Dear reader, Maxwell Park is exactly the sort of charming little wine bar that makes an ordinary evening feel rather more sophisticated than it had any right to be. The wine list is enormous, with plenty of options whether you know exactly what you like or prefer to experiment a bit. During our visit, they were running a back-to-school theme with clever head-to-head comparisons of similar wines. You could order half glasses of each and taste them side by side, which made the whole experience feel fun, approachable, and slightly educational without becoming terribly serious about it. There is a good amount of seating inside, plus a lovely patio with fire pits that makes lingering especially tempting. The food menu is equally flexible, ranging from simple chips for snacking to a full burger for dinner, with more indulgent options like caviar and Champagne if the evening calls for a little grandeur. Everyone was incredibly nice, and we had such a relaxed, enjoyable time. A wonderful spot for wine, conversation, and a proper little hangout. read more

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This place has been here forever, and I have walked by it so many times. A friend finally invited me out and it was such a blast! Every wine I tried was something totally new. They were on the tail end of their winter menu, and the sparkling wine that my friend was super excited about was phased out. But I just told the staff what kind of wine I was in the mood for and they chose something wonderful for me. I took pictures of the bottles, I'll track those down and post them later. I'm glad I managed to find red and white wines that I enjoyed. I also noticed that they had a crunchwrap on their menu and I had to try it. It was smaller than I thought, but the flavors going on?? Spectacular. There will also these dumplings... SWEET POTATO DUMPLINGS! And they had sage and candied walnuts. Ultimately they tasted more like a dessert, but I was obsessed with those and loved how unique they were. I'd return here, there's just too much good stuff to try! Can get pricey if you want to try a lot of wines, though. read more

I only give one stars to places I won't return to. Someone said a year ago the portion sizes were laughable and I found out last night nothing changed. One meat and one cheese is $7 each. I don't eat much and felt like a snack. When I got my cheeseboard, I got 1 slice of cheese and 3 thin slices of meat. Not even full slices, they were shaved and tapered off at the end. They charged me $18. I guarantee the entire block of cheese was probably $7-9. I eat a lot of charcuterie and that was by far the smallest portion I've ever received. I didn't feel for wine after that. They have a very small cozy place that's probably more enjoyable buzzed off wine. Maybe the review would've been outstanding if I came for wine. But if the quality and service doesn't match on the other items on the menu ... just remove them read more

Maxwell Park - Charcuterie - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lovely place for a drink! I decided to get an old fashioned which was quite good! Also ordered the burrata which was delicious! Service was very friendly and quick! read more

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My girlfriends and I had an absolute blast here on a Saturday night! We enjoyed splitting a bottle and great recommendations by our server, can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! read more

Maxwell Park - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't go to wine bars often; I'm more of a beer and cocktail guy. I visited Maxwell Park for Lambrusco Week because I really like sparkling reds. The wine was good, the food disappointing, and the service okay. I visited on a Sunday at opening, 3 PM with a group of four. The place was pretty quiet. The outside patio filled in by about 5 PM but inside was still mostly empty (only two other people). I like the decor. It's a pretty minimal space with a large bar, a few high tops, one banquette and some fun wine art on the wall. I had a flight of three wines ($18 for three 2.5oz pours). The pours were decent size. I left it to the staff to pick interesting ones. I enjoyed the wines. I learned that you can have non-red lambruscos. We got some snacks -- a meat and two cheeses for $7 each. The portions were laughable. One cheese was a single tiny piece. The salami had three slices. Real disappointing. Service was friendly and sort of helpful. We ordered three flights of wine (one person wasn't drinking) but they poured us four flights. We just distributed the extra glasses, no big deal, but still a misstep. They ran through descriptions for every wine but since we had 10 different wines it was hard to absorb everything. Some written descriptions on the menu would be helpful. I would have liked more "beginner-level" info. Or, a more guided wine tasting, since they place wasn't very busy. I was interested in their Lambrusco Masterclass they hosted last weekend, but their website didn't have any details about what it included for $60++ so I didn't take a chance on it. They should give more info online. read more

Maxwell Park - $21 for a pretty small and sad cheese/meat board - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A fantastic neighborhood wine bar! I had my 40th birthday party here, and it was perfect. The staff is super friendly, the ambiance is beautiful, really fun vibe, excellent wine selection, and their burger is killer! Everyone had a fantastic time and raved about the venue. 10/10! read more

Came here to meet up with a few friends. It was busy for a spring Friday evening but the service was great. The staff got us to a table as soon as one opened up and recommended wines for us based on what we said we all liked. Their recs were spot on for our group. We decided to order some bites to eat and recommend the burrata and burger! read more

Love this spot! Stopped in the other night for drinks and their selection didn't disappoint. The staff was super knowledgeable with great recommendations based on the slimmest of details about likes. Quiet. The definition of chill vibe. read more

Had been wanting to try this place for the longest time and finally made it. It was pouring rain out and yet the place had a steady stream of people. I was extremely impressed with the knowledge of the bartenders. Although little confused because they really act interchangeably. We loved the two bottles we chose after much conversation with the bartenders- a Nero d'avolo from Sicily and a Sancerre. We tried and split a lot of food but I didn't get all the pictures. We started with the charcuterie board with two meats and a grilled cheese sandwich. The board presentation was lovely with a little mustard, 2 cracker-ish bread, and baby gherkins on a marble slab. The grilled cheese was not as crispy as I like but still tasted delicious. Loved the burger!!! The pistachio toast was also very good. I will definitely return. read more

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Great location by the convention center. Bartenders very knowledgeable about any and all their wines. The pimento cheese is wonderful with a huge serving. Wonderful bar area with great music. read more

Maxwell Park - Pimento cheese - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

WHEW such a gorgeous wine bar!!! My friend and I sat in the outdoor patio area, which was little by gorgeous little fireplaces everywhere. My friend ordered a white wine, and unfortunately, her ordered was misheard and swapped out for one twice the price (which was still delicious!), but it was unfortunate when the wait staff refused to budge when the mistake was addressed. Nonetheless, still a great spot for a date night! read more

Maxwell Park - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Obviously I had to do an updated review for Lambrusco Week! If you aren't coming for their themed weeks, you're missing out. As I noted before, the staff is super knowledgeable and tastings are the best way to go to find a wine you love. I left with 5 bottles last night read more

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The bartender was super attentive and very descriptive when helping us choose wines. He also assisted us in matching our wines to our chosen food items! We loved our wines and there was quite a selection to choose from - almost overwhelming so use your bartender or server to help you narrow down what you're looking for. We got the truffle grilled cheese with chips (excellent, very cheesy), the fresh burrata dish (wish there was more bread to scoop up the tomato jam) and the crunch wrap supreme (a spin on Taco Bell but more savory). Ambiance is dark, so may be hard to see your menus if you're inside. The outdoor area was full so we grabbed bar seats instead, but it looked super comfy and inviting - hopefully we can try that out sometime! read more

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Tourists staying at a nearby Vrbo. Great service, great wine! And beer for my honey. So glad we stumbled upon this gem. read more

This is my favorite wine bar in DC. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. They give great recommendations even if you just describe what types of wines you usually like. And there's always unique wine options to try that can be harder to find. The food is good too! I had the ricotta honey toast last weekend, and it was delicious! I've never needed a reservation here, but I suppose if you came with a larger group you may want one. They have indoor and outdoor seating (and I believe I even saw bug spray on the table for those sitting outside, which is a nice touch). read more

Just came here for a night cap. It was nice outside so we wanted to sit outside by one of the fire pits. The wine selection is great and rotates monthly. Definitely a great spot to check out, whether you're a wine lover or you're a beginning just starting to learn about wine! read more

Maxwell Park - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've passed by Maxwell Park for decades but finally made it here in a Sunday afternoon for girl chat. Maxwell Park far exceed my expectations. Upon entering, I was promptly greeted and given the option to sit on the patio or in their large but cozy booth. Kevin was our server and he truly made my Maxwell experience. Kevin had a wealth of knowledge about all of the wine options and provided some great recommendations. Although I am not a bit drinker, it was nice to know they have zero proof options, and I recommended of my favorite alcohol free bottles. Overall, Maxwell is a perfect intimate spot for catching up with friends and/or expanding your wine pallet. read more

Maxwell Park - Phony Negroni - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome wine bar that was packed the night I came here. The wine selection and cheese board were both great. I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Maxwell Park - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love this wine bar so much when I worked at Convivial this was my local Watering hole. They deserve all of the recognition. They have a great rotating list and the fire pit seating out front is a nice touch. This spot never gets old read more

Since they opened 7 years ago I have passed by so many times and have always wanted to come here so I suggested it for girls night and came here with a group of 7. Their selection of wines is a bit esoteric, nothing I had heard of. Their prices even for a half glass seemed extremely expensive. Ambiance is dark and its a QR menu type of place. I got the truffle grilled cheese with chips which was delicious! The bathroom is big and spacious, unfortunately they have a lid for the trash can so everyone just put their paper towels on top which just looked dirty. Sitting outside at night on the last warm day of the summer was perfect weather. The table had two bottles of bug spray on it so that was my cue to spray my legs. I'm glad they offered that! Unfortunately I guess I only sprayed lightly like perfume, because the next day I discovered many large bites on my legs! Also we saw two rats running around the whole evening just outside the seating area. read more

I've been here a couple of times now and I'm impressed every time. The first time was with a large group of friends. We were overwhelmed by the wine selection. Based on like two descriptors each, our server confidently said he knew what each of us would like. Shockingly, he was spot on with each and every one of us. I then went again for a German wine tasting event yesterday. It was packed so it was hard to get spots at the different counters, but we made it to all of them! It was a well run event but I do wish it was slightly less crowded with about ten fewer people. I know I'll be back! read more

Maxwell Park - The German wines I got from the tasting event - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cozy wine bar with exquisite selection. Service is excellent and will be back again soon!!!

Came here for an after dinner drink and had a wonderful experience. The interior was a nice respite from the cold, windy weather outside. We weren't sure which wine we wanted to sample, so the helpful staff member walked us thru a couple and let us try different ones until we found the one we liked (and then we proceeded to buy 2 bottles of it). The wine was delicious and the interior was super cozy (great spot for date night!). The exterior patio was enclosed for the winter with fire pits roaring. The staff was super friendly and the wine was reasonably priced. read more

Maxwell Park - a bottle of wine and a glass of wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was really good, and the service was even better! I highly recommend this place, especially if you're a grilled cheese fan. Those that know me know I love myself a good grilled cheese and this may be my favorite! Their truffle grilled cheese is absolutely exceptional!! read more

Was in town for a work meeting & we wanted to find a place for some shareable food & wine. Maxwell Park did not disappoint! We sat outside around one of the fire pits & ended up having entirely more wine than originally planned The staff were so pleasant and fun, and the food was tasty. It is a great place if you just want to hang with friends. read more

Absolutely love this Maxwell in Shaw. The atmosphere is great, the drinks are good and the food is great. Best grilled cheese in the city and the duck is amazing as well. I highly recommend this place if you are going to have a night out with friends or want a quick dinner in a pretty laid back atmosphere. Also good for date nights. Will definitely be back. read more

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Stopped in for a couple of glasses of wine with a girlfriend. Ambiance was perfect for a wine bar - dim lights and cozy. The waitress was very knowledgeable. The wines are not your typical mainstream brands, but if you tell them what you like, they will be able bring you a wine you will like. We were going out for dinner, we only tried the kettle chips from the food menu, but they were delicious and crunchy. read more

I enjoyed my wine- the wine choices were excellent and there was a very expansive list. I would definitely go again if it were a wine-based night. However we ordered a lot of food to share among us, and it was overall too pricey to justify eating dinner here, and I'd go at a time where I wasn't as hungry. Okonomiyaki - it's called petit okonomiyaki - petit indeed!!! Teriyaki Wagyu Burger - It's not friendly for sharing unless you tear it apart. If you order this, have it for yourself. Burrata & Persimmon - pretty tasty and refreshing ($16 tho? that's the same price as the wagyu burger!) Roasted Shishito peppers - These were really tasty!!!! ($14 tasty? no) Truffle grilled cheese - this tasted like regular cheddar grilled cheese to me. All the dishes were overall good and great service!! My recommendation: spend more on the wine than on the food and you will get good value for the night. read more

If you're a wine lover, this is a great place for you . A lot of wine, great sommelier, tasty snacks. Great music and a very friendly personnel! read more

Maxwell Park - two glasses of beer and a qr code - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cute wine bar at the navy yard. We went for the holiday decor which was very festive for Christmas! They had a holiday drink menu which was delicious. They do have over 30 sparkling wines and champagnes. And they do serve food but it is very limited. I would definitely be coming back. read more

My boyfriend and I loved everything about Maxwell. This gem happened to be a few minutes from our Airbnb and it was just what we needed during our stay here in DC. We ordered a half bottle of the semi-sweet 2018 Keuka Spring and wow! Loved it so much we left with a bottle (plus being bottles were 30% that night!) it was smooth, nice hint of sweetness and a great social wine. We sat on their covered patio in front of the fire and it was the perfect setting and feels of a date night. The service was great, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable of the various wines and helped us make the perfect selection. This was our first time in a wine bar and it certainly won't be our last! read more

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Great spot for a glass of wine! The outdoor seating is super cute and there are small fire pits and hanging lights. It's definitely on the smaller side, but if you put your name down it's usually a short wait to move outside. Wine is a little pricey but good. We also got the lamb flatbread which was delicious and had a good sauce that gave it a kick. The peach toast with honey drizzle was good as well for small appetizers. read more

Maxwell Park - Peach toast - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Walked in without a reservation on a Friday night and they literally rearranged stuff to give us a fun little corner table by the window! Service was also great despite the crowd. It's a wine bar, and the wine definitely met our expectations. I don't know that I would try to eat a full dinner here, but the light fare they have was, to me, a fancier, lighter twist on comfort food, which we enjoyed. The only potential issue is that it is LOUD in there. It's not even just the crowd--they blast music. We were already aware and expecting that, so not a problem for us, but might not be everyone's cup of tea. read more

amazing service plus a really nice atmosphere. such a great place to drink wine and think about every problem in your life, but then remember you can't be sad because this place is too cute and suddenly you're glamorizing life. read more

Maxwell Park - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A good place to come for a drink before or after dinner. The service was friendly and they even gave us our appetizer for free when the wait time was a bit long. A good menu with cheap and expensive options, as well as a small selection of beer and liquor. Very casual feel playing 2000s hits on a beautiful corner of DC. read more

Maxwell Park - Corner place - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a gem! Glad I was told to visit Maxwell Park during my weekend in DC. Food was well executed and paired well with the wines. The wine list is very well put together, has amazing producers and the prices are fair. Service from Brent, Nathan, and team was also excellent! Will visit every time I'm in town. read more

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Fantastic smaller wine bar. What it lacks in size it totally makes up in the wine selections! From red's, whites, blends, sparking wines...they offer it all. Small eats menu to tide you over while trying different wines. Definitely recommend stopping buy! read more

Maxwell Park - Many wine glasses for all the wines they offer! - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the best selection of wines in town, plus a few port and sherry options. Very impressive. If you're a wine lover, this is a must visit. They have a nice amount of seating, some indoors but lots outdoors too. When we visited, we didn't have a reservation but were able to score a seat in the curbside streatery area. Since we only had drinks, I can't speak to the wine, but for a relaxing night cap, it was a great time. read more

Adorable small spot that has a chill unpretentious vibe with superb wine selections. Come early to get a seat and listen to some good music while you sip. The wine list is extensive, but not overwhelming. They let you try the wine you select prior to purchase so there's no "buyers remorse," as they put it! The staff are friendly and helpful, providing good recommendations and they make you laugh along the way! Great for a date, girls time to hang or to grab a beverage on your way home. I highly recommend this corner spot! read more

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