50 Best Cocktail Bars in Washington

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

“Me and my husband came to the bar for a la carte dining, had an amazing time with a very personalized beverage pairing (s/o to Chris our bartender!) We'll DEFINITELY be back to do the entire tasting menu. Lovely atmosphere, not stuffy, great music, GOOD LIGHTING (hard to come by in DC) and overall stellar food. Come here for your next date night or special occasion dinner, you won't regret it!“

“Incredible Tour of the World menu!“

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

“I went with a couple of friends and we all loved the experience. For me, having moved to DC a year ago from another city with a very good food scene, Daru has been my most memorable meal since moving here. You could really tell they cared about our experience and making sure what we ordered worked together as a family style meal and pairing the right drinks with it. I haven’t been back yet but I am very eager to return.“

“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 :)“

“Great food great service!“

“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!“

“A consistently great spot in the neighborhood no matter what time of day. Excellent coffee drinks and pastry items (especially the Guava Pastry) in the morning, lunch options for a real meal, and cocktails and food for dinner. Food can be a little expensive depending on the dish, but there has never been a bad one! Cocktails are always creative and well balanced as well.“

“The craft cocktails and mocktails are good. The sweet cream butter that came with the bread service was delicious. The baked alaska was outstanding! But overall the flavors of the dishes are quite muted, relative to their cocktails. I think I might have been better able to taste the food if I'd just stuck with water. Our server was phenomenal, though, and the environment was so elegant. If I were to go again, it would be for the drinks and desserts with good company.“

“Came for dinner with some of my foodie friends who were in town. We got a bunch of appetizers to share. The Greek wings and the miso salad was out favorite!!The wings were crispy, hot and the dip was a great addition. The salad was super fresh and the crispy wontons on top was perfect.The queso taquitos and garlic olives were really good too. The ceviche was decent and the pork belly was really good. Everything was good and the items came out pretty quickly. We got there around 6:45 and it began to fill up after that.“

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

“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!“

“based on reviews and dc reputation i had high expectations and unfortunately was underwhelmed overall especially by their speciality, mezzi rigatoni. no one at the table liked the whipped ricotta crostini, the bread to cheese ratio is out of balance, way too much cheese and too little bread.now for the good. we enjoyed the squid ink linguini. the mafalde is excellent, definitely recommend. while food overall was not bad, i don’t think we will return. however, i am not recommending against others trying this restaurant, just not for us.“

“The ambiance and food was immaculate! Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made appropriate food recommendations for our party. I enjoyed the Shrimp Thermidor as a starter and Cumin Lamb as my entree. They were both delectable, I can't say one was better than the other. I'm ready to go back!“

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

“Great stuff great wine we love it“

“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!“

“fantastic food and service. Will definitely be back“

“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!!!“

“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“

“Five stars all around. This was our first time at LuLu’s and we’ll definitely be back. 100% a place you want to bring a date or friends and family from out of town. Food was good, decent portions for the price, and the vibe was great - lighting that wasn’t obnoxiously dark or bright, music that was meant to be in the background so you could hear it but also talk at a normal volume, and cool seating near heaters if you just wanted to chill with a drink instead of having a whole meal. The Manager was the best I’ve interacted with, when I brought up missing avocado on my sandwich she was awesome about it; and when it turned out I was wrong - I didn’t actually check the box for avocado - the she was so gracious, didn’t give me grief, and still hooked us up with some cake (don’t let the picture fool you into thinking it’s boxed cake, it’s not, it’s the most amazing leche cake). Seriously, not a flaw to be found.PS The whipped feta is going to be the best you’ve ever had and the avocado ceasar is delish.“

“Simply incredible brunch at Rania with its inventive menu and perhaps the best Indian restaurant we have eaten at in the US. With the option to choose from each course, we were able to try a few different items and each one of them is fantastic. Can't wait to come back to DC just to eat here again. So deserving of its Michelin star!“

“Wow! This location was a bit nerve-wracking at first because the building looked quite old. As we approached the door, a code was requested, and I whispered it - it felt like we were undercover agents or something! Upon entering, the ambiance was captivating. The decor was beautiful and definitely selfie-friendly. The drinks were strong, perfectly suited for the occasion. Unfortunately, we didn't dine there as we had already eaten dinner before arriving. However, both the bartenders and managers were professional. If you're seeking something different, I strongly suggest this location. Trust me, I'll be returning here soon.“

“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!“

“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“

“Awesome venue, Afghan dishes were great and reminded me of the food in the middle east. Only issue was they were out of lamb which caused us to change up our food choices. Would prefer if that happened the business would advise you before sitting down. Overall great experience!!“

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

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

“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!“

“This spot on H St Corridor is hands down my favorite. The drinks, service, and food consistently impress. The ambiance is wonderfully moody with dim lighting and great background music. I always opt for the vegan version of the beef noodles, which are consistently flavorful and delicious. The bartenders are not only friendly but also knowledgeable, offering excellent recommendations. I appreciate that they maintain an accessible archive of past menus, allowing guests to order from a wide range of drink options. Despite its small size and the place sometimes getting crowded, outdoor seating and an extra bar on the back patio provide additional space.“

“Saw a description on the website and wanted to try it. Got the ceviche vuelve a la vida as an appetizer. It was a meal in itself and so amazing. The citrus was perfect along with the spices. Also ordered the parrillada for 2 and ended up taking it to go. Margaritas were also good. Service was amazing and attentive. Can't say enough great things about this place.“

“we loved it the food and service was great“

“Love the atmosphere and drinks are great“

“Our group had an incredible experience! We had been wanting to go to Queen’s English for a year and a half, and we finally were able to align a reservation with when one of our group’s members could visit from Philadelphia. The server was super attentive and helpful with recommendations. The food was mind blowing (we ordered more dishes than originally intended), and the wine selections were incredibly unique and delicious. Thank you!“

“This was above average Italian! I had the lemon, spinach and ricotta ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was clearly homemade and cooked well and the sauce had a delicate lemon flavor and was creamy with a great texture. The ricotta was also smooth and there was lots of it!I would love to come back here and try other items on the menu!“

“When you think of a speakeasy… this place looks like what comes to mind. Down a flight of stairs leading to oversized doors you find yourself stepping back in time and greeted by a skilled bartender sporting a handlebar mustache. Great for an after dinner drink or to just hang out with friends.“

“Excellent. Go ahead and ask the bar manager about the incredibly curated bar and wine selection - much of it local. Excellent bites, esp the ceviche. Make this place your local ?Kid-friendliness: Have supported neighborhood schools including Ludlow. Explicitly welcoming parents and kiddos to come right after school.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Excellent staff & fun atmosphere“

“A couple of girlfriends and I finally went to this woman owned restaurant that has been celebrated for years! And now I can see why! We had such a wonderful time, and the service was impeccable. The food was delicious, and portions were very generous given that it happened to be restaurant week. I would write more details, but those have faded in my memory. As Maya? Angelou said, to paraphrase her, you may not remember what someone said or did but you will always remember how someone made you feel. And after a find me at RIS, I absolutely agree.“

“The meal was fantastic (get the crispy rice with spicy tuna - YUM!!), and the views were spectacular, ... but the waitstaff made our evening!! Special shout out to Ellen who took great care of us! She was very knowledgeable on the menu and gave us some really good recommendations!! Highly recommend!!!“

“Great drinks & the servers were very attentive.“

“My favorite restaurant on the wharf!“

“Great atmosphere and service!“

“The atmosphere and the people who work there were wonderful! The food was amazing as well! I would thoroughly recommend for anyone to try it out you won't be disappointed“

“Came for happy hour and loved it! The happy hour burgers were so unique and a great deal at $12. The lumpia were nice and crispy, and the mango salad with shrimp paste had the perfect about of funkiness to it. The drinks are also appropriately strong and super yummy. Would definitely be back!“

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