This is a cool spot. Entry is really cool and looks like prohibition speakeasy's of times gone…read morepast. Two HUGE bouncers inside who were policing everything to maintain the vibe. Husband couldn't read the menu, can't use your phone for that, he was leaning up against a wall, can't do that, finally snagged seats on a couch, feet off table. We had two drinks and enjoyed about 20 minutes in here and went off to find something to eat. Definitely work a stop if you are nearby or in the area. It's a cool experience. One thing og note: They do not really deviate from their limited menu of drinks. These bartenders are not like those of speakeasy's from other, larger cities I've been to. I don't drink alcohol at all, so, I tend to ask them to make me a mocktail. They didn't seem very inventive and only offered basically ginger beer in a cup for $14.

The bartender Chris accused me of being intoxicated because I was vibing to the music Saying that I…read morewas had my eyes closed at the bar when I was just feeling the music. Clearly he can't discern when a patron is intoxicated or not!!!!!! I do feel as though it was a level of discrimination as I only ordered water at the bar no drinks were ordered....and I had no drinks prior to arrival. Never assume from a distance someone's sobriety just because the clientele you serve normally is intoxicated

Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace…read morethemed cocktail with chocolate and cherry notes. Both were disappointing. The drinks tasted watered down and unbalanced. The banana flavor in mine was dull and overripe rather than fresh and vibrant. The smoke and fire presentation was nice, but the actual cocktails did not justify the $25 price point. The restroom was unacceptable. There was urine on the floor, a strong foul odor, and the surface was slippery. For a speakeasy positioning itself as upscale, this was a major miss. The space is very small and service was just okay. Overall, the concept has potential, but the execution did not meet expectations. I will not be returning.

Good cocktails. Killer Sally was refreshing but a bit too sweet for me. Old Fashioned Fireplace was…read moregreat, definitely chocolatey and coffee-y. I find Old Fashioned generally a bit too strong for me, but this one was very smooth and rich, and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely heavy though! Very crowded on a Friday night, around 6-7 pm (we were lucky to snag an empty table 10 minutes later). Good service, especially when it was so busy in the night.

Amazing service and incredible drinks! Graham is the best bartender in the city…read more Also the creativity is unmatched! Order what you want from the menu but they are also willing to make you specialized drinks to your liking.

Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

They raised my standard for martinis to the next level! The Dirty Martini came with a side of…read moreolives and an oyster, literally the perfect girl dinner. The atmosphere is very chic, and intimate. The drinks were fantastic and the food was great too! We got the Nori Chips & Halloumi fries to split which was perfect for 3 people.

Swanky bar with an amazing staff. The menu is a bit tortured…read moretrying to be creative - non craft cocktail aficionados may be a little turned off by the menu - but if you're looking for some serious creations you will not be disappointed. I was solo, so sat at the bar and Kara was my bartender - she could not have been nicer and was very patient and engaging helping me make some good selections. While the Checkpoint Charlie may not have been the most serious looking drink - it was exceptionally sophisticated.

This place is great! Entrance was tricky to find (around the corner and down the steps), but once I…read moredid, I was transported into a nice, quiet little spot. The drinks were so tasty and reasonable during happy hour! The service was great - fast, friendly, and the perfect amount of checking-in. This is a great place to meet up with a small group of friends to catch-up. We shared the deviled eggs and grilled cheese. Only complaint is that they won't divide the bill - like at all. The best they'd do is divide it evenly. I mean, if Perkins can do it, this place (with a premium on food and drink) can definitely do it. ‍ Still - I'll be back. Gotta work my way through that drink menu!

My coworkers and I originally planned to come here for a happy hour and ended up coming with a much…read morelarger group. There was a bit of a hiccup with the reservation and party size but they were able to accommodate us for a limited time in between reservations. The waitress was ok, she was a little unpleasant in some of her one on one customer service but I assume that because this bar is probably usually busy, that type of service goes unnoticed however it wasn't very busy when we were there. Regardless, the drinks were really good and the prices weren't unreasonable. The decor and atmosphere was really nice and lent itself well to being a speakeasy. I think this would be a great happy hour or even casual date spot. I'd come back in the future.

I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

We were here to get drinks and apps to kickstart our friend's birthday celebration. Unfortunately,…read morewe didn't have a reservation for that evening. Because the last time we were here, we could find a seat easily. So never thought about making a reservation. As we walked in, the place was packed. Lucky we got a table in the corner for an hour. One of us had to stand unfortunately. Drinks were great but felt overpriced. Food was delicious too. Fried potatoes and tartar is a must have. The service was great. Ambiance is amazing as well. Slightly on the darker side in the inside. They also have outdoor seating.

If you're looking for a late night bite this is definitely the place! I remember there being a bit…read moreof a wait but that didn't bother me it was very busy. What my mom and I order was well worth the wait. The food was hot, fresh, and very flavorful. I highly recommend the beef noodles and jade dumplings. Another place that will always be on my list for visitors. If you're looking for a quiet/ spacious place this is not the place haha. It is an extremely loud and tight (at least on the weekends), which may not be ideal for wanting to converse with who you came with easily. There is outdoor seating but I'm not sure if that is less crowded, I didn't notice it until it was time to go.

Love this place! The menu is diverse, you can find something for everyone. The drinks are fabulous…read more I was in the mood for a mocktail and they just asked what my flavor profile was and made the drink accordingly. My one issue is that you can't make reservations in advance which can make planning more difficult.

I came in fully expecting to say that it's a fine cocktail bar in a neighborhood with much better…read moreoptions, but... The Dignitary served me one of the most nostalgic and lovely drinks I've ever had. I'm not going to claim that it will be five stars for everyone, but the No Doubt About It made me feel like a kid again, all the way down to the slightly undissolved clumps of cocoa powder in the hot chocolate. Add in a very adult dose of rye whiskey and a dash of creme de menthe, and you have a drink that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for as long as it's on the menu. Thank you for the alcoholic version of a warm hug on a day that I really needed it.

Had a "Holy Smokes" craft cocktail. It was awesome! The service was out of sight also!read more

Attended a networking event at this bar with passed apps and signature drink, all of which were…read moretasty and visually speaking. I'm not a bar person, so when I hear "bar" I (probably unwarrantedly) think dark; obnoxiously loud; sticky floors etc. so this visit was just up my alley as it was none of that: Bi-level seating, super clean, loud but not obnoxiously so, with great staff. Since I wasn't indulging in alcohol, the bartender made me a "ginger shot" that I could go back for every night. So so delicious and refreshing! A nice spot to hang for a meet-up or to enjoy a cold one or several.

I was out for Art All Night in DC and picked up a ticket to hear live music at this bar. I walked…read morein and it was pretty empty but I was greeted quickly. The host thought that I was the talent, initially. I wanted to say not at all or you'd have an EMPTY house as soon as I cracked my first note. Haha. I sat down at the bar and then realized that this was a totally unrelated event but I figured this is where I was supposed to be and stayed to listen to some live music and enjoy the vibes! My bar tender was super friendly and amazing! It was fun chatting it up with him and he even shared some treats from his childhood with a couple of us left at the bar! Super kind for that! I ordered some food and a drink while listening to the ultra talented Ms Valentina Maria!! This was such a great experience and I can't wait to return again for more live music!