We still love this place. The atmosphere drinks and music are great but recent menu changes were disappointing. We liked the old one with more light snack sandwiches and selections. We couldn't find any thing we liked on this one and opted to leave early. Oh well. Maybe next time. read more

It's not as elusive as others speakeasys that I've been to, but all the same it was a great experience. The drink selection is less than PX for the printed menu, but they can make you whatever you want. The server was wonderful and I forgot her name already. I just remember it was a beautiful name. I like that they have food. We got the chips and salsa just for munchies. We def needed more salsa for the chip portion. Overall read more

Great place, such a lovely and creatice way to enter the bar. Tried several coctails and the brussels sprouts which was amazing! The staff was friendly and knowledgable, they prepared some new drinks based on our preferences, I was very impressed! read more

What? Seriously? OMG!! Ok so a few friends and me texted the number, and I won't give it all away but we got in last night. It was a great place and just a wow factor getting in. Captain Mike was awesome, great service and just an overall pleasant experience. The drinks are spot on, and the food is on the creative side. If you don't get in on the first try do try again another night. It's really worth it, I am glad I got in before the rest of the world discovers this hidden gem...pun intended. read more

I have wanted to try this place for a while and finally planned far enough ahead to have pre-dinner drinks there Saturday evening. I was not one bit disappointed. I chose the rhubarb cocktail, hubs had the old fashioned our friend had what will be my favorite-the honey bee or whatever it was called. For snacks we had the deviled eggs and Brussel sprouts- probably the best I have ever had. The next table had the pork belly which looked amazing it was served under a smoke filled glass dome -- next time!! read more

Excellent speakeasy feel with a quaint seating area. Servers pay good attention to the guests, and would highly recommend this as a good date spot. read more

My boyfriend and I had an awesome time at Captain Gregory's last Saturday night! We texted to see if we could snag a last minute reservation around 10 PM, and we were psyched when they texted back and said they had a cancellation. The drinks were on point--I got one with egg whites that really made the consistency, and then one with chocolate and cream that was a delicious dessert drink. My boyfriend got the 1000 swords drink--even though it was fiery, it was incredible. We were both really impressed with the chocolate caramel bread pudding, made with donuts as the base. Super sweet, but that's how I like it. Service and ambience were great, too. We will definitely be back. read more

I came here with 2 friends. It was really confusing pulling up to The Sugar Shack and not realizing where it was. After about 10 minutes and checking Yelp reviews we figured out how to knock and as the door slid open we realized it wasn't a typical bar. It is very dark and intimate. The music is nice (not to loud), when we went it wasn't super busy. The waiter was really nice and helpful. Donuts were on the menu and because we were celebrating my birthday he surprised us with 6 free donuts. It was fun to try several drinks but the reason for 4 stars was because they are expensive and you don't get very much (the ice cubes are huge). The appeal is that they are fresh ingredients and it is made on site the day of but again when you pay 14.00 a drink and have a few and aren't buzzed you need to go to the next place. I would totally go back. It is fun to tell friends about because it is an experience. I recommend it often and again the reason for 4 stars is based on the price and the fact that they expect you to pay to get a reservation. It's cool but not that cool because we all know things can happen and you shouldn't lose 25.00 (I think) a person because you weren't able to go. read more

The place is amazing, bartenders are talented, especially Doug. He crafted delicious cocktails for me and other guests at the bar on request, created something that wasn't on the menu just to make the customers happy. Must visit! read more

So I made reservations wanting to give this place 5 stars, especially since if I could give Sugar Shack 10 stars I would! However, I am just not able to do it, so onward with my review. Atmosphere: Really cool. It is truly a cozy and intimate little place. It is cool how you pull the flag and the door slides open. You come in and get a really cool vibe. The drinks: Meh. They were good, overpriced, but good. We only had one each though because there are a lot of places you can get really good drinks in Old Town and they weren't good enough to justify the price. The food: They need to fix this pretty quickly. The sandwiches were ok and the pickled sides were terrible. It was really hard to eat since you had to put the plate on your lap. Service: So so. Our waiter came around just to take orders. Never asked if we needed anything else and seemed pretty indifferent that we were there. That is a good and bad thing, but just not my vibe. Overall. Sugar Shack is an amazing addition to Old Town. I am glad we tried Captain Gregory's, but won't be coming back. read more

Top-Notch experience all around. Menu has a great choice of incredibly tasting drinks, I tried 6 in all and they were all fantastic and unique. Great place for a date, or just to go with a group of friends for a special night out. The captain knows his stuff! read more

The lighting has been improved since my first visit, so the menu is now readable without a flashlight. The drink I loved was no longer on the menu, but that's because they didn't have a ton of those ingredients left. They were able to whip up one for me, which I appreciated. Now my fav bar in Old Town! read more

We gave the chef a standing ovation. Seriously, for the brussel sprouts, he made the effort for two vegans and succeeded. The drinks were good and original and we loved the atmosphere. The only way they could have been nicer would have been to carry us on their shoulders singing a happy anniversary song but that's probably a bit much so no. read more

My favorite spot to have a tasty, interest cocktail with great service. Excellent place to relax with company.

For something different, this is the place. I would give 3.5 stars or more, , but the food needs a bit of work. The cocktails were creativeve and stong. And my sandwich was good (fig, bacon and brie) but the pickled sides were a bit much of a one note addition, even though they were all different. They need some different sides and to stray from the donut theme a bit. Still, for being the soft open, it's recommendable. Definitely a unique experience for the craft cocktail aficionado. read more

Absolutely loved this space. Was here last night (01/08) and had a great time. Great service, delicious drinks, and amazing food. Can't wait to come back. read more

The hidden door is easy enough to find & if you can't you've had too many. This narrow dark hallway of a bar/restaurant has tasty vittles, exemplary drinks & outstanding service. Oh, don't forget the donuts! Get a dozen for the inevitable late night munchies. read more

Went for my birthday surprise place for craft drinks & great lite faire veggie plates. Just delightful atmosphere, service, great food & yummy drinks. read more

Captain Gregory's is a great spot. Great food, great service. My concern is with management. The manager Meagan was really flustered had very few real answers. Honestly she was pretty nervous and awkward. Not a plus when explaining dishes or running a restaurant. I overheard her being pretty rude to her staff as well which turned me off. When I was told she was the manager on duty I was surprised to hear someone had actually put her in charge of something, especially a restaurant. Minus her, the place is really chill. read more

Too much fun and too many delicious cocktails for one tiny bar! Great atmosphere, expert bartenders. Love the speakeasy concept, and they do it so well. read more

Awesome experience, delicious cocktails, food bites were amazing (the warm donut hole things are just addictive). Great date spot, great for small groups. The 'where do I go' 'pull the flag' thing is just simply fun! It's pricey so definitely a special occasion type place! read more

So your friend, knowing you enjoy nicely crafted cocktails, invites you to the latest speakeasy. With the promise of experiencing some nicely crafted cocktails from bartenders who truly enjoy their craft, you gladly accept. A flag pull and secret passage later you end up transported into a dimly lit room masquerading as the hull of a ship. After your eyes and senses acclimate (barely), you and your friends huddle over the cocktail menu and the single source of light you could find. You do your best to decipher "the captain's originals" assured by the top notch spirits list and the host's assurance that all mixing components are handcrafted and made in house. You wonder about having your bones carried away by smoked pineapple juice or getting caught in a downpour of miso. The menu seems creative and the allure of the exotic ingredients is enticing. You make your selection and decide to pair them with "snacks" you assume have been selected to pair nicely with the craft cocktails. Your drinks arrive, you savor them, or at least you attempt to and then you try to reassure yourself. You tell your friends your drink is good, their's are good, and round and round everyone reassures (lies to) each other. The "snacks" arrive and it's a donut masquerading as something more but really just a donut, an over priced one at that, accompanied with soggy nuts. You tell yourself again the drinks are good, but in reality they're one dimensional. The promise of nicely balanced cocktails fades, overpowered by the same ingredients that enticed you in the first place. You realize all you taste is either smoke, rose, burnt sugar, or bacon and there is no subtlety. The other ingredients are nonexistent. The bartender and staff were nice and I hope they find the ingredient that can bring balance ... to their drinks. I would suggest staying away from at least the snacks if not the place entirely. If you like overpaying for complex sounding drinks that fail to deliver, while enjoying a donut at 4x (5x?) the mark up of where they are sourced, then this is your place. read more

Is this place a scam? It required putting down a cc to book and now that I need to change my reservation I have to call. However the number listed just rings and rings or I get an error message. read more

So, I know a lot of people say they don't write reviews--but I really mean it, I don't write many reviews. However, my experience here was so disappointing that I'm breaking my own habit. Not only does this place have amazing reviews, but I know people personally who come here often and raved about it. So, I made reservations--a little put off that they'd charge $25 per person if you're a no show, but fine I get it... it's a small place. I'm willing to let that slide. My friend and I get there 5 min before our reservation time, they said we're a little early but we'll seat you soon--I said no problem, we're still waiting on another person in our party to arrive anyways. The person gets there and it's nearly 15 min after our reservation time, it's getting crowded in the "waiting area" and all they keep telling everyone is we're getting our tables ready. There were multiple angry people in the waiting area. I'm keeping calm, I just want a good drink. They finally seat us after 25 minutes (!!!!) and give us complimentary liquors to try--nice touch. The decor is really cute--very impressed so far. We order our drinks. About 20 minutes later, my friends get their drinks (finally!!!) and the server tells me that they can't make my drink because they ran out of an ingredient. I said well what was the ingredient? If it was clove or something, I could do without. She had no idea what the ingredient was. I was a bit annoyed that 1) you don't know that and 2) you waited 20 minutes to tell me this. So, after awhile later I put in my drink order and I didn't get the drink for another 20-25 minutes. So, recap: it took 45 minutes to get a damn drink. Just 1. That's insane! She offered a $3 donut as a peace offering... but come on. You pay a pretty penny for the ambiance and service. If I wanted crappy service, I'd go to a crappy sports bar and not complain. We were there for over 2 hours with one drink between all of us--and I had to prompt her to give us the check. I just had such high expectations--and I was sorely disappointed. I've been to bars of this caliber and I've had great experiences. I won't be back here for a long time. If you're going to pay this kind of money for nice cocktails, I'd definitely look at other places unfortunately. read more

First time there tonight (with no reservation). Rang the bell and within a few minutes got a 40 minute seating. Only time for a couple of cocktails, but it was fantastic. From the bar service and ambiance, to the actual cocktails and the people hanging out, it was all great. Will definitely settle in here again when we can sit a bit longer and enjoy the full package. read more

It was really easy to get a reservation at Captain Gregory's and the drinks were fantastic. The bartenders were friendly and well versed in cocktails, but the ambiance of the place left a lot to be desired. We sat at the bar and the bar stools were hard metal. It smelled like someone had been burning incense in the place and I am not a fan of incense or any other air freshener type smells. When you reserve a spot there they tell you the rules - 2 hour maximum stay and $25 minimum tab. I am also not crazy about constraints imposed on what should be a relaxing and fun experience. I doubt I will return but it is only because of the ambiance, not because of the service or quality of the beverages. read more

Cool concept that's much needed in Alexandria however, drinks are insanely overpriced and average at best for the prices they charge. I don't mind paying $15+ for a good cocktail but definitely not worth it at Captain Gregory's - places like the gibson in DC are much better. Same can be said for the menu section which offers $12 donuts with sprinkles and icecream on top. This place is a bust. read more

Came here to celebrate a new job--and what a delicious celebration it was! Nice atmosphere, delicious drinks and food, and free donuts on Sunday. read more

We recently snagged a seating at Captain Gregory's on an evening out with friends. The reservation process was easy and the staff was able to accommodate our requested seating time. The space is small, but packs a big personality with a fun nautical themed decor. IT IS DARK! I think this must be pro forma for a speak easy, but it was so dark we had to pull out our phones in order to read the menu. The drink menu is full of craft drinks and a little complicated but the servers can point you in the right direction and are happy to answer questions. It was too dark to take pics or notes so I cannot remember the name of my drink although all the names continued the nautical theme. I had a drink that was similar to an old fashioned. I thought it was a good pour and sip-worthy (read: strong). We did not have any food there, but I will definitely be back to try some of small bites and imbibe again. We were unable to resist donuts when we left for the evening. Genius! read more

We tried this new speakeasy and we did like the service but that's the only positive thing I could say. I tried many of different drinks in the group, while I saw that they're trying to have the more exciting and unusual drinks, but there are just too many things going on and lacking balance.Same goes to the disappointing food selection. Who wants some kind of sweet and savory doughnut mutant to go with a nice cocktail? Not me... The nuts were the only thing without the sweet doughnut component. They were soft and, intentional or not, I don't appreciate soft nuts even when they are unlimited. The drinks were overpriced at $14, I've had much better drinks in NYC for less than that. The doughnut thing that we had was $12.99 for the dinky few bites of sweet dough and onion jam. It's just obnoxious to charge that kind of price for that (supposed to be some eclair with bacon, and no bacon is any of the bites). If you're thinking I'm just not that adventurous, I can tell you that I've eaten many things in my life all over the place, this is just not good. There's also a $20/person minimum. I guess it's easy to go over that with one drink and that way overpriced "food". I think they're trying to be exclusive for no reasons and charge you an arm and a leg for it. If you like to burn your money, go for it, otherwise, our group decided we can buy a nice bottle of whiskey and enjoy it at our own speakeasy! read more

WOW, what a great spot! I was torn on giving this review because I would hate for it to get so busy that we never are able to book a table again, but Captain Gregory's needs to be recognized. First off they advertise that they are a Speakeasy/Craft cocktail bar., and yes they are, but also so much more. Their cocktails are made with care , using the best ingredients. I want to give our server, Petra a shout out, she really took fine care of us. Just the type of serves you look for , informed, attentive and cooperative. We ordered several cocktails and they were all delicious. But the surprise was how umptious the small bits were. I say small bites, because they are served like tapas, arriving at your table as they are ready, one after another, we we shared for the three of us. One or two plates are certainly large enough to satisfy one person for a meal. The menu changes often for both cocktails, and plates, If you go soon you might be in luck to have the options we had. We first had the Baby Octopus, which was tender and flavorful, with a spectacular raisin jam. Next we had Carrots and Romanesco, who knew baby carrots could be rich and savory.. Then came the Wild Mushroom Risotto with sunchokes. Heavenly filled with little flavor bombs. Last but not least in any way was the Ham and Eggs. Oh my, we did not think the Chef could out do himself, but he did. This dish was totally unexpected, tasty, savory and the Tarragon sauce tied it all together. Just a joy with every mouthful. We would like to commend the staff but especially the Chef for a delectable evening. read more

Fun little hole in the wall. Great craft cocktails and really cool setting. Love that they take there time with each drink and they come out so beautiful. Try the pine wood smoked old fashioned especially if you enjoy bourbon. read more

So tickled this is in our neighborhood! The bartender Ryan served a delish concoction called Frank Incense. The The hostess and bartender were incredibly welcoming and just genuinely cool people minus the attitude. You'll feel like you are on One Eyed Willy's ship and miles away from a The Sugar Shack and Henry Street! read more

We were very excited to go for a first date in a long time since the baby was born. While there I was thinking about writing a review and had planned to give them 4 stars, but in the last 15 minutes they lost 2 more stars. First the drinks are really good and quite interesting. We asked what was on the cheese and charcuterie plate and it sounded good so we ordered it. When it came it didn't have the same items discussed and not even some of the items listed on the menu. We were having a good time so we just ate it and didn't think about it and wrote it off. It was pretty expensive though and in hindsight, I should have at least asked. That first drink must have made me happy enough not to care. The cheese plate took about 30 minutes to show up and by the time we finished it, we had been there almost 1 hour so we ordered a second drink and an order of their mac and cheese that the bartender said was fantastic. We told him we wanted to save room for desert as they sounded really interesting and good as well. It took over 45 minutes for the M&C to arrive and we ordered a third drink that we were going to have with our desert and when he delivered the drink he told us that we had to leave in a few minutes. That is what really bothered us. I know the 2 hour rule, but when they took 30 minutes for a cheese plate and over 45 minutes for M&C and then didn't mention anything until after delivering the 3rd drink, that was just annoying. No desert for us. We spent $162 and were rushed out of the place. I will have to think long and hard before I will go back again. Suggestion if you plan to go: Order all of your food the second you sit down so you will get to enjoy it before they kick you out of your chair. Or start with desert if you really want that... read more

Captain Gregory's was the first speakeasy we had ever been to, and we loved it from the first time we pulled that flag to gain entry into the mysterious secret bar located in the Sugar Shack donut shop. We tried it for the first time last summer and then went again with another couple back in the fall, and both times we thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm writing this now because having tried a couple other speakeasies in the area, there is no comparison to the fun we had at Captain Gregory's. The nautical decor (perfect for Alexandria), the dark, cozy, very small and intimate interior, the delicious craft cocktails, and innocuous music set the perfect mood. But most of all, the manager was incredibly personable, amusing and extremely knowledgeable about the mixology and chemistry of his drinks. We learned so much about combinations of liquors, herbs and other ingredients that we were easily enticed to try more than one drink. His enthusiasm and attentiveness was fantastic, which made the experience all the more special. We will definitely be going back here, and bringing our friends too, for those special evenings out. read more

I so wanted to like this place, but unfortunately it was such a disappointment. I got the very distinct sense that they were just trying to execute the standard speakeasy formulas: the secret door, the hidden knocker, the dimly lit interior, the "fancy" cocktails. Yet there's no real talent, skill, or hospitality put into this place. Our waitress was so rude and ungracious--I've truly never had worse service in a cocktail bar. The cocktails, while delicious, were also rather unspecial. Yes, they may have ingredients you've never heard of, but they certainly don't have the complexity to stand up to some of the truly great cocktail bars in our area. If you want a wonderful cocktail, save your money and go to PX or Southern Efficiency--they have talented bartenders plus a great front of house staff! read more