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    Proper Bar

    4.2 (51 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

    Proper Bar Photos

    PROPER BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Proper Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lobster Mac
    Brooke S.

    To start, we sat for a while without being acknowledged, we were about to leave when our server came over and filled our water. Eventually the manager came over and apologized for our wait and gave us complementary corn bread. Aside from the miscommunication on the restaurant/ servers, food (lobster Mac, and smash burger with fries) and drinks were good.

    Darien C.

    Proper bar is so classy from the furniture to the elegant bar, to the piano laid out perfectly. The food was really good be challenged my pallet in the best way. Service is good, Ethan helped me out and was great. Definitely a good place to go for happy hour or a nice dinner.

    Meka M.

    Proper Bar in DC is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels inviting and lively, making it a perfect spot for a night out with friends or a casual dinner. The food here is truly spectacular. If you love dill, their pasta is an absolute must-try, full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and unlike anything else you'll find around the city. Every dish I've tried has been thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, showing they really care about quality. The drinks are amazing too. Creative, well crafted, and perfectly balanced, they pair effortlessly with the menu and really elevate the whole experience. Overall, Proper Bar hits all the marks: incredible food, standout drinks, and a vibrant yet welcoming atmosphere. Definitely one of the best spots in DC, and I can't wait to go back!

    Marry Mae
    Jamie B.

    I visited Proper Bar with a group of 7 for a 5:30 PM Saturday happy hour, and it ended up being the perfect time to go. It was still pretty empty, so we had room to relax, take photos, and really enjoy ourselves. The atmosphere here is so beautiful, intimate, and cozy. The interior design is immaculate. It's swanky and intentional with perfect lighting and attention to detail. It feels upscale but still warm and inviting, and it's absolutely the kind of place you'll want photos in. The food and cocktails were just as impressive. I tried the Patatas Bravas (potatoes with lemon aioli, smoked paprika, and brava sauce) and the Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp with garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon). Both dishes were absolutely delicious. I think I could have eaten three orders of the Patatas Bravas all on my own--they were definitely a crowd pleaser. Service was prompt, warm, and attentive throughout. Overall, such a great experience! I'd definitely come back next time I'm in D.C.

    Resturant inside
    Shinada P.

    My first visit was for a New Year's dinner, and I absolutely loved the ambiance. The lighting, décor, and overall aesthetic were beautiful -- dark, calming, and relaxing. The atmosphere alone makes you want to stay awhile. Even though they were hosting large parties and preparing for a New Year's holiday event later that evening, we were seated quickly. The staff was communicative about the upcoming events, which we appreciated, and we still had a wonderful experience. My food was really good -- no complaints. The bread was delicious, and while the Smashburger was a bit messy to eat, it was still flavorful and satisfying. The drinks were also well done. I'll definitely be back to try other entrées and would love to explore their happy hour options as well. Overall, a great experience and one I would recommend.

    Menu
    Ama A.

    My night started in the back at a private birthday party, and we eventually made our way to dinner, best decision. Even though they were short-staffed, the team worked seamlessly together and communicated well, so nothing felt chaotic or dysfunctional. For dinner, I had the Pesto Campanelle, and it was so effortlessly good I could've easily ordered a second portion. Absolutely delicious. The ambiance here is spot-on: perfect lighting, not too loud, and close seating that still feels comfortable. You can actually have a conversation without feeling awkward. A great all-around experience. I'll definitely be back.

    Tyquain M.

    I came with a friend to celebrate us graduating with our masters degrees/my birthday. This place is beautifully designed and customer service was excellent. Our server, Marian (spellcheck) gave us great suggestions to try as first timers. Because of her we ended up trying Patatas Bravas, Confit Tomato & Cucumbe, Gambas Al Ajillo, Pappardelle Bolognese, Tiger Prawn Tagliatelle and everything was soooo delicious. We ended up meeting the owner, Will who was gracious enough to talk with us and offer us dessert on the house. Truly worth trying!

    Happy hour
    Victoria M.

    I've been wanting to try this bar out for a while, so decided to pop in on my way home. I set up the bar, and I really took in the decor. It's a very cool spot. They paid a lot of attention to the design concept. I wouldn't say it's super dark in there, but it's definitely a more dim lit place that pushes you to unwind a little bit more and allows. You to relax. Even walking in, it definitely feels like a cooler, more relaxed spot. The service was spot on. As soon as I sat down on the bar, the bartender greeted me within the first few minutes and provided me menus. I do love that they have happy hour every day of the week. The options are pretty good too, with some wine and cocktails. I ordered a glass of wine, and then ordered their version of a coffee based martini. Both were very delicious and served very nicely. Overall, the ambience is very nice. I would definitely return. This is a spot where you can go in and grab a drink by yourself, or with a smaller group of friends. If the latter, I would make a reservation. Also, while I did not order any food, the man next to me had ordered a few bites and everything looked and smelled amazing. The food when I looked at the menu looked to be more Spanish influenced based.

