This was truly a unique experience. It's located next to the White House and all of the other official buildings. It's known for being a hot spot for politicians and people in government. If you're visiting or live in DC and haven't been there yet you have to go. It's in the downstairs of a hotel and is very large with ample seating. What makes this place so unique is the artwork. The entire place is covered with cartoon characters of important political figures. Even the coasters are done this way. The lighting is low, it almost has a romantic feel. Plus the staff and drinks are amazing. read more

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If anything, your first impression is going to be fantastic. Having the hotel employees of Leading Hotels of the World leading you the way to this little bar downstairs, is one of the most warm-hearted and 5-star experience you can get. The bar is dark and cozy. Drinks are great but the bartender was pretty busy the whole time. Also- gotta love those snack trays that come with you drinks. And the hilarious art pieces around the wall. Would recommend to stop by for a drink or two! read more

Bottom line: Pricey but go at least once for atmosphere. Can get crowded during peak hours. We went on a Saturday evening around 4:30pm and it was pleasantly crowded - still seating available. We ordered two whiskys - they were about $20 each. BUT you get complimentary wasabi peas, nuts, and olives - all very tasty! The decor is a deep red and coasters are political caricatures. Definitely a place to take out of town friends or just a fun place to hang. Service is attentive. read more

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Place is great for what it is. If you need a nice place conveniently located near K st to grab some drinks and talk business... this is a good place to do it. read more

Loved this bar. Totally transportive, a real taste of D.C.. Great ambience, competent bartenders, strong drinks, and the chance to actually socialize with "the locals." The wasabi peas and the political coasters seal the deal. Do it! read more

Greeted with a "sit down" and a point to a very dirty uncleared table. When the waiter finally arrived after we'd waited, he rolled his eyes and scoffed. Not sure why he was upset with us when WE were the ones who sat in someone else's dirt ..... I don't know if it's because we are young and probably looked as if we wouldn't be able to tip well, but we felt as if other guests were treated with more respect while we left unattended. 3 couples left the same time as we did. Paid $50 for two cocktails. One of which he spilled half on the table..... it wasn't a bad night. I truly don't believe this place ever has good service. Thanks for (almost) ruining my birthday dinner! read more

Off the Record is hidden below The Hay-Adams hotel, where if my entourage hadn't brought me here for lunch, I wouldn't have known it existed. On that note, yes I came for lunch, not the bar, which I hear gets very crowded at night, so this review is specifically for their lunch hours. Upon entering the hotel, we walked down a small flight of stairs to the bar area. The interior is decked out in red, with plush and sofa-like seating surrounding a bar located in the middle of the room. Evidently this place is known for their political charactertures on their coasters (which are frequently taken by the guests I'm told), and pictures of them hang on the walls. The place was empty (a key reason my entourage decided to come; they had come at lunch before and liked how deserted it was), so we chose a booth and a white-collared server poured ice water for us. The food is definitely pricey, and options are limited to the opening pages of the menu, implying quality and flawless execution (it's easier for a cook to make a few delicious meals as opposed to a million different mediocre meals). I ultimately decided on the mini lobster rolls. We waited for a bit before our bread basket came along with a disk of butter. I munched on a slice each of the cranberry walnut bread and cracker bread (pretty good, though I didn't care for the cracker bread). Everyone's food arrived at once, so the delivery is well executed. My plate looked beautiful, and the portion size was lighter compared to everyone else's, but that was half the reason I ordered it (my entourage got a Caesar salad with shrimp {another lighter meal option}, the OLT burger, and the BLCT sandwich). The lobster rolls tasted amazing; the bread was soft, the lobster complimenting it like sweet and savory butter. A small salad drizzled with what tasted like a light lemon oil was also provided (simple but delicious!) Afterwards, not entirely full, I ate what remained of the bread basket before I was satisfied. The service was efficient and diligent, where our waters were filled at least five times promptly. I enjoyed my time there, but the overall aesthetic of the environment isn't my cup of tea. For instance, I felt as if coming on my own would have been awkward; I was lucky I came in a small group to talk with as opposed to myself. I imagine the bar scene is more relaxed and appropriate, but this wouldn't be my first choice in terms of lunch. read more

