Super fun dive kind of bar with open mic nights! Food isn't bad, staff are funny and conversational and the musicians who are up there are awesome! I'd come back read more

On area of plenty of choice on food strip. Very pleasant staff. Football on Spanish language TV. Good beer choice and brunch good. The place has hidden Greek overtones. Slow service but food good but need to be patient. Soup is something special. Avgolemono soup is Greek soup with rice and chicken and is really good. read more

Marx Cafe - Big bar - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This used to be a welcoming place. It now wants no business other than for you buy drinks and leave. It's still ok at night if you only want drinks but do not go at all for brunch or in the evening for food. They used to be good for that too but the new owners don't like to deal with that stuff. They actively don't want diners and people who want to hang out and be social. For drinks on the menu they won't make them unless you come with your own mixers. There's many folks who have been coming there for years and it's clear the current owners would like them to go away. Which is distressing since these are the folks that kept this place alive in 2020. The general gist of the place is "get out". read more

This is a cozy, neighborhood spot. I love the variety of seating options with indoor seatings and outside tables for the warmer springs days. The service is attentive and the menu includes a wide range of cocktails, beers and wines. The food and wine leans heavily on options from Greece. I haven't had the food here but have met up with friends for drinks. I appreciate the casual atmosphere and it feels like a nice local hangout. This place is a wonderful spot for the neighborhood, often with music and comedy nights during the week. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Really fun with good food too. I went when the Maka Sticks performed and the vibes were INCREDIBLE. Still managed to get served with a stellar ska band performing. Definitely recommend especially if you like live music! read more

There is always good music on the weekends BLAZZ is playing from 10pm to midnight on Friday, July 18. read more

Loved the atmosphere of this place! The person who served us was so friendly and was quick in serving us. We had the hummus appetizer which tasted incredible along with a punch cocktail and highly recommend. read more

We had an excellent brunch. The food was delicious. Absolutely loved the avgolemeno soup! The service was good. They are very nice! It also looks like a fun place to hang at the bar and watch a soccer match. read more

Legitimately the worst food that I've ever had at a restaurant. I ordered the Greek Chicken Oregano and was served a hunk of tasteless chicken with a tiny sprinkling of herbs. My friend ordered a burger which was poorly cooked and seasoned. The service wasn't great either. When I give restaurant recommendations to people I tell them to actively avoid Marx Cafe. read more

I like Marx for a few reasons -- most importantly, it has a very friendly neighborhood vibe that isn't pretentious or trendy and makes you feel at home. It's kind of like a Mt Pleasant Cheers. The bartenders and owner are always happy to chat about whatever and are very friendly. It's also a great place to watch big televised events - from the Presidential debates to Obama's last speech - because they'll put up their projector, and people will cheer and comment. It's also a quite open place to all walks of life, and because it isn't in the hipster/uber expensive category, you can actually afford to go there. I also like the beer selection, from the Chimay and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA on tap to many others in the bottle. The food is hit or miss. The salmon is tasty, the fries are very good and crispy, some of the tapas (like the mushroom crostini) are quite nice. I would steer away from the burger or trout. They also have some special music and dance nights - 80s, latin dancing, and others where they clear out the tables. I haven't been there for those, but maybe one day. read more

I tried this place since it's close by. I didn't have high expectations for the food, but overall it was good. I would give it 4 stars because there were an insane amount of fruit flies everywhere and the place seemed dirty / unkept overall. We ordered tzatziki and pita bread for an appetizer, which was good. I ordered the fish and chips which were also good. Nothing really stands out about this place and I don't think I would go again. read more

