Came in for the first time for Fall festival activities and had a great time. The fried chicken sandwich and tots were SO good and super crispy. I also had hot cider and hot chocolate both of which were delicious. We enjoyed the garden area and had fun painting pumpkins. read more

love the vibes here. felt like a small find but I know it's well loved. my cherry sour was SO delicious, and loved the setting. I think that's the best part about this place, it feels like a little secret. offerings are otherwise pretty standard! read more

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

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It might've been because we were the only ones there, but we had great service. Then we realized it wasn't "officially" opened, but the doors were open. We asked because we didn't want to be assholes, and they said we were fine. Friendly, timely, and great service. Calico is great. Two adult juice boxes and we were good to go. Our bartender was quick and attentive. 5/5 read more

We love the vibe at Calico! We were quickly seated in the fenced-in garden area. There are cute greenery and string lights on the patio. We ordered our drinks through the QR code link, and the drinks were brought out pretty promptly. We enjoyed our cocktails! We will be back. read more

Calico - Cocktails for the table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What the heck? How did I not know about this beautiful oasis? Talk about the perfect spot for summertime hangs both day and night! This outdoor garden and it's kitty cat mascot are truly magical. The place was PACKED when we rolled through, but standing areas are just as enjoyable as a table. It's just so beautiful and the music blasting creates the perfect ambiance. Okay, minus one star for the awful wine selection. Pictured here is the beauty of this bar on a warm evening, also pictured is the gross Sauvignon Blanc that I swear was mistaken for a moscato. Noted! Cocktails next time! Can't wait to return! read more

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

Blagden Alley is a hidden gem in Shaw; great public art, well-lit, and delicious food and coffee options. Calico is like visiting a friend with a great backyard, who loves to entertain. A limited menu of food they really do a good job making delicious is complimented by a great collection of cocktails. This evening, we entertained a family friend from out of town, and were very pleased. Slight disappointment when we were told the pizza oven was broken (the tomato pie is a signature item), but our server was awesome and gave us a round of mango cocktails, to help ease the pain. Love this place for its vibe, food, and servers. read more

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Wow, this restaurant has the COVID protocols down pat. They use a contact tracing app and you need to register before you enter. The tables are super far apart, and all orders are done through a QR code, including requesting to use the restroom! Their patio is super festive, strung with lights and lots of greenery, with punches of color. We had tots and adult juice boxes. The tots are amazing--super crispy--and the "loaded" ones we got had the right amount of toppings so as to not overwhelm that crispness. I had the Lavender Lemonade and Cat You on the Flip Side juice boxes. Cat was a bit too smoky for my tastes, but loved the lavender. The staff were all upbeat and service was super fast! They do strictly limit your time there to the 1.5 hours "to limit exposure." It was a perfect place for a warm November afternoon! read more

I came for happy hour! Ambience is fun, service was fast & friendly, and the food ( $3 pie slice) was delicious. I had the lavender lemonade & a ginger ale. The drinks didn't feel happy hour priced ($10) and the drink menu was very small! All in all we came for the vibes & outdoor seating and that's what I would recommend. Inside had AC and lots of seating options for big groups. Definitely a great date spot. LGBTQ friendly. In terms of accessibility the outdoor seating required stairs and that's also where you enter. There might be another entrance that's accessible but I didn't see one. Don't forget to take pictures at the nearby murals. read more

The ambiance is fantastic it's so cute here! They have individual spots sectioned off which makes it a bit more intimate while the outside is loud and hectic. The food looks good, bar style food . read more

Calico - The Lovelace and Arnold Paloma ( non-alcoholic) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great atmosphere with good drinks/vibes but they need to invest in better tables/chairs/benches.

We were planning a friend's birthday and of course this place was on the list as "a must" spot. We had a great time indoors and outdoors. It's very comfortable and spacious, the drinks are so yummy (one of our faves was the adult juice boxes), and their prices are fairly reasonable. I'm definitely going to be heading back here to try food and maybe go during night time! read more

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

Love love love, Calico! This is a great spot to take folks from out of town because you get a chance to walk through the artwork of Blagden Alley and then pop into Calico for some relaxation and conversation. What I love about them is that you can ask the bartenders for a mocktail and they'll ask you for flavor profiles you want to execute a drink. Not many places give choices for non-drinkers so I'm happy that Calico offers us some options :') For those who do tho, their cocktails are well loved and thoughtfully made - all my friends rave about their cocktails! They have food as well and it's pretty good too! I tried the pepperoni pizza pie and it was pretty tasty. Overall I'm a huge fan and will/have been back multiple times! read more

Spinach dip with chips was decent. I tried Marla Hooch's Hooch, a kind of adult juice box, and it was good but a bit too sweet for me. Other cocktails, Every Rose Has Its Thorn and Moscow Mule, were good. FYI, they make a very strong gin and tonic, and I'm personally not a fan of that drink, but if you want something strong, then that's probably good for you! Service was great. Our bar server was very friendly and had a great fun attitude. read more

Went here for my friend's birthday and absolutely loved this place! I really loved the ordering system - you scan a QR code and order, pay, and close out all on your phone and they just bring it to you. Super efficient and easy. I got the Lavender Lemonade cocktail which had gin in it. It came in a super cute pouch and was the perfect summer drink. I also got the buffalo chicken sandwich and the tots which were great! The ambiance was nice and chill, and I loved the beautiful hanging lights/vines on top. Would definitely return here for a chill night out! read more

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Calico had really great vibes and I was ready to try a restaurant in Blagden Alley. I mostly went because they had trivia which was a fun weeknight activity. I was surprised to see they didn't have any happy hour deals for the weeknight, but they were still relatively full. They had a solid cocktail menu but most of their appetizers were out of stock, so the food pickings were very slim. The tater tots however were really delicious and piping hot and crispy like I like them. Their pouch drink lavender lemonade was good and I think they're known for their pouch cocktails actually. Those were very good. I would avoid the drinks on tap. It tasted a little watered down especially for how much you're paying for it. read more

Nice beer garden with decent finger food, watered down drinks, and prevailing gentrification. I see why Calico is a hit/miss with 3.5 stars and doesn't quite live up to the hype. While the patio is spacious with a cool birdcage room (luckily enclosed during the winter) and dog-friendly, the subpar food and drinks don't add up to the premium prices. The crispy Brussel Sprouts were delicious and my favorite app! They were perfectly fried and the eclectic mix of cashews and apples topped with sweet chunky vinaigrette surprisingly paired well with the brussel sprouts. The creamy Mac & cheese was tasty, but drowning in sauce. Wish there was gouda, cheddar, and a couple of other cheeses blended in. I'm glad I got the Mac over the hummus and some of the other apps. The crispy Loaded Tots with bacon, scallions, sour cream, and mozzarella cheese were okay. They weren't particularly memorable and least favorite of the 3 apps. The bourbon-based "Fight Club" was tart, the ginger overpowered the brown sugar. It just wasn't balanced out. The Prosecco was dry and disappointing. It wasn't even served in a wine glass! Teeny tiny glass not not worth $10. Glad I ventured away from the sugary juice boxes, heeding the warming of my fellow Yelpers. There's much left to be desired for the cocktails. Note the online menu is outdated featuring the FALL 2018 menu - many apps have changed. The menu changes seasonally, with the new spring menu coming out this week! Sadly, the eggplant parm mozzarella sticks aren't offered or the Hot Cocktails. Best part? Service was great - tots were on the house as the server forgot to put them in. I honestly felt bad for the servers, dealing with soo many impatient entitled folks. The outdoor area gets packed over the weekends - so be prepared to hunt around. I had to scour like a hawk and stake my claim! Despite the nice outdoor space, the gentrification and lack of diversity was a deterrent from the ambiance. Sweeping the crowds and the tables next to us, there wasn't a pop of color here. Not sure if I have a reason to be back. read more

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Found this place after Tiger Fork was unexpectedly closed for a private event lol. It's sort of hidden down an alleyway so you wouldn't find it just walking around. It was really well decorated for fall- gorgeous lights and a cute little patio! It also has multiple levels, you walk into the lower level where the hostess stand is located, and then there's an upper level with an outdoor patio, and then there's an indoor section. There's a bar inside and outside. You order through a QR code at the table. The food was excellent, particularly the brussels sprouts!! YUM!! In addition, the service was really fast, which is always a plus! I believe that Brynn was our server and she was super accommodating and nice, so thank you!! It was a Saturday night and there were plenty of tables which was a huge plus. read more

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Come here for drinks, not food. Maybe I would've given 4 stars if I had drinks only. The food presentation was rather disappointing. I think they were trying to go for school cafeteria lunch vibes because of the adult juice box theme, but the ribeye steak sandwiches and burgers were poorly placed on paper plates on green lunch trays. I don't think the food is worth the prices they charge. The drinks are good, but I wish the adult juice boxes came in larger portions. Safety wise, I appreciated their cautionary measures. Information is taken for each guest for contact tracing. Ordering and paying is all done through phones. Interestingly, you need to request a bathroom pass with your phone because only one guest is allowed at a time. One thing I don't agree with is the $20 charge per person if you cancel 3 hr before or miss your reservation. I don't think this is necessary and rather stressed our group a little. read more

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Cute. Great service. $10 adult juice boxes during happy hour--they were delish. Wanted the hummus but it was 15$ so got the tater tots instead. Good outdoor vibe with an inside bar as well. Wasn't really picking up on a cat theme lol read more

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

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Fun spot for HH, it gets pretty full! Got a spot at the bar and ordered the adult juice box and tomato pie slice ($3 during HH). The adult juice box was smooth, but a little overpriced for the quantity. The tomato pie slice was average, but huge for only paying $3. read more

Great spot to have some drinks and chill. The out door set up is really nice. The bagged drinks are good and a nice touch. The pizza is solid. read more

I've been here twice, each time the service has been top notch! Great date spot for sure, friendly bartenders, good drinks, good food, and great vibes. Recommend! read more

Calico is tucked away in an alley near 9th and M st. The food is subpar, but the cocktails are delicious. They have adult juice pouches and the bar tenders are willing to do bartender's choice. My friend and I explained what we like in cocktails and they stepped up to the challenge. I used to live close by and would pop in for cocktails frequently. Definitely a great place to chill. They have indoor and outdoor spaces along with a cool carrot mural to take pictures in front of. read more

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I felt like I was entering a keg party in college - where's my red solo cup? Urban backyard looked like a hot mess, kegs strewn everywhere, ripped up carpet, messy bathroom, awkward seating. The whole setup and vibe was just confusing. There are 2 adult juice boxes available: $12 oooooouch Blagden Rose - the bartender said this one is more popular and sweeter. Sassy Kitty - gross! You know a drink is bad when you make the sour face. And I only finished it because it was 12 effing dollars y'all. People were sitting at the bar with half eaten food asking for their check and honestly the food doesn't look very appetizing. I would be scared to see how clean their kitchen is. I feel like if your goal is to get drunk at a high cost with subpar drinks then this is your spot! The only positive is that there is an outdoor and indoor area. The website lacks any information on their drinks or food just their business hours and inquiries. read more

i come here pretty frequently for the adult juice boxes, sooo good. the vibe here is usually really fun. my friends and i like to come here as a little pregame. the lavender lemonade drink is my favorite. idk i just feel hotter when i'm drinking here, something about it read more

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

Tucked away down an artsy DC alley, you'll find Calico - a very interesting find btw. I went on Halloween, so most things are a bit interesting on that day lol. They are usually by reservation only, and take social distance and safety measures seriously. The staff at the door were so sweet, I wish I got their names, but alas I forgot to ask (It was cold outside, no one had time for all that lol). I enjoyed my experience there, but probably wouldn't return for the food if I am not with at least one other person so that we can try different items on their menu. I got the Disco Tots which tasted like Poutine; I wanted to try more, but the tots were plenty. I definitely enjoyed the cocktails there, but be careful with the Lavendar Juice Pouch because she did not come to play lol. My server ended up being this guy named Joey, who I now know as their chef. His service style was attentive, personable, and informative - if anything, his friendly demeanor will be the reason I return. I try to be as honest as possible in my reviews so I do admit that there are some areas for improvement, but as I state a lot, we are in a COVID world and we need to extend some grace to restaurants that are at the very least trying. This place for sure goes above trying. Thank you, Calico :) read more

This cute bar is nestled around the DC Alley Museum. It gives me a Brooklyn vibe since there's an old industrial aesthetic. They strictly follow covid protocols which was reassuring. Everything is through QR code, even going to the bathroom. It takes a bit of time to fill everything out before entry and with payment. Came for a quick drink but I enjoyed it. My Cherry Amour has a nice tartness and the KP Iced Tea was a yummy, boozy frozen Thai tea. We also got tater tots which were nice and crunchy, not too greasy. There's limited seating. read more

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

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The space was nice overall! The ambiance of the space was great and the lighting was great. They had plenty of tables available for us to go to as a group of 5. We really loved the fact that you could order on your phone, and the service was quick so we didn't have many complaints. Overall I would recommend it for groups just looking for a place to sit down and eat quick bites. The food could be improved, but the vibe mostly made up for that. read more

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Came here on my most recent visit to DC. First, the atmosphere is awesome! Super cool vibe, very hip without being pretentious, which is rare nowadays. The food was pretty good, as well. We tried some roasted squash with honey and their version of tomato pie (note this is not a southern-style tomato pie. This is basically garlic bread with sauce on it. Still good, just not what I was expecting). We of course had to try the capri sun-style adult beverages, and they were fun, albeit super expensive for basically 3 sips of alcohol. Fun for one drink to enjoy the experience, but you'll definitely want to switch to something else afterward, because the gimmick is definitely not worth it. Also, our service was just so-so. read more

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Brian was EXCEPTIONAL and stole the show for all 20 of us. How he managed? Not sure. He was our MVP of the night. Thank you!!! read more

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

I've been to Calico many times before the pandemic and they were a great spot then. With the pandemic, they continue to be a go-to spot because of how well they are handling safety precautions. All the tables are significantly distanced, you order on your phone, and servers maintain distance until they need to serve you. Wonderful job! This is a great spot for all comfort levels! read more

If you want a chill, yet still regal night out, head to Calico and bring your phone as you'll want to document it all on social media. Here's why: 1) The location- It's in historic Blagden Alley, one of the coolest spots in all of Washington, DC. There are murals nearby and the bricks covering the alley alone make this a great place to photograph. 2) The set up- inside and out is set up like a fancy dining hall. The bar is so big there's seating inside AND outside. Outside are several wooden patios including one with a beautiful steel cage around it perfectly lit. 3) The food- the tomato pie is to die for as is the mac and cheese. What's not to die for are the roasted squash. It wasn't fully cooked and not so tasty. 4) The drinks- two words- adult juice pouches. They make their own cocktails in a sizeable juice pouch and it's perfect! If you want a place to host a large group for a birthday, this is one of the best options in the city! read more

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More than a 3, less than a 4. There are a few categories to review, but let's start with the most important, the food. We came here bc I saw the tomato pie and really, really wanted it. I have to say, it was wonderful and lived up to my expectation of what I thought it would taste like in the pictures. My bf thought it had a bit too much tomato and it was a bit too tangy, but it's a tomato pie and I didn't mind the tanginess. The mac n cheese was pretty good, too, also had a slight tanginess/spice to it, but it was SO heavy and dense that we had to take it home. The wedge salad skewer was just alright, nothing exciting or unique about it except some unpleasantly cold tomato and mozzarella balls included, and not enough dressing to infiltrate the lowest layers of lettuce. The drinks were nice - we got the hot toddy and spoonful of sugar, which kept us nice and warm and tipsy. Ok, now for the auxiliary details, secondary to food, but still important to the experience. First, they give you PLASTIC ware and paper plates. The plates were compostable, which is a little better, but how are you going to serve plastic ware in 2017 in one of the most socially aware cities in the world? Yeah, my tree-hugging behind didn't appreciate that one. Besides the fact of not being environmentally-friendly, it was so difficult to cut the wedge salad with this dinky, flimsy utensil. Which brings me to my next point that the plates were SO small. Kinda hard to eat off of, and once again, the salad was problematic bc the lettuce didn't even fit on the plate. Lastly, I can't tell you how bad the music was. It's like they put it on the Frat Rock station and called it a night. Again, not as important as the food, but a detail that adds to the experience. I like the concept of this place, and the food is decent with good drinks, I'd just change a few details to enhance the experience. It's in Blagden Alley, so it has to keep up. I think it'll be a great place to be in the warmer weather, so I hope it steps up its game by springtime. read more

