Fantastic for a special occasion or date night. We went for my birthday this year and it was a great choice. They are located in a lovely old building with dark green/blue walls, a romantic glow from a fireplace, and backlit cases of whiskey lining the walls. It's the perfect atmosphere. There are two dining areas, the tasting room downstairs plus the upstairs. We sat downstairs, and it was nice, but I badly want to come back and try the upstairs. We came in January 2026, and every time someone opened the door, we were hit with an arctic blast that made it very uncomfortable. They should install some kind of short wall or curtain by the door to try to avoid this. However, the cold didn't take away from a 10/10 cocktail experience. Fitting for a bourbon spot, their menu has an old fashioned. What I love about them, though, is you have tons of choices of different bourbons or ryes for your drink. I went with the fanciest of the options, which has their signature private selection maker's mark. All the old fashioneds come with a touch of madeira and allspice dram, which make them one of the richer, cinnamonier old fashioned around. I loved it. It was one of the best old fashioneds I have ever had, and I am excited to get another. All told, I believe they had about 20 cocktails listed on the menu, so there's something for everyone, plus a few wines, beers, and a truly impressive N/A cocktail selection. Before leaving, I tried one of their negronis, because they infuse their gin with teddy grahams, and who could pass that up? It was delicious as well, really smooth and tasty. We had dinner as well. The food was a bit more hit or miss, but the hits were spectacular. The side onion rings are some of the best we have ever had. To make an onion ring feel special is pretty unique, and these are absolutely packed with flavor. So good. The gougeres are amazing, too. They have some kind of everything bagel seasoning and are so delicate despite being filled with pimento cheese. I highly recommend it. The caviar was forgettable, though - it had little to no flavor at all. The burger is also one I would skip. It was not as elevated as the gougeres or rings, and the cheeses they use overpower the other flavors. Based on the quality of the gougeres and rings, though, I still say this is a place whose food is worth trying. The space is quite small, so if you come during a weekend, a reservation will likely be needed. There is a bar, but it has only 4 or 5 seats and seems difficult to score. All the tasting room tables were occupied during our visit, and even with a reservation, we needed to wait about 10 minutes. Bonus points because they frequently do tastings and events that sound really interesting, including Blantons pours and historical cocktail tours. read more

I came here with my friend and her boyfriend for a historical cocktail tasting. Service was great from all of the people, though after the first cocktail I feel like it was a little lighter on the history side. All of the cocktails were delicious though, and we got the cheese gougeres that were also super tasty. I would definitely come back to try more drinks and food! read more

Excellent cocktail service a little off the beaten path in Georgetown. Don't let the patio and bar front fool you, the upstairs here is warm and upscale with comfortable seats and luxurious atmosphere for boozing or dining. The whiskey selection here is top tier and the bar tenders know their stuff. Need to make a return trip to try the food out. read more

If you know someone who loves an array of quality spirits, they will love the Fountain Inn. I suggested this place to a friend for a small birthday gathering and he was very pleased with his picks off the menu. We both started with cocktails. I got the Fenwick. Billed as a "fruity cocktail," it was sweet enough for me, but with rye you don't want to sip too fast. He enjoyed the Rebellious Old Fashioned. As I started to pick over the Innkeeper's Ration, my friend got the Whiskey 101 Flight, in which he found his new favorite whiskey! Our server was very knowledgeable in describing all the flight whiskeys, as with the rest of the drinks we asked about on the menu. On the Innkeeper's Ration, it's good for three or four people, but nothing too special about the assortment. If you like cheese, olives, crackers, bread, meat, pickles, and hot mustard it's not bad. We had a reservation for a Thursday night at 7, which I'm glad we got instead of just showing up. The space is small inside with a smaller patio out front. When it's full, the room can get loud. It's a great vibe inside, but maybe would feel more intimate if I didn't have to raise my voice too much. read more

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I started with these Rebellious Old Fashion cocktail and it was delicious. We got marinated olives as an appetizer and they were served warm. They were delicious and the perfect company to our cocktail. The portion was generous. Then I got the evening's special, which was wagu beef and broccoli. The waiter described it as sort of a riff on Chinese beef and broccoli. But it couldn't have been more different... and more delicious. This is probably the best dish I've eaten all month. It was absolutely amazing. I told our server that I wanted to marry the chef, that's how good it was! Service was excellent! Highly recommend and I'll be back (to marry the chef). Jk! read more

