Big fan of the Betsy! I have been dying to try it since I am a huge Gin fan and I had heard it was…read morea Gin bar. I can confirm that the drinks are delicious as is the food. While I love a good Gin cocktail, oddly Gin and Tonics are not my favorite, well that was until I had an Earl Grey Gin and Tonics from the Betsy. It was incredible, highly highly recommend!! Very much looking forward to going back and trying more of their cocktails.

I came here with some friends for birthday drinks and it was nice! It was a chilly night and the…read moresliding door doesn't fully close but they have multiple space heaters. It's a very cozy space but they were able to accommodate 6 of us. I'm still confused about the chicken theme! I wish it was explained somewhere on the menu or website but the chicken decor was wild. They are mainly a gin bar which I loved! We all tried the happy cocktail which is bartender's choice. The day we went was a pink citrus creation and it was delish. There were only two bartenders working but they had our drinks out quick and were attentive! This would definitely be a cute bar for a cozy date or a summer night.

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!

LGBTQ+ bar/restaurant and club on the second floor. Food is not bad and if you like coffee they…read morehave a great selection of coffee. Cute place on 8th St SE.

Stopped in for a quick bite and drink. Fun space, nice staff, and vegan options! They have…read morecoffee/tea/alcohol which is great for a long hang out with friends.

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!

I have been going to Barrel since they opened in the mid 2010s. As someone who loves whiskey this…read moreis the place to go for a range of offerings. The bar staff has always been knowledgeable on providing recommendations. For instance, they were the first place I tried the Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon. While it's not something I get frequently, since then I treat myself to it every full moon. They have selections from around the world and I have sent many friends here and they have been impressed. Also while their menu seems small-please know everything they offer that they do very well. The burger is delicious, the fries, the mac and cheese and wings are some of my favorite items. Go and enjoy!

Brunchy fried rice was good. It was well seasoned but a bit spicy per some chopped chilies. I would…read moresay it's an overall medium spice level. They have varied menu options for all appetites. Service is great. Employees friendly. Great ambiance inside with their seating, bar, and decor.

Came here to meet up with a friend who lives down here in DC. When I looked at the pictures, I…read morethought it would be boring and wanted to choose another place, but it actually turned out pretty well. It was relatively empty upstairs because the NBA Finals game had not started yet, but it picked up shortly thereafter. They have two large couches, which allowed us both to be comfortable, but also watch the game. The music wasn't too loud and we could hear each other. The food was okay-- I would say I've had better Mac n Cheese, but it was cool. My friend enjoyed her sandwich, my other friend opted not to eat. What I found to be a nice touch was they offered the option for each person to pay their own tab, which I found out, at the end, when my friend and I went to close out the tab.

Great little bar with super nice bartenders! We popped in…read morehere before (and after!) dinner nearby and had some great cocktails. Nice selection of spirits and beer. My bourbon/maple/cinnamon drink was lovely!!

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.

This place is magic. The wine selection is tops. The…read morebartenders can make a mean martini And they have and I'm serious, the best shrimp taco in DC Enjoy!

I visited The Eastern last Sunday for some chilled wine on a hot day. The Eastern is a wine bar in…read moreEastern Market, and it has an incredible and very interested wine list. (They also had food, but I was just there to cool down over some wine.) I love that their menu is divided so helpfully ("If you like... Chardonnay," "If you like... Chilled Red"). They were out of several of their wines (all the chilled reds, I believe), but they still had plenty to choose from. I ordered two different wines from "If you like... Getting a Little Weird," because I do like getting a little weird with wine. I had a glass of a Usonia wine (Cayuga) and a McPherson Cellars wine (Marsanne). Both were as promised - great and a little weird. The service was good, and the bar had great vibes and indoor and outdoor seating. I sat at the inside bar and read my book over two glasses of wine. I'd come back and repeat this over and over. I look forward to trying more of their wines.

This used to be a great spot to relax and enjoy cocktails. Unfortunately, a lot has changed since…read morethe owner, Keith McNally was actively involved, onsite and DJing regularly. Lately, the bar frequently runs out of ingredients needed for its signature cocktails, certain food items, service has become noticeably slower, and staff turnover appears to be high. When the owner was more present, the experience felt polished, the menu was consistently available, and customer service was top-notch. Today, it feels like the attention to detail is gone. What was once an elegant cocktail destination now feels more like an overpriced dive bar.

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.

Super cute spot! We had reservations for 5:00 p.m. and were surprised to find the bar already…read morepacked and most of the tables full. I guess everyone was escaping DC's 104-degree heat. My friend and I ordered from the happy hour menu and shared a few items. We had a couple of Hugo Spritzes, sliders, fries, and wings, and everything was delicious. The service was friendly, and our waitress was attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere was lively, and people kept coming in throughout the evening, which says a lot. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'll definitely be back.

After months of hearing great things about Lobby Bar, I finally had the chance to go for dinner. My…read moreparty of four was seated in the back corner of the restaurant, and we were very comfortable. The menu is extensive, which made it tough to decide since everything sounded so appetizing. We all ordered drinks, and my caper martini was delicious. We chose to share appetizers, and both the tuna tartare and the bacon were excellent. The Caesar salad, however, was just okay, with no croutons and mostly cheese, so it felt unbalanced. My friends also shared the nuggets, which they enjoyed. Overall, the food, drinks, and atmosphere were great. Unfortunately, the service fell short. It took a long time to get anyone's attention, and we did not have a consistent server throughout the meal.