This is a cool spot. Entry is really cool and looks like prohibition speakeasy's of times gone…read morepast. Two HUGE bouncers inside who were policing everything to maintain the vibe. Husband couldn't read the menu, can't use your phone for that, he was leaning up against a wall, can't do that, finally snagged seats on a couch, feet off table. We had two drinks and enjoyed about 20 minutes in here and went off to find something to eat. Definitely work a stop if you are nearby or in the area. It's a cool experience. One thing og note: They do not really deviate from their limited menu of drinks. These bartenders are not like those of speakeasy's from other, larger cities I've been to. I don't drink alcohol at all, so, I tend to ask them to make me a mocktail. They didn't seem very inventive and only offered basically ginger beer in a cup for $14.

The bartender Chris accused me of being intoxicated because I was vibing to the music Saying that I…read morewas had my eyes closed at the bar when I was just feeling the music. Clearly he can't discern when a patron is intoxicated or not!!!!!! I do feel as though it was a level of discrimination as I only ordered water at the bar no drinks were ordered....and I had no drinks prior to arrival. Never assume from a distance someone's sobriety just because the clientele you serve normally is intoxicated

Sssh... keep this on the down low. We found the coolest speakeasy in town. This joint is jumpin'…read more.., live jazz on Wednesday eve. The vibe is electric, the cocktails delicious, the shared plates delectable, the service impeccable. Such a fun eve! Go find the secret door, whisper the secret password and kick up your held with prohibition era libations tinged with just the right amount of danger. Tasty!

The first time I came to Code Red was last summer, and I genuinely found myself counting down the…read moredays until I could return. Finally made it back - and it did not disappoint. This is such a perfect spot for either a date night or a fun night out with friends. The speakeasy vibe, the chic atmosphere, and the music (a smooth, chill house mix) all come together so effortlessly. Plus, being open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays is a huge bonus. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time - this place stays busy for a reason. From my previous visit, I remember having a ravioli dish, what I believe was a braised beef, and their sliders with duck fat fries - all of which were incredible and clearly memorable since I was thinking about them for months. The sliders paired with those fries were honestly a standout. This time around, we had to get the duck fat fries again, and they were just as phenomenal as I remembered. The cheesesteak oysters were easily a 10/10 - fresh, meaty, and honestly surprising coming from someone who used to not even like oysters. We also tried the grilled octopus, which was well-seasoned (as expected, slightly chewy), and the fried calamari, which was light, not heavy at all, and paired perfectly with the sauces. The tuna tartare was another standout - super fresh, soft, and practically melted in your mouth. For drinks, we went all in. The Dirty Diamond martini with blue cheese olives was great, though if you like your martinis extra filthy, I'd recommend specifying that. The Hemingway Special had a nice subtle sour kick, and the vanilla mint espresso martini was strong (you can definitely taste the alcohol) but still smooth and frothy. The Mary Pickford with Malibu was surprisingly delicious - almost like a mocktail. The Paloma was solid, and the Code Red cocktail gave me slight cosmopolitan vibes. But the real star was the dulce de leche espresso martini--absolutely unforgettable. What really ties everything together here is the service. The staff - from the hosts to the servers - are attentive, welcoming, and genuinely elevate the experience. Overall, Code Red is one of those places you keep coming back to. If you're looking for a stylish speakeasy atmosphere with great food, drinks, and energy, this is it.

We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace…read morethemed cocktail with chocolate and cherry notes. Both were disappointing. The drinks tasted watered down and unbalanced. The banana flavor in mine was dull and overripe rather than fresh and vibrant. The smoke and fire presentation was nice, but the actual cocktails did not justify the $25 price point. The restroom was unacceptable. There was urine on the floor, a strong foul odor, and the surface was slippery. For a speakeasy positioning itself as upscale, this was a major miss. The space is very small and service was just okay. Overall, the concept has potential, but the execution did not meet expectations. I will not be returning.

Good cocktails. Killer Sally was refreshing but a bit too sweet for me. Old Fashioned Fireplace was…read moregreat, definitely chocolatey and coffee-y. I find Old Fashioned generally a bit too strong for me, but this one was very smooth and rich, and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely heavy though! Very crowded on a Friday night, around 6-7 pm (we were lucky to snag an empty table 10 minutes later). Good service, especially when it was so busy in the night.

I need more of this place in my life. The plush velvet couches, the smell of the fireplace and rich…read morehues decorating from ceiling to floor... I imagine it's how Belle Watling would decorate if she was around today. The food is equally as rich and luxurious and the drinks list is extensive, but with a notable lack of mocktails. Would definitely head on up here again for a cozy bite to eat and if you understood my Gone With the Wind reference earlier we can be friends.

Incredibly nice staff in a uniquely decorated upstairs speakeasy type of lounge…read more Drinks were around $20-25. Mocktail options were limited. It's a great place to visit if you're in Union market.

