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    Off The Record

    4.1 (457 reviews)
    PriceyBars, New American
    Closed • 2:00 pm - 11:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Off The Record Photos

    OFF THE RECORD ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Off The Record

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    My old fashioned
    Sidney K.

    I had an old fashioned and a beer. Very friendly staff and the old fashioned was just right, not very sweet. Worth a visit or taking a date too

    Joshua R.

    Very good!! Very expensive too! I've been to a bunch of works raised across the country and this one is definitely a cool spot to check out. The food was delicious and the drinks were very good too. Good quality, but a little too expensive for how loud and crowded it is. The political drawings and humor was cool. The history of the hotel and bar were really cool to see and read about. It's definitely worth stopping in for one drink and wandering around to see the history. Our waiter was very attentive and took great care of us.

    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.

    Bourbon Cream Soda, The Classic Pear Martini, Saturn Accord
    Srinanda G.

    Def an upscale but chill bar. Was a little hard to find initially, but we just had to ask for directions. Drinks were def on the pricier side, but they were really well made and we all enjoyed them so much we didn't even have any complaints. The general crowd was a lot older than us, so we felt a little out of place initially, but the staff was super sweet which was comforting. Keep an eye out for their coasters though, they make a memorable souvenir.

    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!

    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!

    Online says its open! But they open at 2pm?! How can this place not have accurate info? Domingo (bartender) is the real MVP OF THIS PLACE! Thank you sir! The Tokyo fries are amazing too.

    Chell H.

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

    Justin W.

    This place had a wonderful vibe and is a must visit speakeasy in the DC area. The drinks are very good and the food was great as well. We were treated with a small welcome drink as soon as we sat down to look at the menu which was a nice touch. The music that they choose to play creates such a fun atmosphere!

    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.

    Espresso martini, bourbon cream soda

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    15 years ago

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    13 years ago

    While I appreciated the decor and location of this bar, the cocktails were just....eh.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Unique to get a sense of history while grabbing some drinks - fun! Wait staff was terrific.

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    13 years ago

    I love Off the Record and the Hay-Adams! Wonderful drinks, excellent service, great ambiance. I go here frequently with friends and family.

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Wonderful Drinks. Great bar snacks. Good Service - Location make it memorable. Will go again

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    11 years ago

    Excellent service, drinks, ambiance. This place is a gem.

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    14 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Page 12 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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    Stopped into Bar Betsie for drinks and snacks and really liked the place. The whole bar has a cool…read moreretro vibe with neon, a disco ball, dark booths, and a long bar that was packed by the time we were there. We grabbed a couple drinks and ordered some snacks while we hung out. The soft pretzel with mustard was good, but the buffalo chicken dip with Cheetos was the winner. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top bar food that works after a couple drinks. The atmosphere is really what makes the place. It was busy and energetic without feeling like a club, and we could still sit, have a drink, and actually talk. Cool spot for cocktails, snacks, and hanging out for a while. Definitely somewhere we'd come back to.

    I love the ambiance and service here. I've been a couple times and it's been very consistent. The…read moreinside is dark and moody with a fantastic playlist. I always leave with new songs on my playlist. It is on the smaller side so I wouldn't suggest for a huge group. But if you're looking to grab a cocktail with a few friends or by yourself I definitely recommend. I ordered the Gold Rush! The drink was perfectly sweet and a good intro to bourbon, which I typically don't drink. I can't remember the second drink I got but it was equally delicious. I will note my friend was not a fan of her dirty martini. Overall great experiences.

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    4.8(56 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Dupont Circle
    •$$

    Had a great time here - it's small so definitely make a reservation…read more We got the 4 course to share - it's large portions so not a full meal for two people but if you're just looking for some snacks, highly recommend, we enjoyed every bite. We also ordered 3 rounds of drinks so 6 total and we each loved everything so I think you can't go wrong. I will say the Take Me Out was pretty sweet but I was in the mood for it at the time.

    Luckily, I got seated immediately at the bar without a reservation. Very chilled vibe…read more I can usually tell when service feels genuine, and somehow the bartenders here made everyone feel genuinely engaged while naturally knowing when to give you space. The cocktails are interesting and thoughtfully created. Unlike a typical mezcal-based cocktail, Promiscuous wasn't tropical or fruity at all, but more spirit-forward with a little spice. Highly recommend. It made me curious about what else they could offer. I noticed almost everyone was doing the $48 four-course tasting experience, so I decided to give it a try. Although I'm not a big fan of deep-fried food, I actually really liked the coconut shrimp tempura. Among the four courses, the yellowtail "roll" was the most special. It's not really a roll in the traditional sense -- crispy on the outside, with the yellowtail wrapped around it in a very creative presentation. The portion of the four- courses was surprisingly generous; I ended up taking most of it home. Since I Left You is an Old Fashioned variation with miso, blackberry, cardamom and cacao. If, like me, you dig creative takes on an Old Fashioned, don't miss this one. I came in just looking for a chilled place to have a drink, and ended up staying for the whole experience. That probably says enough.

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    Free WiFi
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    I booked reservations on line for two people Saturday 1:30 which was $15pp. the time slots after…read morethat were $17pp. We took a little longer then expected to find a parking spot so we arrived 10 mins late to our booking time. The staff was so nice they slid our time slot by 15 mins so we could keep to the 90min total duration. We were quickly taken to our bay and was provided instructions on logging in to the system and selecting the games etc. the games were sooo fun! It really showed our competitive spirit! There were lines on the ground denoting your level of expertise so it's customizable to your skill level. We order a few drinks which were delivered quickly and tasted fantastic! The decor and vibe was so awesome!! There was so much to see and surprises at every turn. No spoilers but check it out! Of course we will be back!!

    We only popped in for a quick drink. I had the snapdragon and it was very good, a little on the…read moresweet side (I think due to the lychee) if you prefer sweeter tasting drinks. Really cute ambiance as well. Everyone was so nice and accommodating whilst in the middle of prepping for a private event.

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    Astoria DC

    4.3(643 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Dupont Circle
    •$$$

    First time visiting this place after saving it on my list for a while now. Well, let's just say…read morethat it's worth the hype! Advice: sitting outside might be better in the cooler weather because we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes and fighting off flies. I really hope that they consider some type of nature oils near the tables to help guests feel more comfortable outdoors. Also, it would help to get more than one fan. Hospitality: aside from the bugs encounter, I would say that we did not have reservations (they were packed inside) so the hostess was nice enough to accommodate us outdoor. Our waiter, Anthony was a ball of energy and he really understands the dishes and was able to give great recommendations, some of which we plan to try on our next visit. Portions: the dishes are shareable so we only ordered the beef noodles and walnut shrimp and both were more than enough for a party of 2. DRINKS: I ordered the dark and stormy which can best be described as not too sweet and perfect for anyone desiring a well balanced drink. The bourbon smash was also really good. Well balanced with a smoky flavor which I loved. FOOD: Beef noodles- gosh this was so divine! Be warned however, there is a bit of spice to it but nothing that you won't be able to handle. I think the spices paired with the preparation of the noodles and the beef all made this dish memorable. Walnut shrimp- another memorable dish which came with a side of white rice. The shrimps were HUGE! But the flavors on each shrimp paired with that crunchy texture and creamy sauce, spectacular! Safe to say that we enjoyed both dishes and cannot wait to return and reserve indoor tables lol

    Dishonor to my cow and my entire family for not taking a picture of this food! The people here were…read moreso kind--literally the sweetest. I don't even know how to describe the energy in this place, but you can just feel it the moment you walk in. The restaurant has a dark aesthetic that gives it such a cool, cozy ambiance. My daughter and I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons. Everything was so filling that we ended up ordering another bowl of the Dan Dan noodles! And honestly, I still crave them. The Dan Dan noodles were SO good. The sauce was the perfect combination of creamy and spicy, and there was a generous amount of minced pork that balanced everything out really well. The wontons paired perfectly with the chili sauce that came with them! They were spicy--my ears turned red and my nose started running--but I literally could not stop going back for another bite. Even the wontons alone were incredibly filling. I don't live anywhere near this place, and I genuinely wish I did. I traveled pretty far to get here, and I'd absolutely do it again. This was one of those meals that stays on your mind long after you've left!

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    Astoria DC - Interior dining space. Narrow but really nice on the inside.

    Interior dining space. Narrow but really nice on the inside.

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    Fried rice

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    Off The Record - bars - Updated September 2026

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