THE quintessential DC dive bar. Cash only. Super cheap. Most patrons ordering a beer and a shot. A long line of portraits of celebrities who have never visited. And a giant stack of 40 year old board games for your enjoyment. They're famous for being called a grill and having a neon martini glass on the window, even though they have no food and no martinis. What they do have, though, is amazing. I enjoyed my makers mark with DC Brau IPA while getting way too competitive in a game of Clue. Bonus points because they are the oldest continually operating bar in the city, so you know they're doing something right. Extra bonus points because Mount Pleasant has become the go-to neighborhood for a funky date night. Pizza at Martha Dear, a movie and cocktail at Suns, and a nightcap at Raven is perfection. read more

Need an antidote to all the over-priced pretentious bars in DC? Come to the Raven. It's laid-back, got good vibes, a shelf full of board games, and cheap beer. (No draught beers, unfortunately, but a fairly full bar otherwise.) read more

The Raven Grill - Beer menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Not the greatest dive bar . They are cash only, beers are cheep. The inside is rather dirty. But plenty of seating. I would not be drawn to return to this establishment. read more

I came here with some friends after a wedding welcome drink celebration. We wanted a chill place to catch up and chill out. This place is a cash only, divey kind of bar, no big frills and no fuss. If you don't have cash on hand, there's an atm inside. My friends and I ordered beers, rail drinks, and a cider. I was afraid our group of six wouldn't find a place to sit, but a larger group left around the same time we arrived and we were able to grab their tables. Though, I'll note it was papacies on a Friday night. The ambiance is hometown neighborhood bar! Everyone is super nice and bartender was calm and attentive even though it was busy. While I didn't see they offered food, they did let us bring food from outside late at night. So that was nice of them. Def recommend! read more

Nice relaxed atmosphere. Friendly vibes. Got lots of time to play Scrabble with a group of friends. What more can you ask for? It's a typical dive bar with a social aspect thank God these still exist.lol read more

True definition of Dive bar - with that being said, a shot of well whiskey and some super flat Diet Coke for $5 definitely is not it. (It's a cash only bar) I love dive bars, but I didn't like the vibe at this one. If I was a local I can kinda see the appeal. read more

Love this bar for what it is -- a no-frills, cheap place to grab drinks with friends or colleagues and have a blast. The music is also great (and sometimes the jukebox works). There are so few of these bars left in DC, so stay open, Raven! I was there for an after work happy hour the other day, and for two hours of decent drinks and snacks, the total price was less than $60 total. Where else can you have that?? All beers are by the can or bottle, and they've improved their selection. DC Brau Corruption, Pilsner Urquell, Guinness are now available - great options. There are also board games if you like that kind of thing. No food except for chips/popcorn/snack mix, but that's fine - this place is to grab drinks. read more

Great dive bar! Things to know is that it's cash only. The inside has a chill, laid back vibe. They also have some board games you can play.

I live in the neigborhood and have made an experimental visit five or six times over the years. Each time i am hit with the now-remembered vibe, sloppy noisy (and yeah I get it, a jukebox), dark dark in the way dark is used to hide the grime (which was there), an uninterested bar guy who made no effort to make anyone feel welcome. Had a beer.. My guess is it stays alive with young young and young DC kids who are trying hard to be cool, but, if the conversations I overheard that night were a good sample, are not one bit at all. read more

2 years later, same prices. Thank you Raven for ignoring inflation. $4 still gets you Sierra Nevada and $3 for a Bud. Really can't find anything to complain about. Solid bar in Mt. P. read more

This is a secret. Don't tell anybody. It was there all along, right between dry cleaners and an abandoned shed. The signs outside can entice you at night, blaring "Cocktails" and "Blue Ribbon" like an Edward Hopper painting. And the tattooed arms, hastily smoked cigarettes, that politely open the heavy wooden squeaky door that would love to cut your ankles on the way in. Once inside, you're greeted by locals, vagrants, potato chips, Jimi Hendrixx, Lou Reed, no cocktails, simply mixed drinks, damn reasonable prices, and that pretty brunette with even stranger tattoos. But it's a secret. Let's keep it that way. read more

