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    Barrel

    4.3 (958 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

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    BARREL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Barrel

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    Menu
    Michaela N.

    My burger was great! The fries were great! As a mocktail connoisseur, I've never had the pleasure of trying whiskey. I was happy to be able to have this Virgin experience. So a big kudos to barrel and the staff for making this happen. I love the vibes here, it's like a little community that knows where to come for a good time. This is my second time there. The first time we were in a large party in the lower level. That felt like more of an exclusive private event space which was also nice.

    Mac & Cheese
    Annie F.

    Barrel has a relaxed, neighborhood feel that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. The vibe is great, the whiskey selection is impressive, and the service is always friendly and welcoming. My personal favorites are the nachos and the Brussels sprouts, both super flavorful and perfect for sharing. Whether you're stopping in for a drink, a bite, or a relaxed night out, Barrel is a solid choice.

    It's busy and they are playing 80s music!
    Kelly B.

    The vibe is a local bar with excellent music-the Beastie Boys was playing when we walked in. Clearly, at first glance this is a locals spot. It is a short 5 blocks from the Captiol building in the area called East Market. It looks small from the outside but it is long in length when you walk in. The atmosphere was fun and festive when we arrived in Dec 20th. We got there about 830 pm for dinner. Hubby reserved a table online and it was the only table open when we arrived. The tables are really close together like any urban pub. If you want something far away then request the 4 top that sits in the store front window. There are coat trees everywhere for your coat. The bread pudding is the signature dessert for good reason. It was to e best bread pudding we have ever eaten. The top of the pudding had a sugared crust that was divine. The ice cream was super yummy and the chocolate on top really made the dish have a few notes. It was plenty for two to share. It is pricey but well worth it. I ordered the nachos with smoked pulled pork. It was not that exiting. Standard queso on top and average chips. The pork was super chewy like it had been warmed up too much. The dish was no cohesive. It was cheap tasting nacho plate with smoked pork on top. The smoke was very intense in the meat. There needed to be more added to marry the pork to the cheese. Maybe a drizzle of BBQ sauce on top of the pork? I would have kept the pork in broth to keep it moist. As a result you had to hold the meat on the chip with your finger to get it to stay on the chip to get a complete bite. The crab Rangoon was tasty. My hubby had the chicken sliders were delicious. It was like the small chicken biscuits at chick fi la but clearly homemade instead. The biscuits were tender and more roll like than biscuit which was perfect. The added honey was really great as well. The sliders were small and you get 3. My hubby ordered it as an entree. I got the lavender mocktail which was tasty. Hubby had an old fashioned with their house choice since it is was a whiskey bar. It was cool to see bottles of bourbon above us on a shelf worth thousands of dollars. A lot of people around us ordered old fashioned. The service was great from our waitress.

    Emoni S.

    My friend and I decided to catch up over a meal and Barrel was our choice. My friend actually made reservations for the wrong day, but they weren't busy and seated us immediately. The menu was interesting. I ordered a beer, I can't remember the name but it was a light lager and it was good. I ordered the honey biscuit sandwich and the hash! The hash was delicious and very well seasoned! That took me by surprise! The biscuit was delicious and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! The ambiance is surlier chill. No need to be dressed but and it's tells casual. The waiter was cool and also very chill vibes. I think this is a great low key spot to grab good food with great company! Overall, I enjoyed my meal and I would absolutely recommend!

    Scotch flight
    Jim G.

    A must stop if you are into whiskey. They have an impressive list of options and a really nice scotch flight. Happy hour drinks very reasonable at about $9. Just had cocktails since we were headed to dinner but the food that came out looked tasty.

    Chicken and waffles
    Christine J.

    Had brunch here with some friends. The service was pretty slow. It took us almost an hour and a half to be served our food. The food itself was ok. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The chicken had thick skin and was pretty fatty. Not the best chicken and waffles I've had where I wouldn't order them again.

    One page of the Bourbon bible
    Shane G.

    We visited because we were looking for a good spot to get cocktails and whiskey. They did not disappoint. I don't know how many whiskeys they have officially, but they have enough of them that they had to list them in their "Bourbon Bible." We tried the Nachos, crab Rangoon, and the Barrell Burger and enjoyed all of them. The nachos were delicious with shredded pork on top. The cocktails were a highlight. I found several great whiskey pours at reasonable prices (understand it's never cheap to drink bourbon out), and my wife and daughter loved their cocktails they ordered. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is cool and rustic, and the whole vibe makes it a place worth trying. I hope to come back before our trip is over.