    Ren R.

    Amazing service, great drinks, great food (the fries!!), cute interior. Was nearly empty on a Saturday night but nice that it wasn't too loud.

    Wagyu smash burger
    Rachel R.

    Came here with 3 of my friends while I was visiting DC from out of town and it ended up being the perfect spot to celebrate two of our birthdays. It was a newer restaurant so they had adjusted the menu/food a bit from what I saw online but everything was incredible. Katelynn was our waitress and she was the super sweet and made the whole experience feel easy and special. Food and drinks were all really good, and they gave us free champagne to celebrate and then they decorated the dessert we ordered to make the celebration even better. Overall a fun night with amazing food and ambiance!

    Kailee B.

    The food was fantastic 10/10, the service was well done my waitress Maddie was great. The space was beautiful with a old school charm i appreciate it.

    Audrey C.

    Very cute cocktail bar in DC. Came in on a Saturday without reservations and was able to be seated at the bar. Drinks were excellent albeit a bit pricey but worth it for the ambiance!

    Bolognese and tempura aspargus
    Erica R.

    Went on Super Bowl night and it was 90% empty, perfect for our Galentines dinner. The waitress was very attentive, explained the menu (everything is from scratch) and provided recommendations for us. Atmosphere and decor were excellent. Behind the bar decor was my fav. There was a pianist playing. Food and drinks were delicious and came in a timely fashion. Please don't skip the bread!

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    The food was disappointing to say the least but the waitress was very kind and attentive.

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    Ask the Community - Proper Bar

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    Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4(3.5k reviews)
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    High quality elevated diner food at a reasonable price in DC. Brunch is an option every day before…read more3:45PM. Recommend the corned beef hash. Big chunks of meat, potato with roasted onions and celery, all with a black pepper gravy. Comes with two sunny-side eggs. You will be stuffed. Biscuits are great too. Coffee is solid. Reservations by Resy. Online ordering here https://order.online/store/unconventional-diner-washington-295238

    True to its name, Unconventional Diner is not your average brunch spot - it delivers on fun and…read moreunique dishes (available until 3:45pm). The Tikka dish with fried egg was tasty, but wish paneer or larger protein option was built-in (not an upcharge)! The creamy red Tikka curry sauce, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, and fried ere tasty and paired well, the dish felt incomplete and something was missing, maybe some paneer or naan? I paid $5 for a side of zesty naan topped with different spices and really wish it came with the dish just came with it. While I was tempted to order the falafel, I couldn't justify shelling out another $5 for another upcharge and spend $10 on them for a total of $26 for just an entree - when these 2 upcharges should have been included in the entree by default. Wish there were more fun vegetarian dishes on the menu. Might come back for drinks and to explore the menu!

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    The Hamilton - District Wings

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    The Hamilton - Live…read more Being a fan of both the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan, I paid $40 for general seated admission to see Steeley Dead, performing at The Hamilton - Live. The music venue is located below the Hamilton, a storied dining experience in the 600 block of 14th Street in D.C. Doors would open at 6:30 p.m. for a performance that would begin, right on time, at 8 p.m. I travel alone, and prefer not to join tables, opting instead to sit where single seats are available. The Hamilton - Live offers both: most of the seating is in groups of 4- or 6-seat benches where groups gather, and there are rows of single seats on a slight rise above the forward seating, offering a great view of the stage and the screens above the stage. I arrived around 7 p.m. Within minutes Marie greeted me with a menu and instructions to post a card on a holder at my place, signaling her to stop by to take my order. The menu was eclectic, with sushi, pizza, tacos, salads, wings, cheeseburger sliders, and nachos. There are robust vegetarian and gluten-free selections, and a fully licensed bar. I placed the card in the holder at my seat and Marie returned to take my order: sushi - shrimp tempura ($14), with a can of Nutrl Pineapple ($8) and a double G&T ($23.18). The crowd was gathering, and the attending wait staff were moving with speed, filling orders. My meal arrived in great shape about 15 minutes after I placed the order. Nicely executed sushi! Sound quality in the venue is great, and the restroom was clean and well lit. And as the catalogues of both the Dead and Steely Dan inspire dancing, the dance floor was filled right from the start. The band's vibe was low key and spontaneous, with lots of smiling on the dance floor. Total with a 22% tip was $79 (which included a white Russian nightcap). Reasonable fare for the DMV. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft are readily available from the venue.

