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Sax Restaurant & Lounge

3.4 (746 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated over 3 months ago

Sax Restaurant & Lounge Photos

SAX RESTAURANT & LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Sax Restaurant & Lounge

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Reviews With Photos

Hannah H.

The SAX Dinner Theater and Lounge is a beautiful space, with ornate chandeliers and plenty of seating both on the main floor and upstairs. I came here for a get-together, and it was a great time - the staff were very friendly and personable, and the bites that we had were delicious (ie, beef teriyaki skewers, grilled cheese & tomato soup in a cup, fried mac & cheese balls, charcuterie, etc.)! Cocktails were strong and prepared well, and the live entertainment (aerial dancer, DJ, and a live band) were all great. Definitely a great venue for holidays, get-togethers, and celebrations! Metered street and garage parking available. +tasty bites +friendly service +metered street and garage parking available

Late night
Chelsea A.

Go Wednesday night for the female body show. Bring some ones. It can get lit real fast and can bring a good vibe to your midweek.

a group of people enjoying a meal
Toya D.

Sunday Brunch Recap: Men. Burlesque. Men. Hel-lo! I can't post most of my pics, videos, and commentary, but...please believe a good time was had by ALL. The fellas of 'SIR' -- the all male burlesque review -- really did their thing. Entertainment = Great Food = Decent Booze = Yum Vibe = On point Good for groups. Good for those who wanna gawk at men in their skivvies. This spot is perfect for birthday, bachelorette/bachelor, divorce, or "just because" celebrations. __ I eat. @f.hux I thrift. @dcthriftish

Interior
Vanessa B.

I was here for a DJ set last Saturday, so this place is most definitely not permanently closed unless I was having a fever dream and that DJ set never really happened lol.... Anyway this is a beautiful venue. It's a small venue, but the good news is there's two floors. The bartenders are great - friendly, attentive, efficient. Drink prices are standard; I paid $17 for a bottle of Bud Light and a small bottle of Evian, but that $17 included the restaurant-imposed gratuity (however - always tip extra!!! The staff works hard and deals with LARGE crowds while staying pleasant!!!). My problems with this place are that there is not much seating unless you want to pay for a table (then again I'm old and haven't been to a nightclub since Nation in the early 2000s lol so the lack of seating is probably standard), the carpet or flooring right under the DJ booth on the first floor was STICK.Y. Omg it was like glue. And my last problem is that it's a small venue - but they can't help that. Somehow I ended up literally right outside of the DJ "booth" the whole night, and was within 5-10 feet of my favorite EDM duo (the Knocks) the whole time. For parking - I was easily able to find street parking a block away for the 11p set. I was going to spend $13 trying to park in a garage, but I decided to risk it and I'm glad I did. During the DJ set they had a couple fire dancers in the glass right above the front bar, so that was cool.

Arabic and reggaeton tonight yallaaaaa
Julie A.

the drinks are poured heavy here, the entertainment is unreal (firebreathers, bellydancers, acrobats), and the decor is sooo cute! i came for a party and it did not disappoint. only thing that sucks is i couldn't get hookah because you need to get a table for that.

Aerial performance with chains
Rizma W.

I would like to thank God, Jesus, Allah, Zeus, Bhudda, Loki, and all the other spiritual and otherwise otherwordly homeboys for the best birthday present EVER! Like... EVER. So, check "salsa dancing with a sexy, toned, delectable, well-oiled stripper, to one of my FAVORITE salsa songs ("Valio La Pena", in case you're curious) off of my to-do list. I hadn't even been properly seated and libated before *that* happened. I like a little artistry with my debauchery so this whole show was right up my alley. (And shoutout to Yahweh for all of the salsa lessons I took up to this point...#Prepared). I didn't even know strippers could salsa. Go figure. As opposed to the generic bumping, grinding, and gyrating, there was an added level of creativity and skill to this show which featured aerial artists performing routines on silks, and even on chains. Not chairs... Chains. (Although there were chair dances involved too... Turn up) There was floor-to-ceiling fine (literally) in every flavor you can imagine. There was also a diverse selection of music (everything from salsa to soca), giving a depth and sense of added flavor to the show. The food was pretty good. I had the kale salad as a starter, the shrimp and grits as an entree, and some kind of fruit and whipped cream concoction as dessert. Everything was absolutely delectable. If you can afford it, the splurge for VIP is definitely worth it. Unlimited Mimosas: That's all I'm going to say. This place was a pain in the ass to find, but it's directly across the street from the Grand Hyatt, at the intersection of 11th Street and H Street NW. PRO-TIP: Valet parking is well worth it. It's only $12 and gives you the opportunity to hop out of the car and immediately into the show. Do it! PRO-TIP #2: Bring your ones. Lots of ones. ALL the ones. The men of Sir Sundays work hard to ensure that you leave satisfied. I know I was... The food was great, the entertainment was even better and simply put, this was the best way to spend a birthday.

