Just stepped into The Alchemist DC -- crowned Best Bar in DC in both 2024 & 2025 -- and now I see exactly why it holds the title. The space feels part-speakeasy, part-laboratory, where every cocktail is crafted with intention, story, and a little bit of magic. Their mixology roots run deep, drawing on technique + creativity to deliver flavors that feel familiar yet completely new. Here's what I tried (and loved): Lavender Killer Sally -- light + floral with a hint of citrus, beautifully balanced and so easy to sip Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned -- warm + cozy, with notes of brown sugar + ripe banana; it tastes like a dessert you can drink Shared Secrets -- a gin-based peach sangria poured straight from a French press, releasing more fruit + aromatics right at the table -- interactive and delicious Latte Martini -- smooth, creamy, and bold with espresso; a perfect pick for coffee-cocktail lovers Butterscotch Russo -- sweet + silky with rich butterscotch notes; comforting without being too heavy If you're hunting for a cocktail bar that's equal parts craft + creativity, The Alchemist NEEDS to be on your list. 1334 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009 Save this post for your next night out + follow @daithefoodie for more food + drink gems across the DMV! #dmv #datenightdc #dcdatenight #speakeasybar #speakeasydc #dccocktailbars #dcbars #dcbarscene read more

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We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace themed cocktail with chocolate and cherry notes. Both were disappointing. The drinks tasted watered down and unbalanced. The banana flavor in mine was dull and overripe rather than fresh and vibrant. The smoke and fire presentation was nice, but the actual cocktails did not justify the $25 price point. The restroom was unacceptable. There was urine on the floor, a strong foul odor, and the surface was slippery. For a speakeasy positioning itself as upscale, this was a major miss. The space is very small and service was just okay. Overall, the concept has potential, but the execution did not meet expectations. I will not be returning. read more

Good cocktails. Killer Sally was refreshing but a bit too sweet for me. Old Fashioned Fireplace was great, definitely chocolatey and coffee-y. I find Old Fashioned generally a bit too strong for me, but this one was very smooth and rich, and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely heavy though! Very crowded on a Friday night, around 6-7 pm (we were lucky to snag an empty table 10 minutes later). Good service, especially when it was so busy in the night. read more

Speak easy. Though it's pretty easy to notice that the door/entrance. It's in a basement area off U street. Not a ton of space for large groups. Luckily the staff said that we could claim a table until the reservation at 8:30PM came. I ordered the Killer Sally. Quite a good drink, easy to drink, a little on the tart side. I enjoyed the flame with the drink as well, though at a large table, definitely had to stretch to get the shot. It can get pretty tight in the bar. There are a lot of Harry Potter themed drinks and even a I think nimbus 2000 on their wall near the wall. Cute aesthetic. Would definitely come here for a date night. read more

The Alchemist DC - Killer sally - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such a cool speakeasy hidden right on 14th street! I've been twice now within the last 2 weeks and had a great experience both times. They were nominated for best cocktail bars in 2025 and they live up to it! Their menu has a ton of different drink options -- from mezcal, to gin, vodka, whiskey and more. All their drinks are inspired from cultural moments like "Goblet of Fire" from Harry Potter. Every drink has a unique aesthetic make to it -- from drinks set on fire, to smoke bubbles, color changing, or made in an erlenmeyer flask. It's such a unique spot worth checking out! read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Super cool place and incredible cocktails! So unique and for how many there are they came out so quick. I really appreciate the attention to detail and the staff was amazing so friendly, accommodating and helpful read more

The Alchemist DC - Cocktail - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The alchemist was a cool bar to pop into on a Friday night. The halloween decor was nice, not overly done. The atmosphere is dimly lit and not loud at all. Our drinks were superb. Hats off to the bartender. Id you're looking for a chill vibe with great drinks- check them out. read more