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Historical speakeasy and cocktail bar nestled in Georgetown. The Fountain Inn was an early tavern that has been rekindled as an intimate cocktail bar. They had great service, food and drink specials until 6 pm, and a great selection of classic and craft cocktails, whiskey and bourbons, and light food. They offer a number of tastings and events and this ended up being a great start to our night in Georgetown. read more

Went for pre-dinner cocktails and caviar. The place was a great date night spot- dimly lit and romantic. A short walk from the main gtown shopping hub. Service was warm and inviting- we sat by the bar. Caviar was a great appetizer with drinks and we really enjoyed the presentation of the drinks food and the decor of the place. We will definitely return for dinner next time! read more

The Fountain Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I loved my experience at The Fountain Inn. My friend and I had such a good time doing the Historical Cocktail Tasting. We sat at the downstairs bar and enjoyed hearing the history of the inn and the cocktails we were drinking. Our server was great. My favorite was the Fish House Punch, and I ordered a variation of that as a final drink, while my friend got the Sanibel. We shared the corn risotto and Innkeeper's Ration charcuterie board, and both were delicious. The dark, cozy feel of The Fountain Inn is perfect. They also have outdoor seating. I'm very interested in returning and trying some of their other experiences. read more

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Fantastic spot with a cozy, classy vibe. Perfect for a date night.The cocktails are truly outstanding and well executed. I've only been twice for drinks, but last night, we did order a snack, and boy, the buffalo chicken croquettes were FIRE. The staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, which adds to the overall experience and makes the space feel comfortable right away. read more

Went for a date night - it was so cozy and the lighting was dark. Great ambiance. There was a guest bartender making clarified drinks which were so smooth and flavorful. We enjoyed multiple cocktails, including the Roman Carajillo which was like a dessert espresso martini. We liked the pickles vegetables and the olives to start. Will be back to try the fondue. I enjoyed the mushroom lasagna - very rich! And my boyfriend got the chicken which he RAVED about. The only complaint he had was he wanted more. The menu seemed to draw inspiration from Northeastern France/Swiss cuisine. We will certainly be back, and will recommend this restaurant to our friends. read more

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The Fountain Inn is everything you'd want in a D.C. cocktail bar- history, location, space, quality, and service. As part of my 39th birthday celebration, my wife surprised me with dinner at Herbivore Indian followed by drinks at The Fountain Inn. Here's our experience. 1) Cocktails: Their menu is large with over 250 different options from cocktails to wine to beer. Their liquor is displayed beautifully behind the bar and includes unique options like a new rum from Thailand. If you love sweet cocktails, they don't have any overly sweetened, but they do have sour. Their cocktail menu includes originals and seasonal options. To start, I ordered the Snallygaster, which comes with strawberry. For my second drink, I did "bartender's choice" and got a drink made with Thai rum, orange wine, and egg whites. Both were very refreshing, complex, and unique. For more still drinks, my wife loved her Old Fashioneds. 2) Space: Off the busy part of Georgetown, it feels more like a neighborhood space. They have a small bottom room and bar and an upstairs where they host tastings and events. The space is intimate creating a perfect date spot. The space is beautiful! 3) Service: The bartenders take pride in their craft and are very skilled. It was a delightful experience. If you love cocktails, go here! Opened in 2021, it honors a 1783 tavern with deep history once in the area. read more

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What a cool, intimate spot! Only four tables, so cozy, great for a date night. The service was fantastic and the cocktails, *boozy*. We got the tasting menu, which changes daily but for our night was grougeres, gazpacho, brussel sprout caesar salad, carrot-bacon pasta, crudo, a pork chop, basque cheesecake, and a berry compote. Everything was delicious, and we were satiated but not overly stuffed after. It's pricey to eat a full meal here but I would totally come back for cocktails, apps, vibes, and great conversation! read more

delicious food, seasonal menu, tons of spirits on hand. there's a solid HH with food and cocktail deals. burger is solid

I came here for a whiskey tasting and it was excellent. They had us upstairs in a small room that was very cozy; leather chairs, nice decorations, a nice fireplace. The staff were also all very friendly. They have a very large whiskey selection with newer bottles but also older and rarer bottles. Their cocktail menu also looked delicious and fairly priced. Will have to come here again for cocktails or a flight of whiskey! read more

Good service & great cocktails! Trust the servers recommendations here. Went here for new years and did the chefs tasing menu. read more

The Fountain Inn - Steak tataki - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great ambience. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and both food and drink are great Has the feel of an old tavern, informal and timeless. But also classy! read more

Somehow I'd never come across this place til this weekend, but it may be the best cocktail bar in DC. Impeccable vibes to the place too. Will have to try the food next time. read more