Marx Cafe - Fish & Chips - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is a super cozy spot for drinks and live music! I came here last week with some friends and we really enjoyed it. It's located right on Mount Pleasant Street near popular spots like Elle and Beau Thai! The seating here is pretty cool because the dining tables are on an elevated platform across from the bar, which is a step down. I really liked how the bar was set up and the lighting made the whole place feel cozy and comfortable. There was a wide range of people which just shows how welcoming and loved this place is! We had dinner here, and I ordered the Grilled Chicken Chipotle sandwich and and a cup of the Afgolemono Soup. The sandwich was just alright, I couldn't really taste the chipotle mayo and it was a bit dry. On the other hand, the soup was SO flavorful and warmed me up after walking outside in the cold. The cup of it was so big too! There's so much more I want to try on this menu. We really enjoyed the talnted group of musicians who were playing that night! I had to leave before 11pm, but my friends stayed and said the music didn't stop until after midnight! This is a fun place for a Thursday night. The closest metro is Columbia Heights (yellow/green) and it's about a 9 minute walk from there to the cafe. I'll definitely be back for the atmosphere, music, and good food. read more

Had a wonderful brunch on Saturday. Ordered off the breakfast menu and they had Chimay on draft and soccer on the TV. Instant favorite of mine. Service was outstanding. read more

Great neighborhood spot for outdoors drinks and Greek food. Casual, low key, and has a decent amount of outdoor seating, some covered. There's also heat lamps when it's cold. Happy hour is a perfect time to pop in for cheap wines by the glass, delicious Greek apps, thin, hot fries, and good dog watching. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating area. read more

Don't trust these people, they added 10$ to my tip, when i had already tipped 20%. Check your receipts people.

If I could give 0... I would . Disgusting! So dirty and terrible service . I love MT Pleasant and when in DC I like to stop in the area for a drink . Well glad I ditched this place and went over to Haydee's !!! read more

The worst Mediterranean experience I've ever had in dc, omg idk where to begin. It was a delivery order, it didn't come with utensils when I clearly asked for them. Second, please just take a look at how the food are delivered in the box, every single dish I ordered was a disaster, they looked like they were cooked by someone who just learned cooking at home. Steak Crostini came with four pieces of small steaks with three pieces of baguettes and lettuce all over the place. Their bread for the hummus must've been from two different batches, because half of them are rock hard and half of them are soft. I believe the pictures are more self explanatory, just take a look at their Salmon Pesto for more than twenty bucks. Please be careful ahead of ordering from this place. read more

See all

I was here for a after wedding brunch. The menu we had was pancakes, salmon, and fruit. The salmon seemed a bit undercooked for sure but did have great flavor. I ordered a veggie wrap with French fries and that was pretty good! read more

Came here for happy hour. The HH is from 5-7pm. They have $4.50 beer, $4.00 wine, $3.50 rail drinks and 1/2 off small plates. The bartender was very nice and very kind. I would return. They do need a official form of ID if you'd like to drink. The food was good. The flaming cheese and calamari were the highlights. read more

See all

I give 4 stars just for being comfortable friendly bar. You walk in here and you will never feel stranger or alone in the city. The bartender welcomes you and as soon as your name is recognized (give your ID to him or say your name if he asks), you will be introduced to everyone (Friendly faces) at the bar. Then you know you are in for good time. You can just watch 80s or 90s movie playing against another TV playing NFL game.. or you can start talking to anyone sitting next to you.. or you can just talk to the bartender.. Food wasn't great (just one I had...) but maybe they have better ones on the menu. Small selections but good draft beer. Come by when you don't know what to do with yourself. PS: Monday: 1/2 priced bottle of wine and if you leave any, they let you take home leftover. Daily happy hour specials.. such as $2.50 PBR... and ask the bartender :) read more

Marx Cafe - Fried eggplant with yogurt and pita bread - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Marx is definitely a place that I can unequivocally call off beat. It is hip but not too hip. When I lived in this hood it used to be a Mexican place I think. But I am not totally sure about that. The decor is different, too. The beamed ceilings are made of a well-worn light wood. On the walls are posters of its namesake-- Karl Marx. Friday nights is the place to be at Marx cause they move out the dining tables and there is a DJ spinning tunes. One Friday night a month is reggae night to get your Rasta fix in, mon. read more

