50 Best Cocktail Bars in Washington

“Elegant setting. Beautiful decor. Stellar service. Innovative and delectable cuisine. Bonus points for mocktail options.“

“I enjoyed the green zone, it had me flying high. Flying high when I tried their coffee drink. There was so much in it I don’t even know what to call it, but look at the picture, it looks delicious. I payed a pretty penny for it too, but pennies I got. This place cost a lot of green so bring your wallet, credit card too. Have fun, it’s good (at least their coffee drink is).“

“We walked in 45 minutes before our reservation and they accommodated us. Their Martini's and Old Fashioned's were impeccably prepared. We had Steak Tartare, Chorizo Dumplings, and Blackened Cod. They each had unique and unexpected flavorings that challenged any preconceived ideas we had, they were each unique and the flavor profiles worked across them. I would go back and try separate offerings.“

“5 stars isn't enough!! From the moment we walked in until the end of our night we were satisfied. The decorations, food, and service was amazing! They even offered me a quiet place to pray :). Give this place a try-trust me (portions may seem small, but it was very filling- we ordered the bowl of fries, which came with a delicious sauce, CROQUETTES, fish burger, beef burger, and gnocchi pomodoro. It felt like we were in nyc enjoy :)“

“From the cocktails to the service…our experience was top notch all around! Highly recommend!“

“Meti made this experience so much better with her amazing smile and service. She went abov and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our drinks and food. She made an amazing espresso martini and had a very bright and welcoming smile that would have me and my friends coming back very soon!!! Thanks Meti for such a great experience!“

“Went to Kitchen +Kocktails for the first time last night. The decor was very nice, and the music was good and not obnoxious. Our server Ally was terrific! I’m not a drinker, so when I asked her if there were any cocktails that didn’t taste like alcohol, I thought she would look at me like I was crazy, but she didn’t! She seemed to know exactly what I was talking about and immediately had a couple of suggestions. I went with the mixed berry lemon drop and it was perfect for me. The crab cake appetizers and shrimp and grits with lobster tail entree were amazing. We had a great time and we’ll be back!“

“Nice atmosphere. Good drinks“

“Unexpectedly outstanding vegetarian menu. The eggplant nigiri sauce was memorable, followed by refreshing radish-wrapped vegetables. Toasted rice beautifully complemented the creamy panna cotta. The entree was the best; the bamboo texture was just right. Pickled mushrooms had good bite, their acidity blending perfectly with leeks and cilantro sauce. Perfect ending with a refreshing sorbet and rich chocolate.“

“We had a wonderful experience at F1 Arcade for my sons 21st 🥳🎉. “Day”was welcoming, patient, and very knowledgeable! She remembered our requests, kept our drinks refilled, and made us feel genuinely cared for. We will definitely be back thank you, Day🫶“

“Great food great service!“

“BRING BACK THE CEVICHE DE PULPO PLEASE!!!!“

“I love this place! The food is phenomenal! I can’t get over the tempeh burger!!!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best in town for food and drinks.“

“Finding a Filipino restaurant isn’t easy. So learning about Purple Patch thru Jo Koy—has ended this search! Literally, Filipino cuisine heaven! The restaurant is uniquely decorated, the staff were friendly, & the food hit that major comfort button for us! Thank you Zahara for being so sweet & a wonderful waitress. We can’t wait to come back for more!“

“We came here after the nationals game and Dylan was our server and it was his best experience ever. My husband had the liver and onions and I had the cob salad and it was delicious. My sister-in-law had the avocado salad. I would come here at 10 out of 10 a time every single time and don’t forget to ask for Dylan as your waiter. It was amazing. And order the Mojito!“

“Omg best place in dc will come again“

“This my first time here and it was probably one of the best experience I’ve ever had at a bar in DC . I’ll definitely be back for my birthday next week. Love the atmosphere“

“Had a great experience. I would definitely come back next time we are in DC.“

“came to this restaurant for the first time and I got the Thai iced tea, tom kha soup and Mango sticky rice it was Super good and they were able to make alterations upon my request. The restaurant is super cute and the waiters Danny and Vinny were super sweet and attentive. Will be back“

“The Tacos and clam chowder was really good. The frozen Rose’ was good as well. Great service“

“My friends and I went to ISLA yesterday for my good friend’s birthday dinner. The restaurant’s atmosphere is very sexy, modern and the center chandelier is so beautiful. We had the octopus, lamp chops, oxtail patties, crab patties, Brussel sprouts and golden rice. They were all really good. Our waiter was great and attentive. The only gripe I would say that I noticed was in respect to the dress code. When I arrived I noticed that someone was dressed in extremely short shorts (I could see the persons cheeks) and they were allowed in without anyone saying anything to them. As we were leaving though a group of women entered the restaurant and one of them had a sleeveless top and was showing some cleavage. The host told her that there was a dress code and offered her a jacket. That seemed very inconsistent to me 🤷🏽‍♀️. I also don’t think person was dressed as revealing as the prior individual that I had seen.“

“This is my favorite speakeasy in the area! The menu is changed and handwritten each night. The cocktails are all $18 and worth every penny.

