50 Best Cocktail Bars near North Bethesda

“absolutely delicious and would recommend to anyone!“

“This is an update. A year ago I had a horrible experience here after coming for over a year - service was slow and the bartender just hung out and talked instead of checking on me.

Tonight however (and this might make a difference - I was seated at a table in the main area. I had a server who wasn’t a bartender (Sebastian) who was great. He was timely but not rushing, th food was great and not delayed, and the drinks were timely and well made.

Thanks!“

“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).“

“If you are coming here with a decent sized part of people, I would highly recommend going with something from the Chef's Menu so you can try a little of everything. You'd be happy you did, and you definitely won't leave hungry.
Myself and four others went here for dinner on a Sunday night and it was phenomenal!
Phoebe did a fantastic job answering our questions about the menu and providing recommendations. When we all decided to do The Classics on the Chef's Menu, Phoebe made sure our wants and needs were addressed, and her and the kitchen provided the most incredible selection of tapas. If my memory serves, we received about 5 or 6 different tapas and two paellas. Then, at the end, the churros were included in the cost.
Overall, the value, quality, and service were all superior and when we're in DC again, we will be back.“

“We only popped in for a quick drink. I had the snapdragon and it was very good, a little on the sweet side (I think due to the lychee) if you prefer sweeter tasting drinks.

Really cute ambiance as well. Everyone was so nice and accommodating whilst in the middle of prepping for a private event.“

“We were a party of 6 and used 2 F1 simulators. We all raced the Rookie level to get our bearings. Then the competition was on. Had loads of fun and plan to return with much more people. A great place for large gatherings. The cost for 90-minutes of racing is $31.00. Food variety was good and very flavorful. 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 :)“

“A nondescript door beneath a dentistry hides OKPB, one of DC’s best cocktail bars.

Everything from the eclectic ambiance and laidback atmosphere to the personable service and the talent behind the bar make OKPB a worthwhile destination for anyone who appreciates fine cocktails.

The menu changes frequently and is never boring. The bartenders know their stuff, and for every foundational martini, old fashioned, sazerac and sidecar, they can whip up innumerable riffs to surprise even the most sophisticated palates.

In for a nightcap and craving an espresso martini? Behold, The Coffee Cocktail — a mixture of port, brandy, egg white, simple syrup, and nutmeg. The coffee in the name is a lie, but the flavor is very real.

Thinking of a refreshing Old Maid while you sink into your seat after a long day at the office? Be transported by the Made in Brazil, featuring cachaca and a healthy dose of lime.

The creativity on display behind the bar is only partially matched by the rainforest mural of drunk monkeys and smoking birds-of-paradise.

Paradise. Maybe that’s what the “P” in OKPB stand for. The drinks here certainly bring you one step closer to heaven.“

“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!“

“I had one of the best burgers of my life here. And a pretty good drink, too. Service was great, as well. Not really a complaint, but it was nearing sunset and was very dark, so I had to use the candle on the table to read the menu, since I'm of a certain age. I suppose that actually added to the ambience, though. I'm glad we happened upon it as we left our hotel looking for a spot for dinner.“

“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 !!!“

“This is a great cocktail bar that also happens to have pretty good food! The only thing holding this review from being 5 stars is that the owner needs to assign more staff to the Saturday evening shift. There was 25-30 customers between 6:30 and 8pm on a Saturday, but only TWO employees working outside the kitchen. No host, no busser, no server. Just ONE waiter and ONE bartender during prime time dinner hours. The bartender was serving food instead of bartending and the waiter was frantically trying to take orders from 10+ tables. No one was bussing (dirty tables were left unattended until new customers arrived) and you had to find the waiter or bartender in order to get a seat. I hope the owner or manager sees this because I felt so bad for the two staff trying to run the front house of this restaurant on a Saturday night. They were doing their best and deserve more help so they can provide better service to customers.“

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

“Just as the reviews show, Reynolds bar is a great experience. Specifically Jay and Roberto are my favorite bartenders. They are friendly; enthusiastic, and incredibly hospitable. The restaurant is lucky to have them. Guys don’t miss this spot!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“If you like being off the grid this place is perfect for you. There us zero phone service which can be a plus if you're on a date. The speak easy is in the basement t of a pizza shop and very easy to pass by. The bartender is a mixologist. Familiar drinks with a twist. The short food selection is more than enough and very flavorful. This is open in the middle of the week! Parking is lacking but its in the heart of DC so dont expect better. The location is small yet intimate enough to have a great, distraction free night. Worth a visit.“

“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.“

“We had a really great dinner experience with their prefix menu, and like other reviews that mentioned, the prefix is really good value. Service was superb as well, the waitress actually grilled the meat for us. They had non alcoholic beverage options. It’s been years since I had bingsoo and cold buckwheat noodles with beef broth so it was very sentimental for me to have those dishes again! Atmosphere was definitely more upscale than a regular Korean bbq restaurant.“

“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!“

“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!!!“

“So happy Juneberry is in the neighborhood! This is a great spot to grab drinks on a sunny day with excellent, reasonably priced burgers and pizzas. I *love* that their prices are inclusive of service with no expectation to tip and wish more DC restaurants followed this model.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“We love to try new and different foods, and the quality of the food at the Immigrant Cafe was absolutely outstanding. Even our 7 and 9 year old kids found foods they loved. We particularly liked the ceviche, the chicken coconut curry and the dumplings. Foodie four thumbs up!“

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

“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“

“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!“

“Lucha Rosa is a beautiful Mexican-inspired rooftop cocktail bar located atop the Moxy hotel with a nice view of the Washington Monument.

They have an extensive collective of agave spirits including some of my favorite reposados like Tequila Ocho, Don Fulano and Siete Leguas. I opted to try the Guava Lemonade Margarita with a Tajin rim in their signature cup.

All of my dishes were beautifully plated and delicious. The guacamole had the perfect balance of salt and lime and was excellent with the homemade tortillas chips. The Camaron Con Chili Coconut was light and refreshing with the crispy cassava chips.

The people are pleasant and I made some new friends while there for 2026 Cinco de Mayo + Taco Tuesday. Their favorite menu item was the Chicken Tinga Tacos (not pictured) so be sure to give them a try as well. Here’s everything I ordered:

COCKTAIL (MARGARITA)
- Relationship Status (Hotel Lobby Bar): 5/5
- Guava Lemonade Margarita (Tajin rim): 5/5

ENTRADAS
-

CEVICHE, CRUDO +
ENSALADAS
- Camaron Con Chili

PINCHOS + TACOS
- Carne Asada Queso
- Chicken Tinga Tacos (not pictured): 5/5

DULCES
- “

“We've dined at Patsy's American on several occasions and consistently appreciate the quality, service and atmosphere.“

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

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

“We visited Dauphine’s for our wedding anniversary, and while the food and service were largely impressive, management’s staffing choices held the evening back from perfection.

The savory dishes were exceptional. The bread service and boudin balls were delicious starters, followed by a perfectly cooked catfish Creole and a rabbit tagliatelle that was expertly al dente. For dessert, the carrot toffee pudding special offered a great salty-sweet balance.

Our server, Adrian, was the highlight of the night. He provided excellent service despite being put in an impossible position by management as the only server for the entire upstairs area. While it was Easter Sunday and understandably busy, leaving one person to juggle that many tables is unacceptable. This lack of support led to significant wait times, especially when trying to order dessert.

The experience was capped off by a few misses: the bourbon slush was underwhelming, and the beignets were disappointing—dense and chewy rather than light and airy.

Adrian deserves a raise for his hard work, but management needs to staff appropriately so the service can match the high quality of the kitchen. A solid 4 stars for a lovely anniversary meal that just needed better pacing.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 grabbed eight tacos to go and they were all delicious but what caught me by surprise was the restaurant. Even though I just got takeout, I receive great service and the vibe in here is so fun. This is a perfect place to come for happy hour or dinner or a brunch with the family. I highly recommend it.“

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

“The service was excellent and the food was absolutely delicious. It’s a wonderful spot for tourists and a really enjoyable dining experience. We actually found this place after a motorcycle accident right outside a few days earlier—the staff had been incredibly kind, helping us with water and arranging a taxi to the hospital. Coming back later for a meal made us appreciate it even more.“

“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“

“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.“

“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 vibes and music here!!!😎“