of spot people describe as a hidden find even once word gets out. That combination of cocktail craft and low-key atmosphere earned Lee's a James Beard Foundation semifinalist nod for Best New Bar in 2026.
The room itself reads cozy and tucked-away, the kind of spot people describe as a hidden find even once word gets out. That combination of cocktail craft and low-key atmosphere earned Lee's a James Beard Foundation semifinalist nod for Best New Bar in 2026.