They don't take reservations, so as long as you're willing to wait you can get in any night. We usually put our name on the list then hang at another nearby bar until we get the text.“

“It was fabulous! I loved how much thought went into the meal and the whole place showed the care and love behind the creations. The food and service were spectacular!“

“Service and atmosphere were excellent.
The food did not live up to my expectations of Hong Kong/Cantonese flavors... We found this restaurant through the Eater channel on youtube. After our meal, we decided the food was better described as French cuisine with HK influence. I honestly wanted a little soy sauce and rice vinegar with everything. Umami was largely missing from every dish except the duck noodles.
***The chili oil was delicious, floral with balanced heat.***
Split between 2 people:
-green beans (Fine, good texture, but needed more acid to balance rich sweetness. The topping of pickled anaheims were not enough to balance the entire plate),
-dumplings (gentle truffle flavors and nice sweetness from the espuma, but overall unremarkable)
-scallion pancakes (little to no allium flavor, dough was tough, lacked flakes/delicate texture, lacked salt and acid in the sweet tamarind sauce)
-daikon fritters (overwhelmingly bland and dry, needed a dipping condiment)
-Duck noodles finally had some flavor! (But the duck appeared smoked, closer to pastrami... tasty, but not what I expected from duck noodles at an HK restaurant.)
The wine was good. I did appreciate the selection of natural wines.
Overall we were disappointed based on our expectations for and previous experiences with HK/Cantonese dining. The textures and flavors reminded me of a low sodium, easy to chew menu prioritizing French techniques and flavor profiles.
Table condiments (besides chili oil) would have fixed most of my complaints, but I felt embarrassed to ask based on the atmosphere. I felt that my personal culinary tastes were misaligned with the deeply thoughtful and dining experience.
We were not the target diners for this fine establishment, but I recognize the passion, excellence, and personal intention behind every design and culinary choice at Queen's English.“

“Invited by bartender Ana to check out Immigrant Food (Planet Word), I was curious to experience it for the first time.

I’m so glad she did.

From the moment my partner and I walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming, friendly, lively, upbeat, and inclusive.

We ordered the Greek Wings, The Cheeseburger, and Huevos Rancheros.

The Greek Wings were hot, crispy, meaty, and savory.

The Cheeseburger was a classic done well, topped with American cheese on a toasted sesame brioche bun and served with crispy Belgian fries.

The Huevos Rancheros featured eggs, Mexican chorizo, tortillas, refried black beans, salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, and fresh garnishes. He said it was hearty, colorful, and packed with flavor.

Thank you, Ana, for the recommendation and warm welcome.

Between the inviting atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food, my first visit was a memorable one.

I’ll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.“

“I had one of the best burgers of my life here. And a pretty good drink, too. Service was great, as well. Not really a complaint, but it was nearing sunset and was very dark, so I had to use the candle on the table to read the menu, since I'm of a certain age. I suppose that actually added to the ambience, though. I'm glad we happened upon it as we left our hotel looking for a spot for dinner.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“Best sandwich ever me and my husband really enjoyed ourselves❤️💪💯👏“

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

“As someone who is typically thoroughly unimpressed by the dining scene in the DMV, Reynolds is EXCEPTIONAL.

Ambiance and service, INCREDIBLE
Music, AMAZING
The grilled cheese and steak tartar, FABULOUS
The Funky Business Martini, HEAVANSENT

Would highly recommend and would definitely return!“

“Our son lives in the area and we have been here 4-5 since January ( every time we visit) The owners are wonderful and the staff very attentive The fish taco appetizer is wonderful ( can be enough for an entree if not wanted a big meal) I’ve had many of the entrees and never a bad meal . The chocolate dessert is my go to“

“I went with a friend to The Capital Burger on Newbury last week. The space was clean and comfortable, our server was really friendly, and the food came out fast. Great experience—I’d come back without a second thought.“

“OUT OF THIS WORLD! I am Mexican and this food is just as great as it is in my own country, adding a touch of sophistication, fun and spark! Highly recommend it.“

“The food was delicious, ambiance even better and service the best.
Stopped in here for brunch with a 1PM reservation on a Saturday. Party of three. We opted for bottomless mimosas (pineapple and cranberry). Our waitress(es) were a delight and attentive - Shoutout to DeLo! My two friends opted for the breakfast burrito while I had steak and eggs. The potatoes were seasoned well and the steak was cooked to my preferred doneness. Since it's a bistro they did not have steak sauce - however they offered me other options which included a mushroom gravy type sauce which paired so well with the steak. I would return just for that combination. I didn't see too many reviews for brunch so I wanted to provide some pictures for that. It's a small space with cute esthetic. It reminds me of a nice remote working coffee shop vibe. I cannot wait to return!“

“Rania was an incredible experience. It truly felt like a culinary journey of fine dining with traditional Indian food. Such a wonderful experience and service was impeccable. I envy those who have yet to try Rania for the first time as it was a lovely adventure.“

“This place is a hidden gem! I’d highly recommend to anyone who appreciates inventive cocktails, a dope vibe, and a personally curated experience. The highlight of the evening was our incredibly creative and engaging mixologist, Landon.“

“We (a group of out-of-towners looking for seafood) had the perfect experience at Hank's. We arrived around 6pm on a weeknight and were seated immediately. Our server was detailed, thorough, and thoughtful. Our drinks were delicious and the food was incredible. We shared their proprietary oysters and all loved them! Whenever I'm back in DC, I'll be returning for sure!“

“Great vibes and music here!!!😎“

“Absolutely in love with this place! 🍽️✨ The food is a beautiful symphony of flavors, and the atmosphere is just so warm and welcoming. The perfect spot for a cozy meal with friends or a special dinner. Every bite was a little piece of happiness. 💛“

“Great food! The only complaint I have is the laptop policy which prevents this from being a place to get work done especially over the weekend. However that’s subjective and I can understand some of the reasoning. The food is outstanding“

“Unreal 5 star arrive and food . I agree Michelin for sure“

“Great with food allergies/dietary restrictions and super accommodating. Highly suggest!“

“Can't recommend this place enough!! The entrance is actually very hidden which adds to the speakeasy element. The bartenders are excellent, especially Jake who was controlling the music and making our fab Tom Collins. Highly recommend!!!“

“The food is delicious, fresh and flavorful. I love the ceviche vuelve a la vida is amazing. They really do seafood well. They have unlimited brunch on the weekends and the dishes always come fresh so it takes some time to get to the table. Since service is super slow, I would order as soon as possible. You can't beat the $35 price tag for food, $25 for bottomless cocktails (2 hr limit).
There's a covered patio/sidewalk, it's open so it can get hot during the summer.
Staff“

“In my 50 yrs of living on this earth, and have traveled abroad and tried many different places…my experience at The Dabney has been by far the best I’ve experienced. Everyone from host to chefs made me feel like a star. The bar staff, servers, the atmosphere, and the chefs!!! Top tier and would highly recommend!!! Not only was the service excellent…talk about hospitality on a 100! But the FOOD!!! I mean I would’ve been a happy camper just on the drinks from the bar (gotta try the FORWARD drink!! Whew!) and the service alone, but the FOOD?! We were treated to a five course, and every single bite, morsel that I tasted sent every bit of my taste buds to heaven!! I consider myself a picky eater but none of that mattered. If you’re a connoisseur of fine dining…you CANNOT miss THE DABNEY! I salute the CHEFS!!“

“Part of a food court so can't say there's atmosphere, really. Things are made fresh, which is great, but it means you need to wait a bit. I like that they use the traditional bamboo steamers and serve them to you that way. Large portions in one order. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Vegan options.“

“Love the atmosphere and drinks are great“

“Easily one of the best spots in DC, with some of the best food. The corn tamal, grilled leeks w/ mole, and lamb neck barbacoa were some particular favorites, but everything was delicious, fresh, and carefully crafted. The cocktails were excellent, the patio was extremely pleasant, with attentive service — everyone was so kind. A true 10/10.“

“Our overall experience at Juneberry Garage was quite positive, particularly when it came to the food and service. The food was very good, and the service was exceptional. The staff was attentive, efficient, and genuinely accommodating, regularly checking on our table to ensure everything was taken care of. Food and drinks arrived promptly, and plates were cleared without unnecessary delays. From a dining-service perspective, the experience was excellent.

That said, there are several areas that I believe warrant attention.

The most notable concern was the exterior lighting. While the venue certainly has a family-friendly atmosphere, the area away from the main building was exceptionally dark. There is limited lighting in the space where children can run and play, making it difficult to adequately supervise them once it gets dark. In its current state, a parent could reasonably find themselves relying on a flashlight or headlamp simply to keep an eye on their children. Improving the lighting in these areas would make the environment considerably safer and more enjoyable for families.

Accessibility is another important consideration, particularly for older guests or individuals with mobility limitations. There appeared to be only one functional route for entering and exiting the property, while other gates were either locked or inoperable. This became particularly relevant for my mother, who has Parkinson’s and uses mobility assistance. We needed one of the gates opened to make our exit easier, but unfortunately, that gate was broken, while another was secured with a padlock. As a result, we had to take a considerably longer route to leave the property.

None of this diminishes the quality of the food or the attentiveness of the staff, which were both excellent. However, the experience highlighted the importance of considering what the venue can realistically accommodate, particularly for families with young children and guests who may have mobility challenges.

With improved exterior lighting and more reliable, accessible points of entry and egress, Juneberry Garage could provide a much more inclusive and comfortable experience for all of its guests.“