The Alchemist DC - Halloween decor - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friends and I wanted to check out this hidden speakeasy after a concert that was at the Black Cat. Unfortunately even on a random weekday, it was still busy but at least there were seats at the bar section where we were able to place our orders in. It's pretty loud in there with the amount of loud chatter from other patrons inside, but I was able to place my order. The server was nice and friendly, and made my drink fairly quick. I got the Goblet of Fire since it was an Apple Cinnamon Mule. The flavors reminded me of fall and I just felt like it was appropriate to drink something in season! When my drink came out it was lit on fire. It was so cool! Even though we were there for a short period of time before heading back home through the Metro, I thought the drink was worth the price and was something to drink again. I do like The Alchemist, it's a nice place to visit! read more

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Our Server Vee, was so nice to us and was so welcoming to us. She greeted us and made sure we had a good experience while we were there. She was so friendly and very attentive! Thanks Vee for a great experience:) read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Can't say enough good things about this place! We went for a 5pm reservation and had to leave within an hour. Our goal was to try as many drinks as we could. And we did! Everything was so good! I'm not even sure where to start... the service was amazing. Our bartender just got back from a trip (literally his luggage was in the back) and he didn't skip a beat! His recommendations were on point. The drinks were so good! The vibe was good - chill and you felt very taken care of. Could not have asked for a better experience. read more

The Alchemist DC - Menu - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A small place and was packed early on a Saturday night. Reservations are probably the best route even though they will still serve you just to stand around and drink your drink. The theme and drinks are cool. The cocktails are around $20 and tip is included in your bill. I got the friday by the fireplace which was good. I tried the alchemist espresso martini and snickerdoodle which were both good but I did prefer the snickerdoodle. Great speakeasy bar and would go again. read more

TOP NOTCH. Made a last minute reservation and they had our seats all reserved. (First ones in so a bit unnecessary but kind!) Bartenders were both AWESOME! Super knowledgeable, incredibly friendly and kind, and also gave us a taste of their NEW cocktail, which was a tequila blood orange that won several competitions. Tried a few different drinks (they're based on GOT and Danerys eggs are on the shelves! :) I know we tried a cherry bloom and a spicy tequila and something with apple but would have to read through the menu. All were excellent. Several tables came in and everyone was quite kind, chatted with a few other people at the bar and was just a good vibe all around. Seems like it would be a great local place. Really cool space, sort of hidden underground! Highly, highly recommended!! read more

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I was pretty disappointed. The menu looks cool, there are lots of cool theatrics for fire, smoke gun, etc. And there are even award winning drinks apparently. But when it came to the tasting, the two cocktails I got tasted pretty similar, just some fruit, a bit of tart, on the gin. Very simple and flat drinks. I like the cool vibes and all, but I didn't like the cocktails. read more

As a former bartender I really have a high ranking for cocktails. I do appreciate they put ingredients and the presentation on the menu so people are not guessing how things will be served. I didn't get the espresso martini because I prefer mine with fresh espresso, while I get it is annoying to have to do, if I am paying $22 for a cocktail I would expect fresher espresso. Not the best gin fizz I ever had, but it was up there. Great little speakeasy on U St. if you plan ahead and make reservations. It's small so you can't walk in during busy times and find a table. No food, but good if you want to enjoy a cocktail or two. Super great service that checks in on you when you need something and knows when you are catching up to steer away. It is dark so be ready to bring the table lamp over to read to menu or have your flashlight ready. Very good for date night or the first night out drink for pictures. read more

The Alchemist DC - Espresso martini and cranberry fizz - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lovedddd the drinks here. We stopped by on a little cocktail bar crawl in the area, and decided to stay for a few rounds because the cocktails are very well made and fun! It smells like incense inside and is very cozy/vibey. 10000% recommend the Killer Sally! read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came here after a bad dinner elsewhere and this place saved the night. I made reservations ahead of time which was a good idea. We arrived at 7:45 pm and the place wasn't full but by 8:15 pm there were no seats available. The menu was extensive with so many delicious looking cocktails. It was hard to make up our minds. I ordered the dragon tequila drink with passion fruit and it was absolutely delicious!!! Highly recommended. My husband ordered the award winning dandelion elderflower cocktail and thought it was too sweet. We asked the bartender if he could add something to make it a bit less sweet and he very nicely said he would make us another one. We thought that was so nice, my husband honestly would have drink it no problem and we told the bartender a few times he didn't need to make a new one but he did. The new drink was perfect! The ambiance was awesome, moody lighting, brick walls and an intimate place. Can't wait to come back to try more! I would highly recommend sitting by the bar, it's pretty cool to watch them make all the different drinks. read more

