50 Best Cocktail Bars in Washington

“Amazing cocktails and wonderful cuisine! Cool atmosphere and timely reservations!“

“Incredible Tour of the World menu!“

“The required tasting menu in the Tail Up Goat dining room is a six-course meal of difficult-to-prepare and skillfully presented tasty bites that will set you back $130 per person plus a mandatory 22% gratuity (beverage pairings are available for additional cost). Despite a distinct culinary virtuosity and attention to flavors and textures, there was no real wow from the dishes, and the portion sizes were wanting compared to other tasting menus and the price charged. The wine list was quite interesting, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Markus Molitor Riesling Brut. While we appreciated the meal and service, we can't give it our highest recommendation in terms of value for price.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 :)“

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

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

“Great food great service!“

“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!!!“

“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!“

“Kevin Tien is a wonderfully creative chef delivering exceptionally original and delicious food. You might look at some of the combinations on the menu with hesitation, but the flavors meld beautifully. The dining room is warm and inviting and the service is excellent. It is a little noisy, but you have no trouble hearing your dining partners. For diners seeking something beyond the run of the mill steak house or french bistro, Moon Rabbit is a must-visit!“

“The meal was delicious and our server was great! The only issue we had was when we first came in and we checked in for our reservation. They told us they would sit us shortly, but the host who checked us in stepped away to show another guest their patio. Another couple came in after us and the other host sat them immediately. She then looked at us and asked if we had been helped.“

“Me and my friend went here for dinner on a Wednesday. I recommend a reservation even though it didn’t get too crowded until later in the evening. We opted to sit outside but the noise from U street traffic really dampened the atmosphere. They thankfully let us move inside. You order through a QR code or at the bar. We both got their limonadas which were great. And then got their fries to share and I got the masa gnocchi - all delicious! I would definitely go back to try more.“

“The food was great! The chicken wings & the Cuban sandwich were generous in portion size for the price ! The Mezze was good but small portioned for $17. The manager of the day made our experience very good and he was very kind to us . We had a big family & he checked in on us even more than the server herself! We appreciated it so much h because the waitress wasn’t super friendly. That is totally okay , but I always appreciate people that try to make the day happier. So thank you manager !!!! It is nice to be treated like humans !“

“This is a DC classic. Must go. The rigatoni has been on the menu for 10 years and it’s perfect. We always also get the seasonal dishes - they are fabulous and ever changing. There’s also always an octopus dish and they cook it so well and it’s so hard to get right. It’s both tender and a little charred.“

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

“We were really amazed and enjoyed our visit. Great staff and amazing food!“

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

“One of the best dining experiences in DC. Chef Jeremiah is outstanding; the meal is creative but accessible, and each course is better than the previous. We are so grateful to have Dabney in DC!“

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

“Great stuff great wine we love it“

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

“Eubin took excellent care of my husband and I on our visit to barmini. It was our first visit (of many more to come) and every single cocktail was mind blowing. I had originally booked a flight, only to have to change it to a la carte in order to make dinner reservations. I wish we had cancelled dinner and stayed at barmini! I cannot find enough positive words to describe this experience. Worth every single cent and more. A must visit! We will be back! (And sit at the bar. The show of every cocktail being prepared truly adds to the experience!) the cake for my birthday was a spectacular gesture as well!“

“fantastic food and service. Will definitely be back“

“Always amazing. If you haven’t been to GZ you should. If you have been, why aren’t you there?“

“Great space. Intimate but high energy. Great team behind the bar service and cocktails-wise. Thanks Joe for taking care of me and sending me on some future adventures.

And clearly a great team in the kitchen. They've got an extensive menu - you could come here for (late night) snacks, or easily a full meal alone or with friends. The dishes weren't too big to handle solo so didn't have fomo except for wanting to try all the things. Chili wontons and double cooked pork were intensely satisfying.

Tiki style cocktail menu, but with plenty of diverse options and a great looking classic cocktail list. Given the ones I had, I'd trust them on the rest. A few good options for vegetarians or vegans (modifications possible).“

“Love the atmosphere and drinks are great“

“Amazing food and very attentive staff. A very unique food journey with a story behind every delicious dish. The owners/chefs/mixologist are an amazing team with so much creativity and talent.“

“One of my favorite spots in DC. Food is always delicious, wine selection is great, and good happy hour specials. I love the outside seating options and indoors is cute, but it can get pretty loud inside when busy where it gets hard to hear or have a conversation. During the summer, the mosquitoes are awful (at least for me) even though they offer bug spray.“

“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“

“Wow! This place really impressed us. Having dined at many Michelin spots in and outside of DC, this place meets that standard. The food was incredible - depth of flavors, multiple textures, fun colors, and good portions. The service was excellent - no long waits, friendly and very knowledgeable servers. Don't hesitate to ask for a walk through of the menu, we're glad we did.

