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    Calico

    3.8 (222 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Calico Takeout or Delivery

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    CALICO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Calico

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    Reviews With Photos

    Caroline W.

    This is a great spot for sitting down and chatting with friends. We went on a perfect evening, so the open air seating was very nice. I personally liked that I could order from a QR code and not have to go up to the bar, but I know that isn't for everyone. I liked being able to close my tab from my phone and easily keep bills separate. Once we ordered, the drinks came quickly. The staff also brought water and would come by and clear the table when we were finished. My drink was delicious, but very strong. The French fries were also good if you need a snack. There's a lot of tables and nooks you can sit in, but I especially loved the greenhouse outside!

    Chicken sandwich
    Keilon L.

    Go for the drinks and ambiance during happy hour. The food tasted like middle school lunch. I skipped lunch before my happy hour visit and knew that I'd like a sandwich or the like when I arrived. The bartender, woman with a couple cool tats was nice enough and I asked her what was better or more popular between the burger and chicken sandwich. She said the burger so I ordered it. The service was pretty quick and the burger tasted like trash. I was embarra for the restaurant honestly as how can you serve this in an establishment that looks this charming. I took one bite and and put it aside. The bartender asked me how it was begrudgingly and I gave her my honest opinion, but I told her I'd work my way through it. She said please don't do that and let's just swap it out for the chicken sandwich. I said cool and get the chicken. The chicken was eatable, not memorable. It's what I'd get from a high school cafeteria when the good cook is there. I'll never suggest coming back here but again, it's a cute place to sit with friends. The happy hour offering was ok. It's the only thing that could maybe have a friend convince me to come back here for a drink. Good location, nice enough staff, nothing special.

    Jaylene C.

    We found this bar after grabbing a bite to eat nearby. This bar is kinda tucked away and a bit unassuming - we almost missed it! The inside is very spacious- they have a good amount of bar stools and tables available although the tables were all full when we got there so the bar it was. There is a roll-up door that circulates the air. Apparently, this can either cool the place down and get a bit chilly or warm the place up. If you get uncomfortable, just let the bar tender know, and they'll do what they can to help make it better. Speaking of the bar tenders, they are quick, friendly, and have a great personality, which made our visit even better. We didn't realize that they had a decent outside area until we were on our way, but this place definitely has something for everyone. The food looked good but we didn't eat so we will definitely have to come back to try everything that this place offers.

    A bar setting with two empty glass bottles, a gluten-free cider can, and a bingo card on the counter, with bartenders and patrons in the background.
    Jasmine T.

    5 stars for the staff and the food! DC Fray hosted bingo and they didn't start until an hour later, so I won't knock it off for Calico but definitely was apart of my experience.

    Tomato Pie
    Samina M.

    Calico is a fun social space that reminds me of my favorite Southern VA college bar with the best DC twist! Came here for my friend's birthday dinner and loved the spacious ambiance and lively atmosphere. With part of the restaurant being outside, this is a great place to enjoy a warm evening with friends over delicious food and drinks. To eat, I got the Tomato Pie Pizza. Lots of flavorful sauce, garlic, and plenty of Parmesan on top. In the moment, the pizza seemed a bit underdone. However, after taking home my leftovers, the pie tasted a whole lot better once the ingredients could settle. To drink, I had an Aperol Spritz. Refreshing and citrusy! I would recommend that the staff provided straws to ensure one can mix the drink together. Overall, paired very well with my pizza. The service was fantastic on such a busy night. Appreciate all of the staff being so kind and getting our orders in as soon as we arrived! Really enjoyed my experience at Calico and would love come back out in the summer!

    Aperol Spritz
    Noel O.

    We were looking for a great place to sit outside and enjoy a spritz and Calico nailed it! This place has a great vibe, great drinks, and friendly staff. Prices were also reasonable for DC.

    A metallic silver pouch labeled 'Calico' contains lavender lemonade, with a straw inserted at the top, placed on a table in a casual setting.
    Hiral D.

    Love this place! Please do yourself a favor and get an adult juice box and loaded tots. Absolutely love the tots. I got the lavender lemonade twice and it's delicious! It's a pretty chill vibe and I love that you can order and pay from your phone. Makes things super easy and fun for a group!

    Adult juice box
    Olivia B.

    Came here for some after dinner drinks with my brother and a friend, fun outdoor seating. The adult juice pouches were the highlight!

    Cocktail "juice" pouch. Can take to go
    Nisha B.

    Chill spot, about a strong 6 minute walk from the Convention Center Metro. Front door entrance is right o Blageden Alley. Came on a rainy Saturday afternoon, so everyone was inside. But there are outdoor seats. Bar seating, booth like seating and cafeteria style tables/benches. Harry Potter was also playing with chill music playing in the background. Order everything from the QR menu and pay online as well. There is a 20% service charge added to every order now. I had a tasty IPA, cheese quesadilla were hella cheesy (duh lol) but I almost choked on the cheese lol. I got a "juice pouch" that was a cocktail, that I took to go. That was good. Spent like $40 on a beer, quesa and pouch drink The bartendars and waiter of water/bringer of food were super nice! Would like to check this place out on a dry, warm day

    Daiquiri
    Kai M.

    Lean in, I have a secret to share on a hidden gem! Here's my discovery report lol I didn't post any pictures of my food but know that I had the tatchos (tater tots) and my boyfriend had the chicken sandwich. Both were absolutely delicious and filling. His chicken sandwich came with a bag of plain potato chips and for my tatchos, I added diced grilled chicken, sour cream, few jalapeños (wish they provided more) and no guacamole (I would have loved that) For the price, they offered a good serving size which left us full and satisfied. Drinks: now, I do not recall the name of my drink but know that it was a frozen daiquiri. The liquor was generously poured and the drink was the perfect summer refresher!!!! My boyfriend decided to go with the pina colada because most of the beers were out of stock-bummer! Also, note that there was very few items to choose from *drinkers cry* However, his drink was amazing! And yes! I can confirm this because I had a few sips. It was absolutely delicious and again, they were generous with the liquor. Aside from them having a very limited menu, I actually enjoyed this place and would indeed recommend it. It was so nostalgic because it gave me space to enjoy someone's company, laugh and play a card game...yes! Did I mentioned that they have tons of games along with arts & crafts you can select from and play?! And although I got beat in Uno *cries* It made our date, perfect! Bill: the bill was under $100 ($93 to be exact) which isn't bad provided that we did order 1 more drink. However, there is a 20% service charge added to the bill so be prepared for that. Shout out to the staff! The woman who handled our food was super friendly and service was fast. The greeter in the front was the best! We chatted with him after our meal and learned some cool facts about the restaurant. Wish I got his name to include in the review. I highly recommend this place for a date or time with friends-you'll love it.

    Tochos (spelling may be off) so delicious and enough to share - Close-up of fried chicken bites with sauce, chopped green onions, and sliced pickled peppers in a basket lined with paper.

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    7 months ago

    Beautiful place, excellent service and wonderful food! If you go in the summertime sit outside on the deck!

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    ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando

    ChurchKey

    (1.5k reviews)

    $$

    Logan Circle, Downtown

    Great local bar with large rotating craft beer selection. Highly recommend for any beer…read moreenthusiast. They have wine and cocktails as well. They are happy to recommend beer for your taste, and let you sample. It can be very busy and difficult to get a seat at the bar or get a table on a Friday or Saturday evening. We ordered food, and were expecting elevated bar food. The tater tots were a huge disappointment- they were very large squares , bland, and not crispy. The wings were okay. The cheeseburgers were the best- from the restaurant downstairs- mallard. Huge burger, done perfectly medium.

    Here's a review written as part of a visit to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley (the downstairs…read morerestaurant -- together they form the "2 Enjoy Everything" concept by Neighborhood Restaurant Group): A DC Gem That Delivers on Every Level If you haven't made it to Churchkey on 14th Street yet, move it to the top of your list. I visited as part of the full experience -- dinner downstairs at Birch & Barley, then up to Churchkey for drinks -- and honestly, it's one of the best evenings I've had in DC. Churchkey itself is everything a great bar should be. The beer selection is absolutely unreal -- hundreds of carefully curated labels spanning every style, region, and flavor profile you can imagine. What sets it apart is that the staff actually knows the menu. Our server walked us through a few options based on what we liked and landed us on perfect picks both times. That kind of genuine expertise is rare. The tavern pizzas from the wood-fired oven were a wonderful surprise -- thin, crispy, and the perfect companion to a cold draft. The smash burger also deserves a mention: simple, well-executed, and hits the spot. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming. Great for a date, a group, or even just sitting at the bar solo with a good beer and good conversation with the bartender. This place has earned its reputation as one of the best beer bars on the East Coast -- and then some. Highly recommend making a full night of it with both floors. You won't regret it. Feel free to adjust the tone or add any personal details from your actual visit!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    The Sovereign - Mariniere Mussels | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    The Sovereign

    (603 reviews)

    $$

    Georgetown

    This place is fantastic! We sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon. Great atmosphere, beautiful bar…read more I appreciate the hooks under the bar to hang your purse or bags. Thank you for having that. It's a detail that many bars forget but I can relax and enjoy my stay more when I know my belongings are safely tucked away. We got the Smorgesboard and Saffron Mussels. Both were EXCELLENT. The Mister got a few beers. The Smorgesboard had every charcuterie option and it was really fun building the perfect bite. I thought it was absolutely worth the price. I've paid more for less. Let me take a moment and collect myself before I talk about the Saffron Mussels. They were freaking amazing. The broth was mildly spicy, a powerful punch of salty herby flavor that paired wonderfully with the mussels. They were perfectly cooked with a tender chew. Served with fries and chunks of bread to sop up all that glorious broth. If you're thinking about getting the mussels, just do it. Truly, one of the best pot of mussels I've had. We are just visiting the area, but I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in town. What a delightful surprise to find this place.

    Came to the Sovereign on a Friday night for happy hour -- a great deal, cocktails for $6 and some…read morebites. Walked to the upstairs bar and was able to find a seat no problem around 6:30pm. There were still seats at the downstairs bar too. I went for a cocktail off their full menu not featured on happy hour - the tricky tripel, and it was delicious! The bartender did a great job explaining the tasting notes of all the drinks and helped me choose a good one. I also sipped the Belgian sour many of my friends opted for and that's a great cocktail for just $6 during happy hour. Happy hour is tricky -- it's really a great deal making it difficult to justify paying full price for anything but the crowd here is two folds. You have a lot of young college kids mixed with an older crowd so one comes for the deals while the other comes for amazing food and cocktails -- something for everyone! Overall I would definitely come back for dinner. This place has a very lowkey casual vibe but upscale food and drinks. The atmosphere/ambiance leaves a little to be desired with not so great lighting and no background music that I can recall but still a nice spot to pop in.

    Dacha Beer Garden - Grilled Chicken Sandwich with purple kraut, Havarti cheese, pickles, LTO and famous sea salt fries at Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw), DC

    Dacha Beer Garden

    (508 reviews)

    $$

    Shaw

    My boyfriend and I went to Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw) for an afternoon date and it was such a vibe…read more The patio was full but still felt cozy and fun lots of energy without feeling chaotic. The sunlight coming through the big windows and umbrellas made everything feel warm and relaxed. It's definitely one of those spots that feels very DC weekend.We ordered the giant pretzel with cheese and mustard and it was SO good soft, warm, perfectly salted, and ideal for sharing. The fries were crispy and seasoned just right. We also tried a couple of beers (the grapefruit one was especially good and refreshing), and everything paired perfectly with the food. It's casual but still cute enough to make it a real date. You can sit, talk, enjoy your drinks, and not feel rushed. I'd absolutely come back, especially on a sunny day. Perfect for daytime dates, meeting friends, or just enjoying good vibes in Shaw.

    It has been nearly 11 years (!) since my initial review, so an update is sorely in order. This…read moreplace is still going strong, stronger than ever in my view. They have slowly made changes over the years that make this an absolute must visit. What hasn't changed: the outdoor vibes and string lights are as pleasant as ever, and without the crushing crowds and lines that typified this location in their early years, it is a much nicer vibe most days. In my first review, I complained that the menu was very light on German beer options. They offer far more now, including a beer that I do not believe you can regularly find at any other bar in the city: the Weihenstephaner Korbinian, the world's finest doppelbock. It is one of the most delicious beers I have ever had, and they have it here on tap for a very reasonable price. Another positive change: they have a kitchen now with a full menu of food options. Their giant pretzel is a classic, of course. If you're a weekend happy hour chaser, they sell $5 High Noons all day Sunday. One final note: the location is absolutely perfect. Baan Mae has opened next door to the north (a 5/5 dining experience, amazing Thai food), Ugly Duckling is across the street to the south (a 5/5 happy hour and cocktail experience), and Ivy & Coney is right across the street to the east (a DC icon and 5/5 dive bar and football spot), so Dacha is essentially the centerpiece of the perfect night (or whole day) out.

    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    (125 reviews)

    $$

    Logan Circle, Downtown

    I've been hearing about this place for years but never actually stopped by. They're currently on my…read morelist of weekend happy hour spots, having it all day on Sundays. I made a last minute change to meet a friend here, but much to my surprise... they had a PS5 and Tekken booted up at the bar. I am by zero means a Tekken player. Yes, I'm a huge gamer, but I'm terrible at Tekken. But the mere concept of being able to watch and play it at a bar is incredible. That aside, they got a bunch of board games like Trouble, Uno, Trivial Pursuit... the classics man! Oh right, the bar part. Their drinks are great. The staff are great. The specials are great. And they give you popcorn! And they have a whole little table with all the popcorn fixings if you don't want to eat it plain. You can literally bring in food from anywhere on top of that. I'm not sure if it's a Sunday thing, but the place really doesn't get too busy. It's quite a vibe. If you've never been and you're in the Logan Circle area, go.

    My go to spot once or twice a month. Straight to the point with great aesthetics. Love the wood…read morelook and clean dive bar vibes.. they have a huge variety of beers and kozys to put them in since they don't have draft beer. The bartenders no matter what day it is always execute with divine hospitality!! Oh yeah forgot to mention the popcorn machine free popcorn is a plus, it also has a huge selection of seasoning to get that popcorn right. See you soon!! Say what's sup if you see me there!!

    Calico - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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