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They have some unique drinks and the staples. I got the banana old fashioned (pictured) and it exceeded my expectations. I also got the house of dragon. The house of dragon was okay, probably wouldn't order again. Lastly, we ordered some green tea shots. Probably the worst green tea shots I've ever had. This place is a hit or miss with its drinks. I think flavor wise they are pretty solid but I didn't think any of my drinks contained enough alcohol. Not a heavy drinker and after finishing 2 drinks and a shot I didn't even feel a buzz. Not drinking to get drunk necessarily but they could be a little more generous with alcohol given each drink was $15-18. read more

The Alchemist DC - Banana old fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was a cool speakeasy bar. The entrance was a brick wall with door handles hidden behind a set of stairs. There was also signage with the bar name on the outside up the stairs. If you're looking, it won't be too hard to find. The bar offered cool drinks with a performative aspect to them. However, those drinks were not sweet, so they didn't taste as good. I like my drinks to taste like desserts lol. I asked the bartender for sweet cocktail recommendations, and they were Blue Crystal, La Passion, Sakura Fizz, Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Latte, and Lavender Latte. These don't have the pizzaz to them and may not be as Instagramable, but you can be sure to have a good night. I hope the bar will add performances to these drinks in the future. In the back of the menu, there were some mocktails. One of them was a Star Wars inspired drink. * Blue Crystal 5/5 - I loved the beautiful blue color of this drink. We just went to see the Hope diamond so this reminded me of it. It was a tequila cocktail with hints of peach and orange. The taste was sweet and delicious. * Cornelia Street, Manhattan 4/5 - This was a cool drink where the bartender poured the rye bourbon Manhattan into an Erlenmeyer flask. There was smoke and all as if we were conducting a chemistry experiment. Then, he poured it into the drink glass. The taste wasn't great but it was a neat experience. read more

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Fair prices, creative and tasty drinks. Nice atmosphere too! Would stop again for a drink or two. read more

It's actually a pretty good cocktail bar. I really like the vibe and the experience was good. Here's what I imbibed Plus the other thing I like about this place is they put on the menu what gets set on fire, IE flamed, or what comes with a smoke bubble. It's a nice gimmick but it was definitely catchy. Sakura fizz: excellent I even liked the frothy alcoholic stuff they put on it was very cool. Nice pretty color too Old fashioned: meh, not very good but it did have a smokey taste Mezcal sour: probably the best drink I had the entire night. Was simply excellent very good combination of flavors House of dragon: terrible. Extremely sour, the taste didn't match at all Killer Sally: was okay. I wouldn't get this again. I like the ambiance. Service was very good we did have an issue with the AC duct leaking and pouring on us and getting a sweat so they did get us some free drinks to compensate and when I do appreciate that. Parking in this area is extremely tight. So make sure you Uber or come at a time when it's easier to park. The entrance is also pretty neat it kind of looks like a brick wall. There is somebody outside to help you in case you go in circles lol. I think this is a place I could definitely see myself at again. read more

