14 cocktail bar places in Washington DC we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Washington DC | Cocktail Bar across every city.
Washington has become one of the country's strongest cocktail cities, with bars ranging from hidden back rooms to power-broker hotel lounges. Death & Co DC in Blagden Alley and Service Bar on U Street lead the craft wave. Off the Record beneath the Hay-Adams and the historic Round Robin Bar on Pennsylvania Avenue keep the old-Washington tradition of the political watering hole intact.
Death & Co DC ★ 4.6
124 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.
Service Bar ★ 4.6
926 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.
El Techo ★ 4.3
606 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.
Allegory ★ 4.6
1201 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
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.
Off the Record ★ 4.4
800 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Off the Record in Washington DC is the Hay-Adams Hotel basement bar across Lafayette Square from the White House, with political-caricature coasters.
Round Robin Bar ★ 4.3
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
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.
Tune Inn ★ 4.0
331 1/2 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
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.
Denson Liquor Bar ★ 4.2
600 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
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.
The Green Zone ★ 4.5
2226 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
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.
Hank's Cocktail Bar ★ 4.4
1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009
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.
Tiger Fork ★ 4.4
922 N St NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.
Lulu's Wine Garden ★ 4.3
1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.
Wunder Garten ★ 4.2
1101 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20002
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.
All Souls Bar ★ 4.4
725 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001
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.