I must say, this is one of my new favorite hidden gyms! This cozy Alexander Graham Bell themed restaurant and bar has so many delicious treats and drinks on their menu. Their specialty bathtub gin is a must when you visit! Both the gin and tonic are made in-house at the Alex! There is also a beautiful rooftop with a view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the monuments! I can't wait to return! read more

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My husband, 2 month old son, and I visited The Alex for brunch during restaurant week. Yep, you read that right; we brought our baby. Funniest part was when we were leaving and the young(ish) millennial table next to us could be heard saying "oh my gosh, there's a baby here!" Yes, we got lucky and he was quiet during our time there but we also planned it right. We arrived promptly at 11am, knew what we wanted so we ordered quickly, food arrived smoothly, and we were out in slightly over an hour. I'd rate this as an amazing brunch experience for us considering this was only the second time we took our son to a restaurant and this one is not exactly kid friendly. Bathroom is on the lobby level and it's a singular stall with no changing table. Luckily, we never needed one. We also sat at an end two top table and had the carrier next to the table on the floor. It worked for us but might not for all. Anyways , The Alex is a speakeasy destination by evening that offers a killer brunch by daylight. I'm not one for eating brunch out too much because my husband makes a bomb egg,ham,cheese breakfast sandwich and who can beat homemade mimosas with TJ sparkling (yup, I'll own being basic), but I LOVE RW and I thought brunch would be our best bet with a baby. Our server was great and on top of everything! It also helps that there are fewer than 10 tables and multiple servers were running around. Mimosas are $9 for the first and $1 after so of course we took advantage of that! We did cranberry but there is also traditional OJ and grapefruit. The bacon bloody Mary's looked on point ....sigh, next time I suppose. For the 3 course $22 we had an insane amount of food. As for an appetizer I chose the chicken and biscuit only because my husband chose the shrimp and grits and I wanted to try both. The grits were very rich, cheesy, and creamy. There was a nice amount of shrimp and the Cajun cream added a nice kick. Continuing on the basic train, we didn't ask for a separate bowl for the tails like the table next to us haha. The chicken and biscuit was really tasty too. The gravy wasn't overly heavy, the chicken tender with crisp breading , and the biscuit soft and fluffy. I enjoyed the few carrot shreds for a contrasting texture point. For entrees, I chose the chicken and waffles and my husband the hammered pork with eggs and hollandais and mashed potatoes. I definitely preferred my dish to his and he felt the same about his so it was a win-win. I loved how my waffles had sugar cubes in them as they did when we went to Belgium a year ago. The chicken was exactly like the appetizer-tender with a crisp fried outside. There was only syrup drizzling around the edge while I noticed other tables given a goblet of syrup but, honestly, it was tasty enough to not be doused in syrup so I never asked for any. My husband really enjoyed his dish. He says the pork was succulent. The hollandaise had a nice kick to it. Dessert was a slight disappointment-they ran out of chocolate souffle do it was either apples tart or coconut cake and we both dislike coconut so apple tart it is! It was slightly warmed but could use more cinnamon inside and a la mode would have been more appropriate. Overall, our brunch was delicious, service pretty good, and the valet attendants were AMAZING! They brought our car seat carrier down when we forgot it (First time payent problems), and they took out the base getting it out and helped my husband get it back in! Oh, valet is $20, but worth it if you have a baby; if not I'd walk it from a garage. I'd definitely be happy to return to try it out night time and I'm so thankful our first brunch with baby was do fantastic! read more

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I had a reservation last night and drove into DC. When we walked in, The Alex was closed and no one at the hotel could give us an answer for why it was closed and why no one had called to cancel our reservation. The least they could have done is give us a call ahead so we wouldn't waste our time. Save yourself the hassle and head over to Chez Billy Sud down the street instead--we were able to salvage our night out there. read more

I can't speak to the bar as it is actually closed -- Yelp incorrectly indicates they are open. Per their website (10/20/2020): The Alex Craft Cocktail Cellar & Speakeasy at The Graham Georgetown is TEMPORARILY CLOSED In response to the continued risk of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and to encourage social distancing to help stop its spread, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close our Speakeasy, the Alex. We will keep you posted as this situation evolves and look forward to welcoming you back soon, as only the Graham can. If you have an upcoming reservation at one of our restaurants, our team will be in touch to reschedule, or feel free to contact us directly. Thank you for your understanding and please be safe! BUSINESS HOURS: TEMPORARILY CLOSED read more

