Calico Bar is one of those DC spots that gets everything right--fun energy, great people, and legitimately excellent burgers. The vibe is lively without feeling chaotic, and the staff makes you feel welcome the minute you walk in. If you're looking for a place to grab a burger, hang out, and have a great time with good company, Calico is a no-brainer. Highly recommend. Kyle is awesome read more

Calico - A serving of French fries with a small cup of dipping sauce, a partially eaten sandwich, and a piece of fried chicken are on a wooden table, with utensils and drinks nearby. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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quality has dropped, the tomato pies are no where like what they used to be. Drinks are alright, service (order through QR) is quick, tot natchos are what you'd expect read more

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! read more

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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! read more

Calico - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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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. read more

Calico - Chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Awesome alley way bar with decent food options. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Large tables and more intimate corners. Service was incredibly fast and friendly. Clean bathrooms. read more

Clean outside alternative spot. Nothing special, nice for a beer. They had a few drink options and a few bites. I had their summer shandy. It was good $8. The place also has a service charge which is not a tip. It's 4 percent here. First come first serve seating and You order though a QR code. Service was quick which was nice. read more

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. read more

Calico - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love this little spot on Blagden Alley for a bite, drinks and a hang with friends. There is indoor seating with a roll-up door when the weather is nice and outdoor seating. The food is good. We had a disjointed order of bites - totchos (tater tot nachos) and a pizza - The Camden. Both plates were delicious and worked perfectly with our beers (I had a Dr. Juicy by Silver Branch - or two, maybe three?) As self-described, it's like an urban backyard! Can't wait to return... 4.5 stars read more

Nice bar in a quiet area with both indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of cocktails to choose from, super quick service, and appetizers/food were decent for a bar. Cherry on top they can make custom cocktails and also have trivia's at 7pm! read more

Ugh - this place was pretty cool. Went last mint with some friends and got to sit outside with a heater; bartenders were attentive and I would have come back. Though, during my last few minutes, I was waiting at the end of the bar to close out and there was a woman next to me and I said "Hi, sorry, are you in front of me". She condescendingly and rudely responded, "I work here... this is my work station (intonation at end of station to really nail on the condescension)" Maybe she didn't expect me to be polite and make sure I wasn't cutting anyone, but I responded "oh okay! Sorry just making sure I'm not cutting anyone and you're doing a great job!" She stared at me and walked away. Just an interaction like that ruined the experience at a place I'd want to come back to, but in this market with so many options for drinks, being spoken to like that is unfortunately enough to make someone not want to come back. read more

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. read more

Calico - 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. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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! read more

Calico - Tomato Pie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friends and I went here on a Saturday evening around 7pm. This place is great for a group hangouts or a fun date! The food menu is more bar food than cuisine but wasn't too bad! We had the pepperoni and tomato pie; definitely large enough to share with 4 people. The salsa and chips were spicy! And the loaded tots were pretty good (if you're a tots lover, the toppings were yum!) You have to order everything (including drinks) on the QR code so make sure you close out your tab when you leave! They had board games, card games, and mini Jenga to play! We sat inside since it was cold! There was definitely a party crowd on Saturday night so if you want a table I would get there early, around 5 or 6pm! But the outdoor patio was spacious and I can't wait to come back in the summer ! read more

It's a cute place but the staff were kinda rude. No one greeted us and when they came around with our food, it felt like they haphazardly tossed it on the table. The space is good if you have a larger group. You order via QR code. The drinks were decent. The food was just ok - we got the quesadilla and the fish bites. Both were dripping in oil and not very appetizing. read more

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. read more

Calico - Aperol Spritz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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! read more

Calico - A metallic silver pouch labeled 'Calico' contains lavender lemonade, with a straw inserted at the top, placed on a table in a casual setting. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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

Calico - Adult juice box - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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 read more

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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. read more

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

Calico has always been a treat and my preference is to sit in the birdcage if you have a smaller group since it is pretty much just booth seats in corners. We stopped in on a lovely summer Sunday evening where it wasn't overly hot and humid. They are known for their drink pouches that make it easy to sip. If you are in other parts be aware it is outside so you might want to bring bug spray to avoid the bites of summer. It's all QR codes now so take it as you will and service will be a bit faster since they are delivering drinks to you. We didn't get food this time around, but I have liked their tots in the past. read more