NY strip steak with crab
VyVy V.

I came here for my first time for my friend's girls' night out birthday dinner! I arrived via Uber and I didn't realize where Sax was since there wasn't a huge sign out front. The ambiance was nice but it was actually a bit smaller than I imagined. We were seated in the corner on the main floor but there's also seating upstairs, with the bathrooms in the basement. Discotheque was the show that was being presented the night we went. The show was cool with different acts throughout - either behind the glass, acrobatics over the bar, or on the main floor. The food was amazing though! I got the NY strip steak with crab and it was delicious and made me feel like the price was worth the whole experience. We didn't stay long enough for the lounge to open but we also came early enough (before the $75 spend minimum). I think Sax is definitely worth a visit at least once in your life for the experience!

Very ending of the show, sorry you'll have to visit in order to see the rest (;
Aaliyah G.

I had a great experience at SAX this past weekend celebrating a girlfriend's birthday. We purchased the package that gave our friend a lap dance, extra attentive table service, as well as a lap dance during the reception! Safe to say that everything went perfectly, shout out to each of the bus boys (especially you, Adrian!!), the strippers (Byron and Bryant!) and our sexy server Kenny!!!!!!!!!! The men danced extremely well and the brunch was beautifully organized around the dining experience. HOWEVER, I was highly disappointed with the music that accompanied the performance of dancer Tom. This lounge attracts many different kinds of people, of varying sexualities. It was discouraging to see their gay performer, Tom, dance to Imagine Dragons. Not sexy at all to the women or men in the audience, I can PROMISE you that. I wouldn't be able to collect a group of people that would be turned on by music that is frequently overplayed in a Kohl's. I need the manager to step it up when it comes to Tom and any other gay performers who'd like to dance to something else. As a straight woman, I would have preferred and enjoyed cheering for Tom as he danced to Britney Spears or something else more fitting to his style of art performance, I'm sure the gays would side with me on that as well. Disgruntling and discouraging to say the least.

Veronica S.

We went to an event on a Saturday night. Great venue for music and dancing, however not sure why they believe they can charge a 20% on top of your bill right away when you only order beer on a bottle. Like it take the bartender a lot of time to open the beer. Also we waited like 10 minutes at the bar. My Tito's with sprite and lime was $16:80. The bartender never showed me the bill. Lesson learn, I might go here for dancing but not for a drink.

Meka D.

I went to sir Sundays brunch. Sax is a very beautiful place, I love the decor. When you come in the staff is guys only and they're in underwearish clothing. They have the ability to provide you with change for tipping. I was pleased with the entertainment. They on a couple of shows. The brunch had a set menu. I wasn't really impressed with the food. We had mixed greens salad, shrimp n grits and chocolate mousse. The only thing I liked was the shrimp n grits. I would come back for entertainment but not the food. I came on a Wednesday about 2 years ago and wasn't impressed with the food then either.

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4 years ago

Amazing atmosphere and food. Honestly the best place to take a client or guests in DC.

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Sax Restaurant & Lounge Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Sax Restaurant & Lounge

Are there nights without burlesque?

Do they have coat check?

Yes. As soon as you walk in just tell the person at the desk and the coat check is on the right.

What is the age restriction?

Sax is a 21 and over venue; regardless of the day or time.

Is there valet service on Sundays for the SIR shows?

Yes, there is valet service in general on most day/nights.

Is I.D. required to get in?

Hi Tiya. I did not have to show my ID (we are 35+)Only my friend did because she made the reservation.

Has anyone sat at the upstairs bar? We're considering sitting there on Sat from 6-8 and have some questions . Can you see the performers from there?…

Good evening. I sat on the bottom and could barely see the performance up top. Sitting upstairs is ideal because you will be straight across from the acrobatic and 'behind the glass' performances. Enjoy

I'm reading up about this place as my family has reservations coming up. On yelp, I'm reading that there is a minimum spending per person which is not on the SAX website. how much is the minimum per person for a party of 5?

Hi Mark, we don’t have a minimum spend on Friday night just on Saturday night when it is $75 per person, thank you.

How much does it cost to come on a Friday night at 11:00pm with a group of 3?

It’s a choice of a $20 admission fee or a bottle service table reservation, bottle packages starting at $300 and available at rafi@saxwdc.com

I was planning on coming here for my bday with my boyfriend, but I'm reading the reviews and most of them are saying that they came with a large group. Does this venue cater to more of a group setting?

Doesn't really matter the group , but they require a current amount spent per person! I went with a group of 4 including myself and we had a great time.

