50 Best Cocktail Bars near North Bethesda

“absolutely delicious and would recommend to anyone!“

“This spot is a gem I love it so much the drinks are beautifully balanced, creative, and clearly crafted with care. Each cocktail felt elevated without being overcomplicated, making it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. The staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, creating an experience that felt both polished and personal“

“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).“

“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!“

“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 :)“

“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 had such a wonderful experience at F1 Arcade, and a big part of that was thanks to the amazing team—John, Emely, and Cristian. From the moment we sat down, John made us feel genuinely welcomed. He was attentive without being overbearing, super friendly, and had such a positive, easygoing energy that made the whole experience feel relaxed and fun. He checked in at all the right moments, made great recommendations, and made sure everything flowed smoothly throughout the night.

Emely, who was supporting as a food runner, was equally incredible. She was quick, efficient, and so kind every time she came to the table. You could tell she really cared about the details—everything arrived perfectly, and she always had a warm smile that made us feel taken care of.

Cristian was also fantastic and really helped elevate the experience. He was attentive, professional, and very welcoming. Whether it was checking in, assisting the team, or making sure everything was running smoothly, his presence definitely made a difference and added to the overall service.

What I loved most was how well they all worked together—it felt like a seamless team effort. Their communication and timing were on point, and it made the whole experience feel polished but still very warm and genuine.

Overall, they all went above and beyond to make our visit special. Service like that really stays with you, and it’s definitely the reason I’d come back. Thank you, John, Emely, and Cristian, for such a great night! 💛“

“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.“

“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!“

“Cool little spot on downtown Bethesda - the atmosphere is dimly lit and sophisticated - great energy. The food was great - we had the tostada, beet salad, and grilled shrimp - all of which were delicious. Service was good and we will definitely come back.“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“I visited Isla on Saturday, April 5th with a few friends, and we had an amazing experience. The food was excellent, the music set the perfect vibe, and the entire night flowed effortlessly. A huge thank you to Kyle for taking such great care of us—truly outstanding hospitality!“

“OMG! Best drinks and pizza I’ve had in DC! (And I’ve been looking!). I had the Onsidian drink and wished I had another! I had to he great pumpkin and was t disappointed! The old fashioned and it was okay. The derho chicken pizza was incredible (but spicy!)“

“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“

“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!!!“

“This was just the perfect spot to celebrate Valentine's with my fiancé! Thank you so much to Nick and the team there for accommodating us even when unexpectedly running late for our reservation. The drinks were delicious and the fried chicken sliders addicting!“

“For some reason we were skeptical about returning to the premises after the experience we had under the previous owners. It was a massive mistake - my wife and I thought we would 'give it a try' and I am kicking myself for all the times we drove into DC from Silver Spring looking for a fun place to eat! From the moment we met Aidan Rinehart the GM, until we received and paid the check, we were blown away by the vibey atmosphere, the speed of delivery and the great tasting and well presented food. Alyssa, our server, deserves a special mention for her knowledge of the products, her attentive but unobtrusive service and exceptional friendliness. She is an absolute asset to Zinnia and we hope that she'll be there for as long as we patronise ZInnia, and it is well worth patronising. We look forward to trying the dinner menu, but we will definitely be back for a repeat 'Tavern' experience as well Compliments to the owner, GM, chef and staff - see you all again soon!“

“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!“

“Our waiter, Caleb, was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was delicious and the dishes were interesting and unique. We were a party of 7, sat outside and really enjoyed ourselves. The pacing of all the dishes coming out was perfect. The only downside was that there was a man with a really large dog seated right next to us and the dog barked and whined (so loudly we could not hear each other) and it smacked into our chairs repeatedly. Once the man left things improved and we had a great experience.“

“Just an incredible restaurant - amazing food out of this world our server was simply impressive with one month on the job - I can't say enough good things about him. I will always be back !!!“

“Great service, vibes, tavern pizza (spicy Hawaiian was really good) and yummy drinks (Bad Bunny and Smoke & Spice are delicious, margaritas are a tad sweet). Digging the wallpaper. Would recommend getting heaters to make full use of the patio on chillier evenings.“

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

“The best chaat Place in my eatery list. Must try their "ROYAL CHAAT". One of the best place to have Indian food.“

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

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

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“This place is amazing. I had the Crispy Fish Tacos and had an amazing buy one get one deal. The place is clean, the staff are nice and welcoming, and the Tacos were amazing and fresh. My server was Brian G. He is an amazing server and greeted me with kindness as well. 5 stars and I will be coming back!!!“

“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!“

“Best rooftop in Bethesda. Beautiful sunsets and fabulous cocktails! 🍸“

“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💋“

“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.“

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

“Fantastic food and the drinks were particularly delightful. We unknowingly went during restaurant week and had some folks pick that menu while others ate a la carte. From bread service through dessert, everyone was incredibly pleased with the experience.“

“Stopped by Sidecar for an evening snack and drinks. We had the Chicken Flatbread with arugula and BBQ sauce drizzle. The food and drinks were better than average, but a little on the high end for what you get. If TripAdvisor had a "Better-Than-Average" rating, I would have given it that.“

“Authentic Indian cuisine served with care—RASA never misses. A flavorful escape right in the neighborhood.“