The Raven Grill - Smoking area. - Dive Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Raven is quite a good dive bar. Only criticism first. There is one seat in there that seemed to be a perpetually magnet for my ass that is just horrendous. Expected from a dive bar, but this sink hole with zero padding and a 2X4 cutting into what I sure is some major blood supply to my legs and feet is truly my nemesis. Sorry, more of a personal problem that needs to be resolved between me and said seat. anyhoo. besides that minor squabble... Cheap beer is abundant; Pabst & Miller in bottles and Schlitz in the can. My friend assures me that Schlitz means something quite lewd in German but I digress again. I haven't looked at the Juke but good music always seems to be pouring out of it. This bar also seems to have a good crowd, fills up nicely, yet you can still often find a place to sit. Also, this bar has some interesting graffiti on the walls in the bathrooms. Some favs include, "Dude, who loves you?", a bow & smiley face on the toilet lid accompanied by the word "Love", "Scumbag Casanova", the surprisingly out of place "Foie Gras", and the charmingly elitist or just plain stupid "If you took a cab here you don't belong here". Might as well ride a bike, walk or metro to be safe. oh and I have been told you should order the cheese plate!: Three different types of generic "cheese flavored" chips. nummers! read more

The Raven Grill - Mini Decorative Juke at The Raven - Dive Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really dig this place. Definitely fits the "dive bar" genre, with low light and a kind of grungy, unpolished feel. Totally what I like in a bar. The jukebox, by the way, is excellent. So excellent every time I've been there there's been a line to get your song played. Good music, cheap beers, great vibes. My kind of place. read more

The neighborhood dive bar of all neighborhood dive bars. Like many of its ilk, the patrons here would strongly prefer you didn't breeze through here to "pound a few cheap brews" on your way to the club. Most folks here are regulars, and come to the Raven to soak up the chill local vibes. Great music is always on tap from the bartenders and trends toward punk, 80s, and metal vibes. Your standard selection of beer and spirits - you're coming here for a Natty Boh and a rail drink more than some kind of overdone craft cocktail or rare release craft beer. For a dive bar, prices actually aren't that cheap, but they do have some really solid happy hour prices. No food served, but as long as you're not obnoxious about it they don't usually mind if you bring food in. Expect to stumble across a special neighborhood fundraiser or birthday gathering any particular night of the week. They have a TV in back and some people come here to watch sports, but it's mostly a dive lover's paradise. Torn up vinyl booths and a retro/grandfather's basement ambiance pervades. Pro tip- it's CASH only! There's an atm in the bar if you need it. read more

They know what they do and they do it well. If you need a cheap beer and quiet bar to chat with friends and maybe play a game of Battleship, this is the place to go. Cash only, but you don't need much -- everything is really cheap. read more

Chill place. Very barebones, but good for low-key hangouts. A little hipster; or at least it was when I visited. read more

It's not really that dumpy, and it's also not really that cheap. But I had a good time there last night. Good tunes, cool looking dark ambience(guess they redid it recently? Idk b/c I've never been there before). Comfy leather booths, not too crowded, will be back. PS why is this a grill? Is there a kitchen I did not see? read more

Horrible service. Instantly judged us as soon as we came in. The bartender weren't even smiling and looked like they had the worst day. I asked about the Happy Hour for Friday's on the bartender didn't even offer until I showed him the yelp reviews and said oh yes. I asked about food and she said you can walk out and find a place that's open and the we should clean after ourselves. I was embarrassed because I brought our group here from the good yelp reviews. There were 10 of us and tried to squeeze in as much as possible and the bartender told us to get out of the way when there was so many room for her to get through read more

Somehow this place makes for a good time. I think it is the laid back people that frequent this spot. Nothing should be perfect when it is authenticity you seek. read more

I know if you "took a cab here, you don't belong here," but what if it's a rickshaw attached to a fixed gear bicycle? I've only been to The Raven twice (and I've never taken a cab there) but each time has been outstanding. Why is "grill" even in the title? Do they have food? Would you really want to eat it if they did? The Raven is not THE dirtiest dive bar I've ever been to, but the furniture is adequately chipped and worn and the wallpaper is the same as it was in the 40's, though it is now brittle with age and yellow from years of soaking up nicotine. The fact that a chip of it could end up in your drink is enough to make The Raven a dive for my purposes. Last time I stopped in, on a Sunday, the doors had only recently opened and I didn't leave until they were preparing to close. The intervening hours are sort of unclear. Like a pointillist painting, when I step back and consider the entire experience, it makes sense as a whole, but if I try to closely examine any one incident, it's impossible to see anything clearly. Was that a pretentious analogy? I'm sure one of the many Raven patrons with a Master of Fine Arts degree could answer that question. The Raven is probably closest to a dive bar as I've seen since Froggy Bottom. Unlike "The Frog" I've never been actively afraid of any of the patrons. Unfortunately, I think fear is the sign of a good dive bar, hence the loss of one star. I sat next to an elderly black man in a tattered suit who would dance on command in his seat when something good was on the jukebox. I imagine that he came straight from church. The bartender was fantastic, and not just because he started pouring me unrequested (but not refused) shots around 4:30. When I wasn't taking half a dozen shots, I was drinking my new favorite whiskey, "Old Granddad." Old Granddad Whiskey is just like your kindly old grandfather, if your kindly old grandfather routinely hit you in the head with a shovel until you made terrible decisions. As you pause to consider whether what you're about to do is illegal or immoral, Old Granddad whispers to you in the voice of Tom Waits, "It's a good idea and nobody will ever know. Do it. Don't worry about getting caught - you're invisible!" But you're not invisible. The granddad is a liar. I spent the entire next day throwing up and finding stuff in my pockets (and the purse of my companion) that I'd stolen from area houses. Anyway, you will have a great time here and meet interesting people. Yes Virginia, many of them will be 20-something hipsters who are interning, working a shitty job while they find themselves or otherwise delaying the inevitable slide into lameness. What I'm trying to say is, bring flannel and tight pants. Oh, and whoever is playing Brittany Spears and One Republic on the jukebox in those other reviews, quit being ironic. read more

Do you want a bar that could be anywhere? Do you want booze that is cheap? Do you want to not talk to anyone you didn't bring to talk to you? Do you like cavish atmospheres? Do you like places where you wouldn't be surprised if a sad clown was sitting 3 stools down? If you answered yes to any of these questions the Raven maybe worth a try, if you answered yes to all of them you sound like me on a rainy day in which case I'll save you a stool at the Raven. read more

This is a quintessential dive bar. Minus terrifyingly sad old men who appear as though life is draining out of them, one Kentucky Gentleman at a time. What is DOES have is an amazing jukebox, cracked booth cushions that will tear up your ass, cheap liquor, and that indelible red glow that makes you feel like you are walking through a vice-filled dream that ends with angels singing. I would happily end up here every evening to scrape off the reality of working life; alas, I live far away now and have become too lazy. I've never had a less than superb time here, and I will not end that statement with "for what it is." Come with expectations. Expect to get unpretentious service (they're hipsters, but non-judgy ones! Really!), inexpensive drinks ($5 top shelf bourbon), and an atmosphere that somehow morphs into perfection regardless of whether it's crowded or empty. If you need a snack, there are Lance peanut butter sandwich crackers for sale. Talk to anyone who's lived in NW DC for a while and the Raven seems to be one of those places that has been around forever and never lost its character or tried to be something it isn't. And with any luck, that will never change. read more

The Raven- it's dark, it's grizzly, it's as homey as a dive bar can get. Do not come here if you are looking to hit on whatever has legs. Leave that elsewhere! The Raven doesn't play that game. It's more of a "leave me and my beer at peace" type of place. The Raven stays true to all that is divey and awesome-- serving up suds for cheap. (Side note: it's cash only). While you're not going to get a fantastical variety of bottled beers, what they do have on hand is pretty tasty. And liquor? Yup, they've got that too. The finishing touches to the Raven are the graffiti'ed bathrooms. Not only is there a shared sink which spews out only cold water (accidentally environmentally friendly?) and a shared sink may not be considered the most glamorous of restrooms, I personally find it all very charming. What always scores mad points in my book is the presence of a jukebox. I've never actually stopped to count how many albums are encased in that little jukebox of theirs but I can tell you it spans a multitude of both musical genres and eras and is bound to please even the most discerning of aural judges. With an economy price of three plays for a dollar, why not throw on some tunes? And what's more, how could you not love a jukebox appropriately named, "Digital Thunder"? read more

The other reviews pretty much have this place down pat--cheap drinks (for DC, so like $5 for a rail drink), friendly bartender, booth & bar seating, not-super-crowded, dim lighting and cash only. We were just looking for a place right by the Columbia Heights Metro to grab a drink, and The Raven Grill got the job done perfectly. Having "Grill" in the name really threw my very-hungry-after-work-self off, but no, this place does not serve any food. read more

The first time I went here, my friend ordered a White Russian. The bartender told her, "No." "No Kahlua?" she asked. "No milk," he replied. It's that kind of place. The kind of place that received complaints when they reupholstered their booths. It's crazy crowded on Saturday and Sunday nights, in part because it has the best juke box in the city. If you prefer room to move around, check it out on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. You might be the only one there. Or, you might find yourself sitting next to a guy drinking O'Douls. Regardless, you're bound to have a memorable visit. That's the beauty of the Raven. It's also cash-only but has an ATM, and is next to a Bank of America. Stick to the beer and booze. Even the bartenders don't recommend the wine. As for the "Grill" part, there is no food, unless you count the Utz chips for sale. You can bring in food from other places though. read more