A fun hideaway for drinks, food, a catch up with friends or to enjoy one of their lax, go at your own pace activities. Enjoyed one of their arts n crafts nights here where they lay out the materials and you make your own adventure with the materials to create your own masterpiece. Great selection of beers and the tater tot options are yummy. Staff is friendly and I appreciate the indoor or outdoor spaces. Choose your own adventure here. read more

Calico - 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. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Such a fun bar with a lively atmosphere! I love the indoor and outdoor seating options! Their adult juice pouches are fun, and they have lots of other creative cocktails. Their tater tots are also a favorite and are reasonably priced. read more

Calico - Adult juice pouch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I feel like this was a solid place. Easy and fun drinks with good snacks. This is NOT a craft cocktail place rather a really fun location and vibe. They have some fans but and there is an indoor area that's open space but overall dress for the weather. If it's hot out. It will be hot. I hit a margarita lightly sweetened and the chips and queso. Both were pretty good! And the service was very polite and fast. Also a great area. The location and energy is what makes this a spot. read more

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Great outdoor happy hour spot from 4-6 pm. The lavender lemonade cocktail pouch was delicious & boozy for $10. The draft espresso martini was nothing special, I'll probably stick with ordering their other cocktails next time. $3 tomato pie slices during happy hour & the Buffalo cauliflower and Brussels sprouts were tasty and filling! QR service is super quick and it's first come first service for tables. Calico is a new go to happy hour spot for me! read more

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This is such a cute bar in Blagden Alley! It has the cutest outdoor patio (with a cool coveted glass seating area) and a large bar and seating area inside as well. Most of the tables are on the larger side so it's the best place to go if you're out with a few friends or small group! All ordering is done on your phone (with a QR code) and drinks and food come out very quickly. The drinks are fabulous! They really have something for everyone and also have great happy hour deals (4pm-6pm Monday-Friday). Love it here and can't wait to bring some more people back! read more

Overall a fantastic tucked away casual place for Happy Hour ! Plenty of open seating for large groups. Crowd is youthful. I'd say the service is very efficient and they use the QR code (or order at bar). I love that it's a little off the beaten path so it's not too noticeable, and traffic doesn't get too hectic. Food is standard bar food, all good with nothing that stands out. Loved all the drinks , especially the Adult capri suns (Lavender Lemonade) !! read more

The location is nice if you want to hide from a busy urban life. Big bar goes from the inside to outside. Worth visiting. read more

Calico - Bar - A bar interior features hanging yellow paper lanterns, a bartender preparing a drink, and shelves with bottles and glasses. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Suuupppeerrr cute space with lots of different types of seating options in the adorable blagden alley. Dog friendly. Drink selection is moderate as well as the food options but it works for the space. We sat at the bar and service was quite slow. I got the el pinguino which was great if you like mezcal, perfect amount of spice. However, very overpriced for food and draft beers. Also the pricing in the menu didn't match the pricing on the check. My partner got 2 Pacifico and on the menu it said $7 and on our check it appeared as $16 instead of $14 (nitpicking but still menus should be updated). read more

Calico - El pinguino - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A new regular place! With the abnormal warm weather this week, my friend and I decided to venture here where the outdoor space is beautiful and the bar food looks good! Got a lemon and vodka drink as something off the menu, and it was great. Also got a classic tomato pie slice which was cheap and delicious for a late night happy hour choice. With the ambiance and our amazing server, I will definitely be back and bring new friends! read more

Calico - Lemon drop martini on the rocks- something new - A clear glass contains a lemon drop martini on the rocks with ice cubes, placed on a blue table near menus and a smartphone. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love this place. The atmosphere is really cool and the staff are super friendly and attentive. I haven't explored the food menu too much but am a big fan of the crispy Brussels sprouts. The cocktails are on the pricier side but very good. Overall, highly recommend checking this out if you haven't already read more

