Cool, hip, dark. Downstairs in a former bank vault. Great cocktails and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Chhandashiki Das
Absolutely delicious cocktails and the seasonal drinks were so fun to try out! The tater tots were a tasty snack and would definitely recommend. What impressed me most was the customer service from the time we entered til we left - had a small hiccup with our reservation and the staff did everything they could to go above and beyond to make it right and I really appreciated their efforts. We had such a great time and can't wait to be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tater Tots
Ben Kurth
We stopped ordering after our first round of drinks. The menu portrayed esoteric masterpieces, but the products served were the quality of DuClaw. The ambience and service lead you to believe you are in for a treat, but the cocktails fell far short of expectations (emu queen and air bee n bee). Will not return.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
NatFan
10 stars for Alex. He took care of us even while there was another reservation ahead of us. We arrived a bit late. But his customer service is the best I have had in a while. Drinks were great especially that nimbus. Chicken and biscuits could use more mumbo sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Ardalan
Loved drinks at the Silver Lyan. This is a cocktail bar for people who want to explore new ingredients. You may not know exactly what everything is, but the knowledgeable servers helped guide me in the right direction. To add to the excellent cocktails, they have some delicious small plates. We ordered the wagyu hot dog and hamachi tartare. I didn't know what to expect from the wagyu hot dog, but I was absolutely blown away. Toss any memories of eating a hot dog out the window.We did a 7pm reservation here and followed it up with an 8pm reservation at Cafe Riggs. This is the perfect amount of time to explore the cocktail menu and get a few small plates before starting dinner.The only downside of the bar is that cell phone service isn't ideal - since you are in an old bank vault - but it isn't too big, so you should be able to find your friend/date.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
R P
I had been wanting to go for a while. So my wife took me for my birthday. The place looked awesome! Still having the old bank vault door at the entrance is a nice touch.We arrived shortly before 10pm and immediately were put on a 30 - 40 mins. waiting list. No surprise. We adjourned to the above Cafe Riggs. We were notified via txt when the seats at the bar opened (up earlier than expected). We were pleasantly greeted by one of three bartenders at the front bar.Ok so the drink menu is very comprehensive. But for non-speakeasy goers, not in the way you might think. It is very descriptive not only for the contents of the drink but also the drink itself. Now for those that grabbing drinks are is apart of the evening's events this may not be for you. Here the drinks are as much the event as your conversation. Sometimes, more often than not they are at least a great conversation starter.The bartenders or rather the mixologist worked together as a very fluid team. It appeared each had their areas (behind the bar) that they were responsible for. As they called out drinks they would move in concert with one another. This produced very beautiful and well crafted concoctions. They all generally seem to very much enjoy what they were doing. they also seem to have mastered the art of being friendly and engaging but not intrusive or overbearing.This speakeasy is not for drinkers as much as libation explorers. this is for people who want everything around them to be an experience, the atmosphere, the people they are with, the drinks they are serviced.The music was loud and clear and you are still able to hear the person beside you or the mixologist. This ambiance was very nice. The lighting was well placed and appropriately atmospheric.This has set the bar as I now begin tour of speakeasy's.@_Unk_RP
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Eric Holtzman
Get the Martini Service. And the tater tots. The whole cocktail menu is fantastic, with a wonderful team to boot! Check it out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rob P.
I had been wanting to go for a while. So my wife took me for my birthday. The place looked awesome! Still having the old bank vault door at the entrance is a nice touch. We arrived shortly before 10pm and immediately were put on a 30 - 40 mins. waiting list. No surprise. We adjourned to the above Cafe Riggs. We were notified via txt when the seats at the bar opened (up earlier than expected). We were pleasantly greeted by one of three bartenders at the front bar. Ok so the drink menu is very comprehensive. But for non-speakeasy goers, not in the way you might think. It is very descriptive not only for the contents of the drink but also the drink itself. Now for those that grabbing drinks are is apart of the evening's events this may not be for you. Here the drinks are as much the event as your conversation. Sometimes, more often than not they are at least a great conversation starter. The bartenders or rather the mixologist worked together as a very fluid team. It appeared each had their areas (behind the bar) that they were responsible for. As they called out drinks they would move in concert with one another. This produced very beautiful and well crafted concoctions. They all generally seem to very much enjoy what they were doing. they also seem to have mastered the art of being friendly and engaging but not intrusive or overbearing. This speakeasy is not for drinkers as much as libation explorers. this is for people who want everything around them to be an experience, the atmosphere, the people they are with, the drinks they are serviced. The music was loud and clear and you are still able to hear the person beside you or the mixologist. This ambiance was very nice. The lighting was well placed and appropriately atmospheric. This has set the bar as I now begin tour of speakeasy's. @_Unk_RP
Christopher A.
Loved drinks at the Silver Lyan. This is a cocktail bar for people who want to explore new ingredients. You may not know exactly what everything is, but the knowledgeable servers helped guide me in the right direction. To add to the excellent cocktails, they have some delicious small plates. We ordered the wagyu hot dog and hamachi tartare. I didn't know what to expect from the wagyu hot dog, but I was absolutely blown away. Toss any memories of eating a hot dog out the window. We did a 7pm reservation here and followed it up with an 8pm reservation at Cafe Riggs. This is the perfect amount of time to explore the cocktail menu and get a few small plates before starting dinner. The only downside of the bar is that cell phone service isn't ideal - since you are in an old bank vault - but it isn't too big, so you should be able to find your friend/date.
Samantha T.
Silver Lyan is a great speakeasy located on the lower level of the Riggs Hotel. It's very dimly lit and creates a cozy, intimate vibe perfect for a date night. They have a wide variety of drink options along with small bites. I had the tater tots and chicken and biscuit slider and I'd recommend both. The service was amazing, everyone is very attentive and very helpful with selections.
Silver Lyan is in the basement of the Hotel Riggs - when you enter, turn right towards the reception desk and go down the stairs, past the giant gum ball machine and bank vault door. Reservation highly recommended. The space is dark and sexy, with lots of wood and deep red tones. They definitely set a mood for an occasion or date. However, we felt they focus more on being instagrammable than on crafting satisfying drinks. The four we tried ranged from "just ok" to "hard to stomach." The drinks are around $19-$23 apiece. My favorite of the bunch was the king pausa, which has vodka, green coffee, malt, and sherry; it is served chilled to perfection and went down smooth despite being a boozier drink. Very unique. However, the smith island snap was hard to swallow. The ice cube was cool - it had sea shells embedded in it - but the drink was way too salty and had an unpleasant flavor. I ended with a project manhattan. Rather than deliver a well mixed take on the classic, they felt the need to tinker with it - it is fine but slightly medicinal, like drinking alcoholic cough syrup. The food, thankfully, hit the spot. I can't recommend the tater tots enough. They are round, salty, perfectly crispy, and served with a nice ranch sauce. Can't skip it. The hot dog was tasty as well. Theirs has wagyu beef topped with kimchi. It was good, though the much cheaper hot dogs at Ivy and Coney are better. The chicken and biscuit is really good, though, and very interesting. You get four small pieces for easy sharing.
Valie K.
Behind the vault is an amazing array of stunning cocktails, an intimate vibe and a night you won't soon forget. Staff is phenomenal and helps you make selections that will instantly delight your palate.
Josh R
Cool bar. EXCELLENT service from [Eric I think his name was]. 2 hr time limit on seating. Average prices for DC cocktail bar. Great drinks, didn’t try and food (if there is food?)
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Patrick Reyes
Absolutely amazing drinks and service! Eric our server went over and beyond on providing us the best experience! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Patrick M
Very cool atmosphere and some really delicious and unique drinks. The small apps were awesome as well.
Cool, hip, dark. Downstairs in a former bank vault. Great cocktails and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Absolutely delicious cocktails and the seasonal drinks were so fun to try out! The tater tots were a tasty snack and would definitely recommend. What impressed me most was the customer service from the time we entered til we left - had a small hiccup with our reservation and the staff did everything they could to go above and beyond to make it right and I really appreciated their efforts. We had such a great time and can't wait to be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tater Tots
We stopped ordering after our first round of drinks. The menu portrayed esoteric masterpieces, but the products served were the quality of DuClaw. The ambience and service lead you to believe you are in for a treat, but the cocktails fell far short of expectations (emu queen and air bee n bee). Will not return.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
10 stars for Alex. He took care of us even while there was another reservation ahead of us. We arrived a bit late. But his customer service is the best I have had in a while. Drinks were great especially that nimbus. Chicken and biscuits could use more mumbo sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved drinks at the Silver Lyan. This is a cocktail bar for people who want to explore new ingredients. You may not know exactly what everything is, but the knowledgeable servers helped guide me in the right direction. To add to the excellent cocktails, they have some delicious small plates. We ordered the wagyu hot dog and hamachi tartare. I didn't know what to expect from the wagyu hot dog, but I was absolutely blown away. Toss any memories of eating a hot dog out the window.We did a 7pm reservation here and followed it up with an 8pm reservation at Cafe Riggs. This is the perfect amount of time to explore the cocktail menu and get a few small plates before starting dinner.The only downside of the bar is that cell phone service isn't ideal - since you are in an old bank vault - but it isn't too big, so you should be able to find your friend/date.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had been wanting to go for a while. So my wife took me for my birthday. The place looked awesome! Still having the old bank vault door at the entrance is a nice touch.We arrived shortly before 10pm and immediately were put on a 30 - 40 mins. waiting list. No surprise. We adjourned to the above Cafe Riggs. We were notified via txt when the seats at the bar opened (up earlier than expected). We were pleasantly greeted by one of three bartenders at the front bar.Ok so the drink menu is very comprehensive. But for non-speakeasy goers, not in the way you might think. It is very descriptive not only for the contents of the drink but also the drink itself. Now for those that grabbing drinks are is apart of the evening's events this may not be for you. Here the drinks are as much the event as your conversation. Sometimes, more often than not they are at least a great conversation starter.The bartenders or rather the mixologist worked together as a very fluid team. It appeared each had their areas (behind the bar) that they were responsible for. As they called out drinks they would move in concert with one another. This produced very beautiful and well crafted concoctions. They all generally seem to very much enjoy what they were doing. they also seem to have mastered the art of being friendly and engaging but not intrusive or overbearing.This speakeasy is not for drinkers as much as libation explorers. this is for people who want everything around them to be an experience, the atmosphere, the people they are with, the drinks they are serviced.The music was loud and clear and you are still able to hear the person beside you or the mixologist. This ambiance was very nice. The lighting was well placed and appropriately atmospheric.This has set the bar as I now begin tour of speakeasy's.@_Unk_RP
