This place is magic. The wine selection is tops. The bartenders can make a mean martini And they have and I'm serious, the best shrimp taco in DC Enjoy! read more

I visited The Eastern last Sunday for some chilled wine on a hot day. The Eastern is a wine bar in Eastern Market, and it has an incredible and very interested wine list. (They also had food, but I was just there to cool down over some wine.) I love that their menu is divided so helpfully ("If you like... Chardonnay," "If you like... Chilled Red"). They were out of several of their wines (all the chilled reds, I believe), but they still had plenty to choose from. I ordered two different wines from "If you like... Getting a Little Weird," because I do like getting a little weird with wine. I had a glass of a Usonia wine (Cayuga) and a McPherson Cellars wine (Marsanne). Both were as promised - great and a little weird. The service was good, and the bar had great vibes and indoor and outdoor seating. I sat at the inside bar and read my book over two glasses of wine. I'd come back and repeat this over and over. I look forward to trying more of their wines. read more

We've walked past The Eastern multiple times without really noticing the entrance - we finally ended up walking inside and had a phenomenal experience. Interior is cozy, nice warm colors with modern interior design - it was a full house when we fined in, but you could hear the person across from you just fine. Nice array of cocktails and a solid selection of wine. We had a pair of cocktails and a glass of wine each, nothing fell short. Food was in excellent serving sizes, well seasoned, cooked perfectly. We order a wide variety of the menu including the arancini, beet salad, and the lamb skewers. We'd happily eat all of it again. Overall a very satisfying experience, just down the street from us! read more

BIG YUM. I was in DC for a whirlwind 36 hour trip and was able to grab dinner with some local besties - and they selected The Eastern and I'm so glad they did! We started with a bottle of rose and...as the night went on, we definitely all sampled a variety of wines from the menu. And our waitress was fantastic at describing the wines when we were stuck between two choices. We also nibbled on some pretzels, a variety of dips and a charcuterie board. All were delicious and filling - without feeling too heavy. This place was such a cool vibe - with covered patio seating, so we got to bring our furry friend. read more

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Gathered here for a fun birthday celebration. Everything from the ambiance, food and service was wonderful and exactly what you'd want in a neighborhood wine bar. We ordered a lot off of the menu so I'll just highlight some favorites. The steak tacos were well balanced with a delicious chimichurri. The charcuterie and cheese boards featured fresh selections such has truffle salami, spicy soppressata, and glazier blue point to name a few. The roasted beet salad was light and refreshing. There's certainly no shortage of food options with a little something for everyone. For the drinks again a wonderful selection and even if you do not drink alcohol there's plenty of non alcoholic options. Check it out! You won't regret it. read more

The Eastern - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Limited menu but for good reasons. The wine selection is good and service is friendly. Relaxing ambiance with a nice vibe. Definitely on the pricey side. read more

This place was great. The service was quick and we were promptly seated. We also felt we had enough space to hear each other. The bathrooms were nice and clean also. They have some outdoor seating although due to the heat, my friend wanted to sit inside. My friends and I shared a couple appetizers, including the hummus and olives. Both were great! I suggest coming here for a nice snack and nice ambiance! read more

The Eastern - Olives - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a lovely place! Great vibe inside. It's fairly quiet early in the evening and gets louder and more vibrant as the evening advances. Good selection of drinks, not only wine, also cocktails that are good. The food was great, especially the Brussels sprouts. I am glad my friend introduced me to this place! read more

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We were just stopping by for some wine, so I haven't tried the food here. Wine was pretty good, and the ambiance in the terrace was super nice and chill. Service was also great-- will be coming back to try their food menu! read more

The Eastern - Wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Gosh, what a disappointment. We sat at the bar and the distracted bartender was too busy at the end of the bar chatting up some women in his sunglasses and gym shorts. Seriously, who wears sunglasses inside and gym shorts while tending bar. When he finally made it to us after he finished with the ladies, he said "thanks for your patience." The cocktails are awful, especially the upstate Elvis. The large charcuterie board was also disappointing with just two small blocks of cheese and a bunch of icky pickled veggies. This place is in such a great location, but we've been here twice......first and last. read more