March 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM for Brunch…read more TL,DR: Love the ambiance and the service was great but I felt as if the food was pretty average for cost. Additionally, the bill includes a 22% auto-gratuity no matter the size of your party, and the machine prompts you with the option to add more when paying. Ambiance (5/5): This is one of the most visually appeasing restaurants I have been too. The entrance on the street level that descends into a basement restaurant after exiting the spiral staircase is definitely one for the books. On top of this, the shade of pink used for the walls creates a vibe that is not only beautiful, but in my opinion keeps those in the restaurant in a soothing mood. This was extremely noticeable as it is a small seating area in the main area, and it wasn't loud even though it was fairly packed. It's also important to note that the restaurant does extend into a bar area and a back room. We were offered to sit in the bar area but chose the main area. Service (4/5): The service was great Our service was very attentive and checked-in on us multiple times. Not only was he friendly, but wanted to make sure we had everything we needed. The only reason I gave a 4/5 was because, our server did forget pepper that we asked for twice, but another friendly team member went the extra mile to help us. Food (3/5): I ordered the Skillet Seafood Omelette for myself, and shared the French Toast Bread Pudding with my friend. The French Toast was nothing short of phenomenal, and I'd return to get that just based on how good it tasted alone. However, the Skillet Seafood Omelette did not quite meet my expectations. Although well made, I found it to be an average taste and something I could have made at home. First, I expected a traditional omelette, but this was a frittata at it's core. I am not a fan of frittata's because in my opinion they bring out all of the worst parts of the egg taste, and had I known it was a frittata and not an omelette, I would have ordered something different. Special Note: This weren't taken into consideration for rating but I thought it was important to note that a 22% auto-gratuity is added to your bill no matter the size of your party, and when you pay, it has the audacity to ask for an extra tip on top of that. Anytime I see this as a restaurant I note it, as I normally tip 20% unless service is bad, and reserve anything higher than 20% for exceptional service.

I have been wanting to check this place out as a barber. I loved the concept of this space , so…read moreclean and minimalistic. I would love to see more of these around where I live. La was my bartender, he was a cool dude. He had good convo and he gave good recommendations for the drinks on their menu. The moody aesthetics were a nice touch upstairs . I loved my experience and would recommend to friends for a good little night out with friends .

2nd time here. Submitted to make a reservation on Wednesday, for Monday. Didn't hear back. Sent a…read moretext to the number online, a few hours before the desired time. I was already sitting at the bar when the person finally texted me back, sigh. Piss poor communication all around The music downstairs was VERY loud. The bartendar would change the music based on the "type" of people that came in. This was apparent to me & my guest. We listen to all types of music so it wasn't a bother, but she did it for Every Single couple/group that walked in The Place smelled like OLD sitting water. Soon as I walked into the pizza place, my face soured up. Same deal downstairs, where they masked the smell with incense. Cheeze pizza slice was good. Def. make a reservation because the place filled up with each group coming in

Finally made it out to this speakeasy since it has reopened! I had been before when upstairs used…read moreto be a sonut shop but I don't remember the name. The setup is pretty much the same. The decor is nice and the bartender was friendly. It was a little confusing getting a reservation because the website is down. So I called the pizza shop, he told me to hang up and.call back. I was able to speak to someone and get a reservation. He said he would text me the confirmation and access code. I received the confirmation but not the access code. I texted the number when I arrived and got the code. I was there 630 on a Saturday so it was pretty empty. Service was quick. They do have a food menu and you are able to order small appetizers, pizza and sandwiches. I just had a drink but Will definitely be back to try the food.

Attentive service, superlative cocktails, with pub grub to match. We were there for lunch and two…read moreappetizers were plenty. Note this venue is in the basement of the Hays-Adams hotel. Due to its proximity to the White House and VIP guests it is often under guard, and the external staircase directly down to the bar is closed. Simply enter the main entrance to the hotel and ask the doorman to direct you to the interior stairwell down.

This is a place I was told was a must visit when I was in DC…read more Pro tip: You can see he signs from the street for the place, but the entrance is actually only from the hotel lobby. It was a good experience, but not surprising, the drinks were very expensive .

Astoria continues to be one of my favorite spots in DC. While the service can occasionally be a bit…read morespotty, the food and overall vibe are exceptional. Every dish I've tried has been mouthwatering, consistently flavorful and generously portioned. Some of my current favorites are the dan dan noodles and the garlic eggplant, but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If I could, I'd eat here once a week.

Astoria is known for their Sichuan-style food and drinks, and we decided to come here for an early…read moredinner as a group. We knew it was stone crab season, so we were excited to include this in our eats - we ordered the Mala Lobster, which was prepared in fermented chili sauce with ginger garlic scallion; we also ordered the Pea Shoots (stir-fried in garlic; we liked that this didn't come 'watery'), the Walnut Shrimp (with a nice honey sauce with candied walnuts), Mapo Tofu (with beef, chili, garlic, scallions, and sichuan peppercorns), and the OG La-Zi (a fried chicken thigh with peanuts, chili, and sichuan peppercorns). My counterparts enjoyed their drinks, and the the bartending staff were great. Portions are generous and easily shareable! The space is beautiful, which is like a railroad-style; the staff were friendly and attentive. Metered and some restricted residential parking can be found in the area. +sichuan-style shareables +friendly & attentive staff +metered street & restricted residential parking available

Love this place. Great atmosphere, and superb service. Bonus: best Guinness I've had in the US…read more Ryan is awesome btw.

Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

They raised my standard for martinis to the next level! The Dirty Martini came with a side of…read moreolives and an oyster, literally the perfect girl dinner. The atmosphere is very chic, and intimate. The drinks were fantastic and the food was great too! We got the Nori Chips & Halloumi fries to split which was perfect for 3 people.

Swanky bar with an amazing staff. The menu is a bit tortured…read moretrying to be creative - non craft cocktail aficionados may be a little turned off by the menu - but if you're looking for some serious creations you will not be disappointed. I was solo, so sat at the bar and Kara was my bartender - she could not have been nicer and was very patient and engaging helping me make some good selections. While the Checkpoint Charlie may not have been the most serious looking drink - it was exceptionally sophisticated.