    So happy I was finally able to check out the Hamilton!…read more Came here on a solo date and had a great experience. When I walked in, I was greeted by the wonderful staff. The time I came in was when they were getting ready for dinner so I promptly sat at the bar. The menu for the Hamilton is extensive and I was presently surprised at all the options I had. I loved that the sushi was half off and vowed to come back to try it. For this visit, I had the pork chop and the crab fried rice. For an appetizer, I had the crab soup. Everything was delicious and came out promptly. The flavoring of the food was amazing and I had leftovers to take home. I will definitely be back!

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    The Hamilton - The bar and partial dining area.

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    The Hamilton - Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

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    Ted's Bulletin 14th

    Ted's Bulletin 14th

    4.0(2.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    Large group friendly
    Happy hour specials

    5/5 dining experience. High top tables were great for seating 4. Both the server and the hostess…read morewere very nice. Recommend making a reservation because it gets busy! Chicken and waffles meal was really delicious! The farmer's scramble was really nice as well, and it had a ton of vegetables. Really loved the vegetarian options! Breakfast is available all day. Pop tart was so delicious that we got two more to go. Enjoyed the blueberry, peach, and cherry. These are rotated out seasonally! The strawberry milkshake was a nice portion and they even brought out the extra in another glass.

    I'm new to DC, only been to Ted's twice. The first time I got an absolutely perfect breakfast…read moreburrito. The second time I got the brunch pasta (with maple breakfast sausage- such a unique offering) and washed it down with a downright heavenly Cinnamon Toast Crunch-inspired boozy milkshake. Love the food so much that I insisted on bringing some out-of-town friends here for brunch on a Saturday. I noted the 75-minute dining limit in the OpenTable confirmation, which we had every intention of respecting, so I was a little miffed when the host came by very soon after we paid (about 45 minutes into the reservation) and asked if there was anything else they could do for us (the polite way of saying "get out, we need your table"). We definitely got the message, kind of laughed about it, and my friend got up to use the restroom before we left. On his way back he saw some of the staff pointing at our table and referring to us as the ones who refused to leave. I would understand if we'd sat there yapping for two hours, but 45 minutes was too soon to put on the pressure. Being made to feel unwelcome immediately after taking the last sip or bite cast a pall over an otherwise fantastic meal.

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    Ted's Bulletin 14th
    Ted's Bulletin 14th
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    ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando

    ChurchKey

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
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    Great local bar with large rotating craft beer selection. Highly recommend for any beer…read moreenthusiast. They have wine and cocktails as well. They are happy to recommend beer for your taste, and let you sample. It can be very busy and difficult to get a seat at the bar or get a table on a Friday or Saturday evening. We ordered food, and were expecting elevated bar food. The tater tots were a huge disappointment- they were very large squares , bland, and not crispy. The wings were okay. The cheeseburgers were the best- from the restaurant downstairs- mallard. Huge burger, done perfectly medium.

    Here's a review written as part of a visit to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley (the downstairs…read morerestaurant -- together they form the "2 Enjoy Everything" concept by Neighborhood Restaurant Group): A DC Gem That Delivers on Every Level If you haven't made it to Churchkey on 14th Street yet, move it to the top of your list. I visited as part of the full experience -- dinner downstairs at Birch & Barley, then up to Churchkey for drinks -- and honestly, it's one of the best evenings I've had in DC. Churchkey itself is everything a great bar should be. The beer selection is absolutely unreal -- hundreds of carefully curated labels spanning every style, region, and flavor profile you can imagine. What sets it apart is that the staff actually knows the menu. Our server walked us through a few options based on what we liked and landed us on perfect picks both times. That kind of genuine expertise is rare. The tavern pizzas from the wood-fired oven were a wonderful surprise -- thin, crispy, and the perfect companion to a cold draft. The smash burger also deserves a mention: simple, well-executed, and hits the spot. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming. Great for a date, a group, or even just sitting at the bar solo with a good beer and good conversation with the bartender. This place has earned its reputation as one of the best beer bars on the East Coast -- and then some. Highly recommend making a full night of it with both floors. You won't regret it. Feel free to adjust the tone or add any personal details from your actual visit!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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    The Smith - Chicken

