I need more of this place in my life. The plush velvet couches, the smell of the fireplace and rich…read morehues decorating from ceiling to floor... I imagine it's how Belle Watling would decorate if she was around today. The food is equally as rich and luxurious and the drinks list is extensive, but with a notable lack of mocktails. Would definitely head on up here again for a cozy bite to eat and if you understood my Gone With the Wind reference earlier we can be friends.

Incredibly nice staff in a uniquely decorated upstairs speakeasy type of lounge…read more Drinks were around $20-25. Mocktail options were limited. It's a great place to visit if you're in Union market.

Loved this place and the atmosphere. I'm a sucker for a speakeasy and the mirror fits my bill. The…read moredrinks are so delicious, you have to try the sunflower if you're okay with gin. The crowd is cool, it can get loud fast but it's diverse and no one's snobby or weird. Bartenders are cool and make their rounds to get everyone settled. Music is such a vibe that you don't mind the volume. Definitely will return, could also see it as a great after- date spot!

This is a cool spot. Entry is really cool and looks like prohibition speakeasy's of times gone…read morepast. Two HUGE bouncers inside who were policing everything to maintain the vibe. Husband couldn't read the menu, can't use your phone for that, he was leaning up against a wall, can't do that, finally snagged seats on a couch, feet off table. We had two drinks and enjoyed about 20 minutes in here and went off to find something to eat. Definitely work a stop if you are nearby or in the area. It's a cool experience. One thing og note: They do not really deviate from their limited menu of drinks. These bartenders are not like those of speakeasy's from other, larger cities I've been to. I don't drink alcohol at all, so, I tend to ask them to make me a mocktail. They didn't seem very inventive and only offered basically ginger beer in a cup for $14.

Very chill, not pretentious, good bartenders, plenty of seating, music is good, overall just a good…read morespot to land

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!

We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace…read morethemed cocktail with chocolate and cherry notes. Both were disappointing. The drinks tasted watered down and unbalanced. The banana flavor in mine was dull and overripe rather than fresh and vibrant. The smoke and fire presentation was nice, but the actual cocktails did not justify the $25 price point. The restroom was unacceptable. There was urine on the floor, a strong foul odor, and the surface was slippery. For a speakeasy positioning itself as upscale, this was a major miss. The space is very small and service was just okay. Overall, the concept has potential, but the execution did not meet expectations. I will not be returning.

Good cocktails. Killer Sally was refreshing but a bit too sweet for me. Old Fashioned Fireplace was…read moregreat, definitely chocolatey and coffee-y. I find Old Fashioned generally a bit too strong for me, but this one was very smooth and rich, and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely heavy though! Very crowded on a Friday night, around 6-7 pm (we were lucky to snag an empty table 10 minutes later). Good service, especially when it was so busy in the night.

Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

We came in on a busy Saturday early-evening for drinks before dinner. The back room was…read more"reserved", but we were told to sit back there, given the size of our group and we sat nowhere near the party that was in there. The bartender in that area was friendly, but unhelpful, directing us to use the front room's bartender, even though she wasn't busy when we approached and asked for a couple of drinks. The bartender in the main room was great, he was very friendly and once he started a tab for me he said I could use the other bar too, I guess he wasn't aware the bartender at that other bar already told me she wouldn't help me. Regardless, the drinks we had were decent. For small bites, they only had gold fish crackers, I wish they would have had more to nosh on while drinking. Overall, not a bad visit.

They raised my standard for martinis to the next level! The Dirty Martini came with a side of…read moreolives and an oyster, literally the perfect girl dinner. The atmosphere is very chic, and intimate. The drinks were fantastic and the food was great too! We got the Nori Chips & Halloumi fries to split which was perfect for 3 people.

Swanky bar with an amazing staff. The menu is a bit tortured…read moretrying to be creative - non craft cocktail aficionados may be a little turned off by the menu - but if you're looking for some serious creations you will not be disappointed. I was solo, so sat at the bar and Kara was my bartender - she could not have been nicer and was very patient and engaging helping me make some good selections. While the Checkpoint Charlie may not have been the most serious looking drink - it was exceptionally sophisticated.

