The Volstead Act

Great little bar with a sophisticated big-​city feel, right in the heart of good old not-​really-​that-​big Spokane. Awesome craft cocktails. First visit I tried the «Thyme’s they are a-​changin’», a really tasty herb-​laced concoction. Second time, I tried the Madhattan, also excellent. Friendly bartender, cool atmosphere, and they’re open late (2 a.m.) long after most downtown spots go to sleep. Definitely will be back.

I give it two stars just because it’s a Friday night
I wanted a dirty dry gin martini (on the chalkboard as a classic cocktail, featured item) and its 9:30pm and they ran out of vermouth and buffalo trace which my friend ordered. Vermouth more importantly should be stocked especially for a weekend coming. The two stars is for the two drinks I did have that were well done. Still not stoked on not being able to get a dry martini at a bar of this kind.

Across the street from the Hotel Lusso, a nice hole-​in-​the wall bar. Knowledgable bartender who made an expert martini. Free popcorn and Chex-​Mix, plus board games. Couple at the bar discovered the 1970’s era «Battleship». On the TV, the bartender was looking for the best «Star Trek» episode that would play without sound. Apparently, «The Tholian Web» plays best.

The volstead act is a cozy bar tucked into downtown Spokane. Love this place, the bartenders are attentive and skilled at their craft. They have been playing Christmas music and Christmas movies this week due to the holidays. Definitely a must visit for some fine craft cocktails and a good vibe. Not too loud or full of rambunctious folks, just a nice place to grab a drink and have a conversation with people.

I was in Spokane for a few hours and decided to check out bar. It was dimly lit and had a really cozy vibe. The staff was friendly and the cocktail I had was fantastic. It was a Fitz Roy. Cocktails with fernet are easily destroyed but the balance was perfect. The only thing I would change would be the stools. No back support limits the amount of time I can sit at their bar. But cocktail lounges get judged on cocktails. 5 stars.

This place rocks! Great drinks and happy hour is crazy good!
Awesome décor and the bartenders make the best drinks!

Great cozy atmosphere, quiet enough you can carry a comfortable conversation. Try the AP2 it’s a light champagne grapefruit cocktail if you like sweet fizzy drinks!

This was my second night in a row frequenting the Volstead Act and I suspect I’ll be back for a third. Upon leaning that my professional conference was going to be in Spokane this year, this self-​proclaimed cocktail geek immediately took to the web to research the best craft cocktails in town. Luckily the Volstead Act – which was right across the street from the Davenport where I was staying – consistently popped up as the best reviewed craft cocktail lounge in the area.
It has not disappointed. Not at all. The drinks are everything you’d expect from the best cocktail lounges in the Seattle area. The service could be a little faster, but there has only been one bartender working the bar each time I’ve visited, and I’ve only visited on weeknights which have been steady but not particularly crazy.
The only real drawback here is the lack of a kitchen, but the complimentary popcorn is nice and there is plenty of food within walking distance if you get hungry.
All in all, I appreciate what they are trying to do, which is providing high quality craft cocktails to a town that is sorely lacking in this department. And they definitely deliver on that front.
If you appreciate mixology and need to get your fix East of the mountains don’t miss this place.

Well after standing at the bar for 15 minutes watching the bartender converse with the only 2. other gentleman in the bar I finally received service. Would not recomend to anybody. Service was terrible

Good drinks all around. Wait staff can be really slow when it’s busy, and with many other places now doing ‘craft cocktails’ it may be a turnoff of you have to wait 20 mins. Definitely worth checking out if you are downtown.

My first experience here was something special but I wanted to wait until I had frequented more often.
The mixology craze has really taken off the last couple years but that doesn’t always mean the drinks are actually good. That being said Volstead is on par! The bartenders are very knowledgeable and consistent. The drinks are by far the best in Spokane compared to the other «real» cocktail bars such as Bön Bön (which I also think is great) and The Press (which I enjoy).
Atmosphere is more on the professional side which is appropriate since they are downtown. It’s on the more expensive side but you’re getting more than a miller lite haha

Such an amazing hidden gem in Spokane! Creative, quirky drinks, and a happy hour that is super reasonable! Love this little bar (emphasis on the little– no way more than 50 people could fit in).

If you want a great drink on a Friday or Saturday night, you have to go see ash at the volstead!!!

Nice, small bar. Very friendly staff and great cocktails. They have free popcorn and peanuts. A good place to take a date or have a casual conversation with friends. Highly recommended.

Super chill with a great atmosphere. Dimly lit with enough room comfortable fit 20 to 30 people. I would absolutely come back and bring a date to share the great atmosphere. I highly recommend this cool little place.

The bartenders are very knowledgeable on how to make any kind of cocktail, but when it gets full the wait time is extremely long, so be prepared to wait for a drink. I was disappointed that they do not have appetizers or food to order when we went in after 9. This bar does carry a lot of unique alcohol that you can’t find in a lot of places.

If you enjoy your craft cocktails with a side of truffle popcorn and friendly bartender banter, put Volstead on your list. The cocktail menu is long and luscious, but even more fun is telling the bartender your palate preferences and letting them whip something up for you. Not many bars have the patience for this back & forth, but Volstead Act seems to pride itself on the virtue.
While staying at Hotel Lusso across the street, I wandered over here for a nightcap, and had the place all to myself (it was midnight on a Tuesday, but they were open til 2am as promised!) Bartender Avont, who seems to have a local following among Spokane cocktail lovers, became my best friend, chatting with me about drink recipes, sharing his favorite Spokane spots, and offering to make me a fresh batch of that truffle popcorn. I told him one of my favorite cocktails is The Last Word, so he made me his version of it (Her Last Word), served of course in a dainty coupe with lime peel garnish. Deeeelightful.
While most places in Spokane boast friendly service, I felt especially and instantly like a local here. Not to mention, they know their way around a cocktail shaker. Will be back every chance I get!

So see Avont! Follow Avont on Instagram and be prepared to be hungry all.the.time. Serious foodie in what is becoming a serious foodie town. So close to my favored hotel too, The Davenport.
Truffle popcorn. That is all.

The Volstead Act is a small, intimate craft cocktail bar with seating for a few dozen. I have enjoyed a handful of visits here with friends and have also enjoyed a cocktail or two here when out on my own. This is the kind of place where you don’t feel out of place when you are by yourself, which is quite a nice attribute.
I have really enjoyed their pisco sours, which had been until the opening of the Volstead Act, only a treat that I could imbibe when in the company of my Chilean Entourage. The Ambidextrous and other highlights on their specialty menu are all worth trying.
Peanuts and freshly popped popcorn also abound in this place which is great for the late night cravings…
The lounge area features two large high top tables that could easily accommodate 8 – 12 guests a piece. There are a handful of smaller tables and around a half dozen stools at the bar for smaller groups.
This is the type of place that you need to support in order to help continue to build a vibrant cultured downtown ambiance…

Listen up scoflaws! Here is a tip on the side brought to you by a real bearcat about a speakeasy that is just the berries! blouse your house, bust out your muzuma and ankle on down to the volstead act for your Jorum of skee, gigglewater, or panther piss ;). Inside a Dapper gent stands behind the stick, prepared to mix. Drink up! and now your on the trolley!
Seriously though, this is probably my new favorite cocktail bar and definitely worth checking out. The staff is creative and stupendously knowledgeable about cocktails. And as you can tell I am really digging the throwback style.