Frequently Asked Questions

We accommodate parties of all sizes. Get all the info on reserving tables or booking larger events, including our private Mezzanine space here.

Yes, we are family-friendly and have a small kids play area! Optimism team members are parents too, so we are happy to have a place where kids and adults can have a good time together.

Yes! As long as they are leashed and cleaned up after.

Yes, we usually have a housemade hard seltzer called Wonderment. We also have a craft cider on tap. It isn't on our menu screens, simply because we don't make it, but it is always available and always made in Washington by an independent and locally-owned cidery. Go Washington Craft!

This is a legitimate question! Many breweries use gelatin (derived from animal collagen) or isinglass (derived from fish bladders) to clarify their beers. For the beers that we clarify -- not all of them are -- we use biofine, which is 100% vegan.

We have a house made sparkling water, Clear, as well as a house made sparkling lemonade, Sparkle. You are welcome to bring in other non-alcoholic beverages, but if it is non-alcoholic beer please have our counter staff pour it into a glass for you, so that other guests do not mistake your “NA beer” for the real thing. This is important because it is illegal for you to bring in your own alcoholic beverages and pour for yourself in our brewery.

Unfortunately, no. We cannot allow you to bring in outside alcoholic beverages to Optimism. This isn't about us wanting your money for that drink, our liquor license simply does not allow it on the main floor. Prohibition era laws make it so that no one is allowed to serve themselves alcohol inside our brewery, and we are only licensed to sell our beer and cider. The Washington State Liquor Control Board can revoke our license if we allow you to bring in outside beverages, so we will be very vigilant about this. 

If this is important to you, we are able to serve wine for private events. Learn more about the Mezzanine.

Optimism does not have a kitchen, just a few snacks. We have a rotating food truck nightly (and we hope you can use their services!), but you are welcome to bring in homemade items, have something delivered, or use a caterer. We can make some suggestions, so let us know if you are interested in that.

Please just bus your own trash and recycling. We are happy to bring trash cans to your area to make it easier for your guests.

Always! Please, request a sample from your server so you can try before you buy.

We do not accept cash payments. We are a card-only establishment and also accept contactless payment like Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Optimism believes that we a a company should be responsible for our workers’ wages, not the whim of the customer. We want our staff to have a guaranteed, living wage without discrimination. Read more about why we are tip-free.

As consumers, we feel duped to have one price advertised on the menu only to find out that we are paying 30% more when a tip and tax is included. As a business, we don’t want to try and hide behind a fake low price. Our pricing is transparent but it makes it more difficult to easily compare our pricing against others. Learn more about how inclusive pricing compares.

Our bathroom is one big room with lots of little full height doors down each side: toilets on the right and urinals on the left. They are completely private to each individual.

1. It is the best use of resources to make all water closets available to all visitors at all times instead of arbitrarily segregating into two sets. (i.e. Men generally only use the urinals so any toilet in the mens room was never getting used.)

2. Having individual stalls for everyone is more private and comfortable.

3. All gender bathrooms are supportive of all genders. Because everyone uses the same room, no one can judge whether someone else is using the correct gender segregated bathroom, and so it is safer for everyone as a result.

4. It is easier for parents to accompany their other-gendered kids to the restroom when all genders are together.

5. When everyone is watching, more people wash their hands afterwards!