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.

Still loving this place! The "how you doin" is such a special drink. So unique! I wasn't super…read morecrazy about the "could I be wearing anymore clothes," as it was bitter and overly strong on lime. But I will come back for other drinks and especially how you doin'. Unagi and pivot were both good too. The baguette was super fresh and absolutely amazing. Both spreads were also good. The cheese waffles were good small. The mussels were great quality but the sauce was rather tasteless.

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!

Great little place for a delicious cocktail. The bartenders are super friendly and create a great…read moreatmosphere to relax. A favorite in the Navy Yard.

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 ordered the Sophie Rose cocktail and the berry cobbler. My drink was sweet, tart, and tasty. I…read moreloved the berry cobbler for dessert! The vanilla ice cream paired so well with the warm cobbler. It came with a very generous portion of mixed berries. The tartness balanced out the sweetness. The waiters nice and there were a lot of tables. The bar was pretty packed though and is first come first serve.

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.

This place was cozy and very vibey inside. I was seated on the couch with my friend, which was a…read morebit low but comfy. We ordered our drinks and madeleines. Our drinks were tasty, although the drink size itself was smaller than I'd like for the price, especially with the ice. The madeleines never showed up until we asked another waitress about it, so we got them for free because of the delay. They were tasty on their own without the given chocolate sauce, honestly. Price for them is not worth it though. Cute spot for a girls' night, but may be a one and done kind of spot for me.

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.

Overall Rating: 2/5 Stars…read more Fell victim to the Instagram hype reel and stopped by Lobby Bar specifically for their viral hot dog, only to find out it doesn't clock in until the 4:00 PM evening shift. Tough start, but we pivoted to brunch--where we quickly learned their social media manager deserves a massive raise, because the kitchen and floor staff are playing an entirely different game. The Breakdown: Steak & Eggs: Billed as "Wagyu," which feels like a wildly generous label for what showed up. Ordered rare, arrived proudly at least medium well. The scrambled eggs were decent, but when the side salad and dressing are unironically the absolute highlight of your steak plate... Mother of Dragons: Marketed with a house pineapple-habanero-lime mix, but delivered approximately zero heat. The "dragon" was apparently just a lonely, decorative micro-pepper chilling on top of an iceberg-sized ice cube that took up 95% of the short tumbler. Pure aesthetics, zero kick. The Mimosa: Fresh juice, sure, but nobody warned us it doubled as a smoothie with all that pulp. Worse, the juice-to-champagne ratio leaned way too heavy on the mixer. The Coffee: Stale, burnt diner energy. Dropped off without a spoon or a backward glance to see if we needed anything else. Service & Vibe: It was a ghost town for a holiday weekend, yet somehow service felt like an uphill marathon. Slow pacing, missed check-ins, and zero attention to detail. When the dining room is that empty, you'd expect the staff to at least notice your steak didn't match the order. Lobby Bar is great at looking photogenic on your feed, but if you're expecting the food and hospitality to match the online theatrics, prepare to be humbled. Save your camera roll and skip the brunch.