Calico - Hot toddy in front, spoonful of sugar in the back - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here only for the drinks, so the review is going to be solely based on it. I was here on a Saturday afternoon, and the crowd was surprisingly small given how nice the weather was. definitely recommend this place if you want a backyard outdoor feel. My husband and I ordered the strawberry banana drink that was vodka based I believe and I got a fruit punch that was rum based. Very yummy drinks, although I probably could drink two max if you don't want to end up with a headache with all the sugar. I will have to come back to try their plates but definitely a good spot for day drinks, not sure if they play music or have a DJ during the evening. read more

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

This is really a cute bar with a great set up, both indoor and outdoor abd I especially love the lighting and art posted everywhere. We went on a Saturday night in January (it was surprisingly warm) for a friend's birthday. She works in DC and tends to know a lot of places in the area, unlike myself, but I'm always willing to try new places. We originally sat at the bar and they were able to grab a table after about 15 mins. We ordered the adult juice box, which wasn't bad,but not worth $12! My sister and I decided to split food and ordered the crab tots, which was good but could definitely be a lot! Being born and raised in Maryland, we requested more old Bay, which is was kind of lacking. We also ordered the meatloaf, which I was excited to try.About 5 mins later, the bartender came over and asked me what I wanted and when I told him we had ordered the meatloaf he said they were out. I said " I just ordered it with the other guy and he didn't mention that"...he says " I know, that's why I am".Kinda rude, but ok. So we went basic and ordered the Sam's burger. My sister and I were disappointed. It was nothing special. My friend ordered the brussel sprouts, which was probably the best thing I had. Overall, I give this place 3 stars because of the ambiance and layout and the creative adult juice boxes. However, the food is okay and nothing special. read more

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This is my go to place to grab drinks with friends. The ambiance is top notch, bistro lights, picnic tables, it's casual and cute! Their frozen pina coladas are to die for. Beware they are strong! read more

I've been here a few times and here's all I have to say Atmosphere: 5 stars Staff : 5 stars Food : 5 stars - good bar food that's vegetarian friendly (my fav is the Mac n cheese balls !) Drinks : 5 stars - the drinks are strong and taste great. Their cocktail menu is amazing ! Vibe : 5 stars - great for all types of people - great music and beautiful décor inside and out Come here !! read more

Less than basic, and the about it so over rated. Food was bad nothing special at all we ordered tomato pie which tasted like under cooked thick bread with canned pasta sauce on it and tater totes which obviously came from a frozen Costco bag. The drinks were very expensive even for a happy price and it was just bottom shelve wine. The bathrooms were dirty and the place is just a mess of extra whatever stuff picked up from gramma's attic I would never go there again. read more

Calico - Super cute wine glass - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I wish I would believed the reviews. TERRIBLY overpriced. I got a drop of Buffalo dip and a handful of chips for $11 Not worth more than $5. The adult juice pouch was $12 and we finished it in 3 sips. This place is not worth the money. It's cute with good ambiance but I don't want to pay for ambience. You also have to request to use the bathroom which is annoying. All the plates are disposable and they seemed to cheap out wherever they could so I could not in any way reason through the prices. GO ELSEWHERE. Unless you just like wasting money this isn't the best place. read more

Calico - My card holder in comparison to the adult caprisun. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Excellent summer vibe. Great small bites. Drinks were a bit strong, but nothing wrong with that. Great way to start an evening.