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Review Highlights - Sax Restaurant & Lounge

“The shows by the aerial dancers, the burlesque dancers, and the floor dancers were all impressive and lively.”

Mentioned in 68 reviews

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9:30 Club - Baylen

9:30 Club

3.9(798 reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$

Wow I can't even count the number of shows I've seen here in my lifetime. As I'm originally from…read morePittsburgh, it was nothing to make the drive to catch some of our favorite bands performing. This old school punk venue has been around since the early 80s and I started seeing shows here in my late teens. The history behind this place is just mind-blowing and incredible. To me it's one of the best places to see a live band. The sound is spot on. I've seen Fugazi (sadly never got to see Minor Threat), Bad Brains, and several other bands here. Iconic and legendary venue... for music lovers it's a must at least once to see a performance here.

Solid concert venue in a convenient location in DC. Parking is available on surrounding streets if…read moreyou arrive early enough. You can also pay for a parking pass through their website but the lot only opens up an hour beforehand so be sure to plan your evening with that in mind. We ended up parking on the street for only $3 since we arrived early to grab dinner nearby. The entry line was super long and literally went around the block but it moved surprisingly fast. Staff was friendly and helpful at the door. The inside was dark when we arrived and it would've been nice to have some house lights so people could find their way around the venue a little easier. The AC was cranking and the temp was comfortable. Upstairs has standing room and some bleachers which provides a good view with less of a crowd. Their VIP area looks nice and I'd be interested in splurging next time for a seat and a better view. There's bars downstairs and upstairs and even some food concessions. Getting out of the venue from the balcony was a bit stressful with only one way out. It makes you imagine what would happen if you needed to get out in a rush... other than that, it's a good space.

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9:30 Club - Evil 04.09.2025

Evil 04.09.2025

9:30 Club
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The Kennedy Center - National Symphony Orchestra

The Kennedy Center

4.3(703 reviews)
1.6 mi•Foggy Bottom

Very beautiful space; free admission and free concert at Eisenhower Theater lobby . Resteraunt and…read morecafe at upper floor and wrap around outdoor balcony patio with panoramic views

Washington, DC - there's is only a small handful of performing arts presenters & venues in this…read morecountry that's on par with the Kennedy Center in significance and scope of programming, among them Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and Walt Disney Hall & Hollywood Bowl in LA. On any given day, you can find a diverse slate of performances and events, ranging from classical & opera, to jazz, dance. broadway & musicals, theater, country & bluegrass, comedy, popular programming, kids/family shows, films, variety, and special themed events...always an abundant lineup! I've been to the KC a fair share over the years and have attended all sorts of events here: orchestra performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, productions by the Washington National Opera, chamber music concerts on the Fortas Series, galas, festivals, indie shows, and community programs at the REACH. And each time I'm awed being at this cultural center in the Capitol city, which exhibits the highest caliber of artistic excellence in the nation and on the world stage. The building itself is huge and imposing, but there are helpful staff everywhere to answer questions and direct you where you go. Because the footprint is so big, if it's your first time visiting, definitely leave plenty of extra time to walk up to the building and find the right hall/entrance, pick up tickets, and get settled in your seats. For pre-concert dining, there are a couple of options on premises: the more formal Roof Terrace Restaurant, or the casual KC Café which has hot food as well as grab-n-go sandwiches and snacks. Both are located on the Terrace level above the Hall of Nations. Otherwise, there aren't many options super close by without venturing into Foggy Bottom. Tazza, and Kingbird at the Watergate Hotel or its lobby bar/restaurant Next Whisky Bar are the only outside options within a 10-minute walk. The only thing I don't love is, if you're taking a taxi/Uber, it's pretty crazy at the end of the night when everyone is leaving and you're all waiting for your car on the long and chaotic line in the taxi stand area. The Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station is about a 10-minute walk. (There are free shuttles between the metro stop and KC.) Oh and check out the back of the building which has a lovely promenade where you can stroll along the Potomac River! It's peaceful and scenic. Too bad the recent politicization of KC is casting a shadow over the institution, but it is not going anywhere, and my review speaks only to the many wonderful performances that have been put on there and the hard working staff who continue to produce the best season possible. To quote conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya's thoughtful and passionate op-ed in the Washington Post (which you ought to read in its entirety): "Art is no mere commodity, like a boycotted product sold by an exploitative corporation or an aggressor in a war. Art has the capacity to change minds, shift cultures, challenge assumptions. Choosing not to perform deprives artists and art of power, and it aids regimes that fear being culturally challenged. Choosing not to attend performances of content we support will only ensure that this content is not presented in the future." Wurd!