Marx Cafe - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a cute little neighborhood spot. It isn't a place I would go to impress a foodie with gourmet cuisine, but it is a good place to get a decent, satisfying, casual dinner at a reasonable price. Staff is friendly and relaxed, and the wine list is pretty good. I've been attending a shindig they call "Stormy Monday." It's a once a month live music night with a fun, bluesy ensemble that doesn't take itself too seriously, and the bar offers half-price wine bottles. Last time I was there, not expecting to, I ended up downing a bottle of old vine zin by myself so watch out. Many people rave about the sagynaki (sp?) but personally I'm a fan of the salmon a la greek, which comes in a unique, creamy ouzo sauce. Oh, also, I discovered after getting home (the evening of the whole bottle of wine incident) that one of my brand new, not cheap, handmade earrings was missing. I called the bar and the bartender not only remembered who I was and where I was sitting, he went and searched the ground for me and found it while he was on the phone with me. A++. read more

Who would have thought that cream cheese, crab meat, avocado, and eggs would be a good combination? I certainly never thought so until I ordered the crab omelette at Marx Cafe. I also love their hash browns, even though mine was very greasy. The coffee is also delicious and the service is great. The place is very narrow, so I felt like people sitting at the bar and at the table next to ours heard our entire conversation over brunch. I hear that they also host great happy hours and late nights. I would definitely come back. read more

Nice Mediterranean fare with attentive service. Appreciated that they let us order the dinner platter of mixed sauces and pita at lunch. Reasonable prices. read more

This little neighborhood place is worth checking out. You would never know looking at it from the street. We thought it was an Italian place, but the menu is more Greek than Italian. Inside its a little tight. But come after work hours, this place starts to hop with folks greeting each other and settling in at the bar. People meeting to talk non-work activities, friends visiting, and groups meeting up for business gather here for an easy place to meet and eat and drink. We decided to dine on wine and small plates. We tried the grilled octopus, lukaniko (sausage), grilled beef kebabs, sauteed shrimp, and steak crostini. Everything tasted really good and had nice Greek flavors. We really enjoyed out dinner at the neighborhood spot. read more

I have "passed through" here for years on the bus, always intrigued, yet never went in. Last night I found myself with some time inbetween buses in the next block, and dropped in; mostly out of curiousity. Cozy atmosphere, with friendly neighborhood vibe. On Sundays whiskey is $2 off, definitely a bargain. It was NOT an undersized pour either. The bartender told me about garlic soup, which I haven't had in MANY years. Delicous, and probably just the ticket on a cold night. Wound up sticking around for a while to watch the Nats game. Had a burger, which was nice, especially for $9, WITH a side of fries, which they even let me substitute vegetables for. The couple next to me was having salmon with pasts, which also looked nice. Genuinely friendly bartender was efficient, and had great suggestions. I left wondering why I had waited SO LONG to drop in, which I'll definitely be doing again. THANKS. read more

Met some friends for a late dinner here. I got the vegetarian wrap which came with fries. It was really good! Spinach tortilla wrapped around mixed veggies including avocado, lettuce, mushrooms, pepperoncini, and hummus. Our waitress was very attentive and we all had a good time. It's a cozy spot, with the right amount of noise for our outing. Appetizers are half off from 5-7 which looked like a great option. read more

My fvaorite restaurant in Mt Pleasant. The food is pricey, but super good. The ambiance is more dark, but it's Marx Cafe after all. Great small plates and they have hard cider (though, unfortunately, just Woodchuck in a bottle). read more

Totally enjoyed being greeted by Harris! Passes from Greece and really knows how to show service and hospitality tickets gas the food was very good and the service was great a quiet restaurant in a local neighborhood though I understand at 11 o'clock it turns into a nightclub read more

See all

I have been in here a couple of times, including my first night in the neighborhood. The service is always very personal, and the food is fine. I couldn't recommend them for brunch relative to the Marx's competitors, he menu is a bit basic for that, but it's great for a night out with friends, if you want some drinks from around the world, or if you're a soccer fan. read more

i love marx cafe. the coffee is so good. the bartender is hot in a scary way. what will she do to me? seems like it'll either be nothing or something i'll never recover from. 9/10 read more

Servers are nice as long as you order from the specials menu, guilty you over tips, and for ordering olives and pita bread. doubt Mr. Chef takes over 30mins to dish that out ‍‍ unless you're planning to order a full meal don't expect full gold standard customer service read more

Perfect spot for brunch on a rainy day. They have a excellent service and the place is cozy and welcoming. The selection of food is great. Excellent pancakes and eggs. read more

Marx Cafe - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service and diverse menu, definitely coming back! Ordered the dolmades and humans to start, the lemon sauce on top paired well with the meat stuffing and both were reasonably priced. Ambience was really cozy, I recommend trying it out! read more

This family owned business saved my life today . As a bus driver who suffers from high blood pressure, I reached the end of my route today and my pressure read 168/98. I presented at the restaurant and asked if they could spare any kind of vinegar to bring my blood pressure down . Without questions or requiring a purchase they gave me a glass o apple cider vinegar and I am so grateful for their life saving kindness! read more

I came to Marx Cafe for the first time for a little fundraiser for one of their bartenders who is running for DC's Shadow Senator as a Libertarian. A Libertarian working at a place called Marx Cafe? Oh the irony! Nice little bar though. Mt. Pleasant is one of my favorite parts of DC and cool, low key little places like this are a big part of the reason why. The crowd was pleasant and many of them seemed to know each other and many knew the bartender/Senate candidate. I only had a few beers, but they had several nice Belgians in bottles and half a dozen different things on tap, from a Yuengling to some higher-end stuff. There also seemed to be a lot of wine around, although I'm not much for wine. Definitely the kind of place I would hang out if I lived up here, despite being named after a commie. read more

Gotta love a bar with a sense of humor. I walk in. I look at the signs above the bar that have the specials written on them. I read down and see the words, "get your copy of Harry Potter here!... and a punch in the face" I thought it was hysterical! I know, I know, maybe to some that is blasphemy. I liked it. And thats my overall impression of this bar. Good neighborhood joint, friendly patrons, good music. I hear the food is good, too. Hip hip hooray for Marx Cafe! read more

The Mt. Pleasant neighborhood is so, well, pleasant! I can't wait for it to get warmer so I can walk around and explore it more in depth. This bar is pretty cool. The interior reminds me of a wine crate w/ its exposed stud walls and wood beam ceiling. Corks fill cases in the windows, continuing the wine theme. There is a bar on one side of a wood room divider and some booths and tables on the other side. We sat in a third little seating area next to the windows. It was actually really cold next to them, but that is to be expected. Only problem with this set up is there was no place to dance. They had a disco ball and a DJ, but absolutely no room to dance. Lame. Anyway the appetizers were great! Best bar food I have had in a long time. (We had calamari and spinach filled pastries). Drink prices were fair. It is just a cool little neighborhood bar in a cute little area. The only problem is accessibility. I guess it is really meant for nearby residents because the subway is kind of far away (not too bad, but far in that cold!) and parking is impossible. Come check it out if you are looking for an alternative to your usual night out. read more

You New Yorker's need to go back where you came from. Marx Cafe is an awesome neighborhood bar, where the staff makes every attempt to get to know each and every person who walks through the door. It is our own little Cheers, and if you Northerners don't like, quit complaining and go back to Brooklyn. Marx Cafe rocks, all the bartenders and servers are amazing. The atmosphere is always relaxed, welcoming, and wonderful. Manny and Will will always treat you like family, and the beers on tap are the greatest. I've yet to try much of the food, but Harris is a lovely Greek owner, and I have heard all the tapas are delightful and delicious. Marx Cafe will always feel like home to me, and I hope others will make it their own as well. read more

I have been to this place in the past for drinks and had an ok time. This past weekend I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop in for brunch. I realize this is not really a big place to go mid morning on a Saturday for breakfast food but they had a sign outside advertising it and I decided..what the heck and I must admit that I was a little disappointed. There was only one person working both the bar and the table area and you wouldn't think this would be a problem since there were only 10 people in the entire place. The bartender/waiter was not very attentive and seemed more interested in talking to the girl at the bar rather than taking our order. While the service was bad, when we finally did receive our omelets 30 minutes later they were very very tasty. Once the food was delivered the waiter never came back to our table and finally we decided to just go up to the bar to pay our check and leave. I will probably go back to the place again but just for drinks. read more