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Get the Martini Service. And the tater tots. The whole cocktail menu is fantastic, with a wonderful team to boot! Check it out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had been wanting to go for a while. So my wife took me for my birthday. The place looked awesome! Still having the old bank vault door at the entrance is a nice touch. We arrived shortly before 10pm and immediately were put on a 30 - 40 mins. waiting list. No surprise. We adjourned to the above Cafe Riggs. We were notified via txt when the seats at the bar opened (up earlier than expected). We were pleasantly greeted by one of three bartenders at the front bar. Ok so the drink menu is very comprehensive. But for non-speakeasy goers, not in the way you might think. It is very descriptive not only for the contents of the drink but also the drink itself. Now for those that grabbing drinks are is apart of the evening's events this may not be for you. Here the drinks are as much the event as your conversation. Sometimes, more often than not they are at least a great conversation starter. The bartenders or rather the mixologist worked together as a very fluid team. It appeared each had their areas (behind the bar) that they were responsible for. As they called out drinks they would move in concert with one another. This produced very beautiful and well crafted concoctions. They all generally seem to very much enjoy what they were doing. they also seem to have mastered the art of being friendly and engaging but not intrusive or overbearing. This speakeasy is not for drinkers as much as libation explorers. this is for people who want everything around them to be an experience, the atmosphere, the people they are with, the drinks they are serviced. The music was loud and clear and you are still able to hear the person beside you or the mixologist. This ambiance was very nice. The lighting was well placed and appropriately atmospheric. This has set the bar as I now begin tour of speakeasy's. @_Unk_RP
Loved drinks at the Silver Lyan. This is a cocktail bar for people who want to explore new ingredients. You may not know exactly what everything is, but the knowledgeable servers helped guide me in the right direction. To add to the excellent cocktails, they have some delicious small plates. We ordered the wagyu hot dog and hamachi tartare. I didn't know what to expect from the wagyu hot dog, but I was absolutely blown away. Toss any memories of eating a hot dog out the window. We did a 7pm reservation here and followed it up with an 8pm reservation at Cafe Riggs. This is the perfect amount of time to explore the cocktail menu and get a few small plates before starting dinner. The only downside of the bar is that cell phone service isn't ideal - since you are in an old bank vault - but it isn't too big, so you should be able to find your friend/date.
Silver Lyan is a great speakeasy located on the lower level of the Riggs Hotel. It's very dimly lit and creates a cozy, intimate vibe perfect for a date night. They have a wide variety of drink options along with small bites. I had the tater tots and chicken and biscuit slider and I'd recommend both. The service was amazing, everyone is very attentive and very helpful with selections.
Restaurantji Recommends
Silver Lyan is in the basement of the Hotel Riggs - when you enter, turn right towards the reception desk and go down the stairs, past the giant gum ball machine and bank vault door. Reservation highly recommended. The space is dark and sexy, with lots of wood and deep red tones. They definitely set a mood for an occasion or date. However, we felt they focus more on being instagrammable than on crafting satisfying drinks. The four we tried ranged from "just ok" to "hard to stomach." The drinks are around $19-$23 apiece. My favorite of the bunch was the king pausa, which has vodka, green coffee, malt, and sherry; it is served chilled to perfection and went down smooth despite being a boozier drink. Very unique. However, the smith island snap was hard to swallow. The ice cube was cool - it had sea shells embedded in it - but the drink was way too salty and had an unpleasant flavor. I ended with a project manhattan. Rather than deliver a well mixed take on the classic, they felt the need to tinker with it - it is fine but slightly medicinal, like drinking alcoholic cough syrup. The food, thankfully, hit the spot. I can't recommend the tater tots enough. They are round, salty, perfectly crispy, and served with a nice ranch sauce. Can't skip it. The hot dog was tasty as well. Theirs has wagyu beef topped with kimchi. It was good, though the much cheaper hot dogs at Ivy and Coney are better. The chicken and biscuit is really good, though, and very interesting. You get four small pieces for easy sharing.
Behind the vault is an amazing array of stunning cocktails, an intimate vibe and a night you won't soon forget. Staff is phenomenal and helps you make selections that will instantly delight your palate.
Cool bar. EXCELLENT service from [Eric I think his name was]. 2 hr time limit on seating. Average prices for DC cocktail bar. Great drinks, didn’t try and food (if there is food?)
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely amazing drinks and service! Eric our server went over and beyond on providing us the best experience! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Very cool atmosphere and some really delicious and unique drinks. The small apps were awesome as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5