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The Kennedy Center - Javier Colon

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The Kennedy Center - Jennifer Koh performing the Fortas Chamber series season closing concert 6/8/25 of Bach's complete Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin

Jennifer Koh performing the Fortas Chamber series season closing concert 6/8/25 of Bach's complete Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin

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Signature Theatre - Set design for Play On!

Signature Theatre

4.6(123 reviews)
5.3 mi•Shirlington

I came to see Pippin at this theater and cannot begin to express how impressed I was with the…read moretalent here. From singing to costuming to choreography, each performer gave everything to the audience. Since this is a theater in the round in a very intimate setting, I had my concerns that I would be in a section in which the performers had their backs to me. Quickly I realized that the seasoned cast is skilled at playing to each side and the staging wouldn't inhibit anyone's view. I purchased tickets with a partial view ( Row 4), and felt that my view from there was better than many Broadway shows I've attended. I did not find them to inhibit the show in any way, and the leg room was spacious. I really enjoy watching the support cast (chorus) and in this show particularly their roles were important to every element and integrated into the foreground. This is something you often don't see in traditional shows where the leads are foreground and the chorus is just left to be background noise. Great job by all. The theater is located near some eateries and an ice cream shop, but take advantage of this before the show. I felt every single person headed right to the ice cream shop after the show, and some of the eateries closed just as we exited at 9:00pm on a Sunday.

Now that the Signature Theatre is on my radar screen, I am happy to report that my 2nd visit - to…read moresee Pippin - reflects a live theater experience that is fantastic. I have already rated the theater facility/building as great so I won't go into much more detail about that. Although here goes - the building's entry is grand, the lobby is welcoming and exciting and the ushers/staff are friendly and first rate. The performance of Pippin that I saw was likewise first rate. Signature Theatre has taken a show I have seen multiple times in the past, and freshened it up. A lot! Presented in the round - which I normally do not like - it presents like live-action happening right in front of your eyes for the 1st time. And the theater is small enough that I felt immersed in the action! Indeed, several times, players would come right up into the seats and interact with me and other audience members. It really made the show seem like a story being presented for first time, spontaneously, right in front of me. And, the performances were so fresh, so intense that I felt that each and every emotion/action was directed only to me. Very nicely staged! The quality of talent in this show is also noticeable. Particular kudos to the man who portrayed Pippin. The ensemble too was Broadway caliber. The dancing in particular was exhilarating! I felt every kick and twist. Fosse lives in this production! This show is old, however, having been first conceived in the early 1970's. But there was very little that was tired or old or vintage. It was fresh and cutting edge. The Signature production was unlike any of the other presentations of Pippin I have seen. The actors' entrances came in from the audience entrances - all 4 corners of the theater - and it was enthralling. The close proximity made every actor seem like they were talking/singing just to me. It was the kind of show that you really need to see more than once because there is so much going on all at once. Bravo to the Signature Theatre once again!

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Signature Theatre - Bass Fiddle used in Crazy For You

Bass Fiddle used in Crazy For You

Signature Theatre
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Ivy & Coney

Ivy & Coney

3.9(206 reviews)
0.8 mi•Shaw
•$

What a vibey spot! My friend and I came here for a quick bite and drink before going elsewhere and…read moreit was so fun. I definitely felt like the oldest person here and somewhat felt like a college bar, but that was kinda fun! The bartender was awesome and the wings were incredible. Such a fun spot to bop to in DC!

I arrived here Tuesday for their Italian Beef sandwich. I almost walked past at least 3 times…read morebecause I overlooked it. It was a walk upstairs & the bar was quite small. The layout kinda reminds me of Toki Underground on H St. The ambiance was that of a regular bar, but with Chicago sports teams all over the ceiling & walls. I must say the sandwich was meh mainly due to the giardiniera not being spicy nor oily (it was vinegary but not truly pickled then sat in oil at the minimum for the classic Chicago styled giardiniera), and the au ju/ seasoned beef gravy tasted like regular cheap beef broth, not the unique flavor it's most notably known for. The bread was not the correct French roll typically used for the sandwich to soak up the juices. I noticed that there was no option to make it an "Italian beef combination sandwich" to add an Italian sausage link. It also was not double dipped in the au ju/ seasoned beef gravy. The sandwich tasted nothing like the original Chicago Italian beef sandwich. It was a bit of a let down because I had high hopes, but I also understand that sometimes, things will not taste the same outside of the place/ region it originated at. The only things I did like was how toasty/ fresh the roll was despite it not being the classic French roll. While I think the place is pretty okay, I do hope they can attempt to perfect the sandwich or at least come much closer to having it being truly Chicago styled. As someone with deep Chicago roots, I was disappointed and it felt like low-effort with failure to tap into potential they know is there.

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Ivy & Coney
Ivy & Coney - Speed Castle Pilsner

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Sax Restaurant & Lounge - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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