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

Stumbled across this establishment on a late night adventure. Was greeted and seated promptly upon…read moreentering. Order the the Fools goal and enjoyed the environment. There is a dark candle lit ambiance. I could actually hold a conversation with others cause the music wasnt too loud. I absolutely loved that. Definitely going back and trying a dish or 2 next time.

It's a cool spot. It was a little hidden like most Speakeasy's which I love. When we entered it had…read morea cool dark but calming vibe and they weren't too busy. We had a party of 7 and we pretty much had our pick of where to sit. The waitress was talking really fast and low and we kept having to ask her to repeat herself. She never slowed down OR spoke louder. Once she had our drink orders, they didn't take long to come out. I ordered the "AKA" it was tequila based and was pretty good. Everyone was pretty happy with their drinks. This is when the night turned. 4 of the 7 of us wanted to leave and head elsewhere, the waitress made ALL 7 of us pay even though the others wanted to stay and order more. She would not budge on this and seemed pretty nonchalant about it. .. all in all. Glad we found it but won't be back.

Sssh... keep this on the down low. We found the coolest speakeasy in town. This joint is jumpin'…read more.., live jazz on Wednesday eve. The vibe is electric, the cocktails delicious, the shared plates delectable, the service impeccable. Such a fun eve! Go find the secret door, whisper the secret password and kick up your held with prohibition era libations tinged with just the right amount of danger. Tasty!

The first time I came to Code Red was last summer, and I genuinely found myself counting down the…read moredays until I could return. Finally made it back - and it did not disappoint. This is such a perfect spot for either a date night or a fun night out with friends. The speakeasy vibe, the chic atmosphere, and the music (a smooth, chill house mix) all come together so effortlessly. Plus, being open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays is a huge bonus. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time - this place stays busy for a reason. From my previous visit, I remember having a ravioli dish, what I believe was a braised beef, and their sliders with duck fat fries - all of which were incredible and clearly memorable since I was thinking about them for months. The sliders paired with those fries were honestly a standout. This time around, we had to get the duck fat fries again, and they were just as phenomenal as I remembered. The cheesesteak oysters were easily a 10/10 - fresh, meaty, and honestly surprising coming from someone who used to not even like oysters. We also tried the grilled octopus, which was well-seasoned (as expected, slightly chewy), and the fried calamari, which was light, not heavy at all, and paired perfectly with the sauces. The tuna tartare was another standout - super fresh, soft, and practically melted in your mouth. For drinks, we went all in. The Dirty Diamond martini with blue cheese olives was great, though if you like your martinis extra filthy, I'd recommend specifying that. The Hemingway Special had a nice subtle sour kick, and the vanilla mint espresso martini was strong (you can definitely taste the alcohol) but still smooth and frothy. The Mary Pickford with Malibu was surprisingly delicious - almost like a mocktail. The Paloma was solid, and the Code Red cocktail gave me slight cosmopolitan vibes. But the real star was the dulce de leche espresso martini--absolutely unforgettable. What really ties everything together here is the service. The staff - from the hosts to the servers - are attentive, welcoming, and genuinely elevate the experience. Overall, Code Red is one of those places you keep coming back to. If you're looking for a stylish speakeasy atmosphere with great food, drinks, and energy, this is it.

Burgers and beer were great and reasonably priced. Ambiance was top tier! Plenty of seating and…read moreservice was quick.

Love this place. Burger deal on Mondays is awesome and they have a great happy hour I think…read moreeveryday till 630pm. They also allow kids until 8pm. The stairwell is a little steep but manageable. Best dive bar in the area. Awesome beer selection and I've never had bad food from here. Service is great too. It's actually pretty big space wise. I don't remember seeing a changing table in the bathroom (not that it's catering to that crowd but just an FYI).

2nd time here. Submitted to make a reservation on Wednesday, for Monday. Didn't hear back. Sent a…read moretext to the number online, a few hours before the desired time. I was already sitting at the bar when the person finally texted me back, sigh. Piss poor communication all around The music downstairs was VERY loud. The bartendar would change the music based on the "type" of people that came in. This was apparent to me & my guest. We listen to all types of music so it wasn't a bother, but she did it for Every Single couple/group that walked in The Place smelled like OLD sitting water. Soon as I walked into the pizza place, my face soured up. Same deal downstairs, where they masked the smell with incense. Cheeze pizza slice was good. Def. make a reservation because the place filled up with each group coming in

Finally made it out to this speakeasy since it has reopened! I had been before when upstairs used…read moreto be a sonut shop but I don't remember the name. The setup is pretty much the same. The decor is nice and the bartender was friendly. It was a little confusing getting a reservation because the website is down. So I called the pizza shop, he told me to hang up and.call back. I was able to speak to someone and get a reservation. He said he would text me the confirmation and access code. I received the confirmation but not the access code. I texted the number when I arrived and got the code. I was there 630 on a Saturday so it was pretty empty. Service was quick. They do have a food menu and you are able to order small appetizers, pizza and sandwiches. I just had a drink but Will definitely be back to try the food.

Delightful speakeasy with remarkably cozy vibes, super friendly service, and delicious cocktails…read more This small, no-reservations-allowed space is hard to snag a spot in (unless you're willing to wait in their multi-hour-long waitlist), but it's 100% worth the hype and effort. I'd recommend trying to come a bit earlier in the night or on a slightly off day -- we came by around 8 PM on a Thursday -- and you might be able to slip in with no or minimal wait. We were initially placed at a standing table, then relocated to a proper table when one opened up after about 30 minutes. It is a smidge loud, but still manageable, and I love the cozy, homey atmosphere created by the dim lighting, almost industrial architecture mixed with old fashioned bookshelves (which double as bathroom doors), and candles. They have a short menu of custom cocktails you can choose from, or you can also ask for any of the classics and/or tell the bartender what you typically enjoy and let them come up with a good fit. We tried a smattering of cocktails, including two from their menu, a whiskey sour, and a bee sting (which the bartender selected for us based on our general preferences). Each one was expertly crafted and extremely tasty, and made so much better by the ambiance.

OKPB is a popular speakeasy, a pretty small space. You show up and use the ring doorbell to connect…read morewith the host. They will add you to the waitlist and give you an estimated time. I generally will add myself to the waitlist and then head out to grab dinner. If you are called before dinner is finished, they are generally good about moving you further down the waitlist. For drinks, they have a small cocktail menu but the whole appeal is to let the server know your typical preferred drinks/flavor profile and they will create a drink for you. I generally always go that route and have been happy with my drinks. I even requested a non alcoholic drink once and I felt like i got the same fun experience.

The service was great as usual and the drinks were great. I had two of them which were the Modena…read moreSpritz and the Toki Highball. Both were excellent! The atmosphere was bar appropriate with minimal noise, so I didn't need to raise my voice at all since I was in the tabled area in the back. Would I go back? Yes, absolutely.

My friend and I were looking for a quick bar to slip into around 10-11 PM and stumbled across this…read morespot. It's not too far from the waterfront, so it made for a nice walk after gelato. At first, you'll see what looks like just a pizza shop -- but if you head in and either use the side door or walk through and climb a set of stairs, you'll find the speakeasy upstairs. Very cool vibe: dark, cozy, and date-night ready. Drinks: 4/5 I ordered their take on an Old Fashioned, and it was definitely the highlight of the night but sweeter than I would have liked. They served it over a stamped solid block of ice (a small detail I ). My friend was abstaining from alcohol that night and asked for a non-alcoholic cocktail. To our surprise, they didn't just hand her a lemonade like most places -- they actually made her a crafted virgin drink, which she loved. Food: 3/5 We ordered fries and a slice of pepperoni pizza. The fries turned out to be waffle fries (not mentioned on the menu) and were overly crispy, so not really our favorite. The pizza was fine -- clearly sourced from the shop downstairs -- but it leaned oily and didn't really wow us. Service: 5/5 Pretty standard -- nothing over the top, but not neglectful either. Drinks came out reasonably fast, food followed, and we were checked on enough without it feeling pushy. Vibes: 4/5 The speakeasy itself is definitely the selling point. Dark, intimate, and stylish -- you feel like you've found a little hidden spot. All in all, the cocktails are the reason to come, especially if you're into whiskey. The food was forgettable, but it's convenient that you can order pizza upstairs. We spent about $30-40 for drinks and snacks, which isn't shocking for Old Town. Would I go back? Maybe if I was already in the area, but for a dedicated whiskey night, I'd probably head somewhere else.

I've been here a few times & really love this place! It does get pretty busy but I've never had to…read morewait long for a table (for two). I love ordering the vegan hash (veggie hash w no egg) & the drinks are pretty good , but definitely over priced. The service is always great & I love supporting this business. Parking can be a little tricky on the weekends, but street parking is free on Sundays. Love the decor, I just wish the bathrooms were better kept. Mimosas -- 7/10 overpriced Cab Calloway -- 7/10 Seafood grits -- 9/10 has a little spice to it! Veggie Hash -- 10/10 super filling Veggie burger -- 8/10

The Breakfast Club, no not the 80s movie classic, no not the nationally syndicated morning show…read morethat sold out and went corporate and Netflix, but the Black diaspora sanctuary spot in the heart of Silver Spring off of Fenton Street is where I took my mom to for a brunch on an early Friday afternoon before Mother's Day weekend. It was awesome to see the diversity of the diaspora from the African continent (East and West Africa) the Caribbean/Latin America, and America all in one safe space enjoying themselves without the performative and obnoxiousness from others I would give them that. The Billy Holliday mural and the interior design has a nice sleek, New American vibe. My problem is the service, the cost, and the food although solid, I cooked a brunch the following day myself not to brag (scrambled eggs and cheese, friend potatoes with diced green peppers and onions) that was masterful in comparison to the gingerbread style big ole French toast and fancy "scrambled eggs and cheese" this spot has. The service charge was ridiculous as my mom's bill was 70 plus bucks for just the seafood shrimp and grits which was nice, a very sweet pre-diabetic lemonade, and bread pudding that was like bougie Georgetown prices with the dominant culture. I paid 40 dollars (Hairstylist from Baby Boy!) for French toast, scrambled eggs with cheese and lemonade. The food is nice and all but nothing to die for. We came for the vibe, culture, and atmosphere also, but we do prefer the chains of Dennys and I-hop if I am not doing the cooking which is most of the time. The server would dirty mack and take a while flirting with women at the bar and playing around with staff, and I had to give a clinical gaze with my glasses and hand signal for him to return. We did ask up front about service charge and gratuity included from the beginning but they have a very Southern slow pace here that I agree with others and I am a very patient man and notice that. It can take a while to get your checks, get change, just other tasks that you would think would be handled more efficiently. The place attracts the social media crowd, with professional pictures, the glitz, the glamor the Hollywood red carpet of the DMV, but the structural integrity of the pricing, service, and experience needs to step its game up in the worst way. We certainly see this place being a bit turned up and precarious in later hours. The closest parking that is reliable enough is the Safeway garage so it is not the most convenient, where as at least Matchbox has the Wayne and Colesville garages to park at and then enter. It was nice to support the Black owned establishment but it is a 1 and done spot. Majic 102.3 put in the hype a couple of years ago, but I found the truth, no thanks, it is a performative culture that still has that ole Georgia Ave. street culture.

We visited Allegory primarily because it was within walking distance of our hotel. Several other…read morenearby bars looked appealing but were quite crowded, so this felt like the right choice. Upon arrival, we joined the waitlist via QR code. We were quoted about a 20-minute wait, but in reality, it was closer to 10 minutes. The wait itself was comfortable, with a lounge-style seating area available, and they even offer a menu to order from while you wait (though we didn't take advantage of that). Once inside, we were seated at a cozy corner table, which set the tone for a great experience. The menu deserves special mention--it's presented as a beautifully curated coffee table book. The level of thought, creativity, and storytelling behind it is genuinely impressive. The cocktail descriptions are detailed and well-written, giving you a clear sense of what to expect while still leaving room for surprise. I'm fairly familiar with inventive cocktail programs and have visited many well-known bars across the country and internationally, but this menu genuinely stood out. Some of the ingredient combinations are unexpected to the point of being almost puzzling--in a good way. It's rare to come across a menu that feels this original. Of course, the real question is whether the drinks live up to the concept--and they absolutely do. * All That She Carried: Think of it as a creative twist on an Old Fashioned--balanced, nuanced, and elevated by a subtle frozen s'more element that works surprisingly well. * Leaving Babylon: Their take on a martini, and easily my favorite of the night. Every note described on the menu comes through, yet the drink remains incredibly smooth and cohesive. * 1962: Slightly sweeter than my usual preference (and they do warn you), but beautifully executed. The soursop stands out and you'll get the note, while it was hard to understand how / what ackee's contribution was. Visually, it's also a stunning cocktail. The atmosphere matches the creativity of the drinks, with an "Alice in Wonderland"-inspired theme and a thoughtfully curated music selection that enhances the overall vibe. It feels lively and immersive without being overwhelming. Service was attentive and polished without ever feeling rushed. Overall, highly recommended--especially if you enjoy innovative cocktails and a unique, story-driven bar experience.

I stopped by Allegory for a nightcap and, as always, it did not disappoint…read more I ordered the 1962, and it was both visually stunning and delicious--the soursop paired beautifully with the gold and teal presentation. Every detail felt intentional, from the drink itself to the overall aesthetic of the space. What makes this place truly special for me, though, is the people. My dear friend Kapri is one of the head bartenders here--a world-class talent and a Netflix bartending competition winner. We worked together over 10 years ago, and even then I knew she was something special. It's been incredible to watch her grow into the bartender she is today. I love bringing friends and loved ones here not just for the drinks, but for the experience she creates. During this visit, Kapri walked us through the story behind the bar. It adds such a meaningful layer to an already exceptional space. The inspiration behind Allegory draws from the story of Ruby Bridges, reimagined through the lens of Alice in Wonderland. As the first Black child to integrate an American school, Ruby's legacy is honored throughout the space--from the murals to the storybook menu and thoughtfully crafted cocktails, many of which also nod to banned literature. It's truly the most powerful part of the speakeasy experience. If you can, hear the story as told by the staff. Allegory is more than a bar--it's an experience rooted in storytelling, artistry, and incredible hospitality. 10/10, every time.