TLDR: Amazing Cocktails, Amazing Staff, Mediocre Food. Stopped in for drinks and dinner in this speakeasy spot in Georgetown. Decided to sit at the bar as that's our preferred way to experience cocktail bars and it did not disappoint. Throughout our visit we chatted with the bartender and server about cocktails and food while taking recommendations of drink options. Their speciality cocktails are great (Pigs N Peat especially) and we took some off menu recommendations from the bartender who was aptly named Alex and were never disappointed. They have a great selection of quality liquor and Alex is a true cocktail master. The loss of a star comes from the food. The appetizers weren't bad (hummus, ricotta toast) but the main course of sous vide tenderloin was a let down. Steak was pretty bland and the broccolini described on the menu was simply steamed broccoli. The highlight of the main course was the elote corn which can be had as an appetizer by itself. Overall we'll 100% be coming back and bringing friends but will opt out of dining in-house. read more

The Alex - Pigs and Peat. Great Smokey cocktail. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great craft cocktails! Speak easy style ! Fantastic drinks ! I had the Most and my partner had Gatsby ! We share BRUJERIA ! Get it ! GREAT PRESENTATION how the drink was made ! Great drink to end the night ! Our fave drink to end the day ! All 3 drinks were incredible! We will be back ! Bartender was impeccable explaining our drinks ! GO ! read more

The Alex - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This speakeasy is FIRE. If you get the chance to drink by the hand of the head mixologist, Adam, you're in for a treat. Drinks that come out of smokey chests and BATHTUBS, YES BATHTUBS, this is a unique place with that romantic speakeasy vibe you are used to. Definitely check this out, if you're lucky enough to find out how to get in! ;) I would tell you but I don't want to ruin it. Have fun!!! read more

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After this place took my reservation/card and ended up refusing my entry due to a surprise "private event," I thought I'd never go back. I decided to give this place another shot. The result: meh. The Alex wants to be a cool speakeasy, and has some cool elements which head in that direction, but it's underwhelming in all other aspects. The location itself (inside of the Graham, a hotel) means that the location itself is already far from a secret - it feels a bit more like the Disneyland approach to a speakeasy. The decor is definitely speakeasy-esque (I particularly enjoyed the menus), but kinda lacks authenticity or any sort of punch. There's some attempt at blending Victorian elements with Prohibition Era stuff, which just kinda feels like an awkward mish-mash. There was a photo shoot going on when I was there, which honestly made me feel uncomfortable - I don't like the idea of ducking cameras to enter a speakeasy. The drinks here are just OK. None are particularly bad, but none are particularly good, either. You can throw a stick and find better bars in Georgetown. The food is fairly similar. Big picture: there are way, way better places in Georgetown. Don't bother with this one. read more

Great service, tasty drinks. The air conditioning was broken but they provided plenty of ice water, and warned us before we sat down. I found the door code on Yelp and had it memorized, but the concierge gave it to me anyways when I asked for confirmation that it's the unmarked door with a numeric lock. read more

A friend and I were sneaker shopping and decided to come here on a whim on a Friday night. I didn't know this place existed and I must say I really love the concept of this being a speak easy. The restaurant is very quaint and intimate. It's dimly lit so it really creates a sultry vibe. We decided to sit at the bar and the bartenders are really awesome. They're super friendly and attentive and very knowledgeable about drinks. I decided to order the appetizer shrimp and the risotto entree that came with Brussel sprouts. I'll say I thought the paring of Brussel sprouts with risotto was a little odd but it worked really well and the flavors complimented each other. The food was tasty and the drinks were great. I'll deff be back to visit. I will day though it gets pretty busy so it may be best to call ahead and make a reservation. Luckily we were able to walk in. read more

The Alex - Firecracker shrimp and risotto - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My mom and I were first introduced to The Alex Cocktail Cellar & Speakeasy through Adam, the head bartender, whom we became fans of when he was at Kapnos Kouzina. We are so glad that we chose The Alex to celebrate Children's Day as it was a truly fun-filled experience of fantastic craft cocktails and delightful food, friendly and engaging service, and exciting atmosphere! Hearkening back to days of American Prohibition, the ambiance is a classy, retro, and dramatic, beginning with the entrance--we checked in at the lobby of The Graham Hotel where we received a pass-code to punch into a special door leading downstairs to the basement speakeasy. After walking down the stairs, we were greeted and presented with menus in the form of a quaint newspaper. Seat at the bar, we had an absolute ball watching Adam, Andrew, and Dusan diligently working their craft with flourish and indulging us with knowledge about mixology. Wanting to enjoy a good variety without consuming too much booze, we requested mini-versions of our 4 cocktails. Below are what we ordered (in chronological order) for 4-course cocktail "tasting" meal: - "Shhhhhhh" Knowing that we enjoyed refreshing but not too-sweet cocktails, Adam prepared for us an upcoming rendition of this speakeasy-monikered drink. The Pineapple, Basil, Lime, Tequila, Dry Curacao, Velvet Falernum, and Prosecco created the perfectly appetizing start to the evening. The pretty lime green-hued cocktail was refreshing with the pineapple and basil as the stars. - ANDREW'S SPECIAL Tempted by the attractive foamy being crafted in front of us, we asked Andrew to make an egg white-based cocktail for us. With Pineapple, Grapefuit, Maple, Aperol, Becherovkat, and Bitters Syrup, it creamy and herbaceous with a bit of autumnal flair (appropriate as our weather has been wildly fluctuating between all four seasons seemingly every week). - FROZEN HIBISCUS MARGARITA Since our celebration coincided with the American drinking holiday of Cinco de Mayo, Adam suggested we try his version of the frozen margarita. We could taste and feel the pride in his creation as the sweetness, tartness, ideal texture, and presentation were all well-harmonized--our favorite of the evening! - WAGYU HANGER STEAK with Chimichurri, Fingerling Potatoes, Carrot, Onion, and Bell Peppers Petite in portion, the quality meat was prepared simply to highlight the ingredient together with nicely complementing accompanying vegetables. Great to enjoy to balance the booze! - Mini-Cast Iron PAELLA of Crab Claw, Scallops, and Jumbo Shrimp Also modestly portioned, it was big on flavor with a very favorable ratio of the premium quality shellfish to the rice. Actually, it was the best rendition of paella we ever had because the rice was prepared to the ideal moisture (oftentimes too hard-dry or too soft-overhydrated) together with the appropriate minimalism for the quality seafood. - ADAM'S "THE LAST WORD" For dessert, we asked Adam to craft something for us involving flame. He combined House Gin, Green Chartreuse, and Cointreau, then ignited Saffron Bitters and more Chartreuse to bring out more aromatic notes. Sweet and bursting with the Green Chartreuse's multitude of herbaceous notes, this provided an energizing cap an exciting evening of fun sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes! read more

This place was described as "quiet and cozy" it was everything of opposite of that. The bar tender was screaming, they started playing music. We were not waited on until 15 minutes after. The waitress offered everyone around us sparkling water but never my guest and I. The flatbread was doughy almost like they took it out too soon and it took about 10 minutes for my guest to get their drink. I was very disappointed with this place. Great drinks but the ambiance kills it. read more

It's my first time knowing the "speak easy". It was more fun knowing about the concept of speakeasy than the actual service and taste of their cocktails. Maybe it was because it was pretty late at night that we dropped in and their kitchen had just closed, we were not impressed with the cocktails. read more

I was staying at The Graham and wanted to drink without going too far from the hotel. That's what led me to this speak easy. I have an affinity for aesthetically pleasing spaces and this restaurant took me to a euphoric state. The decor is unconventional and some of the items were probably picked up in an antique shop somewhere. Everything went together so well. We sat at the bar, it was a Saturday night but service was speedy and the bartenders were really helpful. We didn't do a full dinner because we weren't really hungry, but next time!! My friend and I enjoyed a fruit/cheese plate and several glasses of Veuve. This is the ultimate sexy spot. I'm glad I found it and I'm itching to get back. read more

The Alex - Champagne and cheese board - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was looking for live music at about 9pm last Saturday night and called what I thought was Alex at the Graham but the front desk answered and he was very kind to let me know I could come by for music till 10pm. When we arrived at about 9:30 asked where Alex at the Graham was the gentlemen at the front desk hesitated and then gave us a slip entitled Alex at the Graham "Speakeasy" with code and pointed us to what looked like a staff door. We had no idea we were going to a "Speakeasy" until we went down the stairs. Now this is not our first "Speakeasy" and this one was just perfect with a small bar, roomy stage, and intimate seating. We sat at the bar and talked with an older bartender who was so wonderful to go upstairs to get us an espresso. A very young-looking manager arrived and proceeded to find out if we were having a good time. He clearly knew what he was doing and told us about their roof top bar which we checked out. It has three sides of views where we could clearly see the Washington monument and other landmarks. This establishment knows how to treat people and clearly has a high standard of service, complements to the management. read more

This is such a fun place to stumble upon in DC. Our group arrived around 5pm and were able to sit at the bar (recommend a reservation otherwise). We got the cutest gin cocktail served in a bathtub and loved it. The servers were super knowledgeable and receptive to our questions. I highly recommend making this a stop while in the city. read more