It was a rainy and chilled night and I was in Eastern Market and decided to grab a glass of wine and into The Eastern I walked. I sat at the bar and Abbey immediately greeted me with a warm welcoming and a smile. Abbey was very professional & friendly. Abbey had great wine knowledge and made an excellent wine choice. She recommended the 2020 Bononia Estate from Bulgaria. The flavor profile was light bodied with a hint of cherry.The ambiance was very cute and I love the decor of the wine bar. Definitely will be coming back for more wine but also to see Abbey. Thank you for great hospitality! 10/10 read more

The Eastern - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was delicious and service exceptional. I had the charcuterie tray, pretzel, and fruit cobbler. Very attentive and accommodating staff. Great happy hour spot. read more

The Eastern - Berry Cobbler - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We've walked by here so many times and we decided to check it out. We ended up sitting at the bar, and it was truly an experience. The service was speedy, we got to check out the menu and ask questions. They have an extensive drink list, so I'd love to come back here for dinner and pair some drinks with food. If you're like us and you've walked by, take the chance and stop by, you won't be disappointed! read more

The Eastern - Martini - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cute spot with a very good selection of wine and cocktails. Definitely worth visiting after dinner in the area. A lot of seating space both indoors and outdoors, and staff are extremely friendly and give great recs! Didn't have any food here read more

The ambiance is very cozy. Great date night spot. Monday night it was packed, all the other cool restaurants around the block was closed. Our server Erik was very attentive, the 2 wines he suggested was great. The cheese board & the meat board was excellent. But seemed a bit overpriced. But I'd be back. read more

Great place for after work drinks. The service was great and would definitely return for drinks. Neighborhood vibes.

This is our absolute favorite spot in Capitol Hill. The staff is incredible and the vibes are always amazing. Highly recommend.

Came on a Wednesday evening for dinner with a friend and had a lovely time! I don't think they take reservations but we walked in around 6pm and got a table inside. Theres a good amount of seats at the bar and they also have a nice patio but definitely expect a wait if you want to sit outside. The wine list is not super expansive for a wine bar but their curated list of wines is very approachable and they have a full bar and offer cocktails and spritzs as well. I had a skin contact wine and the ambar "rosalia" wine. Both were great! I especially liked the amber wine, it was something different and highlighted under their "something different/funky" list. Their food menu is also limited but everything I had was fabulous! The tuna tartare was awesome and so was the cucumber salad. Portions cater to sharing but you can make a meal easily combining smaller dishes. The service was awesome. Really really attentive and kind staff. Overall I had a wonderful time and will definitely come back! read more

A cute bar with a grown and classy vibe. It was pretty bright in there for being evening, time but it was a great space to chat with friends. The drinks were delicious and the service was quick and responsive. This is definitely a good place for happy hour. read more

We went for pre dinner drinks and snacks before our reservation at pascual. I wish we would've just stayed here for dinner. The Lambrusco was great and the cheese board and olives were as well. Service was so great. read more

I love this place. Location, vibes, service, food, and most importantly the wine list. It's great for a casual meet up with friends or an intimate date night or even a solo dinner vibe. Last time I was there I was able to sit outside and had such a great experience - I got lamb skewers and roasted veggies and both had sauces that were just amazing. With a view of eastern market it is honestly hard to beat. read more

The Eastern - Lamb skewers and roasted veggies - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here with a friend for brunch and was looking forward to trying a new place on the Hill. Fortunately, The Eastern did not disappoint. They have a nice wine menu structured by flavor profiles. For instance, there is an "If you like Chardonnay" category with several options under that. Kathleen, our server, was good about making recommendations. I had the turkey baguette sans bacon, which was scrumptious. The bread had that perfect amount of toasting to it. But the real stars of the show were the garlic and rosemary roasted rainbow carrots! Most of the time, carrots are carrots, but these were all at once flavorful, rich, light, and an overall delight for the palate. The only ding is that we're pretty sure our server forgot to place the order for these, due to how much longer they came after our entrees. The wine menu has funny highlights like "Bottomless but Classy Rosé," or maybe it was Classy but Bottomless. I'm pretty sure I'll be back here. read more

The Eastern - Turkey and avocado baguette - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Eastern is the latest venture from the owners of nearby Barrel along Penn Avenue. Although connected, they are very different. When Barrel is dark and more of a tavern feel, The Eastern is light in design and accessible. Here's what's to love: 1) Design: It's gorgeous. Its midcentury modern design is stunning in all the right ways from the tiles to the lights to the bar in the back. There's a small outdoor patio as well. 2) Wine list: One of the best wine lists in the city with a menu that guides you to the best wine for you. I ordered a riesling and it was the best I've ever had. They also sell cocktails and a few beers as well. I had the New York sour and it was just okay. I'd stick with wine. 3) Food: It's not bad! The winner was the octopus salad and the pimento cheese breadboard. The heirloom salad was decent too! 4) Service: The manager is very friendly and truly wants each customer to have the best experience possible. Eastern Market was in need of a hang out spot after hours and The Eastern fills that gap! read more

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Great wine bar in Eastern market, the music isn't too loud, the patio is comfortable as well as the inside tables. Try the cheese boards, they are delicious. The few times I have been in there, the service is good, they aren't super fast but its a wine bar, I do not want people constantly asking how I am doing. read more

I have been here twice and loved it both times!!! The staff here is amazing and the food is so yummy! The wine selection is great! It's a cute date spot and a cute catch up with a friend spot. I love it here. The boards and charcuteries I highly recommend, and the lamb skewers, wow those were good! read more

If you haven't been, then you're missing out!! The sommelier Robert, kept this place going through Covid by single handedly ensuring all wine orders and pick up could still happen... ! I've tried to take as many friends as possible and each time the staff has made us feel so welcome. Ryan is especially a rare gem, and I feel like we've found our local watering hole.... Just to give perspective, despite their VAST wine collection, their world wide reach and connection to the wine world, and insane knowledge, we are not huge wine drinkers! I love the champagne by the glass options and my mom is a tequila girl, but it's the vibes that bring us back ... did I also mention the gorgeous glasses they use depending on what drink you order?? Final piece of advice - they make their own Jam... trust me- these three letters will enhance your drinking experience, homemade J.A.M. !!! Side bar secret- we MIGHT have paid them extra to purchase extra jam to take home... and last piece to give perspective... my French auntie has taught me how to make my own jam at home, which I do regularly - so we know what we're talking about !!! read more

I had a TIME at The Eastern last night! The music, the vibes, the BARTENDERS! It was truly a perfect Tuesday outing. The black girl steak was phenomenal. My friend had the pork belly and I couldn't help but grab a bite--also very delicious. The bartenders made our night, honestly. They were hilarious, hospitable, and attentive. And most importantly, skilled at their craft. I'll definitely be back and I rarely make the trek to SW, but this was worth it. read more

The Eastern - a bottle of wine on a bar counter - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Just went for some wine after a long work week for a couple of hours tonight and it was a great experience. Immediately greeted at the door with a friendly hostess, found seats at the bar and very attentive bartenders. I really like how their drink menu is structured giving you options for wine, cocktails and beer. The best part is how the wine menu is broken up "if you're a rosé drinker" and gives several options below each section. Back of the menu has all sorts of charcuterie options which I will explore on my next visit. Definitely a place worth checking out! read more

Tucked Away Gem! A friend suggested this wine bar as a meet up location prior to an event we were doing. It is right by Eastern Market. The decor kind of feels like a time hop back, but in a very nostalgic and refined way. Definitely a lot of character. The happy hour options were great- I order a "sunset in the eastern" which was very fresh and delicious with a subtle citrus flavor. I also had the Moutabal. The helpful waiter asked mentioned that the charcuterie bread was cooked with meat so he subbed our bread out with Pita. All of the plates are meant to be shared which makes The Eastern feel more approachable than most wine bars in the city. The ambiance overall we a mix of intimate and social. It isn't the largest bar but it has a cozy yet highbrow atmosphere. Will definitely come back again! read more

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Such a vibe. Service was on point, ambiance was beautiful. The options of wine were amazing. I've probably been introduced to a few of my favorite wines alone from me experience here. There was a naan that they make in-house that comes with the hummus that was soooooo delicious, would def recommend if you are just enjoying wine and conversation and need something to snack on. read more

The Eastern - three glasses of wine and a bottle of wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came into the Eastern with some friends and was very impressed. We had cocktails, wine, and a couple of the cheese boards. Drinks wise the waiters were super knowledgeable about the wines. I enjoyed the Sunset over the Eastern (basically an upgraded aperol spritz) as well as the Strawberry Feelz Forever (a strawberry rum cocktail) as someone who enjoys a sweet drink this is so good and not so sweet that non-sweet tooth people will enjoy. The large cheese and beastern cheese boards were great. Both had incredible cheese, jams, fruits, and mustards. I will say you don't get a lot for $25 or $48 but it's very high quality and pairs well. I was a little disappointed though with one aspect of the night- I'm unsure if this was staff/ service or customer issue. The booth next to us (which comfortably sits 4- maybe 5) had 8 people there at one point- spilling into our table's space and even had people standing over us. Some of the customers were sitting so far over in the booth they were in front of our table. It really took away from our overall experience. read more

After coming here dozens of times we just experienced the worst "greeting" I have ever experienced. After walking in we were immediately bombarded by what I assume was a host/server and immediately told we are on a wait and can't serve you. They didn't ask if we had a reservation, no hello, didn't even ask if we were willing to wait... read more

Great wine & equally great food (which I feel is especially noteworthy for a place that seems like a wine bar first, restaurant second). I've come here on girls' nights and on first dates, and it's been great every time. The interior is very attractive in a moody West Elm kind of way. I do wish they did a wine tasting/flight option on the regular menu but overall great new addition to the neighborhood. read more

Absolutely delicious!! I've been dying to check this place out and the drinks DO NOT DISAPPOINT! I will be back.. often! read more

The Eastern - New York Sour (on the left), Sunset in the Eastern (on the right). - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went here with a friend on New Year's Day, 2023. The bar was kind of dead, but it was the first of the year and it was a Sunday, so.... However, the staff was attentive and the Bloody Mary's that we ordered were on point. The music was nice too. I also reflected on the fact that this would probably be a nice little date spot. Lastly, the bartender Sam was pretty nice. I'll be back. :) read more

Great neighborhood wine bar. I love that they have kalimotxos (red wine + coke) on the menu - I haven't ever seen that on a menu in the US. Definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more

A nice addition to this area, The Eastern has a small 14ish seat bar and a few tables as well. The cool elaborate light fixtures and deep green interior, which not only covers the walls but also the napkins and even the exit sign, give the place a bright, welcoming, almost mysterious aura. The menu focuses on wine, but they also have some classic cocktails available for $13. Props to a great old fashioned. Extra props for fun bass heavy beats. It's not a sports bar, but they had a couple small tvs above the bar showing football (no sound). We'll be back for a chill night cap. read more

This place is amazing. The most knowledgeable staff in the wine industry. However, severe lack of Marvel Universe knowledge.

This place suffers from the catering-to-regulars only syndrome. Very unfriendly staff who when I asked for recommendations, was answered with a "I don't get paid enough for that" response. Witnessed them being rude to some other people as well. Might have been an off night or something. Quite put off by their demeanor and disposition. read more

Great spot for a dates awesome wine selection! We sat outside on the patio under the heaters.