Let's face it: DC is full of a lot of pretentious assholes and entitled rich college kids, and it's tough to find cool places, especially if you're from out of town. Lyman's (and Columbia Heights in general) is an oasis for me. You can get a cheap can of beer, play some well-maintained pinball machines, and even get a half-decent bar snack. Decor is divey, but genuine, not one of those fake-ass contrived "look how shitty it is in here while you drink an overpriced, poorly made cocktail" type of situations. In terms of the staff, I've always found them to be totally fine. People who complain about the staff where prob acting the role of a drunk fool. At least that's always been my experience. Treat people cool and they'll treat you cool. Yes the guy that checks IDs at the door won't speak to you and seems annoyed that you are pulling him away from his book to do his job, but it just adds to the ambiance. This place is what it is and it's awesome. read more

I've been to Lyman's a few times with a friend who is the biggest fan of this place. I've always had a great time here. Very laid back atmosphere with great prices. It's nice to have hot, filling food while you're getting super boozy and I've made my way through a decent chunk of the menu. The griddled mac n cheese with a side salad is by far my favorite. Rich buttery, cheesy, crispy, and creamy pasta paired with fresh and tangy salad is a dream come true! The mixed drinks are made well and the boozy slushies are no joke! They are straight up ice-y booze, but if you want extra sweetness, just ask and they can stir in some simple syrup. Lots of nice bottles to choose from but the dirt cheap cans of ice cold Genesee seem to be my go-to in the warmer months. The real reason this bar won my heart--no, not the wall of pinball machines (although those are awesomely fun)--it's the popcorn. FREE POPCORN, with a toppings station! Sriracha butter, caramel sauce, Old Bay, OH MY, I could eat it until I explode, but my fear of being too obnoxious asking for thirds keeps me in check. Definitely a good place for a casual hangout with friends, I will be back again. read more

Lyman's Tavern - Whisky sour slushy with a rose float and a good ol Genesee - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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They're Still doing masks indoors... when I asked the guy at the door to explain the rules he told me to read the signs and refused to explain which offended my dyslexic dog. read more

My ideal kind of bar! I love that you can order at the bar rather than waiting for table service, and there's a decent amount of seating. Staff were super friendly, and prices are good. Great vibe overall - will definitely be coming here very frequently! read more

This is one of the coolest places to hang out in the city. As a neighborhood spot, a divey hang, or a pinball joint, you couldn't do much better than this. The most unique aspect is when you head over to the large sidewalk patio section, where they have seats up against the outer wall adjacent to the bar, so you are essentially sitting at the bar but you are outside. The bartenders are walking around with bars on both sides, inside and out. Why don't more places do this? Plus if you want to hang around inside, they have a bunch of great pinball options, most being 50 cents. T2, ghostbusters, avatar, judge dredd, oh baby. On the night we went, there were lots of people hanging around on sunday evening. Great dive. read more

Lyman's was not the bar that I imagined when my friends invited me for drinks at a divey bar. It was so much better than your run-of-the-mill dive bar. The bar is a one-room, no frills place with a rustic feel. They have solid albeit small draft and bottle selection. Though I stuck with my whiskey drinking from earlier in the night. Any place that serves gratis popcorn and gives me free reign over how much butter I can put on it is my drunk dream fulfilled. They've got a few other food selections for a small price like mac & cheese and grilled cheese...and a 14th street staple: pupusas. Gooey cheese and fried corn dough is pretty fantastic together so you can't really mess that up...next time, I'd ask for them to be grilled a little longer because I like a little char on them. There are a few pinball machines if you like to game while you sip brews or impress your lady by hip bumping your way to becoming a pinball wizard. read more

Lyman's is the neighbors' neighborhood bar. You'll quickly fall in love with this Petworth staple and start feeling like a local, even if you're visiting from out of town. The owners and the bartenders are first rate, fast, and fascinating if you get the chance to gab at them during a slow period. The bar has an extensive spirits list, and rotating draft list of choice craft beers. They also have basics like PBR and Budweiser, if that's really your game. Around 10 or so pinball machines at any given time that rotate in and out regularly so there's always something new to play. Games are 50-75 cents per play, depending on how new the game is. There's bar seating, a few high tops, and an outdoor smokers' patio. It definitely gets full on weekend evenings, so plan accordingly. read more

Don't go here expecting a high end cocktail lounge. Do go here expecting strange decorations, a solid yet affordable beer selection, and pinball. Lyman's was my go-to after work happy hour spot until I transferred jobs. (It's honestly the part I miss the most about that position.) Happy hour boats $2 PBR cans and free popcorn. There is an outside and inside area, sometimes connected by an open window. It's dark, loud, and perfectly gather your friends. The bartender has always been knowledgeable and willing to actually and honestly tell me if a beer is worth buying. Bonus: drink free on your birthday! read more

Came in on a saturday night. The place was busy but not overwhelming. There was plenty of tables open and a few seats at the bar. There was also pinball tables and other old timey paraphernalia. I particularly like the multiple jackolopes. The bartenders were pleasant and moved quickly. The drinks were strong and the place wasn't too overly expensive. I liked how the bar was dual sided so you could get drinks if you were inside or outside. But over all just another little hole in the wall bar. read more

Great pins, $3 pbr, free popcorn, great owner. Not sure what else you need from your local neighborhood spot. Pairs nicely with red derby next door read more

used to live across the street from here. sometimes come for a drink inside, grilled cheese when I brought my son, sometimes able to play some games or even a night cap. always a good experience. read more

I've gone quite a few times to this place. So I think I have a good sense of it Pros: Pinball machines, $2 draft PBR during happy hours, Jesse's dogs, cool patio, free popcorn and neat decor all over the place, Cons: Staff aren't exactly approachable or friendly. I'd say that's the main issue with this place. This is probably what has me going to the Red Derby more than this place. read more

Beware the dark knight pinball machine . He is greedy and loud and obnoxious and full of disappointment. With that being said he is much like most of my friends who I occasionally invite to Lyman's for a delicious Lyman dog covered in unknown ingredients for which I can never remember nor will i ever care to ask. Because it is delicious. read more

One of my favorite bars in D.C! Quirky and weird, this bar takes me back to Oakland, CA. You can't go wrong with the Sriracha butter sauce on their FREE popcorn. I recommend bringing quarters for the jukebox and pinball machine. read more

A classic beer oriented dive bar with a few pinball machines. Never had a bad time here and the vibes are laid back and unpretentious. Not swimming through a crowd of teeny boopers. read more

The cleanest of dive bars I've been to in awhile! I appreciated the laidback vibe and decor full of fun tchotchkes and old school pinball machines. I was there for a birthday celebration and we snagged a table and some popcorn to enjoy. Typical for most bars on a Saturday night, there was no table service for drinks, so we headed to the bar for our orders. Most beers on tap were under $6 (great for DC!) and the mixed drinks were strong. The three bartenders on duty were VERY attentive. For a busy Saturday night, I was impressed that I waited less than 1 minute for a drink EVERY TIME I approached the bar. Pro-tip: drinks are free (with some limits) on your birthday -- all night long. read more

Fantastic and fun, Wonderful neighborhood bar. Reasonable prices, easy bar food, pinball machines and, very laid back environment. The staff are very sweet and get to know you after only a few visits. Also, make sure to visit on your birthday, you can drink unlimited for free any drink $5 or less! read more

Best dive bar in DC! Staff is always super friendly and chill- the hog dogs are always delicious and a real value for the price. I make it a point to come here at least once a week and am never disappointed. read more

Let me start by saying I realize the exception doesn't prove the rule...so I'm sure most employees here are great...but I had a rude encounter with one waitress, which yielded this 2/5 star rating. Basically I was standing by the bar, waiting for a drink I ordered, when one of the waitresses came behind me- holding about 6 cups and a few other items she just cleared from tables. Upon seeing her, I moved out of the way (as best I could have in a crowed bar). She then walked past me and tried to place the dishes on the bar, but literally missed the bar top by about 4 inches. This caused several glasses to smash on the floor. She then looked at me and, acting as if I caused that to happen, screamed, "nice going". Let me point out that I was at least 3 feet from her (and 100% sober), but she acted as I knocked everything out of her hands. After the bartender gave me my drink, the waitress started telling several people that I was "unbelievable" for knocking things out of her hands and muttered other rude comments as I walked off. Maybe she had a bad day...maybe she's just rude. Either way, I won't be going back. read more

Very good food , great bar with lots of cocktails and beers .Very nice place with outside seating . Great owner , great line up of pinball machines all in good condition:) People in this place are also very nice :) read more

While I love the Red Derby, it's gotten pretty crowded. This serves its old niche, the laid-back neighborhood bar. The spot has a lot of interesting antique stuff around the walls, like an old camera collection and vintage beer cans, plus pinball games and Super Off-Road, the arcade game from the 90s. I probably spent $5 on it last time I went (and naturally chose ASS as my high score name, middle school style.) The place is planned out so that you can chat with friends but still get a beer easily -- the barstools are far apart so people don't hover over your back, and the little tables on the walls have small jukebox selectors so you can pick the jams without having to walk over to the main jukebox, and since they're on the wall you're separated enough from people standing. I haven't had the food yet, but the beer selection is good, with Long Trail, some local brews, and more. There always seems to be a diverse crowd too, surprising in a DC bar. read more

Have come here in the past and had a fine experience. Came here on my birthday the other evening and every single staff member was rude and unkind to us. Sadly, we are not inclined to go back anytime soon after being treated that way. read more

Pleasantly surprised by this place. A nice local unpretentious bar with a super friendly staff. The food is OK. Pinball and video games make it a bit more fun with friends. I've gone 3-4 times now and it has never been too crowded like Derby can get sometimes. The free sriacha butter popcorn is a kicker. In fact, one afternoon they even offered us free cotton candy! read more

Nice place to go for some beer liquor and pinball read more

Lyman's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here from San Diego to visit friends and play pinball. Saw this place on pinside.com. Great lineup! (TWD, STLE, AC/DC, AFM (colorDMD), Flight 2000, and Tron (LE mimic w/ cool mods). Met a few nice folks who like to flip including the local almighty CLN. Will definitely be back. The other cool place to flip in DC proper is Black Cat which is less than two miles south on 14th St NW. 6 pins there (WOZ, WW, TZ, WHO dunnit, STTNG, and Dr. Who). read more

The perfect neighborhood, no frills bar. Plus, free popcorn!

Thanks to Yelp! for helping me find this little gem! After Red Derby, we came here. I was excited about the pinball tables, and they had plenty. The booze was fairly cheap and the location is awesome. Food, I will see you next visit. read more

Great new neighborhood bar that is right next to the Red Derby (14th and Quincy). Unlike the Red Derby, Lyman's has several local beers on tap (yay!), as well as a full bar to back it up. There were no food offerings the first night; however, there was free popcorn. Rumor has it there will also be a limited bar menu at some point. While not completed, the north side of the bar opens out on to a soon-to-be patio, which will be a welcome addition on summer evenings. There is no roof deck, but the place makes up for it with a spacious bar and tables against the wall, where patrons can choose music from the jukebox. There are also arcade games, which require quarters. Change can be had from the bartender. This is not a fancy bar, nor is it a lounge. It is more of a neighborhood place, which feels comfortable and a nice place to slip down for a drink after work. The crowd inside is hipster and young, but not obnoxiously so. read more

Hot dogs & veggie dogs, whatever you like~! Staff is super cool, definitely a great new home bar. There's really great pinball machines too, if you play! read more

Lyman's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped in with some co-workers for dinner after visiting the zoo. I loved the ambiance of the place and the beer selection. The pinball machines won over the heart of my co-worker that used to work at an arcade. I got the special: buffalo sliders. They were typical sliders for a bar, but jazzed up a little with a blue cheese buffalo sauce. Very tasty. One co-worker got the Not So Baby Grilled Cheese, which is also served in slider form. There was cheese on the inside and outside! It looked super cheesy and she said it was delicious. If I ever find myself back here again, I'll order them. I agree with the other reviews that the bartenders are not super welcoming. I wasn't too offended by it because I've been to bars like that before. But for my non-bar-frequenting co-workers, I think they felt a little uncomfortable. read more

The first time I went there I liked it a lot. Decent food and an ok beer selection. I just returned from sitting outside, futilely waiting on a self-important bartender to decide if I was cool enough to be served. There was literally no one at the bar and he just sat there on his phone. Maybe he was hungover, maybe he just sucks, but when I left after sitting there for 15 minutes he didn't even look up. A new restaurant can lose a lot of business employing an apathetic dbag hipster as a bartender. read more

This is the type of local bar every neighborhood should have. It's not upscale, but it's not really a dive bar that you have to be worried for your safety to enter into either! LOL It has some great rock/metal music playing which is always a plus if a bar plays the same type of music I"m into since I feel like I belong. It has some cool features such as popcorn and frozen alcoholic slushies. The bartender was really cool and friendly. Their speciality seems to be whiskeys which they have a long list of. I'm not into whiskey, but luckily they have a full selection of other kinds of liquors as well as beer of course. They do have a food menu which I didn't try as I had dinner earlier somewhere else. The food looked pretty basic to me, hot dogs and sandwiches and such. It didn't really excite me but I guess you can't expect more from a bar. I probably wouldn't make a special trip to frequent this place, but if you are in the neighborhood for a night of bar or restaurant hopping I think you should definitely stop by. read more

Solid new spot in the hood. Located right next to the Red Derby, Lyman's is a great bar with local flavor. A good tap selection (including Oberon!) and $5 well drinks. Please consider adding grapefruit juice or fresh squeezed grapefruits for Salty Dogs/Greyhounds! I really love that the jukeboxes at the tables work! You hear your song almost right away. I can't even tell you how many times I've put $ in a jukebox and never hear my songs. This is refreshing, good eclectic mix of music too. Tons of pinball machines which I totally love. They also have popcorn with tons of seasonings to choose from. Personally enjoy the chipotle one. Once the patio is up and ready this place is going to be top notch. So excited for it! read more

I don't usually review bars but this place is what I call a fancy dive bar. Brand new but with everything designed to give it the old and worn look. Good beer selection and very reasonable prices. Last time I was there, the owner just gave my friend and some popcorn on the house just out pure hospitality. Yea if you like popcorn, there is lots of it with some unusual but good butter and spices combo accompanying it. I did see some people eating at the bar but I don't know if they serve it or you're allowed to bring it from the outside. I will investigate further. So it's a good bar if you don't want to go to red derby, it's a lot quieter and more spacious and is a great addition to the neighborhood. Good,clean and reasonably priced dive bar! read more

Lyman's beat my expectations. The open layout made it feel less crowded than it was, and the stools were comfortable. Their beer selection was solid, and while we didn't order any food, I liked the place for one outstanding reason: I can take anyone there. My friends that turn their noses up to anything less than a solid craft beer. My friends that wish they could still go to Chuck E Cheese to play arcade games. My friends that just want to have a good conversation. It appears that half of the bar serves the sidewalk seating outside, although I didn't see anyone using it the other night. Looks cool though. I'll be back. read more

Awesome, eclectic dive bar. I had fun just looking around the room and seeing the little kitschy collection items and other great randomness. I haven't played pinball in years, my friends and I had a ball! I can't wait to go back in the summer, the patio area looks fun. My friend had the bbq jackfruit tacos - I blinked and they were gone! She gave me a taste before the disappearing act - great vegetarian option... the texture of the jackfruit is comparable to pulled pork so essentially veggie bbq pulled pork tacos - delish! Chill, relaxed vibe. Affordable. Will be back! read more

I love that this place is right next to Red Derby, so if either are too crowded, you can just pop over to the other location! They've got pinball and great large drinks. What more can you ask for?! read more

If you wanna play a crap load of pinball you have come to the right place. Always a good crowd always open pinball machines. They had really good food here. It is always a great place for lunch. Good beers, good people, awesome atmosphere. read more

For the price of their draft beers during happy hour I give it a 5 stars. I like the way it's set up with indoor arcades n the outdoor patio Also u can never go wrong with a couple of beers n then getting a Lyman's hotdog A good ol fat juicy hotdog to eat on. No homo tho read more

Come to Lyman's for beer, free popcorn (with exciting toppings!) and endless fun at their pinball machines. This place is a gem in Petworth, just north of Columbia Heights. read more