Calico - Tachos and Brussels - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here with a couple friends and we all agree that this place passes the vibe check with its interior design. It's also in the middle of an alley with an aesthetic mural of beets and carrots that you can take Instagram-worthy pictures of. Lots of seating inside (more so like a greenhouse style vibe) and outside, as well. My only quip is that it didn't feel like our table and seats were very clean. I can't speak too much about the drinks here, but my friends thought the cocktails were pretty expensive. However, when they tried their drinks, they thought it was quite strong and therefore, "worth the price." The presentation of the drinks were aesthetic and were pretty tasty (from the couple sips I tried). Calico is a good option to enjoy a drink or two on a Friday afternoon before dinner! By the end, my friends were pretty buzzed from just a single cocktail. Definitely check it out for the good vibes and strong cocktails! read more

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They have a nice little outdoor garden area with lots of plants and lights. Love that you can just order and pay at the table with a QR code. Very convenient, COVID safe, easy to split. Cheeseburger was pretty tasty, very cheesy, tater tots were nice and crispy. Garden pizza was quite large! Would probably be enough for two people to split if you weren't very hungry. Chicken sandwich was tasty too. read more

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Why is the patio closed several hours before close? More importantly, why do you let customers order drinks on the patio to promptly tell them they have to leave the patio before they can finish their drinks with nowhere else to sit? Staff is rude and/or neglectful. Clearly do not care about you as a customer. read more

This was hard to find hidden in Blagden Alley. If you want to sit in the birdcage your party needs to get there before 5:30pm. The pina colada is made from scratch, sweet, creamy and to die for! I also really like the passion fruit daiquiri - Little Alley Daiquiri. The tater tots are perfect. The pretzel bites come with the nastiest dips, I couldn't even tell it was mustard. The bathroom is clean. The bar has an awning and fans going so you can stay cool outside. I do highly recommend wearing bug spray, I came home with so many bites. read more

Calico - Bird Cage - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stopped by here yesterday for a couple of drinks and thought it was a cool place. There are tons of heaters outside, so if you want to drink outside in the cold weather, they appear to have you covered. The bar service was good. The atmosphere is pretty basic. Nothing to really write home about. read more

Came for drinks with some friends after work on a Wednesday. Seating is first come first serve to any table that's available. Once you sit you can scan the code, order from your phone, pay, and everything will be brought to your table. There are servers coming around to give water and any other utensils or extras you need. For drinks I tried their blagden rose drink pouch. It was really sweet and honestly tasted like juice! For food I got the burger and we split a soft pretzel and buffalo cauliflower bites for the table. The food was ok. I ordered the burger medium but got well done, and the pretzel was kind of hard but the cauliflower was good. Overall it's a good place to go for happy hour or to meet up for drinks, just wasn't a fan of the food. The vibe is fun and they have both indoor and outdoor seating. I like that you can order straight from the table and pay for your own food. It helps with bigger parties to not worry about splitting the bill. read more

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Nice, open outdoor seating with good drinks! The entrance was a little confusing since we had to walk around some alleys but we eventually found it. There were a lot of outdoor seating but even coming on a weekday afternoon, reservations were a must. We got seated under this nice archway with crawling vines and at first, it was really nice. But then the wind started blowing and all these dried leaves and flower petals started falling in our drinks and food. Ordering food and drinks couldn't be any more easier. Everything was done through your phone and you could either leave a tab open or pay as you order. Loaded Tots: Tots were deep fried crispy and delicious. Can't go wrong with these as an appetizer/snack to share. Adult Juice Boxes: I tried multiple ones but I don't remember which ones. The one that stood out the most was their Lavender Lemonade. I'm just a sucker for anything lavender and this had a great, subtle flavor. Comes in a little Caprisun pouch! The downside is that you need to use a straw to drink it, sucking it from the pouch is difficult. Had a great time here besides having to constantly shield our drinks and food from the falling leaves. It's a great place to get your night started! read more

Calico - Lavender Lemonade - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fun summer bar! I love this place to grab a drink with friends when the weather is nice and you can sit outside and enjoy the ambiance. The pouch cocktails were a bit too sweet but a fun concept. The bar was a bit slow on service - the bartenders rotate often and don't always take orders in order of customers that arrive. But overall a great spot for groups! read more

Calico - The Lovelace cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia