50 Best Cocktail Bars in Washington

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

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

“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 :)“

“My team held a social here on March 5th. From start to finish, it was a wonderful experience. Danielle, our point of contact for planning the event, was phenomenal and incredibly helpful. The service team was top notch and the food was great! We had an awesome time and would certainly look to host here again!“

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

“Nice atmosphere. Good drinks“

“Me and my husband had the most amazing time. You can tell they care about you and your experience. We have ordered the restaurant week menu and it didn't disappoint. This place restored my hope for DC restaurants. Hidden gem and i want them to stay that way. Not everyone have good taste Humberto was amazing, so as the owner. Very genuine and humble. Honestly i cannot pinpoint which course was the best. What i know for sure is the steak was so unforgettable . Next time i am gonna go all out and try their tasting menu. Thank you for keeping up the amazing work . Raven and Alan“

“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).“

“I've been to almost every cocktail bar in DC and OKPB's drinks are the best. Just as importantly, service is consistently welcoming/accommodating and unpretentious (a real rarity for cocktail bars). The wait time is inconvenient but it's just because OKPB is amazing and everyone wants to go (plus space is small). Plan on a significant wait (45 min - 1.5 hrs) during prime hours. During your wait, head over to the raven, Marx, la tejana, or suns.“

“Omg best place in dc will come again“

“We went on a Sunday night so my fiancé could do her groomsmen proposal. The staff was extremely accommodating and wanted to make the moment special. A few of our guest ordered food which they said were good & the mixed drinks were good as well. The manager & host went above and beyond. Would definitely recommend & we will be back.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Fantastic spot! The drinks are to die for—try the spicy bees knees!— and the food is great. The atmosphere is perfectly moody and the music is good and played there perfect level so that it can be enjoyed but it is still easy to hear conversation with your party. I especially love the cozy couches in the back lounge.“

“Excellent meal for Valentine's Day! We had the special Valentine's Day menu (pretty much all new entrees) and it did not disappoint. The pork "spring roll" was amazing, as was the beef with grits and wish they could appear on their regular menu one day. The service was excellent as always. The wine was delicious and reasonably priced for the bottle.“

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

“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!“

“Love the atmosphere and drinks are great“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“the food and service was amazing“

“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!!!“

“Reynolds is the definition of elevated dining and social experience. Their cocktails aren’t just drinks—they’re a whole conversation, crafted with creativity and precision that makes each sip memorable. The bites are iconic, offering a perfect mix of flavor and presentation that keeps you coming back for more. And the vibe? Absolutely high-end—sophisticated yet inviting, making it ideal for a night out or a special occasion. Reynolds delivers on every front: exceptional drinks, delicious bites, and an atmosphere that feels luxurious without being pretentious. Highly recommend for anyone looking to indulge in a truly refined experience.“

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

“This was the bar at our hotel, and with the snow and weather chaos, I honestly went in with pretty low expectations. Instead, Marlin completely blew them out of the water. From the moment we sat down, it was clear he genuinely cared, not just about the drinks, but about the overall experience.

The service was friendly, attentive, and thoughtful, and he went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of despite how hectic the night could have been. The drinks were great, the vibe was welcoming, and his attitude turned what could’ve been a forgettable stop into a highlight of our stay.

If you’re at Lucha Rosa, do yourself a favor and grab a seat at the bar. Marlin is the real deal!“

“Whats not to love about Lola's. great service, fantastic food and a wide selection of drinks. I always return here in my trips to DC as its the best bar in town. i highly recommend a visit..“

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

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

“The first time checking this place out. ordered it to go. Customer service was great, staff was knowledgeable of the menu and gave a great recommendation. I got the spaghetti drunken noodles with chicken. Phenomenal, definitely will be going back. I'm actually surprised the flavors were still intact. For it to be a to go order lol“

“Scored a spot at the bar for an early dinner, a win since reservations are tough! Beautiful space with top-tier, elevated Caribbean fare.

The Wagyu Oxtail and Crab patties are must-orders with a perfect filling-to-pastry ratio. The Fire-Grilled Branzino was deboned and cooked to perfection, we paired it with the macaroni pie. Despite the Saturday rush, Roberto provided excellent service. Can’t wait to return!“

“Great food great service!“

“There’s a small play area for kids. Basic but crucial for parents trying to enjoy a drink since it is mostly fenced in. We got three separate dishes from the food truck and all three were excellent. Great casual spot. Dog park on site as well.“

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

“I can’t wait to go back and next time I’m getting one of everything! These were the best cocktails I’ve ever had in my life, every flavor worked together and kept surprising me in the best ways. The bartenders are genius and the servers are welcoming and attentive. The seating and atmosphere are nice for friends catching up or for couples looking to snuggle up in a cozy nook made for two. I could’ve spent all night looking at the murals and the menu has so much more than descriptions of cocktails and (also amazing) food. 10/10 would recommend!“

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

“I love the Benders today SHOUT OUT to RECESS CATERING EVENTS. CHEIF WALTON some Good tasting food by the way Chief your the Best.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Incredible experience. I had the Chef's Tasting menu with my partner and it was one of the best food experiences that we have had at any restaurant. Each dish was incredibly put together and beautifully presented. The flavors were unreal and each dish had us saying just send us more of that, until the next dish came. The cocktails were just as beautifully presented as the food and were exceptional. The service was top notch and we absolutely will be returning.“

“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.“

“I had the Persian bowl ( or something
Like it) and the mushroom soup. Sorry I can’t provide pics cause I wanted to enjoy the full experience. Both plates excelled in presentation and flavors. They blew my mind; specially the mushroom soup. It was amazing! I also like that the Persian bowl was a feature by an Iranian chef recently arrived to the country. The ambience and service were outstanding as well. And I loved that I could, for once, speak Spanish without feeling intimidated.“

“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!“

“Compliments to the Chef. The Michelin star is so deserved. The setting in pics seems strange but please trust the staff and the kitchen, EAT HERE. We Loved it. Try the Marrow starter and if you are from IRL or the UK the beans and pork belly is next level. BRAVO“

“A whole vibe!! This was my 1st time at Flirt DC and I must say I was impressed! Brunch was amazing, service top tier and the owner was making sure everyone is good 👍🏾 one of the better spots in DC for hookah and drinks HANDS DOWN! #letsFlirt💋“

“A cute place in a cozy spot filled with joy and anticipation. The menu changes often so, if you look online and salivate at one of the photos, there is a good chance what you desire has morphed into something else. But fear not, the chef has surely created something new you willingly dive into.

I had the beef short ribs Chinese style. As my mother would say, when she is commenting on a dish, it was nice. That is a higher praise than most, but I feel it was appropriate for this dish. It wasn’t what I was expecting for a place with such high accolades. More like Korean Kalbi with Szechuan spice. Just a suggestion, maybe work on the presentation and add some coconut sugar to the marinade to balance out the flavor of the dish. It was served with an apple slaw that was also, nice, as it was the tangy acidic element to the dish. As the meat was spicy and the slaw tangy I was left yearning for that great balance of flavor great asian food has—spicy, sweet, tangy all in one bite.

I also had the lotus dumpling and that was delightful— maybe the same critique, just missing one thing, but I can’t put my finger on it yet.

The food was good and would definitely go back if I could find a nice date (almost impossible nowadays unless you pay upfront). Service was excellent and the ambiance made you feel warm and welcome. You should try this spot and order a lot more than I did to get a true experience of what this place has to offer.“

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