Well, Well, Wellllll !! This place has been on my radar for at least a year now. It ended up being everything I wished and more. I must admit, I couldn't find the door for an extra 6 seconds, but it worked out. Haha Walked in, and it was aesthetically perfect. It looks just like you would expect "The Alchemist " to look !! Symbols everywhere like art. Larger than most speakeasy's and better lit than most without running the ambiance. I had a reservation, but I was super early. Hubby and I teamed up w another couple and grabbed a table for 6 once it cleared. Aakash initially gave us beverage menus when we entered and assisted us throughout our visit. The menu was quite impressive. I saw the menu online (Yelp), and it was 4 months old. Of course, they still have the same selection. Nope, 25% or more of the menu had already been updated, and the selections were just as great. We ordered an LA Passsion and an Alchemist Old Fashion. Both beverages were amazingly great and full!! AMAZINGLY!! Our guy Aakash made sure we wanted for nothing and provided wonderful customer service. I highly recommend this speakeasy to anyone looking to hang out in a chill environment. They can seat up to 7 comfortably and have the best beverages to date !! THANK YOU The Alchemist for providing such a great experience as hubby and I was celebrating our 22nd Anni. read more

The Alchemist DC - Alchemist Old Fashion & LA Passion... PERFECTO !! - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cute speakeasy but no food (supposedly you can bring your own?) We sat at the bar and got water quickly but took a bit for our drink orders to be put in. They didn't really ever refill waters which was a bummer. The elixir of life was good but a bit sweet. The old fashion was good too. Everything had a Smokey element which was definitely cool but the drinks themselves weren't life changing. Few points off for slower service (never got a drink refill on the water), and an absolutely flood bathroom which was equal parts unsafe and gross. read more

My partner and I came on a weekend night, and it was quite busy. The only available spot was a long table so we sat on one end. We ordered the clock & dagger and killer sally. Both drinks come with a "show" with the clock & dagger having the bubble(s), and killer sally with the fire. For presentation, they were both great. However, for the drink itself, they were only ok so we were a bit disappointed. Drinks are roughly $18 each. We had to move down the table as a party made reservations, however they were unable to find the reservation. We didn't mind, however I would hope my reservations would go through at any establishment. Staff were friendly, however service got quite slow once it got busier. The bar is not exactly hidden, and it's dimly lit. It can get loud at times. read more

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The Alchemist was my first DC speakeasy that I have been to and man was I impressed. You can't beat the dark ambiance and the ability to grab a high quality drink. I recommend coming in during their HH to score some pretty good deals. Our bartender, Akash provided some baller service and even made my date and I some custom off menu shots. Akash was a great conversationalist and even told us the story of how the bar came to be. I will be returning here many times and heard later at night the bar gets even more fun. My favorite drinks were the go fig or go home, clarified New York sour and the chocolate chip cookie dough whiskey shots. read more

5 stars for a great specialty drink bar. I've been to several speakeasys around DC and in general and, while they are often cool or suave, the drinks are usually more about quality than fun. At the Alchemist, located near the intersection of 14th and U, you get a little bit more of that fun to go with the quality. I first checked out the Alchemist with some friends about a year ago because we were in the area. We went down some stairs to a dark and relatively simple bar area. We took a seat and the waiter/bartender immediately said hello and brought us menus. I say it plural because the venue has a more standard menu (including a few snacks like chips) and then generally a speciality menu. While the drinks I've had on subsequent visits show the change is more about theme, the drinks on that menu offer quite a show. What do I mean? Well, as shown in my picture with this review, you can get fire. Other options include a smoke bubble and smoke and lots of other fun options. Unlike other speciality drink bars though, the accompanying drink was actually delicious! Who knew fun could also mention quality? The prices were what you would expect (I think around $20 per), but in line with what you get. Overall, the Alchemist provides a fun and quality drink spot. If you are in the area, definitely consider checking this spot out. read more

The Alchemist DC - Song of Ice and Fire - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time in DC and wanted to celebrate with some drinks and a good atmosphere. Our server, V, was absolutely amazing and made our experience 100x better. Highly recommend this place for a small intimate experience. Ordered the Captain Sparrow, Goblet of Fire, Once Upon a Thyme, Santiago's Dream, and Not Like Us. Recommend for first timers in DC read more

Amazing Harry Potter themed cocktails. I ordered the Goblet of Fire, which is their Apple Cinnamon Mule. They light this drink of fire, which is quite the presentation. My friend ordered the Old Fashioned and this was served with a skull where they also light something on fire to get that smokey taste for the drink, also pretty with its presentation. Drinks were approximately $18 a glass, which is pretty reasonable for cocktails, especially with the work that they're putting into them. The place is super crowded and there was only one server taking orders for the entire space with two mixologist. They could hire a few more servers to make things more efficient. read more

