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    Bar 86

    3.7 (18 reviews)
    Closed • 6:00 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Bar 86 Photos

    BAR 86 ATMOSPHERE

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    Curtis N.

    Checked out Bar 86 in Old Town with a friend, last night, and overall enjoyed the experience. The vibe is intimate, and a little mysterious in a good way. It has low lighting, and stylish décor that makes it easy to settle in, and relax. There was no hostess to initially welcome us, in the hallway of the building, so it was a little confusing, at first, figuring out exactly where the bar was located; however, once inside things flowed well. The cocktails were the highlight. One arrived in a mini bathtub topped with bubbles, which was a fun touch and tasted good. The tiki drink was more flavor forward, and not spirit forward, which I appreciated because it was smooth and balanced. You can tell they care about presentation, and quality. Our server was welcoming, and very knowledgeable. He explained the journey the menu is designed to take you on, which made it feel curated, and intentional. We did not try any bites; however, other patrons seemed to enjoy them. It does appear they are still trying to get their footing; however, because of our server I bumped this up to 4 stars. He really helped add to the night. Nice spot to catch up with a friend, and a good place to start, or end the night in Old Town. I would go back to explore more of the menu.

    Michael H.

    Recently opened, late-night, bar in old town Alexandria The service was good and the staff was very friendly and talkative all throughout the night! The drinks were extremely fun and very thoughtful in terms of their naming conventions and presentation, however we did try about 6 drinks and they were all pretty sweet, so I would be mind full of that. We did try the frites and were a little disappointed by the potatoes & its presentation. Will likely go back to try more drinks though!

    Rhonda B.

    Cocktails are creative and delicious!! Owners are passionate and care about the details and experience.

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    3 months ago

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    27 days ago

    We had the best time. Creative cocktails, cool vibes, and our bartender Will was a great hang. Highly recommend!

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    4 months ago

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    Review Highlights - Bar 86

    “This month's theme is inspired by their travels through Phuket, and each drink reflects a different memory or experience from the trip.”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Alice Comfort Cocktail - Chive dumplings

    Alice Comfort Cocktail

    4.4(106 reviews)
    0.4 mi•Old Town Alexandria

    We stopped by for drinks and apps while exploring Old Town. They have two levels I think -…read moredownstairs is their restaurant for proper dining (Thai Signature, if I am not wrong) and upstairs is more like a cafe/lounge. The upstairs decor is very charming and whimsical and reminiscent of Alice in Wonderful. For drinks, we got the Mango Sticky Rice (Planteray 3 Star, Coconut Rum, Junmai Sake, Toasted coconut, Mango, Yuzu) and the Alice (Roku Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Lychee Liqueur, Butterfly pea, Yuzu, Egg white). My first assumption on entering the bar was that "instagrammable" places like this are usually a gimmick - but I was so wrong. The drinks were very boozy, aesthetically pleasing and tasted fantastic. Their food menu also looked so good so we also decided to get a couple of apps to accompany our drinks. We got the Shrimp Dumpling (steamed shrimp and chicken dumplings served with homemade creamy ginger lemon soy sauce) and Curry Puff (chicken, sweet potato, shallot in the rice dough served with sweet chili peanut dipping sauce) and I am so mad at myself for not ordering more food here (we had lunch reservation elsewhere). The presentation was spot on, portions were generous and everything was super flavorful - the curry puffs tasted like Indian Samosas! The woman attending us was very sweet and pleasant. Would definitely return for more food and drinks, not too far from DC so maybe one of my next DC trips will drag me here!

    Alice Comfort Cocktail is such a hidden gem in Old Town. If you're looking for a fun, slightly…read morewhimsical vibe with cute decor, solid food, and really well-made cocktails, this is definitely the spot. Just a heads up though the space is pretty small so I'd recommend making a reservation. The bar itself only has like 3-4 seats. I tried the shrimp dumplings, crab rangoon, and bang bang shrimp, and had the litchi cocktail with it--everything was honestly so good. Really glad I stumbled across this place and I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

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    Alice Comfort Cocktail - Interior

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    Songbird - Sticky Crispy Beef

    Songbird

    4.3(330 reviews)
    15.5 mi
    •$$

    Glad to revisit a place after a while to find they are still as good as they used to be. Jason…read moreknows his craft, makes on point recommendations, food remains fantastic, ambience is warm and inviting. Vesper Martini 6/5-hard to find such a clean, crisp, yet bright Martini. Midnight Sun 5/5-exactly as described Old Fashioned--reminiscent of a Clouseau Dan Dan Noodles--5/5 Harvest Sushi-4/5

    This adventitious find popped up on my way out of the city. In general, the outer suburbs are…read morebetter for Chinese food than DC itself, so I gave them a shot. My takeout was ready in timely fashion, and there was definitely some quality there. My kung pao tofu was a little sweet as the dish normally is, but also amply spicy as I requested and came with plenty of peanuts, extra-crispy tofu, and a few other vegetables. Lo mein was a fairly straightforward soy-garlic affair, though I must say I appreciated the option to add some tofu to that as well. My spring rolls came sauceless and were fairly basic and cabbage-y, but a decent way to round out a meal. I appreciated their thorough vegetarian labeling; of course some things were not available to me that I wish they would make vegetarian, but the most important thing is being able to make informed decisions. I skipped the ma po tofu this time, but they claim it offers genuine numbing sensations and they did enough to convince me that it might be worth coming back to try.

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    Cool bar

    Songbird - General Tso chicken

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    The People's Drug - Truffle Fries

    The People's Drug

    3.9(397 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Old Town Alexandria, Braddock Road Metro
    •$$

    Extremely small menu but hand crafted specialty cocktails. Although the cocktails are made by…read moretrained mixologist they were prettier than how they tasted. We stumbled upon this place and after looking at the menu must say it's bar food. Think burgers and wings. We ordered the wings and were told they are fried twice and double coated. They were wet and soggy in side. We ended up leaving g and after the waterfront we went to Bugsys to eat as they had more options.

    The People's Drug....a throwback to the 90s and decades before when this drugstore dominated the DC…read morelandscape. CVS bought them out. This was named in homage to the brand. Cool backstory huh? Anyhoo, met some friends for drinks here and it was fantastic. The People's Drug has been reimagined, with a general store, lunch counter style but a decidedly modern take on its offerings. Serving chef-driven gourmet sandwiches, locally-sourced bowls, and crafted cocktails, it's the perfect place for all manner of social indulgences. I spent $100 on drinks. I had a Negroni Incognito w/Italian Dill and a couple Old Fashioneds. We didn't order any food (although it looked good going by). Will definitely try some the next time. Limited street parking so I parked in the lot next door. Warning: the joint is kinda smallish with limited seating so beware depending on when you go! Good stuff.

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    The People's Drug - Chicken skins--spicy!!

    Chicken skins--spicy!!

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    Cooper Mill - Spicy Roasted Corn Salad

    Cooper Mill

    3.9(75 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Old Town Alexandria, Waterfront

    Last Sunday, my husband and I had lunch at Cooper Mill, and it was a phenomenal experience from…read morestart to finish. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, with warm, inviting décor and a quiet location just off the main drag--something we actually appreciated because it made for a more relaxed, charming experience. We lived in Old Town about 25 years ago, and it was amazing to see how much the area has grown. We started with the cast iron meatballs, and they were outstanding. The meatballs were tender and generously portioned, and the sauce was so good we didn't want to leave a drop behind. For lunch, we split the turkey club, which turned out to be the perfect choice because it was enormous! Every ingredient tasted incredibly fresh, but the real star was the warm sesame-seed bread--light, fresh, and unlike any sandwich bread we've had before. The service was exceptional -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. A friend of my husband's, Jesse (possibly a manager? Go Bills!) had recommended Cooper Mill, and it exceeded every expectation. Beautiful restaurant, delicious food, outstanding service! we'll absolutely be back. Highly recommend! - Pat & Julie

    Happy hour with a good selection of bites. Pizza bread, meatball sliders.. not too good of happy…read morehour drink options. Service is busy on Fridays, great view of the river, fresh pizza - thin crust. The presentation and plating is wonderful - although toooooooo much butter on the sliders..

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    The Majestic - Dinner at The Majestic by Chef Santiago Lopez

    The Majestic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    0.5 mi•Old Town Alexandria, Braddock Road Metro
    •$$
    Full bar
    Large group friendly

    The Majestic is such a beautiful spot, especially if you're looking for somewhere that feels a…read morelittle more classic and elevated without being too stuffy. The atmosphere is warm, intimate, and has that old-school charm that makes it perfect for a date night or a nicer dinner out. The lamb shank was easily the highlight for me. It was sooo tender and basically fell apart with barely any effort. The meat was rich, juicy, and full of flavor, and you could tell it had been cooked low and slow because it was incredibly soft without being dry at all. The sauce paired with it was deep and savory and really soaked into the meat, which made every bite even better. It's also a very filling dish, so you definitely feel like you're getting a full meal. The lamb itself had that comforting, slow-cooked flavor that makes the dish feel hearty but still elevated enough for the setting. Overall, I really enjoyed The Majestic. The atmosphere is beautiful, the food feels thoughtfully prepared, and the lamb shank is absolutely something I would order again.

    The Majestic was such a great experience from start to finish! From the decor and cozy, dim…read morelighting to the service and, of course, the food.. everything was great! I ordered the Caesar salad, mussels (10/10 omg!!), pesto fusilli with shrimp, salmon (a must order!), and the coconut cake to finish it all off. The only thing I didn't love were the cocktails. I'm usually not picky when it comes to drinks, but they just didn't quite do it for me. If The Majestic isn't already on your list, add it! Definitely worth a visit.

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    The Majestic - Girl Dinner served during Majestic Hour. Mon - Fri | 3pm - 7pm at the bar

    Girl Dinner served during Majestic Hour. Mon - Fri | 3pm - 7pm at the bar

    The Majestic - BEEF CARPACCIO
aged balsamic dressing, black garlic aioli, toasted almonds, capers, arugula, crostini

    BEEF CARPACCIO aged balsamic dressing, black garlic aioli, toasted almonds, capers, arugula, crostini

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    Bar Chinois - Pork XiaoLongBao (XLB) Dumplings and Iron Goddess cocktail

    Bar Chinois

    4.4(49 reviews)
    3.8 mi•Crystal City

    Randomly roaming around Crystal City area. Visiting what's new on our old stomping grounds. This…read morespot intrigued our appetite. Service was very friendly and accommodating! Place is very intimate and vibey at the same time. We ordered Gyoza be Boeuf, Steamed Shumai, Garlic Chives Gao, and the Char Siu Chicken Rice. We enjoyed the dumplings! Very fresh. Chicken was tender and delicious! Great spot for a date night!

    As far as I'm concerned, everything on this menu is a home run. Delicious, unique, and impossible…read moreto stop taking more bites even when you're so full you can barely move. We had the chicken karage and pork XLB to start. We were too polite to fight over the four small dumplings but chopsticks certainly clashed in the karage bowl - luckily the portion for that was large enough that even my cantankerous husband declared he could have been happy with that alone. For the main I had the garlic noodles with shrimp, and oh my gosh. Think of the scene from Ratatouille (yes that one) only with buttered noodles. This dish perfectly evokes comfort-food coziness while somehow also displaying complexity and class. Delicious. The cocktails are unique but passable. I had the nimbus cloud, an interesting mix of ingredients that earns the highly coveted designation of "not too sweet." Aforementioned cantankerous husband declared his old fashioned "the worst he has ever received in his life." Though probably his fault for not choosing something from the extensive menu. The new space in Crystal City is a nice vibe with a Paris streaterie/speakeasy feel, but watch your step in the alley as it's fully open to cars and therefore always steps away from chaos. We sat indoors and had a hard time hearing each other over the loud space (who doesn't love shouting WHAT? directly in your dining companions' ears through a mouthful of garlic noodles?) but honestly, once the food arrived we sort of forgot each other existed for a time. I'll be back for sure, don't judge the solo diner in the corner with enough garlic noodles to feed a family of four.

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    Bar Chinois
    Bar Chinois - Chili Karaage (fried chicken nuggets

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    Salt - pork belly app with potatoes

    Salt

    4.6(308 reviews)
    6.6 mi•Rosslyn
    •$$$

    I came here with a girlfriend for happy hour and small bites, and it was honestly the perfect…read moregirls' night. Our server was so kind and gave us fantastic recommendations. We had the burrata, focaccia, and sliders, which ended up being the perfect amount of food to keep us going through three cocktails each. I had the smoky mezcal spicy margarita (SO good), a dirty martini, and a glass of Prosecco. My friend had a custom cucumber cocktail and a couple glasses of wine. Basically, we had a very good time. The playlist was impeccable -- fun and lively without being so loud that you couldn't have an actual conversation. We were there during happy hour and it didn't really get busy until after 7, which made it feel relaxed and easy. I also really appreciated the accessibility. Despite the speakeasy vibe, there is an elevator, so the space is wheelchair accessible, which is a huge plus for me. And the vibes were just 100%. I would absolutely come back the next time I'm in the DMV. Whether you're looking for a fun girls' night, happy hour, somewhere to celebrate, or just a place with genuinely good cocktails and bites, this is definitely worth checking out!

    I've been to Salt a few times and have always been pretty impressed, so I was looking forward to…read moreanother visit. This time around, though, I noticed a few inconsistencies that kept it from being another standout experience. Salt has a bit of a speakeasy-ish vibe. There's a sign outside letting you know you've found the place, but once you enter the building, there are several doors to choose from before you actually make your way into the restaurant. It's relatively small and very dark, with a bar and a few high-top tables, some small booths, and a separate room for the main dining area. Definitely atmospheric, but don't expect to be reading a book in here without a flashlight. There's one gender-neutral bathroom downstairs, but Salt guests can also use the bathrooms upstairs at Open Road, which is a nice option. Happy hour runs from 4-7pm, and they have some fun cocktails to try. I started with a vodka martini, which was delicious--although the olives were noticeably too firm. They weren't rock hard, but biting into one was more like biting into a cucumber. The big draw this visit was the $55 prix-fixe menu, which includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. That's a screaming deal. I went with the pork belly to start, the Wagyu burger with truffle fries for my entrée, and the chocolate cheesecake for dessert. The pork belly was absolutely delicious. Three pieces came with perfectly fried little potato bites, and this was easily the highlight of the meal. I've had the Wagyu burger and fries here before and really enjoyed them, but this time both were noticeably greasy. The burger itself was still good, but the excess grease took away from what had previously been one of my favorite things to order here. The chocolate cheesecake was good, but nothing particularly spectacular. Solid dessert, just not one that had me contemplating ordering a second slice. After dessert, we decided to stick around for a few after-dinner drinks. We tried to order the tawny port, only to find out they were out, so we went with the 10-year port instead. Overall, this was still a good visit. The few inconsistencies didn't detract too much from the experience, and our server was attentive throughout the evening. She was also kind enough to let us keep the table for several hours after we first sat down, which was greatly appreciated. Salt is still a place I enjoy and would return to. Hopefully the next visit brings back some of the consistency I've experienced here before--especially with that burger and fries.

    Photos
    Salt - Inside

    Inside

    Salt - Sliders

    Sliders

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    Interior

    Bar 86 - speakeasies - Updated October 2026

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