After driving past Nero multiple times, we always assumed it was closed due to its unassuming exterior. However, during a bar hopping night, we decided to give it a chance, and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere was inviting and vibrant. The decor, featuring exposed brick and stylish furnishings, creates a warm and welcoming vibe. The two large flatscreen TVs at the bar add a modern touch, making it a great spot for sports fans and casual gatherings alike. The servers were friendly. We discovered that the bottom floor transforms into a speakeasy after 7 PM, while the top floor serves as a cozy wine bar. This unique setup adds to the charm of the place, offering different experiences in one venue. Now, let's talk about the food and drinks. The highlight of our evening was undoubtedly the chocolate lava s'mores cake, it was simply divine. We also tried a variety of drinks, including a Chai Espresso, Pinot Grigio, Roman Lavender (which was decent), the Orbis (which was phenomenal), and an Aperol spritz. Each drink complemented our experience perfectly. We had a wonderful time!! read more

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This is THE place for Happy Hour! The ambiance is very sexy, a little dark and mysterious, but in a good way. Service was great! Shoutout to Hannah! She's someone whose passion for her job shows in the service she provides to her customers and I appreciated that. The drinks were INCREDIBLE! Aperol Spritz- had a little too much sweetener but aside from that, the balance of the drink was great and a refreshing start to the evening. Pinot Grigio- this was my crisp break between drinks as I transitioned to an espresso martini. Refreshing! Chai espresso martini- this drink is in my top 20 spot, almost made it to #11 but I love a good foam action on top and there wasn't much. However, let's break down the taste which made this drink exquisite. So, you can definitely taste the fresh Chai flavor seeping throughout the delicious espresso. But after that immediately sip, a surprise flavor hits your palette....tiramisu flavors! I mean this drink is a mixology star! I was sitting there, sipping it slowly because I wanted to enjoy the Chai start and tiramisu finish-Gosh this was excellent!!!!!!! My boyfriend ordered the Roman Lavender, he said it was cool. But cool for him means it wasn't really something he'd order again. His favorite drink was the Orbis! Which he said could use one large block of ice instead of crushed ice because the flavors mixed into the drink were perfect! We came from dinner so we did not order any food, however, we did order their Chocolate lava s'more cake. Honey! This cake broke us completely. Think about a deconstructed s'more placed inside the best cake batter and BAM-you have a winning dessert. Moist on the outside, packed with some graham crackers flavor. Then you reach the middle and there's hot chocolate bursting out! Sooooooo good. Topped with a delicious covering of marshmallows and a beautiful strawberry....My favorite dessert by far! Will I return? YES! Immediately! The pizzas looked incredible so I'm returning for more of their cocktails, food, and that dessert! read more

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We had such a nice night at Nero. Aliya was a wonderful server. Attentive without being overbearing, thoughtful about checking in, and genuinely pleasant throughout the evening. We appreciated that she made sure we got our orders in before happy hour ended, and she remained attentive the entire time we were there. The food was great all around. Truffle fries, meatballs, and the three-cheese masala were all delicious, and the cocktails were on point. This is an easy place to enjoy good food, good drinks, and good service. Already looking forward to a Thursday return... IFKYK. read more

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I first found about about Nero 3 months ago and have come back 4 times already! The cocktails are the best I've had in DC, and the food is just as amazing. You must try! read more

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Overall really mid. The chairs are really narrow and the table was kind of sticky. It's dark af in the restaurant.. so much so that it's kind of annoying to walk to the bathroom cuz you can barely see. The menu is surprisingly limited and basic. We had sandwiches (which were ok) a salad which was good, and then the lobster ravioli and there was like 3 raviolis with a bunch of butter on top. The cocktails were ok but not strong and kind of lacking in flavor. Our dessert was a tiramisu that had not thawed out completely so it was hard to eat. Everything tasted like something you would throw together at home or get from Trader Joe's and microwave. Would not say it's worth the prices. Also, there were some "influencers" filming right next to us and the waiters were clearly spending most of their attention on them despite their table and ours being the only ones taken. No one was rude or anything, but it took way too long to get our check. I'm genuinely shocked that this place has such good reviews because it was very mediocre at best in my experience. The influencers were also raving about how good everything was and I'm not sure if that was for appearances while they were talking to the staff but I genuinely do not know what they were eating that was making them react like that. Maybe they gave them special food cuz ours was not great. read more

Found this hidden gem while looking for a nightcap after a comedy show at the improv. What a great spot w/quiant ambience and excellently crafted cocktails. Can't wait to come back and check put tbe speakeasy in the basement. read more

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Nero is a must visit speakeasy in DC! The drinks were incredible and the ambiance was so cozy and also really entertaining. I loved the fire demonstration. The chai espresso and fig whiskey sour were excellent and so well made. Our bartender (who is also the manager) was amazing. 10/10! read more

Nero - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The vibes at this place were amazing. Service was top notch. Some of the best drinks in the city. Quick service, very friendly and always on top of things. I highly recommend this spot. read more

Nero - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love love love this place. A new favorite. We ordered off of the happy hour and couldn't be more pleased. Good service and good food. We sat at the bar and the bartender was attentive and took care of us. The restaurant is such a cool vibe. We took a peek at the wine bar upstairs...and I can't wait to come back to indulge in the self service wine bar. We went downstairs to the speakeasy.....obsessed. We got two cocktails that were delicious. read more

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Went for a girls evening happy hour. We got multiple apps and a couple drinks. I had a rum and coke but friends had cocktails that they said were delicious. The ambiance was dark they had many candles . There is also a speak east down stairs but it opens I think at 7. The service was quick food okay. read more

Nero - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This review is for Sabina, the speakeasy underneath Nero. Coming in was pretty cool, the door looks like a continuation of the brick wall. Once inside, the venue is intimate, quaint, and dark with loud club music playing. The staff was friendly enough and interestingly dressed... we appeared to be in a swinger's club based on everything we had seen and experienced thus far. Their cocktail list was rather small and they also didn't seem to have much in stock in the way of rum or other items we sought. Very few of the cocktails listed appealed to me, so I chose one on a whim and it was so sickly sweet that I actually felt sick after drinking it. We ultimately just were one-and-done here and headed out. The vibe was great, but that was about it. read more

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Great spot for a group. We were on the top floor with access to the wine taproom which was pretty cool--you get wine cards and can use them to serve yourself any of the wines you want. I opted for a cocktail, the fig whiskey sour, and I highly recommend. Smooth and lightly sweetened, a great option for fall. Pizzas and meat/cheese plates are great for a group to share. The bartender and servers were excellent, doing a great job answering questions and checking in often. read more

I found this gem on instagram. I shared with my girls and we planned a date on a Friday afternoon at 5pm. We made two reservations, one for dinner in the wine room and another for 7pm for the speakeasy. Let's start with Nero. We were promptly seated at 5pm upstairs in the wine room. Our server was very nice and explained the menu. It was still happy hour so we ordered from that menu as well as the regular dinner menu. The mushroom pizza was delicious! I'm a big fan of mushroom pizza with white sauce. We also tried some of the wine. I wasn't a fan of any of their wine. However, my girlfriend ordered a bottle and enjoyed the Nero Red. Now, for the speakeasy, Sabina. Loved it! The signature Smokey old fashioned was delicious! I'd definitely go back to the speakeasy. It's small, so I suggested making reservations! read more

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This review is for the speakeasy alone. Nero definitely closed some time during the pandemic, but some time last year, they reopened... and they added a new speakeasy called Sabina. There's a story behind the name, but I will let you go and experience all of that for yourself. I was solo, and I was lucky enough to grab the last seat at the bar. I was given the menu, and enjoyed reading the story.... each cocktail was an entertaining read, and even though the kitchen had just closed when I got there, they had a fair variety of small plates too. A speakeasy with food is always a bonus for me. They had an apricot gin & tonic, which was an easy pick for multiple reasons. I feel like apricot is such an underutilized fruit, and i get so excited whenever I see it somewhere. It was delicious. And I forget the name of the other one, but there was fire. Fire is cool when it's used in an artistic way. That's all I'll say. Nero was already an awesome place, and I'm glad they're back. But to have a new speakeasy in the fold too? What a winner. If my list is up-to-date, DC officially has 30 speakeasies -- or places that identify as speakeasies. Gotta try em all! read more

I walked in on a Saturday night only to find that it was pretty empty, just a few people present. I was excited because it has a nice aesthetic and the drinks on the page looked great. Upon entering I grabbed a seat at the bar and the service was not welcoming. The bartender provided a glass of water and a menu without saying a word and returned about 10 minutes later to say "do you know what you want already?", which is also not welcoming. Anyways, I ordered a Fig Sour which took long to craft, but it was good. The drink was not overly sweet and was well balanced. I was pleased with the drink but wasn't planning to stay for another because of the service. Had the service been more friendly and welcoming this place would surely get 5 stars. However, that wasn't my experience and was enough for me to decide not to return. read more

One of my friends and I went and had a great time. We started on the second floor for happy hour and then transitioned to the speakeasy after that. I wish I remembered everyone's name that we interacted with because they were amazing. I think one of the servers was named Olía. She was so helpful, explained the wine bar process, provided recommendations, and overall provided a great experience. The food was soooo delicious! The only hiccup was that the kitchen did not put the sausage on the pepperoni and sausage pizza so they brought it on the side. It was a nice and comfortable space to catch up with my friend and then the speakeasy was still good to chat but the vibe was cozier. read more

Nero - PRODEZZA (I think) - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This review is for Sabina - the speakeasy located on the lower level of Nero and it gets 5 stars from me mostly because I LOVED the ambiance - the drinks were good too!! When you step inside, you're greeted to a very dimly lit space with low lights and candles all around, creating a warm glow that adds to the cozy atmosphere. I loved the reddish hue from the candles that added to the intimate and welcoming vibe. The space feels exclusive and personal with very limited seating so make sure to book your reservations in advance! I loved the whole vibe - it's perfect for date nights or a small intimate birthday celebration or get together with friends. The drinks were creative and delicious. I had a few of one particularly cocktail called the Ignis which had a mix of bourbon, black cardamom, demerara, peat, sandalwood, smoke and gold - yes gold. It was really good. While it's on the pricier side, I think it's worth it especially for a special night out. Just be mindful if you're watching your budget. I wasn't the biggest fan of the truffle fries but my friends devoured them. haha. Overall, I loved Sabina. It's ambiance and unique atmosphere made it stand out to me. I'll definitely be returning - add it to the top of my list! read more

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Avoid - poor service, can't be bothered to make your food, cocktails 6/10 had a very bad Saturday night experience. Brussel sprouts were good read more

Popped into Nero on a late night after a show at the Kennedy Center. I have a list of places I want to try and this was one. Had some pizza and truffle fries with my partner. Pretty good, would like to try other things on the menu as these two things were good but pretty standard however their kitchen was closing soon and we needed to rush our order so not sure if that had anything to do with it. The drinks were great, again, another thing I would love to come back and try. When we walked in, my partner and I loved the ambiance. It's dark and has a very lowkey date night feel. The place is a lot smaller than I imagined but has a cozy vibe. Im inclined to give this place 3 stars as the food we had was average and our 1 evening out as parents was disturbed by some girls sitting at the bar talking about their love lives at full volume. At some points my partner and I could not hear one another and we were sitting so close to each other at the bar that our knees were touching (they were LOUD). Which turned the nice lowkey date night spot into more of a college bar (y'all know what I'm talking about). I realllllyyy wanted to love this place and wanted to have more drinks here before heading out but I think I'm gonna have to be back to give it another try because our first experience was more annoying than enjoyable due to the other guests and we ended up rushing out of there. Side-note: I feel there should be a rule at certain bars like these that if guests 3 seats down from you can hear your conversation, the staff needs to tell you to please keep it down. Idk, is it just me? Anyway, we'll give it another try. read more

Nero - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's Mr Speakeasy at another Speakeasy. Nero is a nice,relaxing bar that deals with specialty drinks, wine and more. Bridget, ori, crystal and ashley had fantastic customer service and made sure we were taken care of. Definitely a fun experience. read more

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The speakeasy in the basement is amazing! The drinks are delicious and service is even better. Bartenders are very knowledgeable and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Nero - Bar on fire - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This review is only for the drinks, as we arrived after the kitchen closed. We were looking for a cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes and this definitely fit the bill, but not quite an actual speakeasy. We learned from the bartender that they do have a speakeasy in the basement - we were on the first floor where there is a large bar and high-top tables on the other side. Dim lighting and candles add to the ambiance. Service was a bit slow because it was just the bartender, but then again, it was also a Monday night there was only one other group there, but they were seated at the bar. The menu seems South Asian-inspired with chai, assam, and cardamom. I ended up getting the smoked old-fashioned and was very pleased with it - if you like smokey drinks, this one hits all the right notes. My two friends who joined me also enjoyed their drinks. Overall, this was a great experience! We read more

A few friends and I went to Nero around happy hour and were seated upstairs in the wine bar area (Sabina wasn't yet open, and the bar area by the entrance was full). Our server, John, was amazing -- incredibly warm, friendly, and patient. He made the experience a really positive one overall. We ordered some chai espresso martinis and were unfortunately pretty disappointed with those; the "chai" element seemed to be missing entirely and even if we weren't counting on that, we've definitely had much better espresso martinis elsewhere. It made us wish we'd tried other drinks off the happy hour menu instead (alas). The truffle mushroom pizza, however, was fantastic. It was fairly small, more like a personal pizza really, but super tasty. A bit on the greasy side but flavorful enough that we didn't mind. I'd totally get that again. I loved the dark, cavernous, moody vibes of the place. Definitely a nice setting, would probably be perfect for a date night. The noise levels were also great; the music was decently loud, but not so loud that we had to work hard to hear each other speak. This is a huge priority for me these days and I really appreciated the balance that they struck. Wouldn't be rushing to return per se, but would certainly not mind going back again! I'd probably try to hit up Sabina next time. read more

Wonderful evening at Nero. Environment is chill. Service was outstanding. Food was off the hook! Drinks were great. A great experience in downtown DC! Really. read more

Would give a zero if I could. Yelped and this came up. Looked cool was SUPPOSED to be open. Ordered Uber asap to make it before closing on a Monday at 11. Arrived at 1015 only for doors to be locked. :-(. Disappointing to say the least walked 2 blocks and found rewind instead. Thanks for nothing Nero! read more

It can be a great place if you want a dark exclusive speakeasy vibe with good drinks. It is also a great place to overhear the female bartenders talk about their various hookups and say terrible things behind each others' backs. I came here again on a date, and it was the same experience as the first time I came. This time I found it weirdly interesting, so I guess it is not the worst thing ever. They are very pushy about asking people to write positive reviews and to mention their names. They didn't ask us, perhaps they correctly sensed that we weren't into them. So, yes Winky, Blinky, and Pinky, you seem to be able to perform your jobs, but seriously, turn down the volume and the negativity. read more

happy valentines from me and Nero - and from the EDM playlist they oddly blasted throughout the romantic dimly lit townhouse .... - besides that odd choice, I was pleasantly surprised. the ambiance was very cool, multiple stories within a townhouse (and a dark spooky speakeasy in the basement) with pretty bars and an entire wall with electronic wine pourers. a tv playing black and white skits, super cool tbh - the menu is on the smaller side, the fried artichokes were light, crispy on the outside while maintaining a delicate warm artichoke heart filling - I didn't love the meatballs, nothing special and tasted rubbery like fake meat to me. but my dining companion was a fan! - the pizzas were personal size on the thin crispy crusts. the truffle pizza had the perfect amount of truffle flavor balanced with the salty cheese and savory refreshing mushrooms - we got dessert pizza?!? when is the last time you've seen that?!? same light flakey crispy crust (I think they should make the crust more sugary and different from the normal pizza crust) with warm strawberries, mascarpone, Nutella. so fun. a better quality spin on a fast casual dessert idea. - good espresso martini ($15) and smokey old fashion. service was attentive but each person who came to the table told us about the 2 hour limit.. we heard you the first time and there are empty tables...waitress could have introduced herself/given suggestions/anything more involved read more

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The prosciutto, arugula, cherry, balsamic pizza was excellent! Our server was friendly and she made sure we had what we needed.! I gave it a 4 star because their scented candles were too strong. I enjoy pleasant smells but this was too much, I kept wanting to open their door to get some fresh air. Overall I would definitely go back. read more

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Went to Sabina, waited 30 minutes to be attended to. Drinks were over priced and terrible. Staff was rude. Tried to make me and my girlfriend move tables for another couple after they sat us in that exact table. Will never be back and I would never recommend anyone to come here. 4 drinks was 100 dollars with terrible rude service. read more

It's a true to heart speakeasy. The drinks are amazing, and lots of options for all types of fancy drink lovers!! The bites we had are all incredible, and the atmosphere is comfy, dark and sultry. Would be great for a first date. The service was amazing and very helpful. read more

Nero - The basement speakeasy - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There was a rock in my food. I understand things happen... but they didn't seem nearly as concerned about it as I would think. They removed the one appetizer with a rock from my tab, but honestly if you have a ROCK in your food, I'd expect the entire tab (rock food and 2 beers) to be comped. Again I get things happen, but the owner didn't seem too concerned about a ROCK in a customers food. The bartenders also just seemed annoyed to have customers (even before the rock situation) read more

Only commenting on the speakeasy but the ambiance is perfect for a date night. There are a few aromatic drinks which definitely improve upon the sensory experience. The staff seemed to be relatively new so drinks were moving a bit slow, but they were good so no complaints. I ordered the Neros Revenge and the Ignis, both of which were strong, interesting, and well balanced. read more

The service was great but the interior is quite dark. The wines were very good but they had a limited selection. The place has a lot of tall tables and steep stairs so it isn't accessible to all. The food selection was an eclectic mix of Italian and Indian fusion. I enjoyed my time there with. read more

Ok. Important to preface this, I went here for a happy hour and had NO idea about the multiple other floors. So we missed out on a lot of the establishment. We had a table on the upper floor and ordered a number of items off the happy hour menu. I think happy hour is worthwhile, but otherwise the food is far too expensive (pizzas are essentially personal sized). We had a good time, and it sounds like I need to come back and check out the other floors as that may be the whole appeal! read more

Nero - Espresso Martini - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My husband and I used to go to Nero all the time when it was on Connecticut Ave and this was our first time visiting the new location. We had some wine on the top floor and then had a cocktail in the basement. Overall, the drinks and ambience were great but they could definitely use a few more staff members. We were waiting a while for our order to be taken and to get the bill. The staff were very friendly though. 2 suggestions: I think the sound system is connected for the entire building but the wine bar would be more fitting with jazz or calmer music. It was a little weird to be sitting in a cozy wine bar with edm/club music playing. Also, the bathroom needed more light, it was so dark. The only light came from a small candle on the sink and very very dimly lit sconces. The mirror in the bathroom is pointless if you can't see anything. We will definitely go back but maybe on a weeknight when it is less busy so staff isn't stretched too thin. read more

Nero - Speakeasy - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went here for my birthday and they were super accommodating! We started out at the wine tap room where the service was great and the staff was so friendly! They had a lot of wines to choose from. My only negative feedback is that the wine pours are pretty pricy for the size you get. I really enjoyed the cake and champagne for all my friends as a birthday treat! Then we went to the super cute speak easy downstairs. The drinks were fantastic! The bartenders did a cool fire show which was entertaining. Would definitely come back! read more

Speak Easy I admire the concept and the idea is wonderful but the service falls short as the bar tenders are also waiting the tables (2 bartenders and 10 tables and about 15 barstools). A hidden door does not make a speak easy. In all fairness, the cocktails were crafted well. Seating is crowded, and it's too dark to even read the drink menu. You are essentially sitting on top of one another. The bar decor is an honest attempt to capture that vibe, just not quite there. The music is lively it was a little loud for me and my wife. 3 drinks and olives and almonds $77 not including tip. Wouldn't go back. read more

The Nero is such a fun spot. The service was so friendly and really added to the night. Meti was so fun to talk to and definitely cares about the customers. We will absolutely be back and can't wait to spend another night there! read more

The restaurant itself is nice. I guess you would say the food is good for the price paid. I would personally rather pay a little more for better quality food. The gnocchi was our favorite. The pizza was too doughy in the center and was not properly cooked. Brussels sprouts were ok. Didn't eat all of them if that helps. Had to ask for our meatballs three times before we got and they came after the pizza. They were descent but the sauce was too sweet imo. The wine room with the self serve machines has an incredible selection of Italian wines. You could enjoy the variety in small dispenses to arrive at a favorite. Aeperol Spritz's were supposed to be $9 at HH. First bill they charged us $13 each. Second corrected bill, they went down to $12. Didn't have time to question the bill a third time to get the $9 price advertised at the front door and online. Moral- You get what you pay for!!!!! read more

Went this past weekend to try the wine taproom, but despite the fact we had made a reservation for 10pm and had arrived early, the taproom was closed and we were not notified! Thankfully, the hostesses were very apologetic and showed us to the speakeasy. All the staff was very nice and the ambiance was so nice in the bar too. Drinks were also really great. Just wish we were notified about the taproom!!! read more