How do I love The Raven? Let me count the ways... 1) shots of Makers Mark for $4.50 2) actual, honest-to-goodness, non-internet juke box filled with great rock 'n' roll tunes 3) bathroom graffiti = never be bored while you pee 4) pretty much always running into people I know here 5) the one magical night when the bartender cleared the floor (I was squished behind the bar) and did a mesmerizing recitation of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe 6) cheap beer 7) 7-11 across the street should you need to buy cigarettes (not me anymore!) 8) cramming into booths with friends brings you all closer together 9) convenient location for friends coming from Dupont who can take the 42 bus right there 10) it gets crowded, but its tiny size makes it easy to step outside for some fresh air if the crowd is getting to you 11) Makes a great second location after getting food at Haydee's across the street You encapsulate everything a person needs for happiness: booze, friends, and tunes. Raven, you complete me. read more

On weekends I give this a 2, on weeknights I would give this a four. So 3 is happy medium. On any other night of the week you can walk in, sit down and drink cheap beer at cheap prices. It's mostly people who generally only walk a couple blocks to get here because hey, it's a neighborhood bar. On Fridays and Saturdays GIRD YOUR LOINS! Prepare yourself to see bridge-and-tunnel folk - people from Clarendon that actually use Metro to come to Raven because all their friends told them it was hip - and the crowd swells with polos, pearls and attitude. Thanks to numerous nods from the Going out Gurus (namely Fritz) it's teeming with people who live nowhere near the area but clog it mercilessly on weekend nights. (so the lesson here is whatever Fritz recommends, do the exact opposite. I hope you learned that from the infamous LNS party) Case in point: I recently went at 9:00pm on Saturday (9! that's early!) and not only was there no place to sit or stand, it looked like I walked into an Urban Outfitters catalog. And I don't think they were all hipsters because guess what - everyone, from your high school girlfriend who loved Third Eye Blind to your boss on the Hill and even Miley Cyrus dresses like a hipster now. People in tight pants preening and flirting over each other like a Williamsburg meat market. I fled to a quieter, hipper, dirtier bar in Adams Morgan that I am NOT disclosing here for fear of the invasion of sharp dressed interns and hill staffers. Long story short, avoid like hell on Fridays and Saturdays unless you live in Ballston and love hearing "living on a prayer" twice in one night. read more

So what makes this a dive bar vs. a hipster bar? They don't serve Tater Tots?? This is not a dive. A true dive makes you think twice when you walk in for the first time and get a good look at the locals. You think, "OMG, what have we done?" but at that point it's too late and you have to go in. Walk in this place and you're likely to wonder what everyone's GRE scores were. It looks like a grad school hangout, with wet-behind-the-ears non-profiters drinking the same beer my dad drank, not because it was hip but because it was cheap. Except the Raven's beer is warm. read more

Do you ever have nights where you want - no, need - to sit in a dark corner somewhere downing cheap beers while pounding your fist on the table and ranting to your VERY unfortunate companion about "society" and how you want to move somewhere "authentic" such as Milwaukee? Well, apparently I do. And then I go to the Raven. Usually it is like a Tuesday. There are holes in the walls and some times drunk people at the bar start yelling about who knows what. Sometimes the bartender kind of wanders away for a smoke and you have to wait for them to come back to order a drink. What is not to love? Thanks for existing, Raven. read more

I don't get it. I have lived in the Mount Pleasant area for 6 years and people love this place. If I had a dime for every time I tried it and it was awful I would have $.60. Every year I give it another go and hope, but it is always awful. If you want to enjoy cheap drinks in a room full of people who are, quite often, over served than this is the place for you. I did give it a star, because it doesn't pretend to be anything other than cheap. read more

I really don't see what everyone seems to love about this place. In my opinion though, dirty + gross does not automatically equal cool. I should note though that I haven't been in awhile, and based on some recent reviews, they've remodeled recently, so maybe it's less gross though. Both the times that I've wandered in there, there were roaches everywhere, crawling on the bar, the walls...seriously, everywhere. Maybe it's because unlike most people I was there during the day, and the bugs go into hiding at night, but seriously, it was bad. And, since we were there in the late afternoon/early evening (best time to drink!), we were pretty much the only customers, so how was the bar already sticky? Did they just not bother to wipe it up from the night before?? I'd be willing to cut them a little more slack if the beer was actually all that cheap, but it really isn't...you can find $3 PBR/$4 decent but not spectacular domestic beers at lots of places in the city (I feel a new list coming on-places with cheaper beer than the Raven). read more