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Pretty cool lounge! We were here for a visit from NYC, found this place via yelp and decided to stop by. Very cozy and cool vibe, felt comfortable and relax here. Drinks are a little bit pricey but you know what, you paid for the environment so that's okay. Cool arts on the wall, will definitely come back when we visit again! read more

Off The Record - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome spot! Totally recommend. It's in the basement, and very cool to find. It's classy with drinks at $20-$30. There's a variety of finger food and appetizers to choose from and a full restaurant upstairs that's separate. I see myself having important conversations in this basement as I continue working in DC because I like the vibe. It's a mix of people with good, attentive waiters. We even got to meet the manager. I recommend the scallops and the thick-cut fries. I would definitely like to see them serve an impossible burger to match the burger my friend got, which seemed tasty she said. read more

My husband and I stayed at the Hay Adams this week - Wednesday and stopped in Off the Record for a late lunch, which is in the lower level of the hotel. Very quaint and pretty cool, with political caricatures on all walls. It was fairly quiet with only a few tables taken. Our server was good...not overly attentive. Our food was great - I had a Cobb salad and my husband had the crispy chicken wings. Pricey, which we soon learned is average for this area, but enjoyed the music and atmosphere. Went back the next night around 5:30pm for a repeat and there were no seats to be found. The din was so loud we could not hear ourselves, so we left. Still like the venue and would return, just on a different night. read more

Not bad! A little bit traditional and dark and Smokey! I think they can do way better on the food.

Off The Record I would imagine is probably one of the better places to take an out-of-town guest in D.C. - somehow perfectly combining both a classy and chill vibe without being too pretentious or taking itself too seriously, hilarious political commentary/comics/caricatures on the wall, and great drinks, along with some fun & original non-alcoholic options. It has a speakeasy vibe, with friendly staff and a conglomeration of fellow customers. The cocktails themselves are expensive ($18 for a cosmo) - however, they don't skimp at all on the alcohol and the portions themselves are so massive that in my opinion those precious eighteen bucks are actually easily buying you two very strong drinks. Tasty nuts, olives, and wasabi peas on the table are also a nice touch. Before high bar time, I could also see it being a pleasant place to read or study as well. Would definitely return when I'm back in the area - yeah, it's pricey, but truth be told you're getting what you pay for in a unusually stiff drink. read more

Off The Record - Cleverly photogenic coasts - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

All things considered it's a hotel bar, so maybe my gripes are to be expected. I will say the decor is pretty sweet if you can nail a table, plus we had free olives and peanuts among other snacks which was great for the night. The pointed political cocktails seemed to be the way to go, so we got the Trumpy Sour and Mueller's Trump Card. I usually am a huge fan of tequila, but for some reason my friend and I found our drinks terrible. Price doesn't seem worth it at $18/20 menu cost, but then again - probably just hotel upcharge. Yelp makes it seem like a super chill hole in the wall joint. Honestly I've been to better even among hotels, but the staff were super nice and it really was a mood. I think you'll have a good time, but for me I don't think it'll ever be great. read more

This bar is pretty snazzy and somewhat fancy, but a bit crowded and overpriced. I can understand charging $13-14 for a cocktail at a fancy place, but when cocktail prices approach $20+, that's just a bit excessive. That being said, the service is great; the little olive/nut snacks are delicious, and the vibe is quite cool. I came here for drinks with some colleagues and would consider coming back. read more

Off The Record - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Super old school bar with great service and bartenders. Tall leather & velvet booths, chairs and bar stools. This is a small bar so not great for group larger than 5 unless you get there early and dominate read more

Great tucked away DC bar. Upscale watering hole with some great menu options and excellent cocktails.

Ambiance is impeccable. I had the hot chicken with ranch and it was SO good. I had two cocktails: can't remember exact names but something like wonderland and the other was like a room with a view. Anyways both were great. read more

Great cocktails and the lobster rolls hit the spot! I loved all the little touches, like the coasters! read more

Off The Record - Drink - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved this restaurant and would go to it even when I'm not staying in the hotel. I love the whole vibe. It's like you are going into a speak easy. I love the red tones and big booths. Drinks are great! Especially the Old Fashioned the comes with popcorn. Salads are great but what is really good is the hamburger with onion jam. It was so good. Get the warm cookies if available too. The staff is very nice and professional. I'll be back very soon. read more

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This is one of DC's best kept secret! Off The Record is just a couple blocks from the White House and suited in the basement of Hay-Adams Hotel. If you like "speakeasies" this is the place for you! They only serve handcrafted cocktails and the bartenders are fantastic. If you are a Poli Sci geek like me, you'll find this place hilarious! The bar is surrounded by political cartoons and their coasters have political caricatures related to something relevant in the news. For example, during our visit they had coasters of Trump, Hillary, Bernie and Paul Ryan. It definitely gives this bar that DC vibe, with a comic and dark side. There's really not much around this area, so if you are visiting DC and want to get away from the tourist, be sure to stop by Off The Record. FYI, the prices aren't cheap but it's totally worth it! read more

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Felt like we were "in the know" when we walked into this little hideaway. Look up, the ceiling is from another time. Sidle up to the bar for mixology magic. Don't miss the most wonderful savory Caesar salad you'll have in town. And don't even try to resist the basket of bread with sweet butter. Secret entrance from inside the hotel so ask and the doorman will lead you to the back stairway. Fear not! Be yourself cause it's off the record. Day drinking not frowned upon. Here here my good man. read more

The experience is always great, feels festive. The staff are always professional, friendly, the customer service is excellent.

It's supposed to be one of the best World Bars....according to Forbes. According to Rani and hubby.....terrible. Dark.....in the basement of the Hay Adams. Money not well spent. We were already staying at this fine hotel and it is night and day from the hotel service and this bar. No one seats you - go find a chair. Service was not attentive, actually ours was awful. No smile or hospitality. Disappointing. Extensive lists of wine and alcohol but I expect that from a bar. Children are welcome. My daughter had chicken fingers, they were ok according to her. We had the flat bread pizza - awful and $30 - ridiculous. Don't go! Will post some pics. read more

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I've visited this establishment several times over the last few months. Great DC ambiance, with historic charm. I've ordered the chopped salad and french fries multiple times. Great food quality and friendly, professional service. read more

Handily the best chicken Caesar salad I've ever had. Also tried the hot chicken appetizer as well as a few cocktails. Excellent place.

25 dollar drinks that were worthy every penny. The classic Pear martini is officially one of my favorite drinks of all time. The juice in it tasted fresh and it wasn't overly sweet. The regular vodka martini (extra dry, up with a twist) was also incredible. Pro tip: skip the cheese board it wasn't worth it, and opt for the cheese croquettes instead. I will 100% be back and hopefully soon. read more

Love this little spot. It's in the basement of a hotel and has a great intimate setting. Cocktails are around $17, so this is not a budget friendly place but if you can afford it, it's definitely worth it. The mini lobster rolls were really good and so were the sliders. One of the most fun parts of this place is the art on the walls and the art on your coasters!!!! Be sure and take them home as a fun souvenir. read more

Off The Record - My happy place - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Such a cool bar in DC! So happy it was in the Hay Adams which we stayed in for our 25th anniversary. We spent several evenings there for cocktails & a couple nights there for dinner & munchies. Even scored some cool coasters to bring home! Very neat place indeed!!! read more

4.5 Stars If you're an Old Fashioned connoisseur, I'd recommend this place for you. Albeit, it's $22 (you'll likely drink at least two), but comes with really nice complimentary snacks, including wasabi peas, an olive medley, and a nut medley. Other drink options are also solid and politics-themed. OTR is a speakeasy tucked inside the Hay Adams Hotel, and offers a great ambiance for drinks. I would not recommend this place for a full sit-down meal, but a perfect pre-show or pre-dinner option. Service is decent -- the bar can get busy at times, so patience is needed. This is a great spot to impress your co-workers if you've been tasked with planning a happy hour. read more

Off the Record is a great location right near the White House with a fun menu that is very DC focused. Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience when visiting tonight. When the time to bring checks came (and I get it, splitting checks can be a pain), after signing the authorization form with my tip and signature, the waiter, Vladimir, came back to our table claiming he did not receive an authorization form from me and that my credit card was not authorized. I was sure that I had signed the receipt and tipped, but made sure to check through my purse in case I had misplaced it. Even after showing him that the charge had gone through on my card, and him finally finding the receipt with my signature on it (which was ridiculous that I had to do in the first place - and he claimed it wasn't correct because the price wasn't the same as the price after the tip. Guess he isn't aware that pending transactions are pending for a reason), and that I had both the customer copy reflecting the approved swipe of my card and the original receipt from my drink, he continued to make a scene. He eventually pulled who I assume was a manager into the situation, and honestly he did not make the situation any better. He asked to take my card to charge it again, and when I asked for a receipt to showcase that the original transaction was voided, he threw a fit. It was embarrassing and not done with very much tact. Though this seemed like a very great place, I will not be returning due to the treatment. read more

Want a super sexy evening in a lush velvet, dark wood, intimate, underground bar? Then Off The Record is for you. Took a minute to realize why it was called OTR till I realized this is where the true gossip of the city perhaps occurs? A few simple words many of us give before we relinquish details that we shouldn't be telling someone. But who are we without secrets and gossip... This speakeasy is located in the Hay-Adams hotel within walking distance to The White House and the infamous yellow church where many Presidents have attended mass at least once in their term. There's no sign or clear direction how to get into the bar so pay attention! Instead of taking the elevators there's a door to the left that really isn't marked and it looks like an emergency exit. Take the stairs and head down and there you go. I will say though, leaving the bar there's no clear mark for lobby so make sure to pay attention before you walk up more flights than necessary. Logo for OTR features a male elephant and female donkey fighting amongst each other. A shocking theme in DC, I dare say (sarcasm). Around the room, you'll also find tons of political cartoons and caricatures that will grab your attention and give you a good chuckle. Once you grab a table (they do serve food but we didn't eat) or sit at the bar, you'll receive a trio of nuts to nibble on. I remember one of them being wasabi seeds. Drinks range between $10-$18 on average and beers were no more than $8 I recalled. I had a beer based cocktail with pomegranate juice but it was a little too sweet for my tasting. This was such a great experience though that I definitely can't wait to come back! read more

A magical experience as a first timer visiting DC. Service was excellent and smooth. The crabcake sandwich was super fresh and delicious, and we had a special moment listening to Fredrico play the trumpet. This is a unique place to visit and is right across the street from the White House. read more

If you know me, then you know that I love having random dinner dates and attending the holiday brunches at the Lafayette. Off the Record is a hotel bar located inside the Hay-Adams and open to both the 'Washingtonians' and the hotel guests. I like the fact that they're opened a little later, and the ambiance is relaxing. We usually come here to grab some drinks and order some dishes to share. I like their Artisanal Cheese platter, which comes with a selection of four local and international cheeses, a side of fig jam, dried fruit, and candied walnuts; OTR Sliders (there is a crab cake version, but we usually stick to the burger with the gruyere); and, the New England Mini Lobster Rolls (these are super cute and a great little bite, filled with luscious lumps of lobster meat, lightly dressed). For sweets, we usually stick with the Hay-Adams Baked Cookies, as these chocolate chip cookies are mixed with some oatmeal and filled with Michigan cherries - chunky and yummy, and great with a side of their homemade ice cream! My friends enjoy the various cocktails, but I actually like their mocktails, especially the Strawberry Lemonade - this is made with homemade lemonade, ginger ale, strawberries, and mint - super refreshing! Service is pretty friendly, and they check up on you often to make sure you have everything you need. Parking can bit a little tricky, as there are limited metered parking off of 16th. +inside the Hay-Adams +shareable plates and entrees +friendly staff +limited metered parking off of 16th read more

