Very cool vibe, excellent service and great drinks. I surprisingly enjoyed the fact that it was downstairs, it felt like we were escaping the crowds and the weather. read more

Despite its location in the heavily commercialized Chinatown neighborhood, Free State has the feel of a neighborhood bar. It is downstairs so avoids the hustled feel of Chinatown. They have a nice array of craft beers. read more

This spot is a hidden little gem. It's under ground and small but has great prices and a good selection of options. Bartender was super friendly and attentive. It felt like a classic "neighborhood bar" and I loved it. It's very close to the capitol one arena so a great place to pregame or postgame. :) read more

3.5 stars. The decor is fun and a little nautical. Good mix of bar seats, high top tables, a few small booths and tables tucked around the perimeter, and a few ledges to stand at. Happy hour until seven with $2 off drafts and local liquors. I tried one of the cocktails, which aren't discounted, and thought it was just ok. There's a serious emphasis on local with all their wines, drafts, and liquors, and they've got a lot of beers and a cider to sample. The bartenders were friendly and it's clear they've already got some loyal regulars. On a Wednesday at six they were pretty full despite being in a tucked away location so probably best not to descend with a giant group. read more

Great drinks, great atmosphere, and surprisingly, the crowd isn't crushing, even during the Caps games that are happening nearby. I'm not a DC local, but I visited here with a friend who is. The bar has a nautical theme that is fun but not cheesy. It's the kind of place I'd feel comfortable being either dressed casual or a little dressed up. Free State has a small variety of house cocktails. I had the Orange Crush and loved it. The drinks aren't cheap, but they are consistent with what you'll find in other DC bars. Overall, cool space that's great for hanging out with friends. read more

This little gem in the neighborhood just opened last week and I absolutely love it. We wanted to grab food at Bantam King (fav ramen spot, holler), but it was too packed so we decided to go somewhere else. As we were leaving, we saw a group of people (hipsters) walking downstairs from Bantam. "WHY ARE THEY WALKING DOWNSTAIRS? THERE IS NOTHING DOWNSTAIRS!"-we said. But after a little investigation (we followed them), to our surprise, we found a cozy, nautical theme Maryland bar! The space is open and the drinks are great! The selection of alcohol is all from the east coast (mainly DC, PA, Virginia, and Maryland (of course!)). Def a great neighborhood addition, especially for a cozy date night. I love it and will be back. read more

Fun place and great location. Cozy downstairs cocktail bar will mellow atmosphere and nice cocktails. If you want to sit and visit with friends and have a quality cocktail without shouting over music or a super noisy place this is it. Cocktail menu is a bit limited to other places, but this is not a hit as it allows for perfect creation of what they make. A neighbor repeat and friendly bar tenders. read more

The first time I came here was to grab a drink sit out the long wait time at Daikaya-Izakaya (which is right around the corner) - and it did not disappoint. Great cocktail menu and selection, and beers, wine, and cocktails are all $2 off during happy hour. Was disappointed by their "snacks" menu (which are literally just small snacks, like popcorn, trail mix, and jerky) and wish they had more of a food menu, but luckily there's great food in the surrounding area, including Bantam King right upstairs. Seating is a little limited, but if you can snag a cozy corner table, it's a great place to grab a drink with a friend or to go on date night. read more

Not easy to spot if you aren't looking for it. Located in basement below Bantam King (the former Burger King location). Large selection of locally made spirits. Watch your step when leaving as there a step down, before heading back up the stairs to street level. read more

Free State - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Gathered a group of friends together for happy hour last night at Free State Atlantic Bar and had a great time! The ambiance of the place is really nice - open, rustic, semi-dark, reasonably unpretentious. I appreciate a classy nautical theme and this place is no exception to that. The bar was pretty full but it didn't feel as crowded as some other bars in this area tend to feel during happy hour, so that was chill. I had the Orange Crush drink to start, which was really good. Tasted like orange soda! They have a pretty decent beer list, too, and I enjoyed my selections from that (Virginian IPA and Midnight Marauder). I appreciate the care with which they craft their beer list and cocktail/spirits menu, as it seems to keep to the theme of Maryland/Mid-Atlantic bar pretty well (then again the only places I've been in Maryland are Silver Spring and Baltimore, so maybe a native Marylander would disagree with me on that point). My only negatives would be: 1) I wish they served more bar food to munch on and fewer small, unsatisfactory snacks, and 2) it's kind of expensive. Well, scratch that - the prices are on par with other bars in this neighborhood; however, the happy hour deals weren't anything to write home about. Some beers/cocktails were not even included in the happy hour, but we didn't know that until we ordered them. My suggestion would be to make it more clear which drinks are included in the happy hour, and which ones are not. All in all, though, I had a really fun time here and I'm glad it's so close to my office! I can definitely see myself heading back here soon for a post-work drink with friends. read more

So excited to try out this Maryland Bar as I am native to Maryland. I'm giving this place 4 stars for the ambiance and the friendly bartenders but I should give this 2 stars for being a 'Maryland Bar.' It's more like a DMV bar since it offers beers and spirits from Virginia, Delaware, DC, and Maryland. Also a Maryland bar that doesn't have Natty Boh or any taps from Flying Dog?!? (At least so far!). I also thought being a Maryland bar I would see sports decor for the Oriole's, Ravens, or the Terps but nah, there was more of a rustic nautical theme (I'd rather go to Annapolis for a nautical theme). They do however have a decent draft list and only offer local snacks like Fisher's popcorn, Utz chips and Berger black & white cookies. I've been to some hood, legit Balmore bars in the Charm City and this place is far from it. It's a trendy, hipster, basement bar for 20 and 30 somethings. read more

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Watched the KC Chiefs beat the Houston Texans in 2020 NFL playoffs at this bar. I was in DC on business and glad I found this cool place . It's actually below ground level. The beer and wine selection is great. Lots of local brews available. Very friendly bar tender and good conversation with the locals. read more

Superb bar with local breweries highlighted and beers change frequently. Basement space and outdoor seating. Seasoned bar tenders and creative mixed drinks. Lite food that is again local like Jerk face Jersey. So glad they've reopened. read more

We stopped in for drinks on a Sunday night and ended up staying for dinner and trivia. Loved this spot - it was laid back, urban/nautical decor, plenty of nooks for seating, cool staff and clientele, and creative snack choices. Prices were normal - not super low but not high either. You can order food from Bantam King upstairs and bring it down (which you totally should). read more

I've been here for happy hour a few times. With so many spots in the area, this place is middle of the road. Drinks were okay and they don't serve food. read more

Popped in here because of the Passport Program (2-for-1 drinks over the season), and thought this was a neat little bar. It kind of feels like a dive because of their 90s movies on play and semi-kitschy nautical decor, but the crowd was as yuppie DC as ever. Relaxed place to catch up over beer. read more

Recommended this place by a local. We like craft cocktails it's a must-read spot. If you're on foot don't trust your phone's directions it is a little hard to find...but we'll worth it! read more

Free State - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Found his place with a group of co workers after a long day in D.C. We were meeting someone so it was already chosen. Have to go down steps to get in as it's in the basement. Once inside it's open with good size bar and. Numerous tables and high tops. No food except some snacks like popcorn, chips, trail mix etc. we were hungry so we wanted a bite so suggestion..... please add some food even a few sandwiches.... Beer was very good with a decent micro selection. It's a place where u can chill grab a good beer before heading out for diner read more

Cute place and convenient location for a happy hour after work. Low key and no frills. Friendly bartender, and it didn't get crowded around 6:30, though it was also a Monday. read more

Although we showed up 30 minutes prior to closing, they welcomed us with delicious adult beverages. read more

Free State - It's poppin! - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's a cute bar with reasonable price drinks. But it's packed with politicians wannabes. The bartender is cute which is a plus read more

Free State - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Interesting sort of dive bar area! It's pretty small but an interesting place to head to for happy hour/night out. I don't believe they have food either but they have a decent variety of drinks! read more

Drinks were certainly OK. Not the best bar I've been to, but definitely isn't bad. The only thing that really stuck out to me was the fact that I went on my first date with my ex husband here. Slightly better than mediocre. read more

Cozy and convenient spot with great beers and frozen drinks on tap. We were trying to visit a wine bar around the corner that was closed without notice, and are glad we found this spot! A new favorite in DC. read more

The only reason I didn't go flat out five stars is because of the lack of sustenance to go along with the fine drinks. This place specializes in Maryland themed beer, wine and cocktails, with a special emphasis seemingly on the Eastern shore and crabcake territory of Salisbury, St. Mary's etc. The Jack's with vodka, sprite and orange juice comes in a nice tall glass and goes down very easy. Because free state has no kitchen, the only food to eat are potato chips, cookies etc.-packaged food. The staff are all very chill and friendly and the vibe in this tiny tucked away nook of tranquility is very positive. Strongly endorse a visit. read more

Wonderful service. Great conversation with bartender. $2.00 off happy hour so we tipped 25% to ensure a good & fair gratuity. Will definitely return when we visit D.C next! read more

Great service, good vibes. I wish they had a kitchen to serve hot food items, but at least they do offer some snacks like beer jerky and cookies. Good HH spot. read more

Such a Hidden Gem and located underground. Came here after an event to finish off the evening with more drinks and this couldn't have been a better place to be. This place has the MD nautical theme and is quite a bar. Friendly folks, chill environment, and it might just become a normal place for me to meet friends for drinks. 5 stars. read more

The blonde bartender at this bar is horrible. I cannot find an explanation for how we were treated. Me and my brother from Mexico came into this bar to have a drink, this was our second drink and he was barred from getting a third. When I went to ask why he was barred, the girl bartender threw my drink into the drain (this was my first drink) and said she had all the right to do whatever she wanted- she did it right in front of my face and just looked at me and said she could do whatever she wanted. I have never written a review on yelp before but I have never felt so offended before! My night ended in tears- and honestly me and my brother had two drinks! My husband and his friend had about 4 drinks - no one barred them from anything. None of my friends or I got a decent explanation for what happened and why she was being like that to us. read more

This place is a total hidden gem. Just steps away from the Verizon Center, this basement bar under Bantam King is one of Chinatown's new best kept secrets. The ambiance, service and emphasis on local beers and spirits won my heart over. They have a decent happy hour ($2 off of drafts I believe from 4-7pm) and TVs to sit at the bar and enjoy a game. I liked that the bar wasn't packed and that you could have an intimate conversation here without being bumped into or spilled on like some of the Chinatown bars during happy hour. All in all, definitely enjoyed my time here and looking forward to visiting again soon to try some more of their beers! read more

Matt was so nice. Great ambiance with some fancy, shmancy drinks. Stuck to ciders, but really liked that I could try testers for $4! :)

Drinks taste like mold. My friends order was mostly ice and I'm surprised it's so expensive. The bouncer is really aggressive and said the manager is too busy to address any customer issues so if you trip fall or die in this basement bar Good Luck!!! They don't really have a menu for food as an option. The ambience is very "boring old man." I recommend taking a few steps more and going Bar Deco. read more

Paper straws that look like candy canes and pixie sticks, great bartenders, good happy hour, and jerky. What else do you need? .... ramen.

I was expecting a Maryland themed bar, and all I got was an Evolution ale. Extremely disappointed overall. They don't even sell Natty Boh here! There are so many other places in the area. You can skip this place. read more

After hitting up Bar Deco and Penn Commons, the clear winner was Free State! Our bartender was so friendly and just pleasant to be around. There was a great group of patrons and their mixed drinks were high class. How do you improve? Have a ramen shop right above you that delivers! Oh, wait... they have that too. read more

Find yourself tucked away under the hustle &a bustle of Gallery Place and sneak into Free State. An easy to miss exterior, Free State's entrance is a hidden stairwell beneath the epic chicken ramen shop Bantam King (brother of Daikaya). At Free State you'll find craft brews and beautiful concocted cocktails from an inviting staff. Whether you're poppin in before the game, for the game, or after...or to spit some game (boys)...Free State is the spot for all of the above. Even on wild day like the Stanley Cup or NBA Championship, there's almost always room to meander and mingle. read more

Cute little bar downstairs. Drinks that Matt made were outstanding! They don't have food but we were able to watch a football game there so we ate after. Jasmine was so helpful recommending some awesome local restaurants. read more

Overall a pretty cool bar. Has a very chill vibe, not over loud for happy hour. The bartender was able to answer my questions. The happy hour items are in red. HH 4-7 Monday through Friday. I got the A Man About Town, which was a negroni made with rum. Great cocktail! read more

Free State - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Chinatown, but underground. Hipster bearded waiters and high pitched ladies in suits. High ceilings and good feelings. Happy hours and something that rhymes with hours! You see where I'm going here? No, it's called parallelism!!! Google it! Then, go to this bar! Surrounded on all sides by chain restaurants or reservation-required eateries, there's finally another solid addition to the 'normal' bar sceene in Chinatown. Given their (probable) high rent cost, the prices aren't cheap, but the feeling of the bar is....in a good way. Cement floors, simple designed bar, with a bit of nautical flare, this place feels unpretentious without feeling divy. With a full bar, and a mixologist-touched menu, guys who look like a Brawny advert will shake rattle and roll the hell out of a precision cocktail (their happy hour Negroni is bomb.com) but also pour you a beer like a boss! The space feels oddly open for being in a basement........ under a chicken joint, and the atmosphere is both laid back (find a booth with a few friends and sip the night away) but also lively with a large ocrowd of (probably GAO) government types laughing and spending their meager earnings away durring Happy Hour. The crowed drops off quickly after HH ends, but deff bring a crew here pre-post event at Verizon Center, or on a too hot/cold HH to knock a few back, trade tattoo stories with the bartender and swap cards with the clientele!! Soooo D.C.!!! read more

Quick stop here but a warm welcome from the bartenders who were incredibly attentive, and delicious cocktails. Will for sure be back!