This is one of my favorite dive bars in all of DC! It has a real home town feel, along with most other places in Mt. Pleasant This is the type of place were you can go to meet a friend for a low key drink or meet up with a group before heading out! Its a great spot to gather and stay or start your night. Drinks are cheap but your choice in wine is literally "white or red", interior isn't anything special, but a good group of friends and a round of drinks can make this place amazing! read more

The Raven stands out from a lot of other DC bars. The booths are too small and slightly cramped, sometimes the seat you find slants about 30 degrees to the left, the table wobles like it's been drinking, the bathroom is an abomination at best, but overall, the place simply rocks. Reasons being: -cheap beer (bottles only) such as Bass, Newcastle, etc. plus the usual assortment of American standards; I think the most expensive beer they have is $3.50. -great crowd....one night you'll find someone talking about the impacts of globalization in eastern Africa and the next night the conversation revolves around last weekend's Redskins game. -aweseom jukebox.....it's an old school joint, not one of the new (and terrible) internet jukeboxes; full of standards from the 50s-70s, a good sampling of some newer stuff, plus some offbeat samplers as well. Swing through, have some beers, meet someone new, stumble home......that's the recipe for a fun night at the Raven. read more

"If you took a cab here, you don't belong here." That's the truest line I've ever read on a bathroom wall. It's small, it's dark, there's hippies with fanny packs and no credit card machines. So why do I give it four stars? Because it's a place I can go in my oldest of t-shirts, hair in a pony tail, and listen to the Clash and Beck. It reminds me of my favorite bars in south Chicago, and I feel like there's no one I have to impress. It's like taking a vacation from the rest of D.C. read more

This was my go to bar in mtp - the best dive bar in dc and a classic mtp haunt. Completely unpretentious and great tunes. I appreciate the ample booth seating and the crowds can be interesting. read more

First of all, I'm not sure how accurate the name of this bar is. No one here is grilling anything. The Raven is a good old fashioned dive bar in the heart of Mt. Pleasant. It's metro-accessible, and most of its clientele live in the neighborhood, though others have flocked there through word-of-mouth. I've heard people say that the Raven is D.C.'s last "true" dive bar. The Pabst Blue Ribbon set tends to hang out at the Raven, so don't expect a fancy wine list to be handed to you as you walk through the door. It's a good place to meet friends, get drunk and play music on the jukebox. It tends to get a little crowded though, and sometimes "outsiders" get glared at by the regulars, I'm sorry to report. read more

2 cranky old man style observations on the Raven: 1: $3 is not cheap for a beer! Especially not a PBR! For the love of god I am sick of people saying how cheap their beer is. $3 is standard for a PBR in DC and that is already way too high! 2: When a bar undergoes renovations designed to attract hipsters and suburbanites but still keep its "gritty dive bar feel," IT'S NOT A DIVE BAR ANYMORE! If you think the Raven is a dive bar because it has "vintage" lamps and a jukebox and doesn't take credit cards, I fear you may be the kind of person who thinks TGI Fridays is an authentic route 66 roadhouse because it has license plates on the walls and an antique gas pump. read more

Come here to drink canned malt liquor and PBRs that cost $2 above the national average in putrid squalor. The Raven has become legendary for being the spitting image of the "authentic dive experience" that every 20 something is so desperately searching for as of late. Rad: Your epic jukebox will help me seal the deal with a drunk bangsy hipster after putting on FAME by Bowie. I generally describe this place as the trashiest bar in DC to friends and proceed to force them to drink here for the novelty. Bad: You are drinking at the trashiest bar in DC. read more

This just became my favorite dive bar in DC. It's been in operation since 1935 and holds much of that history and character while remaining clean (as far as I could tell anyway). The bar keep was friendly. He has a limited drink selection: beer, shots, and maybe some simple mixed drinks. But what you lose in selection you gain in price. All beers are $3-$4. You won't find the newest crafts, but a nice spread including Sierra Nevada, Magic Hat, and DC Brau. An added plus! They have some board games that you can play while you unwind on your $3 beers. read more

Last night a round of 2 PBRs, a Miller Lite and a Jameson cost $11 pre-tip. There was a wasted El Salvadorian guy who kept asking if we had ordered our coats. He told us he had lived in Mt. Pleasant for 26 years. There was a woman slipping ratty dollars into the [excellent] jukebox who spoke as if her teeth were made of split pea soup and kept asking us for $0.50. She looked like she had just gotten off a 15 show vegan burrito-selling stint with the latest Phish tour. Is the Raven a "dive?" It has the worst bathroom graffiti I've ever seen (paltry in coverage and substance) but everything else seems to fit. read more