Capitol Hill’s The Doctor’s Office is more than just a bar. It is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of community. Opened just four weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, this intimate 12-seat bar has defied the odds, earning international acclaim and becoming a part of the neighborhood.

As the bar marks five years of business on Capitol Hill, its prescription for success has been anything but ordinary.

The story of The Doctor’s Office begins with a literal fall from grace. Owner and founder Dr. Matthew Powell was inspecting the vents for the hood system on the roof of the building when disaster struck.

“You ever do that thing where you’re going downstairs and there’s like, ‘Oh, there’s one more step,’ a split second before you would have sworn there is one more step? Just make that the edge of a roof,” Doc Powell recalls. “For the life of me, I could not tell you why my brain was like, ‘There is one more step,’ and I just stepped out into nothing, right onto the pavement.”

The fall shattered his foot, requiring two surgeries and 10 hours of operating time. “Fortunately, the specialist for that fracture happens to be at Harborview, like the best specialist in the nation, if not the world,” he says. But the timing couldn’t have been worse.

When The Doctor’s Office opened its doors, Powell was in a wheelchair, foot propped up, checking reservations. “It’s a little on the nose,” he jokes. Now though, the shattered foot x-ray can be seen lighting up the bathroom.

The pandemic hit just weeks after opening, and the challenges were immense. “We hadn’t been open long enough to qualify for any of the aid,” Powell said. “We did end up getting, like, a year later, a couple thousand or something like that, but in the thick of it, nothing.”

As he kept the bar afloat, Powell — a hospitalist by day — worked grueling 90-hour weeks on COVID wards. “I’m seeing more people younger than me die than literally my entire career in total up to that point,” he says. “I literally would look down at this ring that has our logo on it, and at like, 3 AM, be like, ‘Someday on the other side of this, I believe this bar is going to be a magical place. It’s going to be one of the best bars in the world.’ And it is.”

Powell maxed out every credit card, loaned his retirement savings to himself, and even put up the deed to his condo as collateral. At one point, he had just $7 in his bank account. “I’m a doctor, yeah? Well, I either have to find somewhere to live and I had a bar for four weeks, or I’m privileged enough that I have a job that’s in demand right now.’”

Today, The Doctor’s Office is a celebrated destination, recognized by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, and the Whiskey Advocates top 10.

“This bar with the wrong staff sucks,” Powell says. “It’s too intimate.” Designed to foster connection, the bar features just 12 seats, ensuring every guest feels seen and heard. “I loved bars that were intimate. I loved bars that you had a chance, even on a Friday night, to not feel like you were annoying the bartender if you took two minutes to talk about something,” he explains.

The staff, many of whom have been with The Doctor’s Office since its early days, are a key part of its success. “Almost every one of them has opened bars, been a bar manager, or is someone that is early in their career that we’re training,” Powell says. “They are all the kind of people that you can have this kind of a spirit selection that is deep in multiple categories, but I would say at most, being a good bartender, drinks are 20%. Because being a good bartender is about this—it’s about knowing that at this end of the bar you have, here’s a couple on a first date, right? Here’s old friends from out of town. Here’s someone who walked in solo, got stood up. Here’s some people who just signed a business deal.”

The Doctor’s Office is more than a bar—it’s a space where stories unfold. From a 97-year-old celebrating his birthday with a 1914 Armagnac to a Howard Hughes aviation buff sipping whiskey from the tycoon’s personal collection, the bar has become a place for unforgettable moments.

“We’re giving people stories,” Powell says. “It’s all grown word of mouth. We’ve never paid for advertising. Any extra money we have, we just do charity shit because it’s fun.”

The bar has donated thousands to organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Northwest Abortion Access Fund, and recently purchased 100 sets of beanies, gloves, and socks for local shelters. “When we have extra money, I want to do cool stuff with it,” Powell says.

How do they raise this money? By selling shots of Pappy Van Winkle for $500, but you can’t just get a couple fingers. You have to order their only boilermaker available, a Pap Smir. Pappy Van Winkle with a Smirnoff Ice. All the profits from the drink go to Planned Parenthood.

With a lease secured through its first decade, The Doctor’s Office will be part of E Olive Way as the street continues to change and grow. “Barring a meteor, we’re here at the 10-year mark,” Powell says. “The bar is doing well. We have the best staff, and the neighborhood’s been amazing.”

For Powell, the bar is a labor of love. “I wish someone else had opened it, because then I could just go there,” he laughs. “But no one did. I was like, ‘Alright, then let’s do it.’”

The Doctor’s Office is located at 1631 E Olive Way. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, visit tdosea.com.

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