    Cocktail Menu

    A great vibe, an amazing whiskey selection, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere to unwind in. I ordered a few different types of wings, and honestly, the mild wings were the clear winner -- juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. The others came out a bit dry, but to be fair, my waiter gave me a heads-up about that ahead of time, which I appreciated. Overall, a good experience and I'd definitely come back for the Milk Punch and insane selection of Whiskey.

    Bottomless bubbles
    Jessica U.

    Shrimp and grits: 10/10 Bottomless bubbles: 8/10 Side of eggs: 10/10 with hot sauce Service: 10/10 Ambiance: Bar scene

    Patrick P.

    There's a fantastic whiskey bar in Washington, DC that has walls of brown water upstairs as well as a basement bar. No, I'm not talking about that place in Adams Morgan. I'm talking about Barrel on Capitol Hill. You know you are at a quality whiskey bar when there's a book or binder with available bottles. At Barrel it's called the Whiskey Bible and it comes in a leather-bound book. Not only did I enjoy some quality bourbon, but I had some great conversations with the folks behind the bar who enjoyed bourbon as well. A great option for a dram or two when you are South of The Mall.

    Milk punch

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    2 years ago

    The Asian rice is excellent. Breakfast burrito very good too. Seating inside or outside. Good service.

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    Page 1 of 24

    Ask the Community - Barrel

    Do you have gluten-free items on the menu?

    Yes there are some options that do not contain gluten.

    Would love to try this restaurant. Is take out available? Potential Dîner En Blanc dinner

    Yes take out is available, but not dinner en blanc style. Very casual bar, so need to dress fancy unless this is your last stop on the way in for the night.

    Bottomless mimosas only on Weekends?

    Yes

    Is Alex really that good?

    He's ok.

    Is it OK to stand at the bar with a group of about 8/10 people? Or is the space not designed for the normal bar mingling crowd?

    You do you boo.

    View All 8 Questions

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    4.2(40 reviews)
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    What a funky and cool spot! An unassuming ramen restaurant becomes a bass boosted speakeasy down…read morethe stairs. Neon lights and a cool dj keep the place going while anime plays on TVs. The cocktail that loves you is SO GOOD and the bartenders were so nice. I never felt weird or out of place. Definitely will be back!!

    Such a fun spot! I…read morewas in town visiting a friend and we got dinner across the street at the sushi place. I was pulling up Yelp to see what bar we wanted to go after and saw this on the list. We were initially going to go to the karaoke bar next door but when we walked inside, it was wayyyy too loud and obnoxious so we were like perfect let's go across the street! We walk into the ramen spot and ask where the speakeasy is and the guy led us to the back and showed us to some stairs to go down. Seriously, how COOL is this place??? The neon lights were so fun! We walked into the bar and immediately loved it! Good amount of bar seating plus some comfy couches and whatnot. There was music but it wasn't too obnoxious, we were still able to have conversations - it was surprisingly chill and exactly what we were looking for. Chatted to the bartender who made some fancy shots for us, had a few drinks. It was not busy at all on a Sat night which was nice. It is very dark inside even with the neon lights so it does make it hard to read the menus (had to use flashlights on our phone). But super fun spot, fun drinks, not too expensive, and a neat and chill experience! It was an excellent find for us for sure!

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    Kaiju Speaks - Love the signage

    Love the signage

    Kaiju Speaks - Go down the stairs and look for this door

    Go down the stairs and look for this door

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    Trouble Bird

    Trouble Bird

    4.8(43 reviews)
    0.8 miNavy Yard

    One of my favorite cocktail bars of all time! My favorite cocktail they make is a scotch…read morePenicillin garnished with crystallized ginger followed by Espresso Martini, Old Fashioned and Martinis. HAPPY HOUR: Monday All Day and Tuesday-Friday 5PM to 6:30 PM The beverage program is clearly the centerpiece of the concept. The cocktail list is extensive including drinks like Pisco Sour, Old Fashioned, Martinis, Sazerac, Champs-Élysées, and Lion's Tail alongside house originals. All signature cocktails are priced uniformly and the menu also includes beer, cider, wine by the glass, spirit-free cocktails, and boilermakers, while offering accessible options for different preferences. Overall, the menu reads like a neighborhood cocktail bar with chef-driven bar food: playful, nostalgic American comfort dishes paired with a serious and historically influenced cocktail program. The bartenders provide top notch service and offer great recommendations. My water glass is always full and they check in often!