The Alex - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We stayed at the Graham for a staycation and came to the Alex for after dinner drinks. Being that this is a cocktail bar at a hotel, you already know it's a bit on the pricey side. This is a speakeasy where the guy at the hotel door provides a code to the speakeasy door. Once entering the code, you head down the stairs to the basement bar. I love the vibes. It feels like a hidden gem. We sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks. We loved them all. The best part of the bar was the live jazz music in the background. It really made the moment. It was just unfortunate that the live jazz ended early and didn't go any longer for a Saturday night. This is a great spot I never knew about and will definitely come back on a special occasion. read more

April 28, is the last day of my birthday week (don't ask) Way to bring April 28th to a jazzy close with my friend Julian Hipkins who is performing at "The Alex" in Georgetown. What a cool little spot and how did I miss the soft opening? The Alex is located in the basement of the Graham Hotel, Georgetown, which is part of the upscale Hilton chain. To reach the Alex you go thru the lobby of the hotel and an employee will lead you to stairs or the elevator which will take you to the Basement/bar dinning area. When you exit you turn right and walk back into the past. Back into the days of the ole Speakeasy. Dimly lit, live music playing and many soft conversations going on at one time. To really enjoy the music stay unto the second set. Those who are not true jazz lovers will be gone by then. There is no cover. Just make reservations for dinner. The place is small and fill up fast. Oh, (1) did I mention they have a roof top bar? They do. And it's a great view of Georgetown; and finally (2) Park your vehicle in an underground lot ($13 after 5pm) or street parking with ParkMobil (if you can find it/we are talking Georgetown). One last thing. My thank you to Islam Farag, the manager of the Alex. I made reservations for the wrong day and upon being notified by Open Table that I failed to show I contacted the hotel and within an hour Mr Farag contacted me personally and arrange to get me a table for Saturday night, April 28. When I arrived, he greeted me warmly and above all, he remember it was my birthday. read more

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I've been really into the speakeasy vibes these days, so my bf and I decided to check this place out after a recommendation from a friend. The place is cute- a petite jazzy place with a decent number of seating/tables. The menu is creative, and I liked the overall theme they were going with. Weird tip- the bathroom is located upstairs outside the bar. You might need the door code again to get back inside. The food was fine. We had the mini lump crab cakes, steak frites, and fries. The crab cakes were a bit too creamy/soggy on the inside for my liking (if that makes sense), but overall, they were fine. Our waiter was great! I was hesitant on what I wanted to drink that day, and he recommended something to me based on my preference. He checked up on us frequently, but not TOO frequently- just enough. He was attentive and friendly, so I gotta compliment their service for sure. I would come back again to try their other drinks/cocktails and the music, but probably won't have too high expectations for food. read more

To enter the bar you get a slip of paper with the code from the hotel receptionist. I wish the entrance was a bit more hidden, but I thought this was a cute little spot to grab a drink in Georgetown if you're looking for a laid back night where you can actually hear your conversation. I loved that the menus were newspaper printouts. read more

The Alex - Newspaper menus - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great speakeasy hidden in the graham hotel. Not the biggest place so you might want to make reservations beforehand, which can be easily done through opentable.com. Definitely has a prohibition decor to it. Even the menu looks like a newspaper from that era. The staff and bartenders were very knowledgeable and helpful. And most important of all the cocktails tasted great! Will definitely come back. read more

In our last week living in DC, my partner and I made it to The Alex at the Graham to enjoy live jazz (Blue Dot Jazz Troupe) and catch up with friends. The atmosphere was both sophisticated and cozy, with plenty of intrigue (to enter, one acquires a key code from the front desk and then descends a flight or two of stairs before arriving at the speakeasy bar) to complement the comfortable seating area and throwback style (menus styled as old newspapers, Alexander Graham Bell-themed decor). We weren't drinking (and therefore can't directly speak to the bar program, although our friends thoroughly enjoyed their drinks, including one served in an enclosure of infused smoke) but were treated well by the lone server throughout our hours-long stay. We enjoyed an order of the hummus (with carrots and house pita chips) and truffle fries. We caught the tail end of Happy Hour (5-7p), and got the snacks at a bit of a discounted rate. Blue Dot Jazz Troupe provided a wonderful soundtrack to our evening. Not overbearing, but certainly not background music either. They perform at The Alex on Sundays and Wednesdays, and we'd strongly encourage you to check them out. read more