This place is great! Entrance was tricky to find (around the corner and down the steps), but once I…read moredid, I was transported into a nice, quiet little spot. The drinks were so tasty and reasonable during happy hour! The service was great - fast, friendly, and the perfect amount of checking-in. This is a great place to meet up with a small group of friends to catch-up. We shared the deviled eggs and grilled cheese. Only complaint is that they won't divide the bill - like at all. The best they'd do is divide it evenly. I mean, if Perkins can do it, this place (with a premium on food and drink) can definitely do it. ‍ Still - I'll be back. Gotta work my way through that drink menu!

My coworkers and I originally planned to come here for a happy hour and ended up coming with a much…read morelarger group. There was a bit of a hiccup with the reservation and party size but they were able to accommodate us for a limited time in between reservations. The waitress was ok, she was a little unpleasant in some of her one on one customer service but I assume that because this bar is probably usually busy, that type of service goes unnoticed however it wasn't very busy when we were there. Regardless, the drinks were really good and the prices weren't unreasonable. The decor and atmosphere was really nice and lent itself well to being a speakeasy. I think this would be a great happy hour or even casual date spot. I'd come back in the future.

I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

Bar scene so sexy, you decided to add it permanently on your date night list! Come along as I…read morereview Death & Co DC!!!! Ambiance: from the outside you'd have no idea that a hidden treasure awaits you up a flight of stairs. The decor was very mysterious, perfectly dimmed, and sexy. They added greenery near the hostess station to create what I would describe as an exotic/jungle vibe. This area also contained a beautiful small bar and a few cozy seatings. Next, the hostess led us to a table inside where the magic of candles, cozy tables, and intimate booths immediately meets your eyes. Did I mention that we sat in most comfy green velvet chairs in our cozy booth? How sexy! Service: our waiter, Jordan, was the best! He provided great service and recommendations. However, shoutout to the rest of the staff because it was truly all hands on deck. Drinks: the bartender is indeed a mixologist! There is no question of the magic he created in a glass. Her drink- I ordered the Attractive Nuisance, an elevated spritz. The drink was perfectly balanced with flavors to include G.H. Mumm Champagne, Avua Prata Cachaca, Cocchi Americano, Saffron, Vanilla. I literally tasted all the flavors in the drink and the liquor ratio was just right. Of course I went with another round, you simply have to try it understand why I did. His drink: El Tiburón-Let's just say that he said that this is now one of his favorite cocktails because it was smooth! Small bites: the kitchen was out of mussels and their famous donuts so we decided to try the Franks en Crute, the sexy adult version of pigs in a blanket lol. Such a delicious treat, well balanced flavors giving both sweet (flaky puff pastry) and savory (well grilled wagyu beef). Definitely recommend. The music was perfect for the evening! The bar was filled with all matured folks enjoying their group meets or dates, the atmosphere welcomed all. As I stated earlier, this has now become a regular on the list and I'm excited to visit again.

If you're looking for a late night bite this is definitely the place! I remember there being a bit…read moreof a wait but that didn't bother me it was very busy. What my mom and I order was well worth the wait. The food was hot, fresh, and very flavorful. I highly recommend the beef noodles and jade dumplings. Another place that will always be on my list for visitors. If you're looking for a quiet/ spacious place this is not the place haha. It is an extremely loud and tight (at least on the weekends), which may not be ideal for wanting to converse with who you came with easily. There is outdoor seating but I'm not sure if that is less crowded, I didn't notice it until it was time to go.

Love this place! The menu is diverse, you can find something for everyone. The drinks are fabulous…read more I was in the mood for a mocktail and they just asked what my flavor profile was and made the drink accordingly. My one issue is that you can't make reservations in advance which can make planning more difficult.

I came in fully expecting to say that it's a fine cocktail bar in a neighborhood with much better…read moreoptions, but... The Dignitary served me one of the most nostalgic and lovely drinks I've ever had. I'm not going to claim that it will be five stars for everyone, but the No Doubt About It made me feel like a kid again, all the way down to the slightly undissolved clumps of cocoa powder in the hot chocolate. Add in a very adult dose of rye whiskey and a dash of creme de menthe, and you have a drink that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for as long as it's on the menu. Thank you for the alcoholic version of a warm hug on a day that I really needed it.

Had a "Holy Smokes" craft cocktail. It was awesome! The service was out of sight also!read more