I was looking for a nice spot to get a drink after dinner and I saw that the place was pretty quiet (speakeasy), in walking distance, and took reservations and the Alchemist checked all these boxes. We made our way over on a rainy Saturday night around 8PM. It was hard to find at first and we almost missed it (also because of the rain). When we got in someone came over immediately and offered us a table for us and brought us a bunch of paper towels to dry ourselves off which was much appreciated. They were super patient with us while we tried to get all the rain off us. It's pretty dim so keep that in mind (unless you sit under the disco ball like we did). Prices were on par for DC ($15-18) so we couldn't be too mad at that but the menu also didn't show prices now that I think of it. Each of us only grabbed one drink but they were all pretty solid (some much stronger than others). I got the Hagrid's Secret which was a Gin Fizz with a special secret (they told me what it was but I forgot) and it was really good. I didn't get to try the other ones but we also got the Nine and Three Quarters, La Passion, and the Apple Fool as well. The place wasn't super big but it was perfect place for an after dinner drink. Worth checking out for the drinks but you won't be disappointed by the service. read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Alchemist isn't all that hidden, though its door doesn't look like you can open it, and there are no windows! I love how the sign from U Street spells the name with periodic table element boxes! As soon as you step inside, there's a nice tall water fountain to the left, and a table nestled in a corner under a disco ball. There are tables all around, but omg they're so dimly lit! My party initially sat at one the only open table at the time for our party size, and we had to use our flashlights to see the menu. Luckily, the bar simultaneously cleared up and someone had a reservation for our table so we moved! Now, the bar is nice and lit, and you see a display of a bunch of cool infused spirits. I'm talking apple pie whiskey, peanut butter whiskey, sour apple rum, rosemary butterfly gin... cool stuff! There is also a menu of cool cocktails -- some are Game of Thrones-themed (eww) lol. The Frostbite I got was a frothy baby blue, but it tasted like a dessert... I liked it! The peanut butter whiskey shot I had 'might' have been better than Skrewball. As we enjoyed our drinks, I noticed that the place completely filled up. Yet, there was only one bartender the entire time. Despite this, somehow we didn't have an obnoxious wait time. And I loved how the bartender was calm and collected the entire time -- he didn't act flustered or rushed around. He perfected every drink he made. I appreciated that attitude and I don't think I've ever experienced that in a full house before. Aside from the dim lighting at the tables, one other thing was that everyone's voices completely drowned out the music. I'm used to more of a balance between the two. I'd return though. read more

The Alchemist DC - The menu! - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'll start by saying the service was good. However, this place is cheap, they could have turned the AC on... and the DRINKS, if you want to pay $25 for smoked benchmark (well whiskey for those who don't know), get the old fashioned. If you're not putting prices on the menu you should be delivering in quality and not just show. Very disappointing for such a highly rated place. read more

Very easy to find, I would say it's not a full speakeasy because of the sign out front. Pretty dark inside but a waiter attended to us immediately, gave us menus (prices unmarked, about $16) and waters. However I expected the drinks to come out quickly because it wasn't crowded at all (maybe ~15 people) and we waited 10+ minutes. Regardless the drinks were good! Not very strong though. I got the frostbite (frothy blue tequila, orange and chocolate hints) and it was unlike anything I've had before- would recommend. Friend got a cosmo (pink) also not bad, another got a passion fruit cocktail (orange)- easily the best of the three. Overall, would recommend this place! read more

The Alchemist DC - Frostbite, la passion, cosmo - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

LOVE this place! We walked in on a Friday night at 10:30 pm. The entrance is so unassuming that I walked right pass the first time. The place was busy but not overly crowded. All the tables and bar seats were taken but the server came and let us know that we could order at the bar and hang around and they would serve us as usual. Luckily the turnaround time was pretty fast and we were able to get a high top very soon. I was thrilled to see all the Game of Thrones themed drinks so we ordered the House of Dragon and Red Wedding Mojito. The mojito was delicious, light and fruity. But House of Dragon literally blew us away. The house-infused tequila was smoky and spicy, with a hint of sweetness and tang from the passionfruit - so delicious, haven't been able to stop thinking about it!! Both drinks were $16, not cheap but very reasonable for the location and quality. Although it was a busy time, the service was super friendly and our drinks came quite fast. I can't wait to come back again!! read more

The Alchemist DC - House of Dragon (left), Red Wedding Mojito (right) - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Our first adult night out in DC after the big move led us to The Alchemist--a cocktail bar so cool, even the entry feels like you're stepping into a secret. Friends from Atlanta, visiting on their daughter's recommendation, joined us at this hidden gem. From the outside, it's unassuming, but once inside, you're greeted by a dimly lit, intimate space with a speakeasy vibe that makes you forget you're just a stone's throw from the bustling streets. The atmosphere was almost perfect, though a small stage for live music would have completed the speakeasy feel. Note to self: if you're over 40 like me, bring your readers and utilize your phone's flashlight. The menu, while stylishly crafted, is a bit of a challenge to decipher in the dark ambiance, unless you've got a flashlight handy. I eventually decided on a cocktail (wish I remembered its name) that tasted as magical as it cost--nearly $20, but every sip was worth it. My fiancé's drink was equally delightful, though its name escapes us now. Though crafty cocktails are The Alchemist's specialty, they don't offer food, the creative concoctions alone make this place a must-visit. Our wallets whispered that one round was enough (we were hungry for more than cocktails), but the experience itself was a satisfying adventure. We'll definitely be back, with friends in tow, for another round in this enchanting underground hideaway! read more

The taste of the drinks is actually just ok, but the presentation is absolutely stunning. Service and ambiance are great, too - I'd try something new to give it another chance. The cloak and dagger and alchemist old fashioned are pictured. read more

The Alchemist DC - Cloak and Dagger - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here on a Sunday evening and thought they were closed, but fortunately they weren't! Pretty wild that this is right by 14th and U and it's so calm inside. Was looking for cocktails and this spot delivered. Each drink was made meticulously and they were so delicious! I got the drams and dreams, which sounds really sweet, but it was well balanced and delicious. I only had one drink tonight after dinner, but I can feel the liquor in me--that's the mark of a great bartender Space wasn't particularly special and walls had the typical wood paneling. It's fairly intimate, but next time I'll probably sit at the bar. They also take reservations for tables, so def do that! Service was friendly and I'll definitely be returning Oh, and that door that doesn't look like the right door? That's it! Ha ha read more

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I've been twice and I love this random speakeasy! The prices are reasonable and the drinks are awesome! You can bring in your own food such as ordering pizza from We the Pizza across the street. read more

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Ok, so we got to the alchemist which inside seemed to be buzzing with a good vibe but instead we were invited to their sister bar upstairs, "The Craft" as the bar was at capacity. Honestly, this was more of a step sister as it was nothing compared to what was happening downstairs, it was dull without laughter and chatter and the menu seemed a bit more to theme, morbid. The name of the drink I got speaks volumes Mask of death. However it tasted great and I'll give them 5 stars as at least they had an alternative if their main spot was too full and from what I saw I could assume the alchemist is a watering hole of a good time. read more

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What a cool cocktail bar! We came for Happy Hour where cocktails are just $9. Each one is a work of art. I got the Killer Sally, which came with a flaming orange and was as tasty to drink as it was beautiful to look at. They do a number of house infusions, so I also tried some of their hibiscus infused gin. They change regularly, so there's always something new to discover. I also love that a lot of the drinks are Harry Potter themed! We sat at the bar and so it felt like we had front row seats to the show. JT was super friendly and very fun to watch put drinks together. read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The drinks were really good! The Ramos gin fizz was amazing! Definitely recommend Probably one of the best Ramos gin fizz I have had in a while! read more

What a hidden gem. This place has really tasty cocktails with the works! Would highly recommend. I've heard that they have a very good happy hour special as well which I'll definitely be checking out! read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Decided to check this spot out after seeing an Instagram reel advertising their happy hour ($9 cocktails). I was super pumped as I love craft cocktails, and $9 is a great deal. I made reservation for bar seating online, and showed up no more than 15 mins after my reservation. 1) The bar was packed and it was clear our seats were not reserved. There was a crowd of people standing around the bar as well. There was no host or anyone at the door checking people in, not even sure what the purpose of having a reservation system is? 2) We showed up ~6:30 pm and were hoping to get 2 drinks in before that 7:00 happy hour end. It took us more than 30 minutes to get a cocktail menu, flag down a waiter, and put an order in. We got lucky as a nice girl next to us let us borrow her menu. A waiter/bartender was going around and semi-aggressively telling everyone it was last call for HH. It took another 30 minutes to actually get our drink, so at that point we'd been standing around for over an hour. I had asked one of the employees about our reservation and he was super rude, basically ignoring me. Honestly should have left at this point, but a table opened up shortly after and we grabbed it. There were maybe 3 people at most working last night, and it looked like only 1 person was actually making drinks? It was obvious they were understaffed, and this place was crowded. Also, I don't think any of the patrons were over 30 y/o, so expect a young crowd. We got 1 round of happy hour drinks and immediately left. The drinks were mediocre at best, my friends gin fizz was weirdly room temperature - don't love that. Don't know if last night was unexpectedly busy or if this spot is always this chaotic (esp during happy hour), but I would skip this place. So many great cocktail bars and happy hours around the city, no one should have to put up with terrible service and mediocre drink. read more

Ok so, I'm a bit of a cocktail snob and this place definitely passes the sniff test. All of the drinks are A+. Even on a crowded night the staff is extremely attentive. I am really impressed. Our waitress Veronica was also like the literally the best ever. She handled our large group like a pro. Dc needs more servers like her. read more

Decent drinks with fun presentation! This is a new-ish spot on U St. in the location where the Codmother used to be. It's a pretty small bar with a few tables and seats that has specialty cocktails, many with either a Harry Potter or Game of Thrones name. I ordered the Cloak and Dagger because I am obviously a sucker for the presentation. This was a really good drink, pretty sweet but had a nice mix. The second drink I got was the House of Dragon and it was fantastic. The smoked pepper tequila had just the right amount of kick and the flavor was amazing. Service was quick, the bar got kind of loud at one point due to a crazy group but they left and it was pretty chill after that! read more

Came in on Saturday night- highly recommend a reservation. There is no posted prices but we did the math and the cocktails were $18 each- which for the quality is fair, though a bit pricey and there is no indication until you get your bill- fair warning. The lavender latte was the star of the show! So good! The server gave good recommendations and was friendly. We also tried the Kentucky derby drink (I don't do dark liquor but my Friend really enjoyed it) and I had the colada drink and was not a fan at all- stick to the martinis for sure! It is definitely a cool vibe and there are drinks I'd definitely come back to try, go on a Sunday all drinks are just $9! Which is a fantastic deal! My other complaint is it's incredibly loud, fun for a group but not great for a one on one conversation. Could have just been the time I was there though. Overall I had a good experience and recommend you to come in and try it! read more

The Alchemist DC - Lavender latte and Kentucky derby drink - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Looked pretty cool from pictures and (most) reviews but was extremely underwhelming in reality, to say the very least. The staff was very, very friendly but the cocktails certainly didn't warrant their price (which was a surprise since no prices are listed in the menu). Also, most of their "craft" in many of their "artisanal craft cocktails" is just using a smoke bubble gun from the vape shop down the street to plop a bubble on your drink after they drop it off at the table/bar. And the last mention from the list of disappointment was that the tiny basement vibe was a bit ruined by the pervasive smell of dinginess and mold. ...all topped off by an automatic 20% gratuity, a prohibition on paying in cash, and the requirement of a card to open a tab right from walking in (even in a very sleepy Sunday). read more

Cozy basement speakeasy with craft cocktails. They have a wide variety of options and you can tell they put a lot of thought in ingredients combinations and making the drinks. We went on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy so the service was slower but still good. read more

The service was great and the drinks were delicious! The presentation was beautiful and lots of fun. I'll be back next time I'm in DC. read more

The Alchemist DC - This is the old fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tourist trap- avoid at all costs if you like actual craft cocktails. Don't be fooled by the name and ambience of when you first walk in. For some reasons, 3 out of the 4 drinks we ordered were neon blue and looked like kool aid. I ordered elixir of life, mainly because it claimed to be "best cocktail of DC". All I'll I say is that's very hard to believe or they were the only participants. It also said smoke bubble- I wanted to see the actual bubble! It came already smoking- womp womp. Service was awkward, the bartender kind of just stood around waiting for all of us to be ready rather than starting to make our drinks, now realize that's because the base of the drinks are premade. Then it became obvious we didn't like our drinks (I was the only one who could tolerate it), but pretty bad service if you ask me to not comment, or say anything or offer something else on the menu (especially since they're premade). To cap it off, 20% gratuity is included on all checks, which one cocktail came to $23.. this is more than NY, or any cocktail bar where you can get a legit craft cocktail. Unforgivable. Moral of the story - ITS AN OVERPRICED TOURIST TRAP/ NOT A REAL COCKTAIL BAR read more

Delicious craft cocktails, excellent setting, and kind knowledgeable bartenders. Veronica was our server/bartender and she was fabulous. Beautiful cocktail presentation with smoke bubbles or smoked. Excellent infused alcohols. Highly recommend. Every drink our group of 4 tried was fantastic! Try the marshmallow infused whiskey! read more

Its reallly a 4.5 but worth a visit. The drinks are well crafted and I love the ambiance. I would love a little more innovation of the cocktails and am not a fan of high top tables in a craft cocktail setting, but their menu is strong and the skill is there read more

Bartenders were amazing! We had a reservation and the waiter came off as homophonic and demeaning. I have always loved the bar but it had went down hill very fast. read more

Came on a Saturday around 5:30 and had a great time! The bar was fairly empty with plenty of open tables and seats at the bar available. They take reservations but I'm not sure they're needed. The vibe is calm and dark with a speakeasy aesthetic. I had a blackberry mint julep and my friend had the "Hagrid." My friend's drink was AWESOME super creamy and flavorful, would definitely recommend. I also enjoyed my drink and would definitely come back to try others. Our server was really nice and friendly and we really enjoyed our time. Drink prices here are about on par with everywhere these days, about $14-16 but the cocktails are nice and well crafted. My only critique would be wishing the menu was a little more detailed. Some of the drink titles don't offer a ton about what they are. The Hagrid is described as a gin fizz and maybe I just dont know what a gin fizz is but totally different drink and flavor than expected! I would've ordered it had I known what it was. Definitely ask questions about the drinks if you're unsure. Will be back! read more

Good cocktails and cute speakeasy! Apparently they're opening up upstairs soon too. Would highly recommend the Lavender Lover cocktail - love the blood orange garnish on top. The only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because gratuity is already included but it wasn't really made clear while ordering drinks the way other bars/restaurants do. So instead, I overtipped all night which wasn't the best feeling once I realized. read more

We love Alchemist! The first time I came here, I enjoyed some drinks and snacks with friends. I loved it so much we decided to host my birthday here over the weekend. Staff was super accommodating about booking and hosting 20 people at the bar - the space was a little small, but its a small bar overall. Drinks are always great here- right now they have a gin fizz called Hagrid's Secret that I sipped on all night. read more

Enjoyed my visit would come back again we got 2 drinks the goblet of fire and the amaretto sunset and it was a 10/10 read more

Came here for an after dinner drink. As soon as we walked in, it was like walking into a speakeasy. The place is only semi-hidden, but I could see how one could easily miss it if not looking. We sat down at the bar and looked at their "before 10pm" menu. I got a Frostbite which was a tequila drink with citrus and chocolate notes. My husband got the cloak and dagger which was a rum drink. We both liked our drinks and felt they were creative and well balanced. I love a good cocktail and you can see that this place has some great bartenders who are detail oriented. I would come back to sample the rest of their menu. read more

Lovely, dark, and quiet! Don't sleep on this bar, Daniel makes some of the most creative cocktails I've ever had and he was great conversation! I had such a nice time in this intimate bar and got to try some amazing concoctions both on the menu and off ;) read more

The Alchemist DC - Something experimental (no name, yet!) - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped by for a night cap with a friend. Was pleasantly surprised to find out that there was all day happy hour. I tried the Killer Sally and La Passion. Both were very good. The bartenders were extremely friendly, made great conversation and were very hospitable. I will definitely be returning. read more

i'd recommend this as a starting point for a date night! we loved all of our drinks and had a wonderful time read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wow!! What a great find! We run a craft cocktail club always looking for creative cocktails, which can get expensive and a Happy Hour. Jackpot! HH is til 7pm and drinks are half off! And so beautiful and delicious. Great service too. No food but they allow food to be brought in. Had we planned better we would have picked up food and brought in. We all agreed, a great place we would return again and again! read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The place was empty and the customer service was terrible. My daughter wasn't drinking and they wouldn't serve a mocktail without ID so she had water. They took my credit card as soon as we sat down at a table. I ordered the drinks for the other patron in my group. Then after 2 drinks they kicked us out because not everyone was drinking and told us they have my cc on file and they will charge that. I was double charged and also charged a separate $20 fee as another transaction. I have no receipt even though I asked for one so no recourse. We were treated so rudely. We were quietly talking enjoying the "science" behind the gimmicky drinks and they shooed us out so abruptly. read more

We had a lovely experience with the expert bartender ( forgot her name but she's from NYC). She served some creative and delicious cocktails in an intimate and jazzy space. read more

A fun cocktail bar with some unique drinks and a great calm atmosphere in downtown DC (A)

This speakeasy was such a gem to stumble upon!! Was ridiculously impressed by their all day happy hour -- these smoky/fire drinks were $9 instead of the usual DC $19 (or way more). It was very quiet and cozy when we arrived around 7:30, and by the time we left at 9p it was pretty busy and social! Service was great and drinks were 10/10. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a drink and chill spot in DC!!!! read more

The Alchemist DC - Cornelia Street Manhattan and a Alchemist Old Fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my new fav bars on U street!! Really enjoyed my time here for a girls night out! It was PACKED on a Saturday night but luckily we had a reservation (high recommend). The craft cocktails were delicious and so much fun! Some of them were lit on fire or had a smoke bubble! They really took their time to create this menu and make it fun and exciting! Our waiter was attentive and checked on us multiple times despite it being busy which was super nice. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're out on U street! read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ambiance was great, very cozy. Perfect for a date night. Was very quiet the night we went. Good selection of drinks

Stopped here for a cocktail before dinner and was really pleased with the menu variety and quality of drinks. We ordered the two on the menu that won awards and they were sooo delicious. We really enjoyed the ambiance of the place and the super friendly service from the bartenders. Recommend sitting up at the bar. read more