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    Off The Record

    4.1 (446 reviews)
    PriceyBars, New American
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

    Off The Record Photos

    OFF THE RECORD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos

    Anna B.

    LOVED this bar!! The staff did a wonderful job taking care of us. We enjoyed all of the cartoon art as well, they let you take the drink coasters home which has the artwork on them. The OTR Old Fashioned was phenomenal! The hotel was also stunning!

    Perfect gin martini
    Jens J.

    We came here yesterday evening for a friend's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The stairs in the Hay Adams hotel that go down to Off The Record Bar are very inconspicuous and if you've never been there before, will have likely have to ask for directions to the bar. Service from the smartly dressed staff was polite and impeccable. The ambience of Off the Record is red velvet and more red velvet. Patrons ranged from business/political folk dressed in coats and ties to tourists in sweaty t-shirts and shorts. But from what I could see, all customers were treated respectfully. The only minus was how loud it gets in the bar, making conversation difficult. Drinks were very well made. After seeing espresso martinis everywhere of late, I decided to try one. I found the cocktail just too sweet. But it's personal preference, because somebody else at our table also ordered an espresso martini. She didn't find it sweet enough, so she had the server bring her some simple syrup to fold into the concoction. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that my espresso martini was served in a coupe glass, but I loathe coupe glasses because they are so dainty and grandma-ish. And yet they served JP his dirty martini in a sleek traditional martini glass. For my second drink, I ordered my favorite cocktail, which is Tangeray gin, a dash of vermouth (I like my martinis dry, very dry) and a splash of Cointreau. It was perfectly made and to my delight, served in a traditional martini glass. Off the Record presented our friend with a nice complimentary dessert for her birthday. She really liked it. Oh, the complimentary Wasabi peas were fantastic!

    Inside
    Iva S.

    Very crowded. Super loud! Needs to have some sound dampening to be added. Arrived at 10:30 and was told the kitchen is closed. It seemed so nice and upscale so I was quite disappointed with the service. Went here because it was right across the street from the White House and had fabulous reviews. I walked in the front of the hotel and didn't see any direction to the bar. The staff directed me to a door that led to an elevator to the bar. Unfortunately the night we arrived, they stopped kitchen service early and their webpage was not up to date with the current kitchen schedule. Staff was snooty and rude. I arrived with my mother and waited 20 minutes for a waiter to tell us the kitchen was closed. I understand being overwhelmed but a sign at the front of the bar, stating the kitchen was closed or removing the kitchen menus from the tables would have been a good start to keep the new arrivals happy. Not sure if I would visit again.

    Chell H.

    A political themed bar; so DC. Quaint basement lounge with great drinks and light bites. Great for after work crowds.

    Onion rings. Huge and delicious
    Dee Renè L.

    Small space, and can get packed if there is a conference nearby. Service was efficient. Nothing stand out but nothing to be upset about either. Good drinks and the Price for drinks is what I'd expect in that area but the drinks were not anything innovative to justify the cost to me. Unexpectedly the food was some of the best hotel bar food our group has had! Highly recommend the short rib grilled cheese.

    Table snacks. Nuts, olives, and green things that taste like wasabi !
    Nisha B.

    Stopped by, I think on Tuesday night This restaurant, is located right inside of the hotel Street Parking. Black Lives Matter Plaza! Our waiter, Mauricio, was exceptional! He was super friendly and had good recommendations! All of the Staff were very nice! There is a bar area or you can walk in for a table. Not sure if reservations are needed, but we just walked in and got a great table Ambiance reminded me of a speakeasy, but the music was a little too loud for me at times, which made everyones conversations also elevated Ceasar salad was crisp Table snacks were good! Drinks were good Bathroom was super clean and sheek!

    Expresso Martini
    Rob K.

    Off the Record is off the beaten path/hidden in the basement of the Hay-Adams Hotel. Bar has a really great vibe. I was here on a Tuesday night around 9:30 and it was very busy. People of all ages were present. Customers/employees were all extremely friendly. I had an expresso martini. Drink was not cheap but you are also a block from the White House. I can't put my finger on it but the bar just had a good vibe to it. Bring your wallet, but you will enjoy this hidden gem in Washington DC.

    Pear Martini
    Suraj P.

    This is a cool bar near the White House and a good place to stop to catch some AC and beat the heat. They have a lot of really cool and funny political caricatures around the bar. The location is fun and it feels like you are back in an old school bar. The service was fast but the prices are definitely high for what you get. They also offer bar snacks but they weren't ready when yet. I would recommend going once to check it off but that's it.

    Fries

    Went here a few days ago. Really liked the environment. The reviews are correct as far as how loud it gets when it's packed. Was a little hard of hearing at first but got used to it. Also, the service is a little slow, but I feel like that's a good thing. This place is perfect for enjoying your drinks and company. All in all, a great spot to spend either the start of your evening or the end of your evening.

    Josh D.

    So cooooool! Came for the vibe/ambience and wasn't disappointed. Odds enough - one of my favorite keepsakes from my trip is the coaster from my beer. I asked for extras just to bring home for my friends/family who are political. They are hilarious!

    I framed a few coasters
    Lisa H.

    Yes! Come to this bar for somewhat of a speakeasy vibe for a crafty cocktail & a chuckle at their funny political pictures and coasters. I got the short rib grilled cheese & iced coffee and it was very good! Service was great all 3 times I went during my stay at the hotel. 5 stars & would definitely visit again!

    Coasters
    Brian B.

    By far one of my favorite cocktail places in the US. When I come to town I stop as their "coaster game" and drinks are fabulous.

    Susie W.

    What a fun basement bar - up scale, surprisingly warm for a basement, and you might run into a famous politician. Expect high prices, but good drinks and food! Is this a speakeasy? It's tucked away in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel, it's pretty easy to find or the hotel concierge will help! Obviously political, I loved seeing the decor - lots of political sketches and cartoons. It feels upscale and there is plenty of seating - just pricey!

    Inside

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    3 months ago

    Great drinks and cool vibes. Service is good too, can be a hit or miss sometimes if the bar is really full. But overall recommend.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Off The Record Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Off The Record

    Best parking for just dining at off the record?

    Street parking, depending on the time - pay to park

    Is that bar still moved to the 9th floor?

    The cocktail bar, Off The Record, is essentially below the hotel lobby

    What time does the kitchen close each day?

    The kitchen of Off the Record closes at 11pm every night.

    Is there hh pricing?

    No happy hours prices

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Bar Betsie

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    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

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    Press Club Bar Of Record

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    TL;DR Drinks are unique and tasty, atmosphere is groovy, and prices are high. Would recommend a…read morevisit for a treat or celebration! This bar is sweet -- awesome music, a neat menu, truly craft cocktails, and a unique menu. We tried several cocktails and each was delicious - from spicy to sweet, they don't miss. We also tried the cheese burger egg rolls and the tuna hand roll. The food is expensive for what you get but it's advertised to be small bites, not a meal. The egg rolls felt like remixed in n out, and as a Californian, I was grateful. Why not 5 stars? With the premium pricetag, I do expect premium service. The bartender was more interested in chatting with some folks he knew who came to sit at the bar. He also spent a lot of time chatting up the couple next to us, so do sit at the bar if you're feeling social. However, for the spare attention he did provide us, he was a bit condescending when we asked for a different glass for a drink that came in a bowl. It was slow until the very end of our stay and yet there were several times where I had an empty glass for a long period (and wanted to order more) or needed water. FYI for 6 drinks and a few bar bites it was $165... we went for a cheap burger dinner afterwards!

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    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.

    Off The Record - bars - Updated May 2026

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