50 Best Cocktail Bars in Washington

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

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

“Incredible restaurant that puts elevated care, attention to detail, and quality ingredients front and center.

Unpretentious in austere but refined in the approach to your hospitality experience, this gem nestled in the heart of AdMo is a must-see for all hungry foodies in the area.

My experience with Imani and Amina will be the reason I return and tell my friends to go. Their storytelling, command of the menu, and easy approach to creating an elevated dining experience did not go unnoticed.

Meatball and porkchop were a hit in tenderness and flavor, while the cabbage and pudding were a hit in dynamics and design. Major shout out to Amina for bringing over the perfect wine pairing to complement our porkchop—on the house.

These moments create the fine dining experience and make the price point worthwhile.“

“Exciting food, great flavors and nicer presentation. I tried the set menu and loved everything. My favorite was the crab with potato dumplings, and the wagyu kebabs were surprisingly good. The fish crudo seemed to veer off the theme, but it was still tasty. The zero proof cocktails were very good, too.

The staff was friendly, and the ambiance is really nice. The room is spacious, but the tables are close to each other.“

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

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

“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 :)“

“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!“

“Great food great service!“

“Great ambiance, excellent drinks (pimm's cup and martini were memorably good). Food was great (catfish spread, sliders, and croquettes). Only the beignets were slightly undercooked, and it was a bit unfortunate they've still charged us for them even though we informed the server of it.“

“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!!!“

“love D&A. The service is great. The bartenders are very attentive. Abbie, the top shelf cocktail waitress is the nicest most thoughtful person we have.ever met! She is AMAZING!!“

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

“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!“

“Genuinely blown away. Don't get me wrong I love all food, but I wouldn't say I'm easily impressed since most restaurants are just decent but this was truly great food and the service was phenomenal. You can really tell a lot of time and thought is put into each dish. We will be back!!!“

“on point!! don't shy away from the menu, everything we had was delicious.“

“The best experience I have ever had at a restaurant! food was amazing and the staff made us feel like we were regulars! would recommend 1000 times over!“

“Tastes just like my mom’s cooking, should try to know it.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

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

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

“It’s an outstanding establishment to eat & drink!!“

“It is impossible to have a bad experience here. I’ve been coming to this place for well over 4 years now and it never disappoints. The staff is great. Drinks are amazing. And it’s just a really nice to be. The chai latte is worth every sip.“

“Nice atmosphere. Good drinks“

“Dining in DC, is paying for ambiance. Pascual was a wonderful ambiance in learning the finer elements of Mexican cuisine.

NO SALSA IN CHIPS

Guacamole was tasty but it wasn't until I built the perfect bite with the braised lamb neck did I appreciate the understatement of its balance. My friend very much enjoyed her Octopus, she got crispy she'll to accompany her dish.

The bunuelo was a nice finish, but there was the option of flan w/chocolate. The flan was good but had bitters from dark chocolate that gave the taste of espresso.

I would not dine here again personally, but it makes for a really nice backdrop of a lovely dinner.

Vegetarian options: Seafood allergy, a lot of possible cross contamination, limits your choices. However the choices are still very delicious.“

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

“When you think of a speakeasy… this place looks like what comes to mind. Down a flight of stairs leading to oversized doors you find yourself stepping back in time and greeted by a skilled bartender sporting a handlebar mustache. Great for an after dinner drink or to just hang out with friends.“

“Omg best place in dc will come again“

“This place is intoxicating!! The decor is very Gatsbyesque! Totally cool private gin club speakeasy vibe. Went here for after dinner drinks with my girlfriends and it really hit the mark! The cocktails were gorgeous and delicious! I recommend the Gimlet. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable. It was a perfect ending to our girls trip and I can't wait to bring my husband for date night!!! Highly recommend!“

“fantastic food and service. Will definitely be back“

“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).“

“Great ambiance and great drinks 🍹 totally recommend for a fun night out 🥂“

“Great place for drinks and food, a good girls night or wine night or relaxing evening for 30s and up! Great ambience and darker lighting sets a good mood and atmosphere. Love it here and continue to bring friends to enjoy the gem close to DuPont!“

“Great place!! The atmosphere was charming and the food was great! The staff was very knowledgeable about the wine and provided great customer service.“

