The ambiance is what you expect in a Hookah (Shisha) Lounge. music was all vibez…read more Our servant was nice and allowed us to stay after closing hours (4AM).

The Sky Lounge is a nice hookah lounge. Ambiance is great, and there is a lot of seating…read more Our hostess, Sara was wonderful and very insightful. They are fairly new so there was not a real food menu, however the Baklava and ice cream was wonderful. We've been assured of a new food menu next month!! Baba, the owner, really sweet! Looking forward to coming back!!

One of my new go-to spots in DC. 1831 bar is a hidden gem tucked away on the streets near Dupont…read morecircle. If you're walking past, there's a chance that you might miss it. I stumbled across the Yelp page and wanted to check it out. I was surprised by the food and drink options as they had interesting varieties. The chili momo and mango habanero wings were to die for, I would want to stop by just for dinner! I also enjoyed the Moscow mule, I believe I overheard the bartender saying they make their ginger beer in-house. They also have DJs that come through around 9pm on weekends and some weekdays. This is a fun place to hangout and enjoy the company of amazing servers, bartenders, and other people - I've never had anything but a great experience here!

Perfect low key bar for an after work happy hour drink. Exactly what I wanted in a place to just…read morepop in, sit at the bar, have a cheap drink, and not feel surrounded by pretentious DC types. This was great. Happy hour (3-7) offers beers ranging $1-3, wine $4-6, $7 margs, and I think a few other drink specials, but those options were good enough for me and I went with the wine. Service was a little slow at first, but the one bartender working was friendly and cheerful and doing her best to keep up with everyone until another two eventually showed up or came back from break. Atmosphere was really chill. I liked the dim lighting, everyone was casual and relaxed with a dj setting up in the corner, some hip hop and classic 00s rap bumping, and a steady flow of young-ish friend groups coming in for cheap beer around 5pm. I tried not to evesdrop on the couple next to me at the bar arguing, but their fight sort of added to the entertainment and general vibe. On the other side of me was an adorable couple unsuspectedly ordering fruity drinks and laughing. Totally will be back whenever the end of my work day brings me to this area.

Service was excellent and the food was delicious! My server was great the vibe was on point and…read moreeveryone was very friendly.

I have to say I'm surprised I enjoyed this place for dinner. I had heard it was a club so was…read moreconfused entering & seeing charming, classy decor and men dressed nicely. The game was on and the seat design faces the tv with rounded seats perfect for a date. The dinner menu was nice for my liking of options; the lamb chops were perfect and while the menu doesn't state clearly it comes with mashed potatoes & veggies which was perfect as I originally thought we had to order a la cart. He enjoyed the salmon meal. I loved that they offered tastes of their crab soup with a side of bread. It was my first time trying such a dish and it was delicious!!! I did find it interesting how every female waitress/hostess was the same shade of light-skin mixed with silky hair while the male hosts/servers/runners were of all looks. Lastly, if you'd like entertaining/worthy bottle service these ladies don't deliver. Lol it was the most pitiful sight to see--I feel bottle service should include high energy, body shaking rah rah enthusiasm. The bathroom was clean and smelled fresh which I appreciated. I'm not sure what was in the back & upstairs but they were loud upstairs for sure. When we left around 10pm there was a line wrapping the corner and they'd started removing tables inside. So, sounds like a cool place. Go, enjoy!

My first night in DC and this is exactly how you're supposed to start it…read more A friend brought me to Thurst for birthday weekend vibes, and from the moment I walked in, the energy felt intentional and warm. The purple neon lighting creates this sultry, intimate atmosphere without being overwhelming. It's the kind of place where you can actually connect, laugh, and still feel like you're outside living. The music was a vibe. Smooth R&B blended with some Jamaican flavor and nostalgic cuts that made the room feel alive. It wasn't chaotic; it was curated. The sound set the tone without overpowering the experience. What stood out most was how comfortable the space felt. Beautiful crowd, welcoming energy, and that perfect balance between lounge and nightlife. It's not just somewhere you go to be seen; it's somewhere you go to feel good. Perfect first stop for my DC weekend. I'd absolutely return.

If there is a gay men's bar, Imma pop up! This space is curated with Black gay men in mind and I'm…read morehere for it! Came here with my a couple of my homies for a quick drink and this place is too cute. Small but spacious, dimly lit but not eerie or creepy and the bartender is NOT shy with the pours. Music was some early 2k r&b (who doesnt love that?) and its just... vibey! I know sometimes men can feel a little put off by women being in their space, lesbian or not, which I completely understand, but we felt welcomed! Two gentlemen even offered for us to sit at their table - so sweet. Even the security guards were sweeties so I can definitely see myself returning on a random night.

The first time I came to Code Red was last summer, and I genuinely found myself counting down the…read moredays until I could return. Finally made it back - and it did not disappoint. This is such a perfect spot for either a date night or a fun night out with friends. The speakeasy vibe, the chic atmosphere, and the music (a smooth, chill house mix) all come together so effortlessly. Plus, being open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays is a huge bonus. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time - this place stays busy for a reason. From my previous visit, I remember having a ravioli dish, what I believe was a braised beef, and their sliders with duck fat fries - all of which were incredible and clearly memorable since I was thinking about them for months. The sliders paired with those fries were honestly a standout. This time around, we had to get the duck fat fries again, and they were just as phenomenal as I remembered. The cheesesteak oysters were easily a 10/10 - fresh, meaty, and honestly surprising coming from someone who used to not even like oysters. We also tried the grilled octopus, which was well-seasoned (as expected, slightly chewy), and the fried calamari, which was light, not heavy at all, and paired perfectly with the sauces. The tuna tartare was another standout - super fresh, soft, and practically melted in your mouth. For drinks, we went all in. The Dirty Diamond martini with blue cheese olives was great, though if you like your martinis extra filthy, I'd recommend specifying that. The Hemingway Special had a nice subtle sour kick, and the vanilla mint espresso martini was strong (you can definitely taste the alcohol) but still smooth and frothy. The Mary Pickford with Malibu was surprisingly delicious - almost like a mocktail. The Paloma was solid, and the Code Red cocktail gave me slight cosmopolitan vibes. But the real star was the dulce de leche espresso martini--absolutely unforgettable. What really ties everything together here is the service. The staff - from the hosts to the servers - are attentive, welcoming, and genuinely elevate the experience. Overall, Code Red is one of those places you keep coming back to. If you're looking for a stylish speakeasy atmosphere with great food, drinks, and energy, this is it.

Came to Code Red on a Wednesday evening and had a nice time. While Code Red isn't a true true…read morespeakeasy they do keep the speakeasy theme. You knock on the door and a bouncer lets you in. I think there's a password but its written on the sign out front and if you have a reservation don't worry! The space is beautiful! Well decorated and very atmospheric. Low lighting and live jazz on Wednesdays that was a little too loud for my liking as it was super difficult to talk over but otherwise pleasant. The drinks menu is a creative format and delivered as a newspaper with some history on the prohibition era as well as drinks popularized around that time and what said drinks are known for. What Code Red loses in innovative drinks it makes up for in a well crafted cocktail. Nothing fancy or frilly here just a solid list of mostly classic cocktails done right in a nice vibey setting. Prices are about on par with a standard cocktail in DC these days. Really enjoyed my time here! Perfect place for a date or girl's date. Overall friendly service and a really friendly bouncer. Definitely worth a visit for classics in a nice venue.

I was visiting some friends in DC and made reservations at the Penthouse with the purpose of eating…read moreoutside in their "igloos". It ended up being too hot for us to enjoy outside but the server was nice enough to move our large party indoors without a wait. I ordered the sangria and it was so fruity and refreshing. Where this place falls flat for me is the food. We went for brunch so I'm not sure what their lunch and dinner menu looked like but I had their chicken and waffles. Typically, I'm used to having this dish with just chicken on top of a waffle with a side of syrup that you can pour over. This dish was drenched with a sauce that wasn't syrup but still sort of sweet? It wasn't necessarily *bad*, it's just that I wasn't expecting it. I didn't end up finishing it and my friends weren't impressed with some of the other dishes. I will say though...that Harissa Shrimp? Give me 14 of them.

Another spot for pictures and aesthetics with bad service and mediocre food…read more On a busy night at the wharf, this was one of the few places I could drop in and sit at the bar. It took 10 minutes for the bartender to hand me a water and ask what I wanted (though he never gave me a menu). After ordering, no one checked on me until my plates were empty and drink was dry. I ordered the beet salad and truffle fries. The food was good but certainly not worth the price. I'm happy to pay good money but seeing the well done lamb chops beside me, I decided to go with a safe Girl Dinner. I won't be back, even if I need a cute spot for pictures with the girls. This spot isn't worth it, there are too many great places to eat in DC to settle

Came to check out brunch here. Online, it shows a la carte options - when we walked in, we were…read moretold it was a Buffet Brunch only, $30 per person. We decided to stay and check it out, @1pm on a Sunday. Brunch is from 11a-4pm. There was only 1 other person for brunch, when we arrived. There was a DJ was that playing super loud music. Mostly rap music. The food was good. Fresh salad, fruit, meats etc. Unlimited mimosas was $25 per person. We could only order 1 flavor at a time, which there was about 8 flavors. They were good By 3pm, the place was more so filling up. What was crazy was at 4pm, the workers started breaking down the buffet-- quickly!! A group that had arrived @ 3 were caught off guard that brunch was ending. The workers did provide everyone with TAKE HOME Boxes, so we filled our boxes as fast as they were breaking it down lol Hookah guy arrived, think it was a total of $68. The hookah was good Gratuity is automatically included. Our waitress was GREAT! Only thing I didn't like, the place had her walking around in a tight leopard body suit, with her arms out, like this was the Playboy mansion. It was cold in there. I would come back for brunch - just know, there was not a mention of a Buffet brunch online

I came to Throw Social for Howard's Graduate and Professional mixer during Homecoming week. The…read morevenue is on the 2nd floor of the Axe Throwing venue, and it is spacious. I love the cabanas they have for lounging and eating/drinking. Since the event was catered, I can't speak on the service too much, but the spread of food was impressive and delicious.

Friendly staff and good hookah. Decent spot to chill and puff away. Eats weren't bad eitherread more

Stay AWAY! I put a down payment on a private event with the owner of the lounge, Nate. As the event…read moretime grew nearer, Nate stopped responding to calls and text messages. He took the downpayment and then ghosted. Nate also posts fake reviews online--so don't deal with this place.

BLUF: Great view, ok…read morefood, bar area / hightops very busy. We arrived at 5:30 and almost all "dinner" tables were wide open, and stayed open during the 1 1/2 hour we were there, but we were told we would need to go to bar area since we didn't have a reservation. The view is spectacular. Sometimes you can even see guard walking on the White House roof! Food is good. Servings are decent and the flavor is fresh and inviting. Truffle fries are delicious! I especially love the freshly grated parmesan. Burgers are big & juicy... a little greasy would be my only complaint.

So let me start here: this place is the exact reason I despise going out in Washington, DC…read more Yesterday was a beautiful afternoon--perfect weather, everybody outside living their best life. And if you know DC, then you know rooftops are not rare. They are everywhere. So the real question becomes: what exactly makes your rooftop worth it? Because let me tell you--VUE Rooftop is not it. Now, I will give credit where it is due. The atmosphere was nice. It was busy (expected), crowded (also expected), but oddly... no music. No available seating. Again, not shocking for a day like that. Fine. I make my way to the bar. I order a vodka water. Let me be very clear--a Tito's and water. H2O. Not infused. Not blessed. Not life-changing. The bartender was actually great--friendly, accommodating, even went to the kitchen to grab cucumber for me. No complaints there. When he asked if I wanted to start a tab, I did what any rational adult does--I asked for the price first. He smiles politely and says, "With taxes and service charge, that'll be $33." I'm sorry... what? Please refer to the picture I posted because I need witnesses. Thirty-three dollars. For a 6 oz drink. Y'all, I wanted to cuss so bad, but I also wanted Yelp to keep this review up--so just imagine the words I'm choosing not to type. Absolutely not. NO. SIR. Close my tab immediately. I turn to my friends to share this nonsense, and my friend casually says, "I just paid $130 for three shots and a vodka tonic." At that point, we were not just shocked--we were offended. There is nothing--nothing--about this place that justifies those prices except the fact that it sits dead center in tourist territory. And they know it. And they are banking on it. Shame on them. Do yourself a favor: keep your coins. There are plenty of rooftops in DC with better vibes, actual music, available seating, and drinks that do not require a small financial commitment. This one? Hard pass.

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.

The bartender Chris accused me of being intoxicated because I was vibing to the music Saying that I…read morewas had my eyes closed at the bar when I was just feeling the music. Clearly he can't discern when a patron is intoxicated or not!!!!!! I do feel as though it was a level of discrimination as I only ordered water at the bar no drinks were ordered....and I had no drinks prior to arrival. Never assume from a distance someone's sobriety just because the clientele you serve normally is intoxicated