Important context: I am in my 30s and came here around 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday with a friend who had been over a decade prior and enjoyed it. I was expecting chill beer garden vibes, which has been the case at other similar spots I have been to. Sauf Haus was definitely not that, though part of it was definitely on us for not doing our research. Others have mentioned the two steep staircases. I happened to be in an unfortunate position where I have a knee injury and was in a brace, so that was challenging. Now, that isnt something my friend had remembered about Sauf Haus and I didnt think to look it up, so that is on me. I was able to make it up, but it was challenging. It seemed entirely inaccessible for those who have a disability (permanent or temporary) that renders them unable to go up stairs. When we got to the top, the first bartender we encountered seemed to be inconvenienced by us ordering. The bartenders we encountered in the outside area and later in the indoor portion were friendlier/more helpful, though. There was also a day party going on with a loud DJ, lots of dancing, and a mister/bubble machine, which is seemingly a weekly event. Again, I did not think to see if there was anything going on, and there is nothing wrong with that - it just was not what I expected in going here. What was more concerning was that, in the 2ish hours we were there, we saw at least 5 (likely more) people get kicked out. Manyyy people that i saw were struggling to stand and had the thousand yard stare in their eyes. Several people threw up. One guy straight up peed all over the floor of the men's room. Oh, and both bathrooms are left entirely open, and the men's urinals are directly inside the door. So that is all just...exposed, which I have never seen in a venue before (even at the diveiest of dives). It seemed like it was reasonable for security to kick out the people that they did, but it also seemed like bartenders were heavily overserving. And, again, this was all before 6:00 p.m., so I can only imagine it gets worse after that. They had a good beer selection and sell most beers in both .5 or 1 liter mugs. We got the 1lb soft pretzel, which came out hot and crispy. I loved that it had several different dipping sauces with it. It was tasty and reasonably priced. My friend and I were going to both get a beer flight (as advertised on the menu), but they only had one flight board available so I got a cocktail instead. They do charge a 20% "service charge" during certain hours on weekdays and all day on weekends, but they make sure to tell you that isnt a tip and that you should still tip extra. I got a couple cocktails, so my $14 drink turned into a $22 drink after tipping. The cocktails I had (Strawberry Smash and Feel the Passion) were really good. Overall, I am rating Sauf Haus a 3 because we were not their target demographic. Those in their target audience seemed to be having a great time, and I could see myself enjoying a spot like this when I was in college. But I do think there is an overserving problem and they could do better on some other customer service aspects, too, regardless. read more

The wife and I went here on a Friday night for the first time. She likes to dance so I was glad they had a large dance floor. The selection of beers was quite impressive so there's something for everyone. Staying open until 3am on Friday's and Saturday's makes this place a great venue to hang out at all night long. The security staff and waitstaff are always eager to take care of you throughout the night. Give this place your business! read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Denied entry because I "looked too young" and they "didn't want to risk it" without even scanning my ID. I'm 22 years old and have been to this location many times before. I even have a vertical ID, which makes the situation even more confusing. Am I supposed to bring my passport next time? What made the experience worse was that multiple people were being denied without any clear explanation. It honestly seemed like the guard couldn't be bothered to do his job. It's disappointing because this was the bar I used to recommend to friends, but after this experience I won't be coming back. I hope management addresses these issues so other customers don't have the same experience. read more

Amazing bier hall and garten. The happy hour deals are great as is the beer selection and food. The service is fast and friendly and ambiance is fun both inside and outside. read more

From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel completely comfortable and welcome. The service and drinks were excellent, and the bartenders were incredibly knowledgeable about the wide selection of German beers available. They were happy to offer recommendations and made the experience even better. As visitors to DC, we really appreciated how warmly we were treated -- like regulars from the start. Beyond the great staff, the friendly patrons helped create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Definitely a spot we'd recommend and look forward to visiting again! read more

This bar is very nice. Unfortunately, one person had an issue and decided to kick us out for no reason. Despite discussing with the bouncer outside (who agreed with us), unfortunately we were removed because the one person had an issue he refused to state. Other staff agreed with us and agreed to review footage to ensure we were ok (which we were). TLDR: your mileage may vary - hope you don't encounter the racist bouncer who will ask you to leave for no reason! Best of luck read more

The beer was cold, service great, for was good. Not many food options available. The climb to the top was good exercise for working up a thirst read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Bratwurst - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The service was so horrible, when I tried to enter the security guard wouldn't even look at my id, he was an African American man with dreads and tattoos. He gave my friend one look and said "I don't want to risk it", he wouldn't even give me or my friends the courtesy of checking our ID. At one point the security guard cursed at me and I was worried about my safety because he kept on ignoring I simply asked him a question why he wouldn't check my friend's IDs respectfully. Honestly I've been going to this establishment with my friends for a long time, I wanted to buy drinks. I wanted to enjoy my might, Especially because it's pride month and me and my friends were celebrating the last weekend for pride, we mentioned this to the security guard. But that seemed to irritated him more, I tried calling the establishment but they didn't respond. I hope for a reasonable explanation about this interaction that's suppose to protect the club and not threaten guests. I might have to report the bar to the DC police for further review but that just depends on the response time of the bar and their explanation. Because, if you're response is, "our security is trained and educated on the id checks and verification" then I'll need that in an email response so I can send videos and and photos of our interaction to dc police with that official response. Thank you so much! read more

We stumbled into Sauf haus (11 ladies trying to dance at 7pm...lol) after finding Decades was closed. We were happy to end up there because the roof patio had a nice mix of music for dancing and was crowded enough but not overcrowded. There's a good selection of beverages, priced fairly, and some food options including the most enormous and delicious pretzel ever. A decent cover band came in at 9pm. Good vibes and fun! read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Ridiculous pretzel as bad as two heads lol. Also tasty! - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's a casual atmosphere but good place to go with a larger group. The beer was good and so was the pretzel but I wish they gave us more of the sauces, I felt like I had to ration them a bit. read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - 1 pound Pretzel - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

NOTES: -Located up two+-ish flights of steep stairs. There are railings and grippy flooring. The bathrooms are located on the same floor once you're already in Sauf's. I'm unsure if they have an elevator to get up there, but the default is definitely the stairs. -Almost all seating is picnic-table style. The benches are mostly unattached from the tables and free-moving. Unfortunately, all of it is pretty wiggly, and it looks like it's had years of use. These are not seats I'd consider particularly "sturdy" if you're worried about breakage. PROS: -Beer flights! For $10, you can try out four of their beers - which can be really helpful if you're not familiar with German beers or flavors. (Most are pretty approachable, though!) -Really good happy hour. We came for happy hour on a Thursday, and it was dead. $3 off everything made the beers cheaper and really encouraged us to try some of their offerings. -The pretzel here is fantastic! It was served with a gooey, creamy cheese and a cup of chocolate. (More of a melted, syrup frosting than a Hershey's Syrup). If you love generous dipping, I highly recommend getting an extra cup of your desired sauce (it's an upcharge). We barely broke even on the 1/2 pound pretzel, and we definitely would have been out on all of the bigger sizes. -The "outdoor" beer garden has a really cool vibe to it. It looks like they can open the ceiling if need be, but on a rainy day, it was simply really awesome to have all of the natural light of a rooftop pouring into the area. It felt really open and welcoming. CONS: -Pretzel here is fried with a very hard, crispy outer shell. They help combat this by cutting slats in the dough to make it easier to tear and eat. It's also served with a plastic knife and fork; the plastic knife didn't really cut at all, but the fork was useful for poking and dipping. -I know some things are lost in translation, but the beer menu occasionally didn't provide enough info or name of the beer to figure out what a beer was on Untappd. We made some good guesses, but with the language barrier, we're assuming it's the equivalent of "Budweiser Lager" on an American menu - where that could be a large number of different variants. (Light? 95? Full? etc.) -Seating was relatively uncomfortable for both of us. The super flat, hard wood was uncomfortable on his smaller butt, and I was always worried it might break. We both weren't too fond of all of the wiggling it did either. It was okay for staying an hour, but it didn't encourage any marathon visits. read more

Came here for drinks and the band and it did not disappoint! The live music was great. Loud enough to rock out to but I was screaming to the people I was with. So many bartenders, so attentive. read more

Good vibes and drinks had a small issue but the manager helped out over the phone. Good bar

Went to the top floor bar - amazing music and crowd! The live band was amazing under the stars with a huge crowd dancing, very memorable

It was our first time coming to this bar and Marlyn made us feel so welcome. We love her.. she is the best read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Best bartender ever - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Marlyn amazing bartender friendly and makes amazing drinks super kind and had the best music playing read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went to this place two nights in a row. It has a strong happy hour and tends to clear out after dinner. I was one of the few people at the rooftop area at one point. There are multiple floors here but they aren't always open. Be sure and go all the way up to the top to get to the rooftop. They have live music sometimes and they have a good beer selection. Different beers at different bars there. read more

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I love coming to sauf house!!! She is amazing! Provides the best service every time I come! The food, the music, and the vibe is amazing every time I come here! read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty solid nighttime vibes here for DC nightlife. I've only been to Sauf Haus at night so can't speak to the daytime experience, but every time I've been here, I've had a good time! Was it the absolute best night out? No. But did it make me want to come back? Yes. I really like how they have live music here at night on one side of the top floor, and then DJ music on the other half so you can choose what type of vibe you like. The lower floors are also a little more chill and an actual bar vibe, whereas the top floor is where a lot of people dance. Also, they have a bubble machine that's a hit when you're a few drinks in. It can get pretty crowded and sweaty at around 11 or 12 on a weekend night, but the nice thing is you can just go to the other side or to another floor. Overall I think Sauf Haus is a pretty fun place to go for a night out and am curious to visit during the day to experience the beer garden vibes. read more

I came here on a night where there was a karaoke event. The place was PACKED! I got one drink and couldn't find a seat so I left pretty quickly after. The bartender was friendly while serving a large the crowd and my Truly was reasonably priced. I didn't mind it, but didn't have the best time. I assume this place is better when it's a bit slower - or maybe it's a standard bar. Though I don't think I'll be going back to find out :) read more

Came here with friends and the older female bouncer questioned my ID and asked for other forms of identification. I am 21 but when I offered to show her my student ID and birth certificate she declined and I waited outside while they figured it out for far too long. During this time, they let in someone I knew who was underage. Don't come here! read more

Antonio will always remember our bevs. He also will always make sure they play our music. Thank you my man! read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Janine made an amazing Feel The Passion drink. Highly recommend asking for her! She's AMAZING!!!!

Shared a few drinks and bar bites with friends. The service was good and the atmosphere was great. My only issue was the touchy bouncers. I was not touched once or twice, but I had my butt touched THREE times by a short male bouncer with glasses who was trying to get my attention. I tried to keep my composure as I didn't want to cause a scene and get my friends kicked out. I definitely will not be returning read more

I have not had service as spectacular as I have received at this place. From beer selection to decor and atmosphere--everything was truly excellent. Above all, I want to applaud Tatiana, the best bartender I have ever encountered, bar none. Her attention, personality, care, and taste made it the best night in DC for me. First place I will go to when i return to DC. read more

Phones get stolen OFTEN apparently. And security is rude to people. The bouncers are also VERY touchy and will try to kiss you when you've given no indication of wanting to be kissed. They will threaten to kick you out at any chance they will get. Have never had a worst experience at a DC bar. Will not be returning, not worth the trouble AT ALL read more

We love coming to Sauf Haus! Tati is our favorite bartender. She is so nice every time we come in.

I love the vibes of saufhaus and I come all the time, especially for the live music and the bubble gun, it's crazy fun! The service here is very average, not bad but not outstanding. Haven't had a memorable interaction with any employee. Its standard overpriced drinks, I work in a neighboring establishment and am all about upselling as a bartender myself. However, when I order a vodka cran and am charged with a Titos cran when I wanted rail- but wasn't asked and assumed I was getting rail, is annoying. You should always ask the guest what they want and not just automatically charge someone for a higher shelf bottle. Gratuity is included which I also do not love. I tend to tip 20% anyways as a service industry member however, it seems aggressive to auto - grat and charge for a premium drink on top of that. $15 vodka cran, $15 lemon drop shot. Feels crazy overpriced to me. My advice, show up not needing to purchase more drinks and enjoy the ambiance. The live bands are super fun, and it feels like a concert! read more

I had so much fun with my friends at this place, live music, cool Dj's and my bartender Tatiana was very friendly, attentive, and made sure we were taken care of the entire time. It's so refreshing to find a place where the staff truly cares. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

the absolute best service, great drinks, and amazing atmosphere. Marley was the best!!! this is my favorite place in DC!!

Tatiana was great nice service ... LOVE The atmosphere I will come back again for sure !!!

After what I considered to be a strike out at the last place visited, I diverted from my friends and came across the street. Not to worry, my friends soon joined me after. The thing I like most about the spots I have visited throughout DC is the doorman/bouncer. Sometimes they are the funniest person you will meet. Which was the case here. He kept us entertained while we were outside. Once inside, we made out way to what I would consider to be the front bar. Small, cramped, what you would expect from a German styled beer hall. Made my way to the bar and was about to order a drink. I know what you are expecting, I got a beer. Nope, I asked for a margarita. I have to say, one of the best margaritas I have ever had. Once we got out drinks in hand we decided to explore a bit. We wondered toward the back of the place and it was a good thing we did. More open and less cramped feeling. The back is so much bigger than the front. Bartender there was very accommodating. My friends asked for a change of music and he was all with it. Great service the whole time I was here. I just need to know, are all the good places in DC upstairs? If so, I need to get on a stair master before I head back. read more

I was initially expecting a traditional German pub, but actually this place was quite the day party on a Saturday. DJs, people dancing, and beer and drinks flowing non-stop. It's a fun vibe and actually something I wanted. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. It wasn't too pretentious. If I was just basing the review on just beer and food, I'd say I expected some more food options and the beer menu could be more extensive. Still - I am happy to have some German beer available even when partying. Recommend if you want to party and don't mind a younger crowd. read more

(April 2021) Great chill place They are very mindful of COVID and have areas to direct traffic one way to get to the tables and for guests to go to the restroom Very clean Great staff that helped with suggesting beers read more

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It's ok. I went during the daytime and the top-level patio is a nice open air area with European soccer on TVs and long tables for a good beer hall vibe. The beer was good but $12 for a half-liter??? Come on. With tax and tip, you're paying $15 for one beer. Even for DC, that's way too much. read more

Great place to enjoy a quality German beer or two, but get ready for the big change at 3:00, when the DJ sets up and the tables get pulled. This place suddenly turns into a full-on daytime nightclub! Service is great, food OK - Bier Hall offers probably the best day party in DC. read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Open space, fake snow, day discotheque. - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Honestly one of the most disappointing beerhall orders I've had in DC. Pretzel ordered and paid for was completely forgotten. Kielbasa was a desicated slim jim that didn't even fill the bun. read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Dry, awful kielbasa - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The German beer selection is pleasant. Someone has curated a thoughtful list of quality brews. The food menu is limited, but smartly executed. The sausage platter is noteworthy. For $14, you get 2 sausage sammies (choice of bratwurst, kielbasa or chicken) on a killer pretzel bun topped with delicate sauerkraut, plus a side of tasty German potato salad. I make a trip here just to order that platter. It's what I wish would be for sale at the various sports stadiums in the DMV. The spirit of this place is inviting. It can get tight when it's crowded, but that's part of the fun too. Ownership has succeeded in creating a space that transports customers to a beer hall in Bavaria without having to fly there. I'm not alone in this feeling because it's obvious that loyal patrons flock here; they respect what is offered for competitive prices and behave themselves--which I appreciate. "Gut gemacht", Sauf Haus. read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The bouncer inappropriately touched my male friends. We went for a bar crawl and I understand the need to pat people down for safety but this security guard inappropriately touched our friends private areas. One even said something to him and he proceeded to do it a second time. This man could face sexual charges for what he did. It was not okay and every man said he violated them as well. read more

I never plan on going here but somehow end up here. This place is like a time warp and time just flies. The environment is pretty crusty and crazy. Everything kind of feels like it's falling apart. The drinks are cheap ish for DC. The pretzel isn't bad for bar food. The variety of dips is great. Definitely DO NOT come here if you're scared of COVID. read more

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten - Pretzel - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia