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Calico

3.8 (223 reviews)
Open • 5:00 pm - 11:30 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

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CALICO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Calico

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Cute bar!
Kelly M.

This is such a delightful bar stop in DC. It's not anything fancy and I haven't tried the food (I suspect it's normal bar fare) but they have a beautiful year round outdoor space in a quiet spot in the alley, and a great selection of drinks. I was on a med and needed to drink a mocktail on my last visit. I forget the name of it but it was actually pretty good! Now they have $10 spritzes on Sundays too!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

Adult juice box

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5 months ago

10/10 love it would definitely go back. Juice boxes were so cute and had a great time celebrating my friend's birthday

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1 year ago

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

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CR NoMa - Swordfish Nicoise Salad

CR NoMa

4.4(223 reviews)
1.1 mi•NoMa
•$$

Went here for a work dinner and didn't know what to expect. Just followed the usual Yelp protocol…read moreand sent it. The place was pretty packed with everything from business to a bridal shower party. I really enjoyed how simple and inviting the place was for conversation. Being with other co-workers, I didn't want that place that I was screaming over everyone to have a conversation. More importantly, it wasn't that 20 year old vibe of being 4 deep at a bar begging for a drink. It was an elevated crowd that wanted a drink after work or a place to decompress. Oddly enough, there was even a guy there who whipped his laptop out to work while drinking and eat at the bar. Kinda different but hey, to each their own. Overall, this was a total win for me as it was still a weekday and exactly what I was looking for. Service at the bar was spot on and overall a secret win that Yelp help guide me towards. If you're in the area and need a post-work venue, I can vouch for this place 100% Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of service/food to cost: 4 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Pretty modern feel with that same take on food and value. Definitely fits the food vibe in the area. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no

I came here with a friend on a random Friday. It used to be open somewhere else in dc although this…read moreis a new location. It was quite loud when we came in, probably because it was Friday night. The service was great though. They were prompt and open to change, as needed. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, my friend got the flatbread and we shared the cigars. Everything was outstanding. I would definitely come back here again for more items.

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CR NoMa - Seating area near the front of the restaurant

Seating area near the front of the restaurant

CR NoMa - Chicken Kebab

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Free State - Hazy IPA

Free State

4.3(151 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

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Free State - Spiked chocolate

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Free State - Bar

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Ciel Capitol Hill

Ciel Capitol Hill

4.1(15 reviews)
1.1 mi•NoMa

Omg!! The food was delicious. This was my first time patronizing this restaurant and I was blown…read moreaway. Interestingly enough they have two locations which I did not know. The food at this location was great. The red snapper with the rice and tomatoes was very flavorful. The red snapper could have been cooked a little harder. However, other than that it was great. My friend order the same dish except with salmon. She enjoyed the dish as well but also mentioned that the fish could be cooked harder. We sat at the bar so we didn't get service from the waiter. However, the service from the bartender as great. He was very knowledgeable on the drinks and the food. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the drinks. But I ordered a smoked margarita which had a great taste. The ambiance was wonderful. It was very aesthetically please. From the flowers on the ceiling to the rooftop overlooking the Capitol it was great. The roof top provided a chill vibe with low music. It could be a great place for a date night or just a place to go to meet up with friends. I 100% recommend.

Finding a spot open past 10 PM in this area can be tough, so I was glad this rooftop restaurant at…read morethe Marriott Capitol Hill was open until 11 PM. However, the experience started on a rough note. When checking in at the Marriott, the front desk agent was quite rude and incorrectly insisted the restaurant was already closed. The African American guy behind the counter definitely needs some etiquette lessons or at least needs to be trained if he is supposed to be the face of Marriott Capitol Hill. Fortunately, we went up to the rooftop anyway. They seemed short-staffed, but the bartender stepped in to serve us and was absolutely wonderful. Lighting could be better, IMO it's a little too dark for my liking. The food was also a bit hit-or-miss. The sweet chili shrimp appetizer was fabulous, hot, and featured a great portion size. For the entree, I had the Trout a lo Macho. The presentation was beautiful and it arrived piping hot, but unfortunately, the mussels were not cleaned properly and still had dirt in them. For the price, the food could have been a bit more polished, though the portions were appropriate. Pros: Great rooftop views, excellent bartender service, and reasonable on-site parking ($8/hr or $12 for 2 hours, which is great for DC).

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Ciel Capitol Hill
Ciel Capitol Hill
Ciel Capitol Hill

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Bar Betsie - Back area

Bar Betsie

4.3(75 reviews)
1.4 mi

Stopped into Bar Betsie for drinks and snacks and really liked the place. The whole bar has a cool…read moreretro vibe with neon, a disco ball, dark booths, and a long bar that was packed by the time we were there. We grabbed a couple drinks and ordered some snacks while we hung out. The soft pretzel with mustard was good, but the buffalo chicken dip with Cheetos was the winner. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top bar food that works after a couple drinks. The atmosphere is really what makes the place. It was busy and energetic without feeling like a club, and we could still sit, have a drink, and actually talk. Cool spot for cocktails, snacks, and hanging out for a while. Definitely somewhere we'd come back to.

I love the ambiance and service here. I've been a couple times and it's been very consistent. The…read moreinside is dark and moody with a fantastic playlist. I always leave with new songs on my playlist. It is on the smaller side so I wouldn't suggest for a huge group. But if you're looking to grab a cocktail with a few friends or by yourself I definitely recommend. I ordered the Gold Rush! The drink was perfectly sweet and a good intro to bourbon, which I typically don't drink. I can't remember the second drink I got but it was equally delicious. I will note my friend was not a fan of her dirty martini. Overall great experiences.

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Bar Betsie - Quick view of options

Quick view of options

Bar Betsie - Frozen hibiscus pina colada

Frozen hibiscus pina colada

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The Alchemist DC - Killer Sally

The Alchemist DC

4.2(124 reviews)
0.8 mi•U Street Corridor

When we walked in around 6:45p it was empty. But around 7-7:40pm it started filling up. It's been a…read morelong time since I was back at a true cocktail bar. Cocktails have become trendy and mostly a lazy combination of a spirit, simple syrup and a fancy-sounding ingredient. Not here. Each combination is crafted and tastes delicious. One sign of a good cocktail to me is that it has balanced flavors that somehow combine well together to create complexity that works. It did here. Our bartender was knowledgeable and guided me well after I shared my preferred spirit and flavor profile. The martini I had was off-menu and well prepared. Nostalgia for days of yore when only a handful of places in NYC were known for "cocktails" - not every happy hour menu in town. We did get the happy hour pricing ($12/drink) and yes, 20% gratuity was included. The service was stellar so I would've done that anyways and had no problem with it being mandatory. I will add - someone complained about the incense smells and when I first walked in, it did smell odd. Over time, I saw our bartender switch it out and the second fragrance was more inviting.

Very cool speakeasy type bar with skilled bartenders. They do fun themes such as house of the…read moredragon with smoke bubbles on the drinks. Good place for a one and done drink because they are very expensive... but it is DC so it's expected.

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The Alchemist DC - Bubble machine!

Bubble machine!

The Alchemist DC - Something experimental (no name, yet!)

Something experimental (no name, yet!)

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Calico - cocktailbars - Updated November 2026

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