I wanted to love The Alex so much but, they fell flat! I do love the concept and decor! You arrive and are given a code to the door and then head down to a cozy and well decorated space. The details in the space are fabulous and the drink I had was fantastic. However the food and service fell flat. When we arrived downstairs we were not greeted and had to ask if we should seat ourselves or not. It took a while for the waiter to acknowledge us and take our orders (which wasn't terrible as I was able to read the articles in the menu and figure out the place is a nod to Alexander Granham Bell.) Our waiter was very nice and polite but very uniformed about the drinks and menu. Every question we had, he had to go and ask someone for the answer and the bartender had to come over to answer a basic question of if one of their signature cocktails was sweet or not. We ordered the deviled eggs and they were the best thing I ate. We also split a salad which was forgettable and overdressed. I ordered the scallops and thankfully they had a sauce as they were over cooked and dried out (very disappointed - but I ate them as I was starving & there was only three) the sauce was yummy. The risotto was good. However the plate was suppose to have aparagus but didn't. My colleague has the chicken and said it was fine. Overall great place for drinks but skip the food as for the price their are much better food options in DC read more

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This is a review of the Speakeasy Jazz Night at The Alex At The Graham on Saturday, November 5, 2016. Some of this review is informational for those that may not have visited this venue. The Music Performance Lena Seikaly (vocals) and Steve Herberman were spectacular. I've followed them for quite a while and learning of their scheduled performance is why I decided to attend. We were not disappointed. Parking As you know Thomas Jefferson Street in Georgetown is one way going south to North from K Street to M Street. Well, Google Maps doesn't tell the whole story regarding parking. First, The Graham has valet parking - just pull up in front of the hotel. We have no idea of the cost because we used Colonial Parking. There are two Colonial Parking opportunities. The first is on the left side as you drive up Thomas Jefferson from K Street before you cross over the canal. So as you drive up Thomas Jefferson from K Street look to your left for Colonial parking. The second is on M Street directly across the street from Thomas Jefferson at the intersection. It is to the left of a historic building, the name of which escapes me. But suffice it to say that if you pass The Graham hotel with no street parking, turn left at the light (M Street) and then an immediate right into Colonial Parking. Not great signage but discernible nonetheless. The Alex - The Room The room is small. However, I would use the word "intimate". We sat right up front. The staff had a challenge getting in between tables to provide service but it was no big deal if you're there for the entertainment. The decor was visually interesting with a quasi-deco and steampunk feel. The steampunk feel came primarily from the ceiling which had decorative piping with faux crystal ends on the pipes. Pretty interesting. We arrived very early to check out and to experience the rooftop bar (more on that in a bit). So, as Steve set up we noted that a guy came from doors that led outside behind the fireplace. All in all, The Alex (the room) in my mind hearkened back to what you might read those small intimate jazz clubs were like in the distant past (thus the moniker "Speakeasy" I suppose). The Service In addition to the stellar performers this is an area where The Alex REALLY shines. The very moment we walk to the door of The Graham we were greeted graciously and the gentleman somehow knew why we were there. From there as we went downstairs (again we were only the second guests there) we were met graciously by the staff and Eric. Throughout the evening you did not have to wait long for a staff person to ask if all was well and if you needed anything. This was the case even after the room was filled. This dedication to service was executed by several persons, which was great - no waiting for an "assigned" person to serve you. We go out quite a bit and this level of service is in no way a standard. This one aspect of the experience made us want to come back for sure. The Menu and The Food Some might say that the menu is limited. Our take on this is that we would like to see a limited menu of items that are done WELL rather than an extensive menu of average to sub par offerings. We shared the flatbread that had beets and goat cheese. Honestly, I thought of you Chris when I saw that it had beets. The bread was delicately light and not chewy and the toppings were served warm and palatable. A good appetizer to share. Then Karen and I had the teriyaki salmon entree which included new potatoes and asparagus. We both remarked that it was very well prepared and even better, boasted a visually pleasing plated presentation. The salmon was NOT overcooked (usually the case in restaurants) and not drowned in the sauce. The salmon's balance was highlighted by crispy edges that was ONLY on the edges (how did they do that?). The asparagus was not overcooked, tender and obviously fresh. The new potatoes blended well with both the dish overall and the sauce. This was a great entree and the meal was very good. Not knowing what to expect, this too was surprising and refreshing. The wine list was limited. I was taken aback by the fact that one of my favorite champagnes was on the drink menu by the glass as it is usually only offered by the bottle. But, alas, Verve Cliquot by the glass was - gulp - a whopping $35. No big deal, just a surprise observation. I'd like to see more wine offerings but I'm a bit of a wine snob. Again, overall the meal experience was very good. The Rooftop Bar and Lounge So, the Rooftop Bar was an extra experienced that we got from The Graham's website which we read thoroughly (a good suggestion by the way). Again, we arrived at a bit after 6PM for a 7PM dinner reservation just to check it out. We were not disappointed. The view of Georgetown is nothing less than spectacular. The Rooftop Bar is a swanky and elegant experience. read more

We dined at The Alex for brunch restaurant week. Even though we arrived 30 min earlier than the reservation time, they were able to accomodate us to be seated early. The atmosphere is very cozy and elegant downstairs of the hotel. The servers were extremely nice and professional. We loved the avocado toast (fresh) and all main entrees. They also had $1 mimosas, which is a great deal in the gtown area. Plan on coming back to try the jazz night in future. read more

The Alex - avocado toast from restaurant week - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This prohibition era inspired speakeasy is a great place to check out in Georgetown. The menu is a newspaper with headlines that read about the beginning of prohibition. On the back of the newspaper there is even a crossword, if you decide you want to disengage from a conversation. They have a great list of cocktails to choose from. The bathtub gin & tonic is special because it comes in a small bathtub, as you can see by scrolling through the pictures. The bartender is able to make you just about any drink you want, if you don't see anything that you fancy on the menu. There are also small snacks and entrees you can order, if you would like. We tried the Pork Buns, which were delicious and perfect for two people. We made a reservation beforehand, and while the place was not packed, I imagine that it is best to make a reservation just in case. You can also ask the front desk for the code to let you downstairs. There was a surprising amount of seating and the decor played up the theme well. There are chalkboard walls with inventive drawings on them, hinting that "the alex" is named for Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. Highly recommend you visit here with a date or a friend visiting D.C. read more

The Alex - Bath tub gin & tonic. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Standing Ovation is needed for this place. I was on a date night and the Alex was super packed and overbooked. To my surprise the hotel staff graciously allowed my date and I to enter and enjoy one of the best old-fashioned cocktails that I ever tasted. There was a band performing and I requested one song and the band sang and played the song. Clearly, this was a sign from the universe and also the wonderful customer service at the Alex. Hopefully, I will remember to plan in advance for reservations, but thank you to the staff for being so graciously to my date and I. Awesome hidden gem in Georgetown! read more

Wanted to grab a drink after a concert at the Kennedy Center - why isn't there any bars/restaurants by there?? Saw this on yelp, had good reviews, thought we'd check it out It's in the basement of a Hilton, kind of weird. We get there around 11:30 and the place is about half full. Nice set up with a bar seating about 6 and then a lounge/seated area. The lighting in this place is really unpleasant. There's bright white LED lights all around the border of the room. Looks like dim emergency lights. The only bathroom is upstairs down a hallway of hotel rooms. The menu is cute but most of the drinks were dark alcohols or sweet. The only thing that sounded good was the martini which was $22!! I was expecting something amazing but it was a very standard vodka martini, with 3 olives and a pickled egg on the side. Wasn't bad but should have been $16 max. We ordered some garlic fries with our drinks. About 20 minutes later we were told the kitchen was closed. No big deal but weird that it took 20 minutes to tell us. I feel like they have the space to really do it up with the speakeasy vibe if they dimmed and warmed up the lights and made it more about the cocktails. I always regret going out in Georgetown and this was no exception! read more

Everyone likes to feel special. Everyone likes to be a part of the "in" crowd. A little bit of mystery and intrigue is fun. Now add GREAT food and clever drinks in a swanky speakeasy and BOOM, now you're at THE ALEX! THE ALEX AT THE GRAHAM The Alex Craft Cocktail Cellar & Speakeasy is located inside the swank Graham Georgetown Hotel. Small plates, craft cocktails and dinner are served daily in this cool underground haute. The Alex name is drawn from Alexander Graham Bell which, like the hotel, pays homage to the life and times of the scientist, inventor and innovator. The Alex has a unique esthetic, a Victorian fantasy come to life. The Alex offers several unique seating options like antique velvet Empire sofas and hammered copper tables repurposed from old steam radiators. Cuddle up with that special someone, sip craft cocktail concoctions and dine on regional favorites from small plates to three course dinners. THE STORY & SERVICE EXPERIENCE We were at the rooftop Observatory at The Graham watching the sunset over Georgetown, sipping on champagne, and we were given a slip of paper with the secret code. Hmmmm secret code? To what? Was everyone there given the code? No, they weren't. Why us? No idea. Seemed fun though. We asked the server what this was all about. He said, "See the concierge." Ohhh ok. One thing led to another and we found the secret door to use the secret code. Once the door opened, we went down the secret stairway. Feeling a bit like Alice in Wonderland, at the end of the stairs, I came out in the 1920's, in a roaring speakeasy. Fun! Welcome to The Alex! Well, why not! Once we were there, we made a night of it. Our server gave us the olden-timey newspaper/menu full of cute stories and descriptions of exciting food and drinks. I ordered the Gin Cocktail which was served in a miniature claw foot bathtub, which had it's own charming history: Daniel Barnes' father and grandfather were plumbers. While he hasn't followed in their footsteps, the bartender has incorporated their profession into one of his latest cocktails at the Alex Craft Cocktail Cellar & Speakeasy in the Graham Georgetown Hotel. His "bathtub gin" and tonic is served in a miniature porcelain clawfoot bathtub. "I've seen a guy who actually made one in a toilet bowl," Barnes says. "That's a little too much." Barnes makes his own gin and his own tonic for the $14 drink. Because he doesn't have distilling equipment, he infuses a neutral spirit with botanicals for a month. The Dutch-style gin (a sweeter version) incorporates juniper, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, bitter lemon peel, and orange peel. For the tonic, Barnes uses sous-vide to infuse the flavors of quinquina bark, lemongrass, citrus, salt, brown sugar, and honey. The gin and tonic are then combined and carbonated together. To complete the cocktail, Barnes makes ice cubes with star anise in the middle. A metal spoon-straw is meant to look like "the pipe that comes out of back of the tub." The vessels themselves came from one of the bar's glassware purveyors, but they're also available online. The bathtub drink is part of a recently revamped cocktail menu from Barnes, who joined the hotel bar as "master mixologist" just over two months ago. Previously, he oversaw the cocktail program at Mindful Restaurant Group's Ghibellina, Sotto, and Denson. AND EVERYTHING WE HAD WAS EQUALLY FULL OF RICH HISTORY. I had the duck confit, which was MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH DELICIOUS! I tried my colleague's roasted chicken on fresh pears: OUTRAGEOUS! CONCLUSION What a fun, fun, fun place to eat amazing food!! We were treated like ROYALTY!! I would DEFINITELY come back!! 5/5 RECOMMEND OF NOTE *Saturday Nights feature live trio Jazz from 8:00pm - 11:00pm *The Alex features "Little Havana" nights with Live band from 7:00pm-10:00pm *Their cancellation policy: You may cancel your reservation up to 24 hours prior to the reservation. If you do not cancel by phone or online there will be a credit card charge of $25.00 per person in the party. *Parking: Valet. Drop-Off. read more

I am posting this review as a warning if you intend to visit The Alex. I tried going here twice in the last few weeks, and both times the bar was closed for a private party. This past Friday I even called ahead to ask if the bar was open, and the person I spoke with said it was open and he was not aware of any private parties. You can imagine my frustration when I strolled into the bar and the bartender asked me to leave because they were hosting a private party. WTF!!! Both times I intruded upon their private parties, the hotel/bar did not even make the effort to put up a sign. I guess that would make too much sense. The first time I walked up to the bar and even ordered a drink. The bartender thought I was part of the private event and began making my drink, and I supposed if I not suspected it was a private party, I could have drank free all night. As John McClane would say in Die Hard, Yippee-ki-yay!! I will say that on my first visit, the private party looked like a lot of fun and they had some very tasty looking food set up on the table against the wall...sliders, wings, veggies, it all looked very appealing. The bar does have a cool speakeasy type decor after all. Being a whiskey and bourbon fan, The Alex is right up my alley, which you can probably imagine why I've been dying to try a cocktail here. But alas that will never be as the bar never seems to be open to the public. Why waste my time trying to go here when there are so many good cocktail options in this city. See you soon Mr. Jack Rose! read more

This place was awesome! Super tiny (so can feel a little crammed) but I thought the vibe was really cool - lots of really unique exciting drinks that I don't think I'd find elsewhere, the mixologist there was fantastic. It is a little cheesey but I think if you let yourself play into the vibe you'll have an enjoyable time! The whole "speakeasy" aspect isn't that wild (you just get a code from the front desk) but once you're down there the fun begins. Definitely recommend going on a night there's live jazz there, but make a reservation before! read more

Stumbled across this speakeasy below the Graham hotel one Saturday while exploring Georgetown with a few friends. As a gin lover, I absolutely loved that they distill their own gin and is uniquely served in a miniature bathtub! Their menu is on an old newspaper to add to the speakeasy feel of the place. Bartenders were very attentive, social, and knowledgeable about the drinks! Saturday evenings are very popular as they have jazz from 8-11! Reservations can be made here and are highly recommended for evening weekend hours. read more

The Alex - Prettiest Gin and tonic - served in a mini bathtub - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great atmosphere. Great service. Great food and drinks. Unique, seasonal menu - delightful to enjoy as tapas. Bring your out of town guests if you want to impress. Start with a drink on the roof and then come down to the speakeasy for delicious food and a relaxing vibe. read more

A quiet Thursday night at this speakeasy was exactly what I was looking for. This place is best for date night with a Spanish vibe. Live Spanish guitar players, great service, good drinks, the only thing that's missing is my gf next to me. 5 stars. read more

I came here with my roommates for restaurant week and we waited 30 minutes to be seated even though we had a reservation. It took over an hour to receive our meals (a different server came up and asked if we were waiting on dessert when we were waiting on entrees) and when the meals came, they were both cold and the wrong orders. The servers were rude and dismissive throughout the meal (with the sole exception of a super nice bartender). If you are looking for a remotely enjoyable experience, your time is best spent elsewhere. read more

I came here on a Saturday night for their live Jazz on a double date. This place is super romantic. The service was amazing. The experience really adds to the speakeasy idea. We ordered a few drinks to start and some starters. The meals are small and on the higher side, but you really are paying for the experience and everything tastes very good. Then we had some wine with a salmon entree and a the seafood paella. Both very very tasty. If you are looking to somewhere romantic to take your S.O this is definitely the place. Also make sure you make a reservation for their Saturday live music. We had to wait about 3 weeks to get the time we wanted. read more

We were there Saturday (10/22) around 6-7 pm and it great experience as always; however, the individual who I assumed to be the manager was extremely disrespectful and condescending to staff in front of guests. Every time I've visited the Alex and the Rooftop, the staff have gone above and beyond to provide incredible service, so seeing the way they were treated by this man was nothing short of a complete disappointment. My friends and I found his behavior to be unprofessional and condescending- the guests at the tables around us agreed. The staff deserve better. read more

Short version: Not the greatest bar/speakeasy. Not "terrible", but wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends. Long version: we arrived 15 minutes early for a 10pm reservation, and they seated us around 1020pm. The staff was very apologetic for the inconvenience. The ambience was a bit tight and loud for me. The seating was oriented to view the live jazz band playing at the front. A neat concept but the entire area was pretty loud. My date and I ended up talking near the top of our voices just to hear one another, even though we were seated immediately next to one another. The drinks we tried were very sweet, to a fault. The food was unimpressive. We tried the shrimp and grits and as a southern man I can say they weren't the greatest. The salmon required us to ask for salt as it was bland. The truffle fries weren't anything special. Service fell pretty flat. The salmon was cold by the time we were able to flag down a server to grab us some. Our waitress would walk by with her eyes down which prevented her from being able to wait on anyone even had she been wanting to. A wrong drink order came out and they said it was on the house...but then the waitress realized it had gone to the wrong table and took it from us to another couple, even though we'd already taken a sip from it (we were able to flag her down, so hopefully they didn't drink from it) So all in all meh drinks and food (for what we tried), subpar service, and not the atmosphere we were looking for. read more

First off, the drinks are fantastic here! Very good ambiance and I usually have a great time here. This night was different, however. We were greeted by a very rude bouncer who seemed to be biased by our age. He questioned one of our guests because he had come back out of the Alex to go to the bathroom--basically quizzing him on the password to get back to us. We then finished our multiple rounds of drinks and went upstairs to the lobby to wait for our Uber. This security guard then leaned over a railing and literally said "shhhhhhhhhh this is still a hotel." To insinuate that we didn't know that. Very poor service for patrons that had just paid almost 100 dollars each in drinks--unprofessional and rude. Asking us to please quiet down would not have been a problem. I've attached this persons photo as I think he is a detriment to the Alex's reputation. ***in response to manager's answer: It was not nearly last call. We had no issue with being carded--we mean to say that his delivery was very rude. It's different to ask a group to please be quiet--he did not do that. He was rude and treated us like we were a group of drunk kids. Saying "excuse me, if you could please keep the noise down as there are guests on this floor" is appropriate. Leaning over a railing and saying "shhhhhhhh" is not.*** read more

The Alex - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I loved this place. I went on a Sunday when they had live jazz and really had a great time. I ordered from the pre fix menu and it was definitely worth it! read more