Great first night back in D.C. Drinks were strong, food was fresh and atmosphere was perfect. Would definitely come back! read more

Off The Record - Pear martini and coconut/raspberry sorbet! Perfect way to begin & end a delicious meal of salmon and panini - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cool speakeasy type bar that draws both the uber fashionable and dudes in jeans. The Vodka Mule is highly recommended but whatever you order comes with sesame oil (and spicy) cucumber, olives, and mixed nuts. Come for the drinks and stay to watch the locals stealing (urr liberating) the unique political coasters! read more

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Dressy and upscale, but lively, fun and unpretentious. I recently finished my graduate studies, and decided to celebrate here with the friends of my study group. We arrived on a Friday at 7pm, got one of the few remaining tables and indulged ourselves for the evening with drinks and an overwhelming selection of appetizers. My Grey Goose martinis were blissfully potent, while my friends were happy with their drinks, which included mimosas and their grapefruit and basil mojitos. The appetizers were scrumptious--the grilled haloumi and lamb with hummus along with the sauteed wild mushrooms were otherworldly, and we also enjoyed the edamame dumplings and truffled potato sticks. One of my friends is vegetarian and did not drink alcohol, but she was satisfied with the options. The ambiance has a strong strain of traditional, almost Old World culture, it's but inviting rather than stuffy. I was the only person who was dressed up, and one of my friends wore jeans, but we never felt out of place or intimidated. Our waiter was excellent, unobtrusively checking in at regular but not too-frequent intervals during the course of the evening, and the rest of the wait staff was pleasant and accommodating. As one might imagine on a Friday, the place filled up over the course of the evening and got louder, but not to the point of having to shout to be heard. A nice place for a laid-back celebration. read more

Michel makes the best Cosmo I have ever had. And I have had many many a Cosmo. Busy bar, great people watching, I recommend sitting at the bar not a table. And a side note for the ladies, all the servers are men and good looking! read more

Totally love the place!!! It is said to be one of the politicians ' favorite bar and very understandable given its proximity to the White House :) I really like the red interior with multiple political cartoon on the wall and cup mats...very creative and strongly thematic :) bar tender was nice and friendly :) nice place for a evening chat section with friends! read more

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This little pub reminded us (on the outside) of Cheers. On the inside, you feel like you've snuck into underground DC. Very sweet, classy yet casual, elegant but reasonable. Great staff. My boyfriend and I both had the burger, although I got mine without the bun (I'm gluten free), and we both got truffle fries, except I asked for mine extra crispy. We also shared the crab bisque special. Here's the rub: 1) our burgers were different. We both enjoyed them, but his had tomatoes and raw onions, and mine didn't. Interesting. 2) Our fries were exactly the same color (ie: mine were not crispy), I had 5 fries and he had 6. We both ate exactly 1 fry each because we didn't care for them. 3) the crab bisque came, and of course, was clearly containing flour. So I didn't really eat it, he loved it, and the waiter apologized profusely for not thinking to check with the kitchen about that. (I hadn't asked, but he knew I was having the burger without the bun for exactly that reason). Still, my boyfriend thought it was the best burger ever, and it was a very lovely place. And quiet, but with a TV. So we'd probably go back. But get the regular fries...much better. read more

Absolutely amazing experience - our bartender, David, was not pretentious at all... in fact, he was a bit more accommodating than most bartenders ate, despite the crowd that frequents the establishment (across the street from the White House). Will definitely return when in the area. .. the Vesper Tito.... aww gyea.... read more

Really cool bar near the White House. This bar is a hidden gem. It's got a classical lounge-y speakeasy vibe. People in the bar tend to be well-dressed. The bar is adorned with caricatures of DC celebrities. The bartenders are very friendly and the drinks are strong. A nice touch is the bar snacks (olives, nuts, and wasabi peanuts) that come with your drinks. This is a great place to talk business or have an undisturbed conversation. read more

Stumbled across this jewel while exploring the city after class. I was dressed very down in my comfortable school attire and no one made me feel out of place! Maybe I just have a carefree attitude, because I was definitely unbothered by the men in their suits. The drinks are on the pricer side, but they were really good. I will definitely come back here again! read more

A great unique bar close to the White house. They don't have a happy hour but the atmosphere with the political Characatures and food was delicious. read more

Off The Record - Political Characatures on walls and coasters. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Quite liked this bar! I stayed at the Hay-Adams so it was super convenient to start my nights here. The ambiance is classy. The drinks are strong. The bar food was surprisingly good. The bartender was really friendly. And there's free wasabi peas! And TVs to watch whatever games are in season. Great place to start the night. read more

I had a wonderful lunch with my beautiful wife for her birthday weekend. Lovely staff and good food and drinks. Great!!! Will be back when in town again. read more

I am a sucker for classic hotel bars, and this place is one of them. Located in the basement of the hotel, it seemed to me that this was one of those local bars where residents, people that work int he immediate area and hotel guests can all mingle int he same place. I did not think the place was over the top like a lot of people that posted reviews here. It was nice, with plush high end chairs and wall covering set in a burgundy/rose color. Had a San Francisco feel to it! The bartender was attentive and made good drinks. The food was decent and quick. This place has a reputation behind it as serving quality drinks and one of the bartenders is pretty popular but not sure if he is still there? Some guy named Bosley? The food is priced about right for a hotel bar and so are the drinks. There are a couple of TV's above the bar which is usually channeled on sports. This place is cozy and yet casual. No need to get all dressed up, but if that is your thing, you will not feel out of place. It does not have that New York attitude thank goodness. Jeans and t-shirt are fine. read more

Found this place by accident but really enjoyed it! Friday nights are busy, we got some seats and drinks so the wait wasn't too bad. Had the sliders which were okay, not the best but decent for bar food. The coolest thing is the almonds, peas and olives you get as snacks! Yum.. Good for after work drinks :) read more

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

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Great Cocktails! the food is good too.... right by the white house. If you're in DC, this is the place to be read more

Off The Record - Margarita - BEST IN THE CITY! - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Such a cool place with great staff! We came here for a pre-dinner drink and wished we hadn't made dinner reservations elsewhere so we could have stayed longer. The location under the hotel makes it even more fun and the decor was dark and cozy. Make sure to check out their custom coasters! read more

It was really fun to have a drink here to soak up the old school Washington insider vibe. In what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill old fashioned hotel lounge like that in any major city, OTR's location across from the White House makes it undeniably DC. Realistically, this is not a place you want to get tipsy in because a) the drinks are really expensive, and b) it's too classy for that kind of behavior - the gentleman at the next table is a grandfather in all likelihood. Bonus: A complimentary and delicious selection of wasabi peas, dusted almonds, and mixed nuts are provided and refreshed as necessary! read more

A hidden gem in DC, OTR is a wonderful, uncrowded, and pricy spot to stop during a day of wandering the city. They have a nice menu bar food food, local beers on tap, and every high end cocktail you can imagine. The characarures lining the walls are reason enough to stop. read more

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Great establishment to have a date night or grab drinks with friends! Fun coasters, special cocktails, and quintessential Washington D.C. atmosphere. I really enjoyed my visit and will plan another one soon. read more

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

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Good little place but expensive! I also asked for the korean chicken wings and said i would like the sauce on the side and for them to be crispy....they came out with sauce on side but were almost rubbery! Yuk. Abd $12 for like 5 or so. Nice atmosphere but just too expensive for the quality read more

Really cool place a few blocks away from the White House. Very cool vibe! I love the illustrations they have on the walls, as well as on their coasters! I would definitely recommend OTR! Ambience: Really liked the ambience of this place. OTR is tucked away in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel. The bar's decor and dim lighting offers an intimate lounge-like feel. Service: Food came out fairly quickly and waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Food: I got the crab cake and and burger sliders! They were great! Drinks: Their drinks are a bit pricey, however they are worth it. I had the Pear Martini, it was very good! read more

This place feels very underground DC--mainly, I imagine, because it is underground ... in DC. But what I enjoy about this place is its close proximity to the office, minimal tourists, it's never too packed and you can always snag a spot to kick back and enjoy some conservation with a coworker or friend. The caricatures on the walls of various DC crème de la crème are entertaining to check out. But agreed, it is a tad pricey so it isn't a place you'd set up shop for the evening. All in all, it's a great joint for grabbing a drink or two if you're okay paying about $10/cocktail or glass of wine. Appetizers are a go. And if complimentary wasabi peas, smoked almonds and mixed nuts are your kinda thing, you can snack your little heart out. read more

Pricey, but swank. Most bars serve peanuts--they serve gourmet olives and kettle chips. High-class, and great drinks. The only downside, the drinks can tip toward the expensive end, but that doesn't detract from the great decor and service. read more

Great bar in a beautiful hotel. I highly recommend the pear martini. The bartenders are very nice, willing to recommend drinks to order, and things to do around DC read more

Loved this place! They have fantastic apps and drinks. Located right behind the White House. Even though it's in the "basement"of a hotel, it is really light and has a great vibe!! read more

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

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Really unique experience. Drinks are good. Really cool political art. Make sure you grab a couple coasters on the way out.

Boy, is this place pretentious. I walked in here and had the urge to glance down to check the quality of my shoes. Not a criticism - it is what it is, and it caters to a lot of lawyers and political folk. Also, it's across from the White House, for crying out loud. Go here for an excuse to dress up, or if you want to impress a business colleague; not if you want happy hour after work. (I don't think there is a HH, actually). My friend and I each got a martini and a cheese plate and it ended up being something like $60. I WILL say, however, that the martini was excellent and very strong. Atmosphere was a little stuffy, but it was a fun experience. read more

Gorgeous location, creative drinks and a fun crowd. Service was very rushed given it was still 45 minutes before closing. Would definitely recommend paying it a visit. read more

Off The Record - The Long Hello & The Second Ward - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We were at this bar tonight. They typically serve nuts, wasabi peas and olives with the drinks. The olives are served with four toothpicks with which to eat them. Our imbecile bartender at this supposedly high-end bar thought it wise to take the nuts/wasabi/olives tray that was in front of guests that recently left and to serve the same to us, again with toothpicks that likely were in the other guests mouths. He did this because the tray looked full enough and perhaps he thought it a waste to throw it out, so he basically offered us the other patrons' leftovers. Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting. Shameful place. Don't waste your money or your time at this lame basement establishment. read more

What a surprise this was. This was my second time at Off the Record but the first time at their Happy Hour. I had a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and the seafood platter. Everything I had was fresh and delicious. Everything appears to be first come first serve so get there early. It's a pretty upscalish D.C. crowd. Bartenders and waitstaff are knowledgeable and service was average for a place so busy. No complaints from me from Off the Record and will return! read more

While on my trip to DC last month we decided to slip into this little gem on a rainy Thursday night. We loved the cozy (1920 gangster kinda cozy) luxurious feel of this subterranean bar. We had wine and sliders while guessing who was who in the caricatures on the wall. Great little hideaway. Perfect for a date..first or 100th :) read more

Hands down my favorite bar ever. It's right next to the white house, has a great vibe, great drinks and the service is amazing. It's a must visit every time we are in DC. read more

when you are looking for a GREAT!! gin martini (tanq.) this is the must be place to be. BIG, well mixed, great service i.e. ... pricey read more

Fantastic bar near the White House. Access it via the Hay Adams hotel lobby and head downstairs to the basement. Hopefully John Boswell is the bartender when you go. He guided us to a martini with an onion vs olive juice and it wasn't too bad. Give it a shot! Quiet bar where you can have a conversation with your date in a very private setting. I wish i could give it 6 stars! Loved it. read more

It was our last day in DC and we wanted our "last meal" to be special, so we ended up here. Unfortunately, the service was terrible. Our waiter completely ignored us throughout our time there. He never greeted us and he never spoke to us until he was brought us the check. The food was better than the service but the salmon had bones! What kind of "high end" restaurant makes such bad mistake?? That was unacceptable given the amount we paid for our plates. The chicken my husband order was better, but the experience was already so bad we didn't enjoy either plate. We ate at a several other restaurants with the same menu budget during our week in DC, however, Off the Record, was the only one where we had such a bad experience. If you look like a tourist/young, just don't waist your time and money on this place. read more

Loved the atmosphere. I got the Trumpy Sour and the drunk was great. The coasters are amazing. Great drinks. Prices are a little high but overall good experience. read more

Great Hendrick's martinis and tuna and crab sliders. Looking forward to coming back soon! Tonight, a mixed holiday and after-work crowd (Dec.26,2013). No more holidays, please. read more

Perfect upscale yet relaxed atmosphere. Escaped here after some windy cold time at the Mall. We had the mussels and burger. Both were great and after seeing some expertly made cocktails by Michelle, the bartender, we had to indulge in a margarita and old fashioned that contained fresh squeezed juice. Both were excellent. read more

Off The Record - Michelle making the old fashioned. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went here for happy hour in Thursday night with co workers. Thought the political themed art on walls and decor was cool. Staff was friendly and attentive and food and drinks were great. Favorites were the Marquis Sangria and Pear Martini. Sliders were delicious. read more

Off The Record - Sliders and pear martini - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really wanted to like this place but was sorely disappointed. My bf and I wanted a nightcap sort of speakeasy bar after dinner, which Yelp seemed to give that kind of vibe, so we got here around 930pm on a Saturday. It was pretty cool to walk into - sort of hidden downstairs of the Hay Adams hotel and definitely had a cool vibe. We found a table pretty easily, and our server came who looked super annoyed and pissed off. I tried to order the Obama's Last Fall Cocktail but he said they didn't have it. I don't even know what that means - how do you not have a cocktail when you're charging $18 a pop? You mean they don't have one of the ingredients? So instead I got the Clinton cocktail (forgot what it was called) and my bf got the Agave mule. We also got the Creme caramel for dessert. Then our drinks came and they were STRONG. But not in the "ooooo teehee these drinks are delightfully strong" but more like the "I want to burn my face off because this is so strong". The mule was less strong but very plain and I didn't think it was worth the $18 price tag at all. Don't even get me started on the Creme - the fruits on top were good but the Creme had a terrible texture (like hardened cottage cheese) and we couldn't finish it. Our server continued to be surly and bored. The bar snacks were good (olives and nuts and wasabi peas) and I did like the cute political caricature coasters. I'm also giving an extra star for vibe and atmosphere. read more