Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Washington DC for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Washington DC for grown-ups.
Death & Co DC in Washington DC is the New York cocktail institution's fourth outpost in Shaw Blagden Alley since 2023, with a 28-cocktail seasonal menu.
Signature drink: Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Food: Cocktail snacks and small plates
Tip: Walk in before 19:00 on weekdays for the Main Bar; the Garden rooftop only opens Friday and Saturday from 19:00.
Service Bar in Washington DC is Glendon and Chad Hartung's U Street cocktail bar since 2016, the city's busiest neighbourhood cocktail room with a James.
Signature drink: Frozen Painkiller
Food: Fried chicken and bar food
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; the frozen Painkiller and fried chicken combo is the bar's calling-card late-night order.
El Techo in Washington DC is the Shaw Florida Avenue rooftop cocktail bar from Louie Hankins above Rito Loco, a heated 1,100-square-foot deck.
Signature drink: Mezcal paloma
Food: Latin-inspired tapas and entrees
Tip: The rooftop runs heated through winter; reserve a table on the website for sundown on Fridays. The downstairs Rito Loco shares a kitchen ticket.
Allegory in Washington DC is the hidden cocktail bar inside the Eaton DC hotel's Progress Library on K Street, with Ruby-Bridges-as-Alice murals by Erik Thor.
Signature drink: Banned in DC menu cocktail
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Walk-ins only, no reservations; arrive before 19:00 Monday through Saturday for a counter seat. Closed Sundays.
Off the Record in Washington DC is the Hay-Adams Hotel basement bar across Lafayette Square from the White House, with political-caricature coasters.
Signature drink: Political-caricature cocktail
Food: Hotel bar snacks
Tip: Steal the caricature coasters; the bartenders expect it. The bar takes hotel-guest seating overflow first.
Round Robin Bar in Washington DC is the Willard InterContinental Hotel's circular Pennsylvania Avenue bar, the bar where Henry Clay introduced the mint julep.
Signature drink: Mint julep (the bar's original)
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Order the original mint julep; the bartender will recite the Clay-1850 introduction story while building it.
Tune Inn in Washington DC is the Capitol Hill Pennsylvania Avenue dive bar since 1947, a four-generation family-owned room with a deer-head wall.
Signature drink: Bud Light and a shot
Food: Diner-grade American food
Tip: Cash makes the night faster; the diner kitchen runs the same menu past midnight and is the Hill's late-night staple.
Denson Liquor Bar in Washington DC is the F Street Penn Quarter cocktail bar from the EatWell group, a narrow speakeasy-style room with a James.
Signature drink: Variety of New York-style cocktails
Food: Bar snacks and burgers
Tip: Walk in before 19:00 for a counter seat; the bar fills with theatre-goers from the Shakespeare Theatre across the street.
The Green Zone in Washington DC is Chris Hassaan Francke's Adams Morgan 18th Street Middle Eastern cocktail bar, with arak-based drinks. At 2226 18th St NW.
Signature drink: Arak-based Middle Eastern cocktails
Food: Middle Eastern small plates
Tip: The Bedouin Punch sharing bowl for two is the bar's editorial signature; sit at the bar for the build show.
Hank's Cocktail Bar in Washington DC is the Dupont Circle Q Street upstairs cocktail room above Hank's Oyster Bar, with a tight classic-cocktail list.
Signature drink: Hank's classic Manhattan
Food: Oyster bar from the Hank's group
Tip: The upstairs room takes walk-ins; the downstairs Hank's needs a reservation for the oyster bar.
Tiger Fork in Washington DC is the Shaw Blagden Alley Hong Kong-style bar from chef Simon Lam since 2017, a Michelin Bib Gourmand spot with Chinese-spirit.
Signature drink: Medicinal-herb cocktail
Food: Hong Kong street food and dim sum
Tip: Walk in at the rear N Street alley entrance; the kitchen runs dim sum service all night and the bar's medicinal cocktails come tagged with the targeted.
Marvel Room in Washington DC is the 14th Street upstairs cocktail bar above the Black Whiskey, a vinyl-leaning small room with a heavy tropical-cocktail.
Signature drink: Marvel Mule
Food: Snacks
Tip: Tuesday night jazz from 21:00 is the room's calling-card event; arrive at 20:30 for a seat.
Lulu's Wine Garden in Washington DC is the Shaw 11th Street outdoor wine garden from chef Hamilton Johnson, a covered patio bar with frose carafes.
Signature drink: Frose by the carafe
Food: Snacks and pizzas
Tip: Open April to October only; the patio fills by 19:00 on Saturday. The roses-by-the-glass list is the wine value.
Wunder Garten in Washington DC is the NoMa First Street beer garden from a German-American owner, an outdoor lot bar with 14 German beers on draft.
Signature drink: German-style beer steins
Food: Pretzels and bratwurst from a food truck
Tip: Open year-round but heated covered seating runs from November to March; the patio fills for Sunday-football and Oktoberfest.
All Souls Bar in Washington DC is the Shaw T Street cocktail bar from Adam Bernbach and Dean Cottrill since 2014, a 22-seat room with a tight classic.
Signature drink: Whiskey neat from the bar's deep American shelf
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: The bartender's choice is a $14 pour; describe what you like and let the room build. Cash and card both accepted.