Patio of the Week: The Deluxe Rooftop at Mezcaleria Oaxaca on Capitol Hill

The newly open rooftop at the still-pretty-new Capitol Hill Mezcaleria Oaxaca at Pine and Summit isn’t so much a patio as a bar unto itself. The precisely cobbled aesthetic matches the vibe downstairs, but up here it’s infused with breezes and sunlight.

An overhang shields imbibers from the sun’s full heat this time of year, and from the drizzle during the rest of Seattle’s patio-friendly months. There’s a full-on bar, pouring a few summertime cocktails you can’t get downstairs, like an oyster shooter made with mezcal, a michelada garnished with shrimp, and another michelada, known as the parranda, that comes with a spicy Mexican-style popsicle.

The rooftop seats 95 people and there’s a food menu in the works that will lean more toward street-style snacks than Mezcaleria’s indoor slate of memorable moles and full-on Oaxacan plates. I keep hearing rumors the owners are going to hire a crane and wrestle a taco truck or cart up there to serve these aforementioned street-style bites, but the Mexcaleria Oaxaca folks have yet to confirm…or deny.

Here’s a bonus photo for a little spatial context. If vitamin D is your jam, there are plenty of uncovered seats overlooking the streetscape.