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    Ugly Duckling

    4.6 (13 reviews)

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    UGLY DUCKLING ATMOSPHERE

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    Deirdre G.

    Ugly Duckling has quickly become one of my favorite happy hour spots in the city. It's hard to put into words, but every time I visit, it feels like stepping into a small, tight-knit community of friends. There aren't a lot of seats but somehow, there's always a seat. The staff, though small in number, are warm and attentive, and before long they start recognizing you, even recalling your drink orders. It's the kind of place that makes it easy to call "your spot." The vibe is moody, cozy, and unfussy--with floor-to-ceiling windows, tea candles after sunset, and a laid-back atmosphere that works whether you're catching up with a friend or kicking off a night out with a group. It's understated, but it works. Drinks are the real draw here: imaginative, balanced, and never boring. The Gullywarsher (a coconut-lime cocktail with popcorn gin) is a fun, interesting, must try cocktail. My other favorites include the Like a Toreador and their espresso martini. Wine and prosecco are also solid picks, and happy hour pricing makes the experience feel like a steal. The menu isn't huge, but it doesn't need to be because you're guaranteed something good. Snack-wise, the lamb kofta meatballs are a crowd favorite, and the cheese board is a reliable go-to. While options during HH are limited, the quality more than makes up for it. Whether you're solo, on a date, or out with a group, Ugly Duckling delivers on comfort, creativity, and consistency. It's sophisticated without the snobbery and once you go a few times, you'll probably become a regular too.

    White wine spritzer $7
    Shari D.

    My bf has wanted to stop in here for a while and we took advantage of being in Shaw to give it a try. We got the chance to try a few menu items and I'll say without a doubt the lamb kofta meatballs are AMAZING! They are very well flavored, and the right portion, as they pack a punch. We also indulged in the Gullywarsher, the Tom Collins and some olives, all met and exceeded our expectations. If you're in the area and are looking for something new, take advantage of their menu you won't be disappointed! Senora our bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming, she added to our experience!

    Rachel R.

    This place is creative, and brings immaculate date night vibes. Definitely try the popcorn infused drink. 10/10

    Gullywarsher
    Audrey R.

    who knew my life was missing popcorn gin? - I am really excited about all the emerging cocktail bars in DC as someone who loves the social energy of a beer garden but doesn't like the beer - we had such a sweet waitress during our time here. she was incredibly nice, chatty and personal. she gave us a few recommendations and described how some of the drinks are made. - one of these drinks was the gullywarsher! it was a coconut lime drink with popcorn gin. this was absolutely mind blowing. it literally tasted like liquidated popcorn with hints of coconut. a true 10/10 in uniqueness and flavor, I'm so so impressed. - we got tom collins as well which were perfectly balanced and refreshing. all these drinks are on their happy hour menus meaning they were between $7 and $10. this is a great happy hour deal and we were happy to coincidentally run into it. the full prices are around $15, not horrid for DC but we luckily were able to avoid that - my overall qualm with this bar is it was very bland. there were a few decorations, but when I walked in I was like "oh am I in the wrong place?" considering their online branding has so much personality to it. the place was rather empty and they just seriously lacked an aesthetic or decorations to any interesting degree.

    Chenée T.

    Believe the hype around this new bar. The cocktails are so imaginative with ingredients Ive never heard before. They had an all night happy hour for New Year's Eve with a popcorn flavored cocktail and an excellent manhattan. The service was really fast and attentive and they had a lot of cute seating areas so you had your pick between a cozy couch area, hightops, or the bar. I didn't try any of their snack foods, but I did try the dessert cake and while it was a little dry, I appreciated that it didn't taste sugary and was a good palette cleanser.

    Yuzu martini
    Mitchell A.

    Ugly Duckling recently opened and is such a gem. A great spot for wine, cocktails, and heavy apps. We had Dennis as our waiter and he was truly fantastic - made some great wine and cocktail suggestions for us when we all gave our likes and dislikes. He also sold the cheese and charcuterie platter by having a deep knowledge of each of the products and talking about why he liked them. The bar is open, moody colors, and perfect for a cozy night or cocktails with friends or on a date! Looking forward to coming back and trying HH there!!

    Orange wine

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    Aaron H.

    Thank you so much for the kind words. We can't wait to see you again!

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    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!

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    4.5(134 reviews)
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    Chadol Korean BBQ was such a fun pick for our monthly dinner series! My friends and I had a great…read moretime and honestly left fullllll. For $45 per person, the all-you-can-eat experience feels like a really solid deal considering how many protein options and side dishes you get. They start you off with a variety of banchan (side dishes), including a salad with this super tasty dressing that had the perfect little spicy kick. For the BBQ, we kicked things off with the spicy bulgogi and butter garlic shrimp, while the others tried the pork belly (I don't eat pork). Later we ordered the steak, spicy brisket, and grilled squid, which were all delicious. The spicy brisket especially was a standout for me. The guys also ordered two rounds of fried dumplings that looked amazing, but since they contain pork, I had to sit those out. I'd love to see Chadol add a veggie dumpling option to the menu! As for the sides, the kimchi and cold glass noodles were both hits at our table, and of course we all added white rice. The "mashed potatoes" though? Definitely more like potato salad and unfortunately very bland. On the other hand, the cheese corn costs extra but is 1000% worth adding. For drinks, the guys enjoyed the Woody Old Fashioned while I had a mezcal margarita-style cocktail that was smoky and refreshing. We also ordered one of the chicken options but never received it and eventually just gave up on it. One of the coolest parts of the experience is the ordering system. Most meats are ordered directly from a machine at your table, and the food comes out quickly on this conveyor belt-style setup which was honestly so fun. Drinks and side dishes are ordered through the servers. The atmosphere was lively and energetic without feeling overwhelming. The restaurant is actually much larger inside than I expected, with a modern setup that works well for smaller groups. That said, I didn't really notice tables for larger parties, so I'm not sure how they accommodate groups bigger than 6 people. Service started off a little rough because our server wasn't very attentive, but after I called it out, he definitely stepped it up and things improved. Overall, Chadol was a really good experience and absolutely worth the price. The 1.5-hour seating limit makes sense too, both to keep things moving and give others a chance to enjoy the experience. I'd definitely go back!

    I ate here around a year ago and reviewed them on google. The food is not good, service is slow,…read morefor some reason you can't order certain things with the tablet, and it's really easy to miss the little automated train thing that brings out your food. This place has negative reviews deleted on Google. Spend your money elsewhere, there's better Korean food in DC.

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    My first visit to Ciel Social Club was such a good experience! I went during happy hour with…read morefriends and the entire vibe of the rooftop was amazing from start to finish. The views alone make you want to stay all night, especially as the sun starts to set over the city. We also got to enjoy live music from the band, which made the atmosphere feel even more fun and elevated. It was the perfect mix of great energy, good music, and a beautiful rooftop setting. For drinks, we tried the Blushing Orchard Martini, Capitol Blossom Fizz, and the Lavender Ginger Bloom -- all refreshing and well-crafted. For food, we ordered the East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, Beef Sliders, and Mediterranean Tacos. Everything came out fresh and flavorful.

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    Bar Betsie - Back area

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    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

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    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.

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    Ugly Duckling - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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