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    3.9(1.8k reviews)
    0.6 miPenn Quarter
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    We stopped in for Happy Hour. Or as they call it "Martini Happy Hour."…read moreWe enjoyed a dirty vodka martini and a dirty blue Martini - made with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a bleu cheese vermouth. Nicely priced at $12 each. Also served with the cocktails were a bottle of still and a bottle of sparkling water - very welcomed on our August 20,000 step sight-seeing tour. We ordered the $12 shrimp cocktail - 5 decent shrimp with two sauces. The $7 fries were insane! If we're in the area again on this trip, we'll definitely stop in again for Martini Happy Hour.

    Dined in restaurant on a Saturday around 8pm. When I approached the hostess table, she asked "table…read morefor 2?" even though I was by myself. She was most likely on auto pilot and appeared embarrassed when she realized it. I politely smiled and said (confidently), table for 1. We solo diners need to be loud and proud! I digress... Before being seated I found the restroom. I found it odd that it was extremely dim. The main dining room was brighter than the restroom! I also saw the Photo Booth. Interesting addition. $5 for pictures. I was seated at a small round table with two chairs by the window. The restaurant was plenty busy, and I'm just glad I wasn't asked if I wanted to sit at the bar (I didn't). My server Noel brought two bottles of water: still and sparkling. I requested lemon slices, which he brought. And I proceeded to finish the entire bottle of sparkling by the end of the meal...guess I was thirsty! But I appreciated the option of both. I forgot to ask for a straw, but saw them in a container at the register right behind my table, so I got one myself. After ordering I noticed a nearby table had some bread so I asked Noel if they served complimentary bread. He said yes and apologized for not bringing it initially. Not that I needed it, but I don't eat bread with butter often and this was a night out to indulge a bit. There were two slices, nothing special. My food arrived within about 10-15 minutes and looked so scrumptious. I ordered the lamb and short rib meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs were pretty good, but what made them even better was the tzatziki sauce. I didn't realize the green rice was on one side of the plate until I was almost done. That tzatziki sauce was really all I needed to go with the meatballs. It was cool and creamy to go with the dry, meatiness of the meatballs. I honestly wish there had been more of it! I did not finish the rice, which didn't look super appetizing because of the intense green color. I will say though, I'm not a fan of spicy food but the tzatziki had a kick. I think perhaps due to chopped jalapeños. I tried to avoid them once I realized. The Brussels were delicious! Roasted to perfection, not too charred and not too mushy. I requested the green goddess sauce on the side because I'm not a huge sauce person, but once I tried it, I couldn't stop. Again, the combination of the creaminess of the sauce with the flakiness of the Brussels was a genius pairing. During the meal the beverage manager stopped by. I didn't have any drinks with the meal, but perhaps I will return to see what they have. Noel brought the bill at my request, then brought over the portable device so I could pay at the table. While that process is efficient, it's always awkward leaving a tip when the server is standing right there. Anyhow, overall it was a good experience and a delicious meal!

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    The Smith - 3/27/25 At the bar!

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    The Capital Burger - Our namesake burger is served French onion-style with caramelized onions, Wisconsin Grand Cru gruyère and shallot aioli.

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    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    This place is sooo good! Perfect ambiance, the vibe is kind of a modern pub without being dark and…read moredreary, big comfortable booths, plenty of space to not feel like you're part of someone else's conversation. Honestly we were so pleasantly surprised by how good the burgers are! I had the Capital Burger which had such incredible flavor and the burger itself is thick and juicy. Despite having just had a big dinner somewhere else, as I write this, my mouth is watering. My daughter had the wild mushrooms burger and she loved it -- the aioli had the perfect tang to go with the mushroom and Swiss, both burgers were cooked perfectly medium as requested. The old fashioned was just your typical old fashioned with a slice of candied bacon attached to the outside of the glass. We were hoping for something smokier and a little different but it was still a very good Old Fashioned. We shared the chocolate mousse and it was perfection. Yum! If I lived here this would be my new regular spot.

    I'll keep it simple here: the burger was legit. I really enjoyed it and I would definitely order…read morefrom here again. The fries were good too. Plus we had a good time dining outside while the weather was nice. They also made a solid strong old fashioned which i would come back for. Overall good burger, good fries and good drinks. What more can you ask for?

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    The Capital Burger - Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

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    The Capital Burger - The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

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    The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

    Proper Bar - bars - Updated August 2026

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