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    The Alchemist DC

    4.2 (117 reviews)
    Special Hours 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    The Alchemist DC Photos

    THE ALCHEMIST DC ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Happy hour specials

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    Killer sally
    Eva L.

    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.

    Tara R.

    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!

    Cocktail
    Shannon F.

    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

    Halloween decor
    Jennifer C.

    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.

    Special Drinks
    Jon T.

    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!

    Burnett A.

    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:)

    Menu
    Andrea A.

    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.

    Bubbles!
    Holly M.

    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!!

    Espresso martini and cranberry fizz
    Jenn C.

    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.

    Sarah H.

    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!

    Lucia B.

    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.

    Banana old fashioned
    Lauren C.

    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.

    Cornelia Street, Manhattan 4/5 (left) and Blue Crystal 5/5 (right)
    Nhue G.

    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.

    Alchemist Old Fashion & LA Passion... PERFECTO !!

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    Ask the Community - The Alchemist DC

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    It's a 21+ speakeasy bar

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    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

    Death & Co DC - Fool's Gold

    Death & Co DC

    (111 reviews)

    $$$

    Shaw, Downtown

    I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

    Bar scene so sexy, you decided to add it permanently on your date night list! Come along as I…read morereview Death & Co DC!!!! Ambiance: from the outside you'd have no idea that a hidden treasure awaits you up a flight of stairs. The decor was very mysterious, perfectly dimmed, and sexy. They added greenery near the hostess station to create what I would describe as an exotic/jungle vibe. This area also contained a beautiful small bar and a few cozy seatings. Next, the hostess led us to a table inside where the magic of candles, cozy tables, and intimate booths immediately meets your eyes. Did I mention that we sat in most comfy green velvet chairs in our cozy booth? How sexy! Service: our waiter, Jordan, was the best! He provided great service and recommendations. However, shoutout to the rest of the staff because it was truly all hands on deck. Drinks: the bartender is indeed a mixologist! There is no question of the magic he created in a glass. Her drink- I ordered the Attractive Nuisance, an elevated spritz. The drink was perfectly balanced with flavors to include G.H. Mumm Champagne, Avua Prata Cachaca, Cocchi Americano, Saffron, Vanilla. I literally tasted all the flavors in the drink and the liquor ratio was just right. Of course I went with another round, you simply have to try it understand why I did. His drink: El Tiburón-Let's just say that he said that this is now one of his favorite cocktails because it was smooth! Small bites: the kitchen was out of mussels and their famous donuts so we decided to try the Franks en Crute, the sexy adult version of pigs in a blanket lol. Such a delicious treat, well balanced flavors giving both sweet (flaky puff pastry) and savory (well grilled wagyu beef). Definitely recommend. The music was perfect for the evening! The bar was filled with all matured folks enjoying their group meets or dates, the atmosphere welcomed all. As I stated earlier, this has now become a regular on the list and I'm excited to visit again.

    The Alchemist DC - speakeasies - Updated May 2026

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