What would a book-themed cocktail bar have other than literary themed cocktails? People may come for the tomes, but they stay for the cocktails. People may also come for the books, have a drink, and still stay for the books. Both are valid deductions. With a delectable drink like Daisy’s Downfall, I couldn’t help but feel complacent in my contentment. My fiancé found a favorite in Alas, Poor Yorick yet still left with a zest for life.
With a warm and (ahem) novel atmosphere, The Ink Drinker embodies what a library would be like after dark. Everyone passively and actively explores their worlds and walls of text however they see fit. With a heart for both innovation and timelessness, The Ink Drinker brings both past and present literary worlds together.
Although I witnessed a livelier side of the bar with classy jazz music and a social soirée setting, The Ink Drinker does offer silent reading hours for those who prefer quiet and stillness while reading. Quiet reading hours occur every Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., along with other various hours. I look forward to returning for a chance to do so.
While visiting, The Ink Drinker revealed something enlightening to me. There is a power behind the art of coexisting. Sometimes, a person wants to be near loved ones yet still retreat to the safety of themselves and their interests. My fiancé and I do this often. We will read together or participate in separate activities within the same room, the same construct, the same finite space, and still enjoy the closeness it brings to us. When we are ready to come up for air, we exchange updates on each other’s books so a part of us lingers in each of them.
It is natural to gravitate toward things one likes. Sometimes, it’s hard for one to let themselves gravitate toward said things they like. Creating space for myself inside the bistro showed me the importance of being intentional with one’s time and interests. It is easy to read when one has spare time. But, giving oneself the freedom and permission to devote an afternoon or evening to their interest is harder to normalize.
The Ink Drinker aids this pursuit by eliminating distractions that would easily insert their way in at home like chores, bills, and other adult responsibilities. It is at this place that one can fully let loose and insert themselves into the literary and fictional worlds that call them by name. There’s no shame, fear, or judgement when allowing oneself to escape the real world a little bit longer no matter how harsh or dark the reality.
I would fully recommend reserving a table in advance. Although they accept and do their best to accommodate walk-ins, the space fills up fast due to the space being so new and inviting. Who could blame them for being so popular?
This past year, I started falling in love with novels and the power of storytelling again. It is here, in Seattle, that I have come across more readers and writers than I ever did living in Texas. Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough. Maybe I was naïve in my own skills. Maybe I wasn’t ready to want it. The Ink Drinker is another literary victory I can claim and another literary landmark I can chart on my map. I anticipate the new friendships that will form from it.
The Ink Drinker is a dwelling for book lovers and wordsmiths alike. It’s a haven for finding both common ground with what you like to read as well as fellow readers who may or may not share similar interests. From observing couples silently reading their books next to each other, to people in leather thrones discussing their latest reads, to even a guest and staff exchanging recommendations, the Ink Drinker encourages it all. One can celebrate their love for books or expose themselves to new or unfamiliar genres. As a reader or a writer, it is important to have that community.
The bistro is an open forum to retreat to your favorite book or discuss your literary views with loved ones and strangers alike. Does what a person reads tell a lot about them? Or is it their thoughts about what they read that truly matter?
