As you are. is an all-day queer cafe/bar/gathering space. The prices are reasonable and the vibes are welcoming. I don't personally love the neon signs and indoor-outdoor metal chairs but otherwise have no notes. The food is solid, the games & adult coloring books are plentiful, and the vibes are welcoming. I dropped by for a late lunch with a friend and it was pretty empty - just a few other tables occupied. This is the kind of queer space I wish existed in every city and I hope it succeeds for years to come! read more

LGBTQ+ bar/restaurant and club on the second floor. Food is not bad and if you like coffee they have a great selection of coffee. Cute place on 8th St SE. read more

Stopped in for a quick bite and drink. Fun space, nice staff, and vegan options! They have coffee/tea/alcohol which is great for a long hang out with friends. read more

as you are. - Vegan breakfast sandwich - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Any bar that hosts a Survivor premiere party is good in my book! It shows that they are committed to safe spaces for different communities. Along Barracks Row, as you are is in a larger building with two floors. The top floor is where they have events. The staff are friendly and often host regular events for the community. They have food and an extensive drink list. read more

I used to walk past this place all the time as a kid when it was Banana Café. I stopped by for a quick drink and to kill time before an event. It was a cool, laid-back, inclusive spot with a nostalgic vibe. The customer set was also prompt and welcoming. I highly recommend it and look forward to returning. read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They have a cute little spot where you can grab something to eat while you sipping on your coffee, tea or what ever kind of drink you enjoy. The customer is 100, still one of my favorite cozy little spot to stop by and grab a drink at. Received excellent customer service from : quennie read more

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great atmosphere ! I was in the market for a quick drink before a movie at Miracle Theater, and as you are didn't disappoint. basics: - gender neutral restrooms - QR code menus - can and draft options - DJs on occasion (j FYI there is a cover for this!) no frills, welcoming space. will go again next time im in barracks !! read more

LOVED this place! My boyfriend and I loved the vibe, the service was great, the food and drinks were great. After we had a horrible experience at Mr. Henry's close by, I found this friendly place and I'm so glad we went. This place reminds me of a Sarah Lawrence good old time from the 90s in the best way possible. People were off their phones here just socializing and talking - it was so refreshing. I recommend this place if you want great chicken fingers and to connect with your loved one, friends or both! read more

This is my FAVE place to visit when I visit DC. I always make sure to stop in. Not only is it cute & queer friendly but the food is TO DIE FOR AMAZING. read more

as you are. - Quesadillas & Chicken Tenders - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great place to gather with friends for food and drinks! It has a nice chill and welcoming vibe. I went here for a friend's celebration and it was nice to seat yourself and be able to pull tables together to expand the party. They have a nice menu of snacks and both alcoholic drinks and coffee/tea. I decided to get their Chaider which was their chai powder and hot apple cider. I mostly just tasted the cider but it was still good. read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved this combination of cafe/bar and dance lounge upstairs! Tremendous emphasis on enthusiastic consent, which we love to see. This night featured more fems and thems than mascs among the crowd, which could make the spot extra inviting for those looking for a safer space. The dance crowd was really inviting and did a good job making space for each other. Drinks at the bar were excellent, especially the Lavender Long Island. It's DC so it got pretty toasty, but we had a marvelous time. Just one small thing: We received a few rather arch looks as we walked through downstairs, or maybe I was just conscious of the fact that our little group might have *appeared* to be two straight-presenting couples. Queerness comes in all shapes and sizes! read more

as you are. - Excellent vibe, and the graffiti and wall art were on point - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped in with some friends for a mid-day drink and enjoyed the friendly and welcoming space and laid back vibes. All of the comfy seating reminded me of Central Perk if it was a queer bar in DC. I love the name "as you are" -- it really speaks to the mission of the venue which is to provide a safe and welcoming space for all. We tried a few of the cocktails and I got a latte. Our servers were super friendly even though we happened to come in during a pop of busyness. While I was there I learned a little bit more about the business. It is a coffee house, bar, and dance club that also has hosts weekly events like book clubs, karaoke night, open mics, and queer youth socials. Very very recently, the business got hit with a huge rent hike and was at risk of closing down. In less than three days the community rallied around them to raise money so they could stay open. It is so heartwarming to see people come together to support such an important third space for the LGBTQIA+ community. You can learn more and support at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-as-you-are read more

I came here due to a Bingo night that I found on Eventbrite and just thought it would be something cool to try out since I am new to the area. I was surprised to see how big the place is once you get inside and they also have an upstairs bar, which was where the bingo was. As far as food, it was nice to see there is at least one vegetarian item for each section of the menu. I'm not exactly sure how vegan the items are but at least some care was taken when creating the menu. The drinks at bingo were...generous...with the alcohol in my opinion. I guess that contributed to increasing the laid back vibe of the event. The bar tender was also very very nice regardless of how busy they were. So that made me feel comfortable especially since ordering at the bar sometimes can be a lot if you have to yell your lungs out so they can hear you. Now bingo...that was cool. The emcee kept everyone laughing and had small dance breaks and such throughout to keep people interested and of course there were prizes for the winners. Practically everyone won though. Next to the bar there is another room next to the bathrooms were you can just chill out and relax nice never seen so much open space for people to spread out and just cool out...especially in DC. Like...this is a big space in my opinion. Lastly, you don't have to be part of the community to visit here especially if you like good food and drinks. All are welcome regardless of how you identify. So look for their events to attend and come on over ...as you are. See what I did there? read more

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Been here about 4 times and every experience has been awesome! They have a host of drinks and food, as well as great service. They are very welcoming and accommodating, with tons of seating. read more

I love As You Are in basically every way for my regular, trusted, chill, friendly, reasonably- priced café ! It's my favorite place to help me focus and be productive, without feeling isolated. You can sit here for hours and be left alone in a space that doesn't have absurdly loud music, banks of loud coolers, beeping ovens, and constant coffee grinding and steaming. just the pleasant background hum of people chatting. A Y A an even better space for coming together: You can't beat the indie, small-town community, feel. The owners - managers can often be seen working and enjoying the space along with patrons, contributing to the friendly vibe. They have board & card games, books, and coloring books, not to mention live music, karaoke & many other community - engaging events. Just one constructive note: Sometimes when you order a pastry and a coffee, they don't give you a saucer /plate / dish. Orishas forbid you want to dip your pastry in the coffee & dribble some drops, or you allow any crumbles to escape from your mouth... I'm all for informal, but having to put a crumbly pastry on top of a napkin on a bare café table... That's a bit too messy and gauche even for my usually informal, country boy self. I vote for little metal or plastic trays/tablettes if trying to shy away from porcelain/ stoneware. also, I'm not sure why they would want you to get their tables messy, you even have to grab your own napkins. my guess is that some of their younger staff are a bit... inexperienced/ lightly trained? read more

as you are. - my DIY plate/ crumb and coffee catcher. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a cute coffee shop. It is LGBTQ focused and has a quaint vibe with its low lighting and mismatched furniture. as you are has a lovely selection of board games as well as mulled wine. This is definitely a great spot to pass time with friends or to write your next romance novel. Definitely take a look! read more

This place could be wheelchair accessible by hosting their events on the first floor. Unfortunately, they refuse to bring any events downstairs to the main floor. read more

Cute place, the fries were delicious and appreciate the fact they have vegan options as well. We got the brie and apple sandwich with vegan cheese, which was good for a light meal. I just dropped a star because we got the Barista's choice drink, asking for a vegan coffee. After trying it, I asked to confirm it was vegan, which we were told "it is." They then told us the ingredients, only to find out it had dairy in it, as the barista didn't know caramel wasn't vegan. I don't really appreciate drinking something I'm assured is ok for me to drink, but otherwise, we enjoyed our time here. Nice vibe for your friends to hang out, relax, and grab a bite before going to the theater right down the street. read more

as you are. - Lavender Oat Milk Latte - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Three friends and I were looking for a place where we could chat and grab drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic based on each person's preference at the moment. We were so happy to discover this bar-cafe! They had a ton of coffee/tea options, other hot drinks, and a full bar! Two friends had tea and hot cider, one had a high noon, and I enjoyed a hot mulled wine. Mid-afternoon on a Saturday the vibe was chill and cozy. The server was very friendly. This is an LGBTQ friendly establishment but welcomes anyone who is tolerant of others. read more

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Had a great time at this venue. Stopped in with 2 friends while bar hopping along 8th St in Capitol Hill. Had heard great things and decided to po in ourselves for a quick drink. As soon as you walk in you get a great comfy and welcoming vibe! It's a chill and welcoming environment. They have various tables spread out the small but cozy dining area with cute décor as well. The staff is extremely friendly and greets you immediately upon entry. You can order directly from the counter and they have a decent size coffee and alcohol bar with various unique drinks. We opted for the special shown in my pictures which was so refreshing and calm. I definitely plan to come back to drink additional drinks specials and some grub. read more

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Absolutely love this place! I've been a couple times now and the karaoke night is my fav (Thursday)!!!!! The service is great and the drinks are fun and the atmosphere is super welcoming! I will definitely be back! read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The drinks and atmosphere were great. Dj upstairs played early 2000's music. Enjoyed my time here will deff be back. Wear a mask when ordering the staff were all very kind. read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My favorite bar in dc :) it's such a queer affirming space and does it all - bar, restaurant, cafe, dance floor. The staff are kind, the drinks are strong, and I've never had a bad time here read more

Fabulous bar that welcomes you 'as you are'. As a bisexual woman from Kentucky, I don't often get to enjoy sharing the company of other gay/lesbian women in groups. Came to this bar and people are so welcoming of everyone - including transgender. Drinks were very reasonable for DC and they were fabulous - some of the best cocktails and shots we had in DC! Loved this mix of dress athleisure to sexy jeans to cocktail attire. Had some of the best conversations here! read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Rude Staff, failed to give me Mumbo Sauce per my request and when I when to inquire a young Asian woman was on the phone, understood but she failed to give me eye contact, or acknowledge me. Fed up with such unfriendly and unprofessional behavior, and one return again. BTW, I am a 71 year old queer Black American male who has fought on The front line since Stonewall. I'm appalled. read more

Finally made it to a Saturday night of dancing and wow !! No cover charge- fabulously friendly people - and fun !! The business makes even more sense to me because it felt like whatever anyone was wearing was accepted and the inclusivity ... whoa- I don't think it's easy for a a bar to cultivate this- and people are there to have fun NOT get sloppy- ie you could always order a drink at one of 3 bars and there was never a hoard of folks... thanks for choosing cap hill for this fabulous establishment ! read more

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Go Gay DC hosts a weekly coffee there at Noon on Sundays near the sofa. This is an ideal setting for group conversations, coffee, and good food. read more

as you are. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a very special place because it's really two places in one. The first floor feels very much like a coffee house (though you can have alcoholic drinks--I did!), while the second floor is a bar (including a dance floor). For food, we started with an order of wings, with old bay seasoning. They were very good. After that we shared a grilled chicken sandwich, which came on toasted sourdough bread & included fresh tomatoes & lettuce & mayo. It was very good, too. The French fries that came with the sandwich were excellent! read more

as you are. - Wings - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As you are was the highlight of our DC trip. We were coming in from LA and looking for a spot to watch the ACFC game while on vacay. The owners were so nice and cool to us, made the space really welcoming and affirming. This is a "must see" spot for LGBTQ+ travelers, 12/10 recommend. read more

as you are. - Inside - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Thank you for standing up to the insurrectionists from the corner! Great food and great inclusive atmospher!

Happy to see them reopen. The atmosphere is the same; inviting! Not gay and no one here cares! New Notice in the door says no outside food and drinks! Shouldn't have to tell grown folks! On the food: understand you are catching up but pls stronger coke mix and I'd rather have one less chicken tender (today they were tasteless) which is unusual!!! and more fries! Love the staff, of course will be back! read more

Unwelcoming toward Black LGBTQ+ people, poor service, and lousy food. There was no clear path for someone using their wheelchair to navigate through the establishment. Additionally, my brunch food was prepared incorrectly and when I explained this to an employee they were dismissive. Eventually they offered to have the food remade but the turkey bacon was greasy/soggy and the eggs were made with milk. I wish common food allergens were listed on the menu. My experience here was definitely not worth my time or money. It is so hypocritical to use AAVE as a decoration with signage like "Pay It No Mind" while simultaneously refusing to treat Black people with dignity or respect. read more

I only had an iced masala chai as I sat and read a book I just purchased from Little District Books down the street but the chai was delicious and As You Are had such a wonderful and inviting vibe with extremely friendly service. This is a great oasis for the local, and visiting, queer community. read more

Came in to grab a coffee and just love this vibe!! Staff was friendly, looked like there was some delicious food and drink options that we would have tried had we not just eaten Great location and lovely spot for people watching on a lovely spring day read more

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I absolutely love it here . My group had a game night upstairs and we had so much fun. The bartenders and staff were the best and they were so spunky, friendly and helpful. After our game night concluded, they quickly converted the second level so that those who were interested in karaoke could do their thing and that was a vibe as well. It's such a chill and relaxed atmosphere for our beautiful community. Oh yeah, how could I forget that the food was pretty good too. read more

I finally got a chance to visit As You Are after first learning about it on TikTok (i think?) prior and have been eagerly looking forward to it! I love the concept of a safe-space, non-club like atmosphere for people to gather and just enjoy themselves. I know you're probably thinking 'ok it's just a lounge, it's not that deep' but I come from the NoVa suburbs where the very idea of such a space was something i thought only existed in NY or LA. And after getting older and venturing out to DC more, i primarily had night clubs and *shutters* Nellies, as the only queer places i could find. If you're just trying to find like-minded friends, then it's rather hard to get to know someone next to the dancers at Town (RIP). Anywho, i got off topic. Yes this is definitely a fun experience and hope to stop by again whenever i'm in the area! read more

Really cool vibe, very pro LGBT+, women's sports playing. The food is fine, not worth the cost so I don't recommend takeout. I feel like the best was to experience it is if you sit and eat. read more

Yes! I am so excited that there is finally an LGBTQIA Bar back on 8th st! And, they serve delicious food during the day! It's definitely a laid back Cafe in a bar vibe but I'm here for it. The food is so good. The small bites are definitely full on meals by themselves and the flavors are so good, that you can't stop eating until you're full. I gotta come back and check this place out at night too. More people need to come check this place out for both food and drinks. read more

as you are. - Nachos with Chicken - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here for a queer bachata dance event hosted upstairs (QT Fusion), so I can't speak for the food or drinks, but it's a great comfortable place with friendly staff with a great small dance floor upstairs and coffee bar downstairs plus outside seating. It's in an area where it is pretty easy to park. I will definitely be back. read more

A cozy,welcoming space for everyone.Great staff,good food,glad I found it on my recent visit to DC!