The Fountain Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As a bourbon lover, this is my kind of place. With the growing popularity of bourbon and whiskey, it isnt terribly hard to find a place that sells the stuff, but that presents a problem. Any establishment can buy a bunch of bottles, put them on a shelf and charge ridiculous prices, which is an invasive and common occurance in this area. This place is different though. The history aside, its a quaint and cool space, reminiscent of a speakeasy. All of the staff were super friendly, and were very knowledgable about the items they have. I was presented with a drink book that had a decent sized selection...but it wasnt about how many bottles they had, but what they had and their prices. Their selection/offerings were a wide spectrum of basic every day/low tier to high end/rare/very old offerings, so theres something for everyone. What makes that better is that their prices were FANTASTIC. Like, seeing their prices makes you wonder why everyone else charges so much. As an example, the Weller CYPB in the picture was $49. They also offer food but dont come here looking for a fill up because everything is small plate. I had the gnocchi and it was very good so I would recommend trying that. Last thing ill offer is that they sell bottles as well, which are barrel picks. read more

The Fountain Inn - Gnocchi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Fountain Inn is a delightful whiskey and cocktail bar in a quaint rowhouse in Georgetown. Their selection is expansive, their mixed drinks are delicious, and the staff is knowledgeable and kind. Certainly recommend! read more

The Fountain Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Coffee Bar review: Stopped by to check out their new daytime coffee program. They did a really nice job of setting of the bar space for a comfortable coffee shop vibe. I didn't try their pastries, but they had some good looking offerings. I love that they have so many unique coffee and tea drinks. It looks like they will be doing seasonal drinks that may change. I ordered a really good lavender iced latte. Such a small thing, but they use really good cubed ice that didn't melt for a long time. So often places use ice that melt immediately over the hot espresso. Can't wait to try their iced tea and regular coffee. Will definitely be back. Obviously, on the pricier side, but much better than the other options in the neighborhood for good coffee. read more

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Beautiful and intimate bar -- great place to take a date or a work colleague, but beware the pricey menu!!! Everything was great except the waiter who interrupted us every 5 mins asking us if we were ok. I swear, the guy was there every 5 mins. Dude, if I need something I'll let you know. Otherwise, for what you are charging, please just let us enjoy our conversation. read more

The Fountain Inn is beautifully designed, cocktail lounge, whiskey and craft drinks bar in the upper Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. We came in a group of four and really enjoyed the unique setting, classic decor, their absolute dedication to the bar craft, amazing selection of unusual whiskey and gin, innovative drinks and very knowledgeable service. The Fountain Inn felt perfect for a late night drink, or a before dinner hop-in. The Fountain Inn is a very small and beautiful place with a speakeasy vibe, you definitely need a reservation here. It could get loud due to it's small size. Service was very helpful and steered each of us toward perfect drink and booze choices! The Fountain Inn is absolutely perfect for trying something new, exploring new brands or flavors of your favorite liquor. Drinks: 5 stars Vibe: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Tips: Street parking is okay in this part of Georgetown Reservation are a must Knowledgeable service Amazing drinks Phenomenal selection of whiskey, gin, scotch Beautiful setting and design Speakeasy vibe read more

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If you enjoy a good whiskey, you're in for a treat at The Fountain Inn. Let's start with the vibe...you walk right into a small cozily-lit bar that feels like an intimate living room. A handful of tables (make a reservation!), pillar candles lighting up a fireplace, and a big picture window overlooking a quaint patio area sectioned off the sidewalk. (The outdoor seating looked great and is partitioned off the sidewalk for privacy and atmosphere, and on a nice evening it'd be a great spot for a drink.) There's a lounge upstairs with some tables and some sofa and chair seating - also cozy, though my preference was the downstairs. Now the cocktails: an incredible selection of craft cocktails, plus, of course, all the standards. Flights available if you want to do some sampling. Many wine choices as well. The servers are very helpful and knowledgable. They also serve small plates. The cheeseboard we ordered was spectacular. Final note: even the bathrooms are nice! In the words of the Terminator, "I'll be back!" read more

When I think of a Whiskey or Bourbon bar, I usually think of endless walls and/or shelves of bottles. Maybe there's a ladder to reach the top shelves and the drink list is as big as a Cheesecake Factory menu. The Fountain Inn is a more refined take on that, where an emphasis is placed on quality vs. quantity. No endless walls here, instead you'll find finely crafted bottle lockers and a vibe that screams, "rich mahogany and leather-bound books." If you are looking for that rare pour, perhaps one that starts with Pappy and ends with Van Winkle, you'll find it on the menu. However, what I think is more interesting are some of the more obscure names on their list of old and rare bottles. Dakota Hines, the Assistant General Manager, was great at recommending some ideas based on what I liked- which led to a bottle of Maryland Bourbon that was bottled back in the 1970s. It was absolutely amazing. While I was surfing through their selection at the bar, General Manager Morgan Kirchner was busy preparing flights and giving brief explainers to patrons sitting behind me. Both Dakota and Morgan clearly know their stuff and are great hosts to any Whiskey aficionado. The Fountain Inn isn't cheap- some of the pours clock in at over $4,000. But if you are looking for an intimate date spot or a place to splurge on "the good stuff" then you'll be right at home. read more

The Fountain Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic food! great service with knowledgeable servers the entire team works together including the chef himself who brings certain dishes out himself. The dimly lit ambiance is cozy and they have additional seating upstairs with dining tables and multiple lounge chairs next to candle lit fireplaces. Highly recommend spirit flights the selection is incredible and unmatched by any establishment I have visited before. will be back soon!! read more

A great place to have date night! The Fountain Inn is a very small, intimate place to either start or end your date night. It's almost like a speakeasy. They have a wide variety of liquors by the pour and a nice selection of cocktails. We stopped by on a Sunday evening with a reservation. I had four pours of rye whiskey and bourbon, while my wife had an old fashioned and the Syllabub. The prices per ounce are competitive with today's market. Somewhat high, but not as high as other places I've been to. The cocktails were really good. I had a sip of the Syllabub and it is definitely a refreshing, summertime cocktail. They don't serve food, but they have some snack items. And if you can't choose between them, they offer the Innkeeper's Ration, which is a charcuterie board of all their offerings. We got it and enjoyed it with our drinks! The artichokes were a nice, unique touch. The small and intimate nature of the restaurant is perfect for conversation on a date night, or with the employees. They're nice, attentive, and knowledgeable of the spirits they serve. Overall, I would recommend others to try this place at least once. We definitely plan on coming back! read more

The Fountain Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We found this place because of the bourbon/whiskey menu and it didn't disappoint. Great service and drinks. Food was good too! We sat upstairs and had a lovely evening with friends for my husbands birthday. Just wish they didn't have the 2 hour limit because we would have stayed longer. Food is small plates so price adds up but delicious! read more

We came to the Fountain Inn for date night and to try the new seasonal drinks. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation and were seated at the bar immediately. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. My partner and the bartender made their own spin on the seasonal speciality drink, the outcome was lovely. We would come back here in the future for a low key evening out. read more

The Fountain Inn - Bar area cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cocktail is awesome and very unique. Waiter is great at small talks and makes great recommendations. Very cozy and quaintly decorated. Good for couples or small group gatherings. read more

Such a gem! A search on Yelp led us here on a Saturday night. It's a small place with a couple of tables and a few bar seats. There's an outdoor area and an upstairs area too. (Sounds like the upstairs area is mostly for events?) It basically looks like a charming, yet hip, house. Super cute and fun. Great menu of cocktails. And the ones we tried were seriously delicious! This is that kind of place where your drinks are made with talent and pride, not quickness. So yum and creative! And the bartenders are really friendly and nice too. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

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Charming little bar.... very men's club. Small bar with 4 or 5 stools but very friendly staff. Drinks were great but the food was mid since they were in the process of finding a new chef. Definitely worth the effort to find parking in Georgetown. read more

If you're looking for remarkable cocktails and rare spirits, look no further than the Fountain Inn. Originally established in 1783, the Fountain Inn was once a tavern steeped in history (Thomas Jefferson once drank at this Georgetown landmark, and it's also the location of the first presidential debate between Jefferson and John Adams). Now, some 230+ years later, it has flourished into a bar that has over 250 unique spirit expressions. Not to mention, there are spirit flights, craft cocktails, zero-proof cocktails, and beer and wine selections. They even offer small plates/snacks of cheese, charcuterie, olives, and bar mix. The 21-seat first floor tasting room is for walk-ins while the upstairs space is primarily for private events. There are illuminated cabinets that showcase all the different spirits. You can find so many unique spirits here, whether you're looking for American, Scotch, or Asian whiskey, brandy, gin, vodka, amaro, and even agave and cane spirits. One oz. pours range from $10 to $4,500. Flights start around $75 and go up to $500. The Fountain Inn features three craft cocktails on their menus, my favorite being the Fish Bowl Punch. Even the zero-proof cocktails are fantastic (try D.C. Tea Party!). The second time we came here, we were served by the Assistant General Manager Dakota Hines himself. He was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, showing us different spirits he thought may interest us. He also created cocktails for us using spirits that attracted our attention, and they were phenomenal. He definitely knows his stuff! You can tell he and the other staff are all very impassioned about spirits and want to educate. A must stop if you're in the mood for drinks! read more