A veritable icon in D.C. bars, but perhaps rough around the edges in some respects. This place embodies the best things about D.C. - it's jokingly political, upscale without being stuffy, and just a teensy bit hidden. The political cartoons theme is cool, though the photographs of random models in the bar feels weird. Walking into the Hay-Adams and basically going down a flight of stairs has a cool feeling to it. Service is cripplingly slow, even on a slow day - don't expect to get quick drinks here. The drinks here are, notwithstanding the slow service, really good. I've honestly never had a bad cocktail here, and would never expect to. read more

I adore this bar! The bartenders are amazing. Domingo helped me out this time around. I had rosé and he gave great pours with a huge smile. The ambience is beautiful. I appreciate the fact that even though I wasn't dressed super nice(I was out running around all day and not expecting to go in), they still treated me well and welcomed me with a smile. Drinks are great. Make sure to steal a coaster or 2 before you leave. The political artwork on the coasters and on the wall is so fun! read more

Off The Record - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Lowkey fire spot, bartenders were super nice & hope no one reads this bc it will be more well know @youtubelessdylan

Classy, sophisticated, intimate, and memorable -- Off The Record is one of my favorite bars of all time. Seriously! From the political caricatures on the walls to the marvelously clever named cocktails; Off The Record offers a unique experience for bar-goers and political aficionados alike. Still, you certainly don't need to have a degree in Political Science, or be a member of Congress (or, to be honest: you don't even need to know who any member of Congress even is), in order to enjoy all OTR has to offer. Off The Record is the Hay-Adams Hotel's signature bar, located downstairs from the lobby. The atmosphere is trendy, but timeless -- in a way, reflective of the Hay-Adams, itself. No, this isn't an Irish Pub or Sports Bar -- rather, it's an upscale, yet comfortably casual bar/lounge, serving fabulous cocktails alongside some of the most innovative bar food in the city. During my visit to Off The Record, I ordered the "Trumpy Sour" (similar to a Whiskey Sour), and it was delicious! Olives, wasabi peas, and mixed nuts were also served gratis with the cocktails--which was perfect, considering the drink was quite strong! While I didn't order any food this time around, OTR was a great place for cocktails, before I headed upstairs for a dinner date. The drinks aren't cheap -- but Off The Record is an immersive experience in old-school Washington, and in my opinion, the price somehow seems "worth it" (then again, my date and I only had one drink each, which was plenty). I thoroughly enjoyed my memorable experience at Off The Record, and I simply can't wait to return! Maybe next time I'll convince my boyfriend to order some of that epic-looking bar food, too! :) read more

This place was amazing. We were in DC to celebrate my 30th and I wanted to go to a historic bar in the city. So after a little research, I picked Off The Record and wow, it was a great choice. The history, the art work, the beautiful decor, it was all top notch. There were 6 of us and the staff/manager at Off The Record were the nicest group of individuals we met. The drinks were spectacular, I had two 21st amendments and enjoyed every sip. The group loved all their drinks and the pear martini was another popular option. We didn't order much food since it was a bar stop of us but two members of our group got the steak tartare and loved it. I ordered a s'mores cheesecake for my birthday cake, and the manager pulled my wife aside and asked to make it a birthday cake for me. They had a candle and my name in the plate. It was very special and something we will remember for a long time. I will recommend this bar to anyone visiting DC and hope to go there every time I am in DC. Yes, the food and drinks were amazing, but the staff and manager are the main reason we will return. Thank you for a great afternoon! read more

Off The Record - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my favorite, low key, hidden gem bars downtown. The drinks are excellent, the ambiance unbeatable, and the clientele always interesting. It's a great place to stop in after work or to meet up for a couple drinks. Conveniently located with excellent service, I highly recommend! read more

Upscale and clubby bar a couple of blocks from the White House. Generous pour of my Johnnie Walker Black on the Rocks. Clever cocktail menu. Pricey drinks but worthwhile given the quality of service and environment. Great spot. read more

Off The Record - Bar - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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