The Alchemist DC - Goblet of Fire - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Alchemist is a trendy speakeasy tucked away somewhat along the U Street corridor. As busy and frantic as U Street may get - the minute you walk into The Alchemist, you are whisked away to a swanky Whiskey Bar with great craft cocktails. The venue has a very intimate feeling and vibe, and the decor is all reminiscent of molecular cocktail chemistry!! I LOVEEEEE cocktails with drama... And so I was ecstatic with the cocktails my friend and I ordered... Killer Sally & House of Dragon!! Looking forward to going back for more cocktails and cheer. read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great concept in a building of really cool conceptual bars. The burning incense at the front door was a little bit intense if you were sitting by the front door where it consistently walked into you and overpowered the scent of the drinks and everything else that was going on. Prices were about average for the location in the perception of value was about average as well. read more

The Alchemist DC - Old fashioned and cabin fever...a little smoke and fire - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fun menu with delicious drinks that is constantly be updated. Bartenders are attentive and drinks are perfect. I prefer weekdays for a more lowkey vibe but any day is a great time to stop by. read more

This was a cute speakeasy off of U street. Small, more lit than a traditional speakeasy and nice cocktails! The service was quick as well! read more

The Alchemist DC - Bar - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Alchemist for the win-- great place to escape the heat, have some awesome drinks and have some witty banter of JT. He creates some incredible cocktails. Be prepared to be amazed! I enjoyed Hagrid's Secret which is gin based then the Goblet of Fire which is like a cinnamon mule! read more

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My friend and I visited on a wintery night. Though we called ahead and were told we didn't need a reservation, when we arrived and tried to sit at the table, we were asked if we had a reservation and were sat at the bar instead. The bartender who served my friend and I only cleared his glasses and not mine. Inside is very dimly lit and gives secluded basement. My favorite bit of decor was the Harry Potter broom on the wall. The three stars are drinks, but because the service was less than desirable, I deducted two stars. It is possible with a different bartender, I would have different feelings read more

I'll start by saying the service was good. However, this place is cheap, they could have turned the AC on... and the DRINKS, if you want to pay $25 for smoked benchmark (well whiskey for those who don't know), get the old fashioned. If you're not putting prices on the menu you should be delivering in quality and not just show. Very disappointing for such a highly rated place. read more

Our first adult night out in DC after the big move led us to The Alchemist--a cocktail bar so cool, even the entry feels like you're stepping into a secret. Friends from Atlanta, visiting on their daughter's recommendation, joined us at this hidden gem. From the outside, it's unassuming, but once inside, you're greeted by a dimly lit, intimate space with a speakeasy vibe that makes you forget you're just a stone's throw from the bustling streets. The atmosphere was almost perfect, though a small stage for live music would have completed the speakeasy feel. Note to self: if you're over 40 like me, bring your readers and utilize your phone's flashlight. The menu, while stylishly crafted, is a bit of a challenge to decipher in the dark ambiance, unless you've got a flashlight handy. I eventually decided on a cocktail (wish I remembered its name) that tasted as magical as it cost--nearly $20, but every sip was worth it. My fiancé's drink was equally delightful, though its name escapes us now. Though crafty cocktails are The Alchemist's specialty, they don't offer food, the creative concoctions alone make this place a must-visit. Our wallets whispered that one round was enough (we were hungry for more than cocktails), but the experience itself was a satisfying adventure. We'll definitely be back, with friends in tow, for another round in this enchanting underground hideaway! read more

We were excited to try out Alchemist - a new speak easy style bar on 14th & U. It is super small and intimate - it's a basement bar without any windows. Cool cocktail ideas, the drinks were fine but nothing out of this world. It didn't seem like there was a food menu if you wanted to order a snack with your cocktails. I love a foamy shaken espresso martini - so this one wasn't on I would reorder. Unfortunately there was a really off putting smell that definitely discouraged guests from sticking around for another round. Hoping with more time they can iron out some of these issues! read more

