Myra’s Back With Amorcito Lounge on Beacon Hill; Just in Time for the Weekend

Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all after-hours happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t always equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations about hidden South End spots.

There are many reasons why people go to bars. A friend is in town, first date, or maybe you just need a good vodka tonic to take the sting out of the day. I can name about 100 bars in the Seattle area that will all give you what you came for… a drink. Margarita… check… nachos… maybe… great service… not all the time. Sure you can find the liquor you crave, but some of us want a little more with our rum & Cokes.

We want a place that feels like it’s one of those tucked away spots in a corner of your town. A spot that not everyone and their mama frequents. A spot where you’re on a first name basis with the bartender, and you laugh when he uses a book to make the drink you requested.

As a lifelong resident of the Rainier Valley, I crave for those places. A place I can fall into wearing short shorts and tank top and still feel comfortable enough to order a Greyhound.

Yes, as cliché as it sounds, I want a place where the bartender knows my name. I’m not asking for much in the midst of the new of condos and classy eateries, I just ask for a place that puts a little “oomph” in the real Rainier Valley experience.

And I’ve found it at Amorcito Lounge on North Beacon Hill, my new nesting ground.

Amorcito – part of Baja Bistro and Java Love Café at Beacon Avenue and 14th Avenue South – is a baby on the south-end nightlife scene having opened not quite one year ago.

When you walk in you’ll see the coffee area surrounded by about a dozen tables. If you peek a little to the left you can see the kitchen straight ahead where they actually make their own chips (no Tostinos here!). This place looks like your typical Mexican cantina – in Seattle! The bar area is small, but so what.

Meet Luis and Oscar, two brothers who manage the Amorcito lounge – very friendly with loads of personality. It was Luis who brought out the drink book and asked everyone what a Greyhound was. I won’t even lie; I thought he was talking about the dog. To my surprise, a Greyhound is grape juice and gin (who knew?).

Next meet Tim the bartender – a former residential architect who is taking a turn at bartending.  He may not know how to make a Tarantula, but that’s nothing that a recipe book can’t fix.

More importent than Tim’s drink mixing abilities are his conversation skills. There are no indifferent bartenders here.  Tim really wants to know who you hooked up with or how you feel about Ken Griffey Jr. coming back to the Mariners.

Oh, and did I mention the happy hour?

Seven days week from 3-6 you will be treated to a delicious happy hour. I suggest a pomegranate  margarita ($4.50) and steak tacos ($2 a piece). Happy hour in Southeast Seattle?! Yes, folks it’s true.

Now, I usually end my posts with “bring a friend, date, yadda yadda,” and I always mean it. But this is not  a suggestion, it’s a must. Bring your first date here to break the ice ( Luis will provide lots of laughs to ease the jitters) or bring a large party and really get it poppin’. While the bar is small, don’t worry about space, because after 10 pm they close the dining room and use it as overflow for the bar.

Let everyone else have the crowded downtown bars while you have your Spanish escape right here in the ‘hood.

And tell them Myra sent you…

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