    A great little neighborhood bar with really amazing crack cocktails, and a chill, laidback vibe…read more Navy Yard is a little commercial for my personal taste, but it's close to my office, and convenient when I'm in town for work. Trouble Bird was the answer to my prayers on a recent trip, where I was looking to have high quality drinks and a laid-back NON-commercial vibe with my team. We liked it so much, we came twice in one week, and I was impressed at their ability to handle and be comfortable for a large group in a space that can feel intimate. The lighting is nice and moody, the menu available via QR code, and the WiFi free and listed with password for patrons to use. We had excellent service both times, by the two folks working each night for a groups of 6-8 each time. There was something for everyone from the nondrinkers to the beer enthusiasts, to cocktail aficionados like myself. There's an amazing happy hour deal, with discounts on drinks all Monday and reduced prices for a couple of hours on other weekdays; it almost felt criminal how generous the happy hour was when I've gotten used to paying $20 for a mediocre cocktail at other nearby establishments. And the cocktails here are really very good, probably the best in the area, except for their immediate next door neighbor. The group favorite cocktail was the Midori sour which was incredibly well balanced and refreshing, and the surprising crowd pleaser was the Hamilton Dry Float, which came in a creepy tiki mug presentation that we really loved. We had a couple of the bar bites - the spiced peanuts were well loved across the group but my person favorite food item was the blistered shishitos, which came with a great chipotle aioli. The bathrooms are extremely clean and overall this was a bar favorite for the group for our week of going out and socializing together. Overall this is a gem of a neighborhood hangout with really excellent cocktails and service! Will absolutely come here next time I'm in town!

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    Dry handshake

    Trouble Bird - Crunchwrap

    Crunchwrap

    Trouble Bird - Dry handshake

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    Dry handshake

    The Wells - Reverse side of The Wells speakeasy

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    4.4(53 reviews)
    0.1 miCapitol Hill

    What a gem! I stopped by The Wells around 7:30 on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised we…read morewere able to get seated at the bar. Within minutes the place was packed, so although we were able to get a seat I'd still recommend making a reservation since the space fills up quickly. Initially I didn't realize this was a gin-focused bar, but now I'm hooked ( I told the bartenders about my usual preferences and they were able to make great recommendations). The drinks were incredibly well crafted and full of unique flavor. I started with one of their signature drinks but then asked for a bartender's choice based on what I typically enjoy and they absolutely nailed it. The space has a stylish speakeasy vibe that feels both elevated and inviting. You ring a bell to be let in, which makes the whole experience feel a little more special. Inside, it's moody and romantic with plush seating, gorgeous lighting, and a warm ambiance that's perfect for date night or just catching up with friends. Whether you're a gin enthusiast or just looking for a cool spot to grab a drink in DC, this place is absolutely worth checking out. I'm already planning my next visit.

    We dropped in at about 7:30p on a Saturday. I was surprised that we were able to get a table…read more Marcus sat us and explained the menu. He was awesome. He was super attentive and helpful. We didn't know this was a gin bar but the drinks were tasty and great. The caramel popcorn is delicious. We got it without chocolate. This is an awesome space. I'll definitely be back.

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    The Wells - Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland vibes

    Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland vibes

    The Wells - What's right behind guests when they sit at the bar - I've seen many group(s) of guests lounging in this area

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    Jab We Met Indian Kitchen - Palak chat ($10)

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    4.5(75 reviews)
    0.2 miCapitol Hill
    $$

    Really delicious Indian cuisine... definitely try one of the many naans! Attentive and friendly…read morestaff, with some nice atmospheric background music playing. Sadly there weren't too many customers when we visited... please go check them out. I'd really like to see them make it! My one suggestion is that we noticed that the menu is light on legumes and daal and such. Those would be a great addition!

    I found Jab We Met on DoorDash and decided to give it a try…read more Any time I see palak chat on the menu, I have to try it and see how it compares to Rasika's. Jab's version ($10) is the best dupe I've ever had! I ordered it as a carryout item, and I was wary that it wouldn't hold up to the transport and would be soggy. Jab packaged it thoughtfully - all of the sauces were served on the side - and the flash-fried spinach stayed perfectly crispy and wasn't greasy at all! Serving the sauces on the side is actually even better because then I was able to customize the sauce levels and flavors. I would definitely come back and order this again. I also ordered the Chicken Makhani ($20) because I'm basic like that. It comes with rice. You can customize the spice levels, and yes, I ordered mild (...I SAID I was basic). The butter chicken was good but doesn't crack the list of my favorites. The chicken was a little dry and they use a grilled/barbecued chicken which gave it a smoky flavor. The mild was quite mild, I actually think I could handle a slightly spicier level here. I'm happy I tried this place - will come back to try more.

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    Jab We Met Indian Kitchen - Great interior

    Great interior

    Jab We Met Indian Kitchen - Basmati rice i believe

    Basmati rice i believe

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    Barrel - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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