The Fountain Inn - Phenomenal cocktail program! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wow - I was so disappointed! I think there is a lot of potential here but there's also a lot to improve upon. The drink I ordered, off menu, a classic cosmo "not too sweet" was a bit sweet, and I thought was just average. It was approximately $20 dollars. Ok, fine, Georgetown is pricey that's understandable. The food platter which was a sampling of all of the appetizers, was tasty, but very small for $35. Sampling really means 3 bite sized pieces from 3 appetizers. So for example, one appetizer was a cheese plate - you get three slices of cheese. I rarely ever notice prices for things, because if there is value I find it difficult to complain. But it's noticeable here-- things are over priced. I think my biggest issue with this place was feeling rushed. We made a reservation for a table for 4 at 7 pm. At 8:27, our waiter came around and said, "as I'm sure you were made aware there's someone else coming at 9 and we need this table for that reservation." Ok, we weren't aware it's a 2 hour block and need to leave at that point, but that's fine. Then approximately ten minutes later, he returned, saying we need the table for a 9 pm reservation. We ended up staying until 9 (having paid etc. just wrapping up our convo at the table) and the entire restaurant was basically empty. There were multiple tables open and no one came in for ours. I was also really disappointed because I'm a history buff and there was supposed to be a lot of meaning behind this bar. No mention of that by our waiter or anyone else at the bar. I thought the decorations were really cute and I thought the general atmosphere was nice. I'd be back if changes were made. Just some advice to management: put more options on the menu, if prices can come down they should or alternatively offer more bang for your buck, and let waitstaff know that there is no worse feeling than being rushed at an expensive bar. read more

Man all I need is some Jazz playing in the background... The atmosphere was cozy. The place was very quaint and Demure very Demure.. the alcohol list was impeccable, especially the hot tottie. I will just go there just have the hot tottie. And I had one of the best salads I ever had. read more

The Fountain Inn - The Hot Tottie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The drinks are good, the service is better, ambiance is pretty good. The description of the drinks on the menu is a bit pompous, like for instance, they say they use "CO2" instead of just calling it soda water...It's that kind of place. Prices are on the high end for Washington DC standards, plus they charge the mandatory 22% for service. Based on this, I wouldn't make it my go-to bar but would return. read more

Neat atmosphere and great drinks and food. We did the history drinking flight of three. Very knowledgeable and great tasting. The place is small so reservations are probably needed Highly recommend read more

This might be my favorite bar in DC. I briefly considered gate keeping. Everything at the Fountain Inn is thoughtfully curated. I was especially impressed by their cheese plate, olives and charcuterie. The cheeseboard had saint stephen four fat fowl, an ashed goat cheese and something reminiscent of manchego. The cocktails were incredible, showing restraint and craftsmanship. They didn't bat an eyelash when I asked for things off menu; the kind and patient server suggested an incredible rum based espresso martini, and the bartender even whipped up a cocktail de la Louisiane, with a true absinthe rinse(not herbisant!). They also brought out a no Abv drink for our group of 4 to celebrate my husband's birthday and brought him a nice shot of a hard to find bourbon. A perfect evening with immaculate vibes. read more

The Fountain Inn - Birthday Bourbon! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such a great spot in Georgetown! I come here to get the zero-proof cocktail D.C. Tea Party and it is beyond tasty and delicious. Love the folx who work here - they're always super friendly and once you come in more regularly, they know which drink to make the minute you walk in. read more

The Fountain Inn - D.C. Tea Party zero-proof cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you're strolling in the area and are feeling parched and enjoy charcuterie so by here. Make sure you make time to enjoy the ambience, sip your choice of beverage, and nibble. The staff are willing to answer questions, chat, and serve! read more

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A somewhat pretentious place. While drinks and ambience were good, the service was just a bit...iffy. We were sitting comfortably at the bar and our daughter came a bit later. But she couldn't join us because "this is an 18th century building, so people can't stand by the bar" (wtf?) They also impose a 22% mandatory service charge. Not sure it's worth it, despite the supposedly pre-prohibition bourbons on offer. read more