What a nice divey spot! I met up with some friends for a birthday and this was one of our stops…read more There was a live band wrapping up, and I appreciate it that it wasn't too loud even though it was a smaller space. The staff were nice and they had quite a selection of beers. When I went to the bathroom, I noticed a beer pong towards the back, how cool is that??? If you're looking for divey vibes, there aren't many places where you can top this honestly. It's a good spot!

Nice & Easy is a fun dive bar with americana decor and good music. The pool table was also really…read morecool, and it made the night feel more like a hangout than just a bar stop. I got the Long Thailand Iced Tea and wow... it tasted like boba tea with that strong black tea flavor. Definitely recommend trying it. Drinks are solid and affordable. Bathrooms aren't great. But honestly, it to be expected for a place like this, it's still a good spot for a casual night out.

This was one of the best meals we have had!! We will return before our vacation is over with!…read more We had the chicken kabobs, lamb shawarma wrap, and kids burger. Everyone was pleased. Editing to add: we ended up eating here 3 times on vacation. Can you tell we loved it here! Highly recommend!

I came here with a friend on a random Friday. It used to be open somewhere else in dc although this…read moreis a new location. It was quite loud when we came in, probably because it was Friday night. The service was great though. They were prompt and open to change, as needed. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, my friend got the flatbread and we shared the cigars. Everything was outstanding. I would definitely come back here again for more items.

I booked reservations on line for two people Saturday 1:30 which was $15pp. the time slots after…read morethat were $17pp. We took a little longer then expected to find a parking spot so we arrived 10 mins late to our booking time. The staff was so nice they slid our time slot by 15 mins so we could keep to the 90min total duration. We were quickly taken to our bay and was provided instructions on logging in to the system and selecting the games etc. the games were sooo fun! It really showed our competitive spirit! There were lines on the ground denoting your level of expertise so it's customizable to your skill level. We order a few drinks which were delivered quickly and tasted fantastic! The decor and vibe was so awesome!! There was so much to see and surprises at every turn. No spoilers but check it out! Of course we will be back!!

We only popped in for a quick drink. I had the snapdragon and it was very good, a little on the…read moresweet side (I think due to the lychee) if you prefer sweeter tasting drinks. Really cute ambiance as well. Everyone was so nice and accommodating whilst in the middle of prepping for a private event.

Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

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!

Stopped by to grab a drink with a friend on a Tuesday evening after work and had a great time!…read moreTalked to the bartender about their happy hour specials and she led the way to a hibiscus margarita. So refreshing and so good! The ambiance was relaxed and fun on a week night. I would definitely come back again for a chill catch up chat.

This bar has been such a standout ever since it opened! I still remember their ginormous cocktail…read moremenu, but am still very happy with their offerings now. My go-to has been the Venezolana, which has a base of a dark rum and a combination of tropical fruit. Don't be fooled, however, this is not a fruity drink! I love the balance and it's always fun to see the fancy ice with the bar's name in the middle. Don't sleep on their snacks! My fav have been their chorizo empanadas. The black bean dip is also tasty. Aside from what I consume, I ALWAYS leave feeling good about the service. Their bartenders are skilled and aren't overbearing. They always answer any questions I have or provide recommendations to friends. A really great team over there and I'm glad it's close enough to grab a random drink here and there!

Chadol Korean BBQ was such a fun pick for our monthly dinner series! My friends and I had a great…read moretime and honestly left fullllll. For $45 per person, the all-you-can-eat experience feels like a really solid deal considering how many protein options and side dishes you get. They start you off with a variety of banchan (side dishes), including a salad with this super tasty dressing that had the perfect little spicy kick. For the BBQ, we kicked things off with the spicy bulgogi and butter garlic shrimp, while the others tried the pork belly (I don't eat pork). Later we ordered the steak, spicy brisket, and grilled squid, which were all delicious. The spicy brisket especially was a standout for me. The guys also ordered two rounds of fried dumplings that looked amazing, but since they contain pork, I had to sit those out. I'd love to see Chadol add a veggie dumpling option to the menu! As for the sides, the kimchi and cold glass noodles were both hits at our table, and of course we all added white rice. The "mashed potatoes" though? Definitely more like potato salad and unfortunately very bland. On the other hand, the cheese corn costs extra but is 1000% worth adding. For drinks, the guys enjoyed the Woody Old Fashioned while I had a mezcal margarita-style cocktail that was smoky and refreshing. We also ordered one of the chicken options but never received it and eventually just gave up on it. One of the coolest parts of the experience is the ordering system. Most meats are ordered directly from a machine at your table, and the food comes out quickly on this conveyor belt-style setup which was honestly so fun. Drinks and side dishes are ordered through the servers. The atmosphere was lively and energetic without feeling overwhelming. The restaurant is actually much larger inside than I expected, with a modern setup that works well for smaller groups. That said, I didn't really notice tables for larger parties, so I'm not sure how they accommodate groups bigger than 6 people. Service started off a little rough because our server wasn't very attentive, but after I called it out, he definitely stepped it up and things improved. Overall, Chadol was a really good experience and absolutely worth the price. The 1.5-hour seating limit makes sense too, both to keep things moving and give others a chance to enjoy the experience. I'd definitely go back!

I ate here around a year ago and reviewed them on google. The food is not good, service is slow,…read morefor some reason you can't order certain things with the tablet, and it's really easy to miss the little automated train thing that brings out your food. This place has negative reviews deleted on Google. Spend your money elsewhere, there's better Korean food in DC.

It was cute with a lot of florals and ambient lighting. We went on a jazz night when they had a…read morelive band. We got free wine with our tickets and sat on the patio for a while. I ordered the chicken tacos which is an app and my boyfriend for a seared tuna salad. I liked my tacos but he didn't love is salad. The dessert was soooo good. I could eat three of those. Our server was nice and checked on us. Gave recommendations when we asked.

My first visit to Ciel Social Club was such a good experience! I went during happy hour with…read morefriends and the entire vibe of the rooftop was amazing from start to finish. The views alone make you want to stay all night, especially as the sun starts to set over the city. We also got to enjoy live music from the band, which made the atmosphere feel even more fun and elevated. It was the perfect mix of great energy, good music, and a beautiful rooftop setting. For drinks, we tried the Blushing Orchard Martini, Capitol Blossom Fizz, and the Lavender Ginger Bloom -- all refreshing and well-crafted. For food, we ordered the East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, Beef Sliders, and Mediterranean Tacos. Everything came out fresh and flavorful.

Stopped into Bar Betsie for drinks and snacks and really liked the place. The whole bar has a cool…read moreretro vibe with neon, a disco ball, dark booths, and a long bar that was packed by the time we were there. We grabbed a couple drinks and ordered some snacks while we hung out. The soft pretzel with mustard was good, but the buffalo chicken dip with Cheetos was the winner. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top bar food that works after a couple drinks. The atmosphere is really what makes the place. It was busy and energetic without feeling like a club, and we could still sit, have a drink, and actually talk. Cool spot for cocktails, snacks, and hanging out for a while. Definitely somewhere we'd come back to.

I love the ambiance and service here. I've been a couple times and it's been very consistent. The…read moreinside is dark and moody with a fantastic playlist. I always leave with new songs on my playlist. It is on the smaller side so I wouldn't suggest for a huge group. But if you're looking to grab a cocktail with a few friends or by yourself I definitely recommend. I ordered the Gold Rush! The drink was perfectly sweet and a good intro to bourbon, which I typically don't drink. I can't remember the second drink I got but it was equally delicious. I will note my friend was not a fan of her dirty martini. Overall great experiences.

Very cool speakeasy type bar with skilled bartenders. They do fun themes such as house of the…read moredragon with smoke bubbles on the drinks. Good place for a one and done drink because they are very expensive... but it is DC so it's expected.

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.

Sooo Death & Co. D.C. was our choice after dinner to grab a couple of drinks and finish off our…read moredate night. Walking up, we weren't sure if we were in the right place, this was our first time in this alleyway. But it wouldn't be a cool speakeasy if it was easy to find. Walking up the stairs takes you to an enclosed rooftop area with a bar, but we decided to sit at the inside bar. I really liked the low-lit aesthetics, perfect for cozying up to your date. The specialty drinks were creative, but the bartender could also work with whatever your tastebuds were calling for. We truly enjoyed our time and the drinks we ordered.

We were here to get drinks and apps to kickstart our friend's birthday celebration. Unfortunately,…read morewe didn't have a reservation for that evening. Because the last time we were here, we could find a seat easily. So never thought about making a reservation. As we walked in, the place was packed. Lucky we got a table in the corner for an hour. One of us had to stand unfortunately. Drinks were great but felt overpriced. Food was delicious too. Fried potatoes and tartar is a must have. The service was great. Ambiance is amazing as well. Slightly on the darker side in the inside. They also have outdoor seating.