“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“

“What a lovely bar! Delicious and unique drinks!“

“Bistro Cacao was an outstanding choice to cater lunch for a very important business meeting. The food was AMAZING, from appetizers, salad, main course and dessert! Highly recommend them for your next event, meeting or just a fine place to dine!! Great Service, Great Food, Great Presentation!“

“Love the atmosphere and drinks are great“

“wonderful gem of a spot! delicious cocktails and food. extremely knowledgeable staff“

“I will say that this place is a MUST visit! I was thoroughly impressed by the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food! Every bite was delicious and left me wanting more. We had the four course menu and it was enough food that everyone in our party felt satisfied and even a bit full. The service was great too! They brought out each course promptly and we enjoyed the attentiveness and attention to detail. Indian food has never tasted so delicious! I hope to return again soon!“

“Great vibes and music here!!!😎“

“Mariscos 1133 is hands down one of the best brunch spots I’ve ever been to! The food selection is incredible — from savory dishes to the amazing drinks, everything was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. You can tell the kitchen puts care into every plate.

The drink menu is just as impressive. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic mimosa or something more creative, their cocktails are delicious and well-balanced. The vibe is vibrant yet laid-back, making it perfect for a relaxing weekend brunch with friends or a casual date.

The service was also top-notch — friendly, attentive, and quick without feeling rushed. I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Marisco 1133 if you’re looking for an unforgettable brunch experience!“

“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“

“You know you’re going to have good food when the servers get excited about your menu decisions. Everything was absolutely wonderful. We got to sit at the bar with a direct view of the kitchen. I don’t know if the octopus or the truffle dumpling was my favorite, but I know I’m getting both when I go back. The whole fried snapper had a delicious light breading. The duck noodles were tasty too; I will probably try to get it spicier next time. I’ll likely be back in a couple of weeks. I’m still thinking about the food. Also, this husband-wife team perfected my experience by ensuring such excellent service. They need to teach a workshop to other restauranteurs.“

“We loved having dinner so much on Friday night that we had lunch on Saturday! Lobster roll was delicious. Great selection of raw oysters. PEI mussels were the best! Service was on point. Friday night Ashley was great and sorry I didn’t get our great servers name on Saturday. Manager Ronald Vasquez was so personable and made us feel like regulars. Wish we lived a bit closer because we would be. Highly recommend!“

“San Matteo is such a neighborhood gem, with consistently stellar food and service. I always order one of the house-made pastas and end with the tiramisu and chocolate lava cake. The servers are warm and attentive-- shout out to Carolina who was so friendly and extremely accommodating of our picky eater's needs!“

“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.“

“There’s very few times when you walk into somewhere and can tell immediately that the owner loves what they’re doing, Cynthia is most definitely one. Cocktails were unique and delicious and the food was exactly what I hoped it would be.“

“Our visit to Zeppelin was absolutely breathtaking! From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted with the most exceptional hospitality by Ari and the rest of the staff. The atmosphere of the restaurant is truly one-of-a-kind, paying tribute to the Golden Age of the Great Passenger Airships. But the real standout of our experience was the food. It was absolutely divine. We began our meal with the Edamame and Miso Soup, both of which were the perfect starters and set the stage for the rest of the meal. The Seaweed Salad and Cucumber Sunomono were also refreshing and bursting with flavor. For our main course, we decided to indulge in a variety of dishes from the KushiYaki (Japanese Charcoal Grill) menu. The Ebi Shumai and Beef Harumaki were both cooked to perfection, while the Takoyaki was a fun and tasty snack. But the standout dish was the Okonomiyaki, with its tempura, red ginger, okonomiyaki sauce, and mayo creating a truly unique and flavor-packed experience. From the sushi bar, we sampled a variety of rolls including the Negitoro Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Rainbow Roll. Each one was expertly crafted and perfectly balanced in flavor. We also tried the Sashimi Sampler, which was a fantastic way to try a range of different fish. For dessert, we couldn't resist trying the Green Tea Ice Cream, which was the perfect way to end the meal on a sweet note. Our experience at Zeppelin was truly extraordinary! The food was delicious and the hospitality we received from Ari and the rest of the staff was top-notch. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a truly unique and memorable dining experience.“