The nargisi kofta (quail egg) starter blew our mind. The flavor was wild and a perfect way to present truffle without it overpowering your taste buds or lingering too long. The beetroot second course had great heat! The cheela course was a delicious taco-like course. The lobster supplement for the main is an absolute must, if offered. Gorgeous presentation and perfectly cooked. Wasn't sure how lobster could be made Indian but the curry sauce it was presented with made so much sense. The mains are served with excellent naan and lentil stew - ate all of it! We can't wait to see what final menu they settle on (sure hope it includes some on their already!)“

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

“First visit and it was splendid. The food was very tasty and their mixed liquor drinks were rather unique. My only complaint is if you are only chicken or fish eater, there needs to be added grilled/seared entres of salmon, sole or chicken or similar selections. The menu, imo, isn't fully rounded out. The 1930s ambiance with period photos and memorabilia was fantastic. The decor, with a tree in the middle of the floor , high backed comfortable seats and nice chandeliers were very lovely. The bar is beautifully designed. The speak easy typed door entrance made you feel a raid was imminent. Lol! If able, choose our waiter, D, who was very affable, professional and extremely knowledgeable about the menu, its presentation and preparation, is he is degreed in hospitality management. Overall, a tremendously wonderful experience and I will be returning.“

“My partner and I walked in at 6:30 PM on a busy Friday night without a reservation (I didn’t realize they had started taking reservations!) The host said the only options were bar seating or outdoor seating under heat lamps. We didn’t really want either of those options, but understood that since we didn’t have a reservation, we could not be very choosy. The host then kept looking at his reservation app and offered us a very nice table as long as we could be finished by 8:30 PM. We said that two hours is plenty of time! He said he felt bad that there wasn’t room for us but we assured him this was perfect and we would definitely be finished by the time he needed the table back. He was so kind and accomodating. The rest of the staff was also excellent (as always!) and the food was outstanding. I have always loved Purple Patch and will certainly return soon. Thank you PP team for being awesome!“

“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!!“

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

“Great food and great atmosphere. The food is really authentic and full of flavor. It is an ideal place to order many dishes and share. We had eggplant mezze, dumplings, bolani with potato and pumpkin filling, chicken, cauliflower and qabuli palow. They were all super tasty. The eggplant is one of my favorite. It reminded me of a dish in Turkish cuisine which is called “imam bayildi”. The pilav is with carrots and it is served with lamb, which was super tender and delicious. The pilav is more on the sweet side with the spices and carrot, and definitely worth trying. The chicken was also super juicy and tender. Bolani is also very rich and the filling was unexpectedly spicy (black pepper). I liked the one with the pumpkin filling more. The dumplings are also super tasty and I think they would make you go there multiple times. The service is also super nice. They do have also downstairs, which was surprising to me. It was super cozy. However, if you like more sunlight, I would suggest mentioning it when you are making a reservation. Overall, I would go there multiple times and I am really curious about their soups, which I definitely look forward to trying.“

“Great cocktails and small bites. Always a great time.“

“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“

“I took my out of town cousin here for a special experience and it did not disappoint! The service was thoughtful, fun and knowledgeable. The wine and cocktails were superb. The food was delicious and every bite was better than the next and the small dining room is cozy and fun! I will be back.“

“My boyfriend loves their wings and my sandwich was delicious. The thing that really makes this place is the staff. We met the owner/chef and he truly cares about his food. I highly recommend this place.“

“This place is so underrated it’s insane. EVERY SINGLE DISH we ordered was mind blowingly good. And the drinks were all delicious too, especially the award winning ube cocktail - it’s a trip to tropical island in sip. Food alone worths one Michelin star imo, the pack of flavors were unbelievable.

A serious hidden gem in dc.“

“I HIGHLY recommend you eat at Mariscos 1133, the Latin cuisine is MARVELOUS! The food and service is great. My waiter (Henry) is AWESOME! Henry is very professional, courteous, and knowledgeable of the menu selections, and makes EXCELLENT recommendations. If or when you’re in Washington DC, MARISCOS is a MUST STOP! ?????“

“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!“

“Everything about this place was fantastic. The waiter was more than helpful and knew his way around the menu. They were courteous and asked us if we had any dietary restrictions or allergies and kept that in mind when we ordering.

The food was phenomenal and the portion sizes were generous. I opted for the fries and the grilled shrimp to start and both were great. For the entree I was recommended the Chicken Milanese and it was prepared perfectly. For dessert I had the Lime Miroir, which was a perfect combination of flavors and followed the entree well.“

“Great drinks & the servers were very attentive.“

“Amazing food! Great server and wait staff. Creative and unique. Would go again!“

“we loved it the food and service was great“

“Great food and service was excellent.“

“Great atmosphere and service!“