The Alchemist DC - Espresso martini - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was looking for a nice spot to get a drink after dinner and I saw that the place was pretty quiet (speakeasy), in walking distance, and took reservations and the Alchemist checked all these boxes. We made our way over on a rainy Saturday night around 8PM. It was hard to find at first and we almost missed it (also because of the rain). When we got in someone came over immediately and offered us a table for us and brought us a bunch of paper towels to dry ourselves off which was much appreciated. They were super patient with us while we tried to get all the rain off us. It's pretty dim so keep that in mind (unless you sit under the disco ball like we did). Prices were on par for DC ($15-18) so we couldn't be too mad at that but the menu also didn't show prices now that I think of it. Each of us only grabbed one drink but they were all pretty solid (some much stronger than others). I got the Hagrid's Secret which was a Gin Fizz with a special secret (they told me what it was but I forgot) and it was really good. I didn't get to try the other ones but we also got the Nine and Three Quarters, La Passion, and the Apple Fool as well. The place wasn't super big but it was perfect place for an after dinner drink. Worth checking out for the drinks but you won't be disappointed by the service. read more

The Alchemist DC - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ok, so we got to the alchemist which inside seemed to be buzzing with a good vibe but instead we were invited to their sister bar upstairs, "The Craft" as the bar was at capacity. Honestly, this was more of a step sister as it was nothing compared to what was happening downstairs, it was dull without laughter and chatter and the menu seemed a bit more to theme, morbid. The name of the drink I got speaks volumes Mask of death. However it tasted great and I'll give them 5 stars as at least they had an alternative if their main spot was too full and from what I saw I could assume the alchemist is a watering hole of a good time. read more

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The Alchemist isn't all that hidden, though its door doesn't look like you can open it, and there are no windows! I love how the sign from U Street spells the name with periodic table element boxes! As soon as you step inside, there's a nice tall water fountain to the left, and a table nestled in a corner under a disco ball. There are tables all around, but omg they're so dimly lit! My party initially sat at one the only open table at the time for our party size, and we had to use our flashlights to see the menu. Luckily, the bar simultaneously cleared up and someone had a reservation for our table so we moved! Now, the bar is nice and lit, and you see a display of a bunch of cool infused spirits. I'm talking apple pie whiskey, peanut butter whiskey, sour apple rum, rosemary butterfly gin... cool stuff! There is also a menu of cool cocktails -- some are Game of Thrones-themed (eww) lol. The Frostbite I got was a frothy baby blue, but it tasted like a dessert... I liked it! The peanut butter whiskey shot I had 'might' have been better than Skrewball. As we enjoyed our drinks, I noticed that the place completely filled up. Yet, there was only one bartender the entire time. Despite this, somehow we didn't have an obnoxious wait time. And I loved how the bartender was calm and collected the entire time -- he didn't act flustered or rushed around. He perfected every drink he made. I appreciated that attitude and I don't think I've ever experienced that in a full house before. Aside from the dim lighting at the tables, one other thing was that everyone's voices completely drowned out the music. I'm used to more of a balance between the two. I'd return though. read more

The Alchemist DC - The menu! - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very easy to find, I would say it's not a full speakeasy because of the sign out front. Pretty dark inside but a waiter attended to us immediately, gave us menus (prices unmarked, about $16) and waters. However I expected the drinks to come out quickly because it wasn't crowded at all (maybe ~15 people) and we waited 10+ minutes. Regardless the drinks were good! Not very strong though. I got the frostbite (frothy blue tequila, orange and chocolate hints) and it was unlike anything I've had before- would recommend. Friend got a cosmo (pink) also not bad, another got a passion fruit cocktail (orange)- easily the best of the three. Overall, would recommend this place! read more

The Alchemist DC - Frostbite, la passion, cosmo - Speakeasies Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia