This used to be a great spot to relax and enjoy cocktails. Unfortunately, a lot has changed since…read morethe owner, Keith McNally was actively involved, onsite and DJing regularly. Lately, the bar frequently runs out of ingredients needed for its signature cocktails, certain food items, service has become noticeably slower, and staff turnover appears to be high. When the owner was more present, the experience felt polished, the menu was consistently available, and customer service was top-notch. Today, it feels like the attention to detail is gone. What was once an elegant cocktail destination now feels more like an overpriced dive bar.

Incredibly nice staff in a uniquely decorated upstairs speakeasy type of lounge…read more Drinks were around $20-25. Mocktail options were limited. It's a great place to visit if you're in Union market.

This is a cool spot. Entry is really cool and looks like prohibition speakeasy's of times gone…read morepast. Two HUGE bouncers inside who were policing everything to maintain the vibe. Husband couldn't read the menu, can't use your phone for that, he was leaning up against a wall, can't do that, finally snagged seats on a couch, feet off table. We had two drinks and enjoyed about 20 minutes in here and went off to find something to eat. Definitely work a stop if you are nearby or in the area. It's a cool experience. One thing og note: They do not really deviate from their limited menu of drinks. These bartenders are not like those of speakeasy's from other, larger cities I've been to. I don't drink alcohol at all, so, I tend to ask them to make me a mocktail. They didn't seem very inventive and only offered basically ginger beer in a cup for $14.

The bartender Chris accused me of being intoxicated because I was vibing to the music Saying that I…read morewas had my eyes closed at the bar when I was just feeling the music. Clearly he can't discern when a patron is intoxicated or not!!!!!! I do feel as though it was a level of discrimination as I only ordered water at the bar no drinks were ordered....and I had no drinks prior to arrival. Never assume from a distance someone's sobriety just because the clientele you serve normally is intoxicated

Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace…read morethemed 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.

Love making a stop into The Alchemist when I'm in town. The low light ambiance is great, they…read morealways have fun drinks on their menu. I got the What The Duck and it was delicious and even included a duck I could take home! We didn't have a reservation and there were no bar seats open but they sat us at a communal table which we had to ourselves the whole time!

Great service, we love the bartenders - especially Graham! Cheeky pints abound. The lads and I will…read morebe back often

Amazing service and incredible drinks! Graham is the best bartender in the city…read more Also the creativity is unmatched! Order what you want from the menu but they are also willing to make you specialized drinks to your liking.

They raised my standard for martinis to the next level! The Dirty Martini came with a side of…read moreolives and an oyster, literally the perfect girl dinner. The atmosphere is very chic, and intimate. The drinks were fantastic and the food was great too! We got the Nori Chips & Halloumi fries to split which was perfect for 3 people.

Swanky bar with an amazing staff. The menu is a bit tortured…read moretrying to be creative - non craft cocktail aficionados may be a little turned off by the menu - but if you're looking for some serious creations you will not be disappointed. I was solo, so sat at the bar and Kara was my bartender - she could not have been nicer and was very patient and engaging helping me make some good selections. While the Checkpoint Charlie may not have been the most serious looking drink - it was exceptionally sophisticated.

What a cute place and space. We called ahead at the last minute since we needed a place to hang out…read morebefore our Theatre event and they graciously accommodated our party of three. Our server was kind and knowledgeable and helped us decide on which drinks to order. We loved our experience and definitely highly recommend. If I had one item to note the music selection didn't match the vibe of the speakeasy. I would love to see some thoughts put into selecting music that is more in tune with this amazing space.

I was not pleased with my one experience here. My friends and I, a group of 3 girls, stumbled in…read morelooking for a couple of drinks after a late dinner. We arrived around midnight Our ID's were checked at the front and were told that last call was at 12:15am despite the bar closing at 1am. It was extremely humid and hot (like even more humid and hot than the outside at that time). All of the tables/booths were closed off, so only bar seating was available. There was only 1 bartender and 1 barkeeper, with the bartender being clearly overwhelmed. He stated that he couldn't make any complicated drinks (likely implying the specialty cocktails), so we just ordered simple classic cocktails including an old fashioned and gin & tonic. I was surprised that last call occurred 45 minutes prior to closing, seeming to apply to both food and drinks (given the bartender's comment). Despite this, I was surprised we were even let in if last call was about to occur. Didn't spend much time here but please see the attached for menu photos.

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.

We were here to get drinks and apps to kickstart our friend's birthday celebration. Unfortunately,…read morewe didn't have a reservation for that evening. Because the last time we were here, we could find a seat easily. So never thought about making a reservation. As we walked in, the place was packed. Lucky we got a table in the corner for an hour. One of us had to stand unfortunately. Drinks were great but felt overpriced. Food was delicious too. Fried potatoes and tartar is a must have. The service was great. Ambiance is amazing as well. Slightly on the darker side in the inside. They also have outdoor seating.

If you want a good cocktail, come to Copycat Co for a GREAT cocktail. They have a huge cocktail…read moremenu, filled with drinks I haven't even heard of. The graphic design of the menu is also really cool. This restaurant is a vibe. The music is soooo good here. Upstairs/inside had punk rock and downstairs/outside had R&B. The service was a bit strange outside, but fine overall. If you want indoor seating you'll go upstairs to their bar. If you want to sit in their outside covered patio, you'll continue past the bathrooms and down some more stairs. They have gender neutral single stall restrooms here. We came here after the US v. Australia World Cup game and had a blast. I loved my mojito. My husband and our friend really liked their masterson and four corners drink. We family styled a few dishes. I loved what we ordered. We tried the chili wontons, pork bao, triple delight potstickers, and dan dan noodles. It was a yummy trip at a super trendy place.

Several drinks plus complimentary goldfish…read more My favorite was the maneater The zombie killed me but it was a happy death lol I'll be back

Didn't eat, but did partake in their beverage sampler. Atmosphere is dark wood everywhere, which I…read moreenjoyed. Friendly bartender. By no means a sports bar, but they had the NBA finals game on.

Good ambiance with strong drinks and quick service. Great location with easy access from the hotel.read more