Ah yes, Tilt. It's categorized as a speakeasy, but.... the door is open most of the time in my experience and there's occasionally a curtain. I've taken many a friend to this one, which many were confused by as the main bar space is Blackjack, which usually gets incredibly crowded, especially on weekends. There's even a line to get in and folks are like "Why are we going here?!" But if you can find it, Tilt is like a sweet escape, that has a bunch of retro decor and art that really takes you back. The only thing missing is the ability to play retro games, which would fit right in. But at the same time, you couldn't fit that anywhere, haha. Eventually folks find their way in there and it gets crowded, but compared to Blackjack itself it is refreshing. I've had a handful of their creative drinks, which are mostly tiki-themed. I've yet to have a bad one, and I would still recommend it to those looking for something different. But can we really call it a speakeasy? That one is left up for debate! read more

Cool little speakeasy at the back of Blackjack bar with funky retro and nostalgic decor. My friends and I had a good time sitting on the couches in the way back and enjoying their Painkiller Punch Bowl- if you're into rum and coconut flavors I recommend that one. They've got small bites too, including oysters. We got a Bananas Foster and it was really good. If you're in the area and looking for a more low-key vibe, I recommend checking this place out! read more

Tilt - Painkiller Punch Bowl - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Not really a speakeasy! Long line out front, very obvious people are trying to get in. You could say the line is for the joint venue but Tilt is just a room in the back and looks like a part of it- disappointed it isn't more hidden. However. The design inside is great and the countertops have old school games glassed into them- quirky. Atmosphere is great. Drinks are okay, espresso martini is pre mixed and came out of a big container which was weird. Glad I went, wouldn't necessarily make a deal to go again though. read more

Tilt is pleasantly quirky with some intense 90's theming, topped off by some interesting and tasty cocktails. Color me surprised when I wandered up to black jack to show off the bocce ball courts to find them not only gone but the space completely transformed and unrecognizable! The underutilized back area of blackjack is now Tilt, a cool cocktail bar which also offers some different bar bites than its blackjack and pearl dive siblings. We enjoyed a pre-dinner drink and enjoyed talking with the bartender who was super knowledgeable and gave us some details on industry events that the bar-trio plans on hosting, including an Abita tap takeover the week of April 9th for all who are fans of the NOLA beer (fun fact: pearl dive sells the most Abita beer in the region!) The bar, like those at black jack and pearl dive, also hosts happy hour tues-fri. read more

See all

Eclectic speakeasy in the back of Blackjack bar! If you didn't know it was here you probably wouldn't be able to find it. The only thing that gives it away is the bouncer standing at the door, but of course that could just be Blackjack security. Tilt is neon lit, with funky decorations & music to match. The drinks are amazing & I truly had a blast here! A hidden gem. read more

Tilt - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Cool speakeasy in the back of blackjack. It has one of the coolest bar tops I've seen - check it out.

Reminds me of trendy speakeasies up in NYC. Cocktails made the right way too. Fresh fruit garnishes ready at hand, shaken cocktails strained, sphere ice cubes for on the rocks drinks. The quirky decor photographs well with the nostalgia filter. The well lit bar/restaurant on the bottom floor hosts chill conversation/catching up nights with close friends well. The upper floor of course caters to the party/dancing DC night life. Wander off further to the back and you find yourself a nice gameroom-esque surprise. read more

See all

Actually the worst experience at a bar I have ever had in DC. I was in the back of this bar, tilt. The bar tenders were actually pretty great and efficient. However; Let me relate my story at this hellhole; I was at the bar bar for a about 1.5 hours (Bought food and two drinks) and I was enjoying the Friday evening with friends after a week of work, I took a stroll around the rest of the bar (split into two levels and three rooms) to stretch my legs and to use the lav. Afterwards I was trying to walk back to my friends when one bouncer arbitrarily decided I was no longer allowed in the room I had just spent an hour in. The 6'3" 320 lb bouncer is apparently stupider than he looks because he (A) didnt notice the fact I had just walked right past him leaving that room/portion of bar three minutes earlier (B) decided that since he had done literally nothing but sit on a stool all night it was time to exercise his tiny iota of power and prevent a paying patron from reentering the room they had just spent two hours in. No explanation what-so-ever for why (I heard him tell another bouncer later that "He was an asshole" - I wonder if the bartenders 20 feet away thought the same thing, or anyone else other than one infantile man on a power trip?). In any event the night was below freezing and rainy and I had left my coat and umbrella in the room i was then being senselessly prevented from entering. For one second the brute of a bouncer realized how stupid he was being when it dawned on him that all my things were already in the room he decided I could not enter, but his idiotic pride took over and he tried to even prevent me from getting my things and leaving (by this time i was DYING to LEAVE this place). I got my affects and left, I never got an explanation why I was kicked out after not being allowed in the bar I had just spend two hours with my friends spending money in. The bouncer also pushed me for no reason, and was very physical the whole time. I have no problem leaving your bar and no problem ever coming back, keep your hands off me. read more

This place is a hidden gem. It's in the back of Black Jack. The sign is tiny so you have to know it's located there. The drinks are amazing. You won't go wrong when you order a drink at Tilt. One of my favorite speakeasies in DC! read more

Tilt - Tilt's 90s pinball themed bar - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Shhhhh - don't tell anyone about this place. You would have absolutely no idea its here, in the alternate back side of BlackJack. Seriously, you may mistake going through a bathroom door - then bam, shear awesomeness. I'm raising an eyebrow at how there are only two reviews - but I guess that's for the best. Keep this place a secret! So what you should know? The place is decked out like a intimate pinball speakeasy. Read .. this is NOT a pinball bar though. It's just got that low key vibe/style going on. The place is incredibly clean and you would have trouble believing its actually attached to BlackJack. It's a complete Jeckel and Hyde switcheroo. The beer list was excellent and the cocktails unique enough to garner the $10-$16 (peanut butter infused vodka, zinfandel, and lemon - epic). Small bites were on the menu along with a full assortment of oysters, and funky mignonette sauces. I will say though at $2.80/oyster, they are getting into Blacks, St Arnolds, and other oyster specific resturant pricing. They do offer a generous happy hour for 50% off oysters, $5 wine, and I believe $2 off select beers. (Happy hour runs until 8 on the weekdays - sweet). Spoke with the main bartender - the place fits 45-50 people. They put a cap on capacity so it keeps the low key/chilled vibe going. If you're pissed off that you get turned away or have to wait in an hour line - you should probably go across the street to the basement at Saint Ex. Don't expect to absolutely rage here. Expect awesome atmosphere, good people, and great cocktails. 5/5 will visit again! read more

On their first night of service, Tilt made a solid and lasting first impression. The service was fantastic and everyone from the doorman to the waitress made us feel welcomed...first drinks on the owner! I don't mind if we do! The drinks were delicious, and offered in personal or sharing sizes, which was cool. They kept the bar high as the food came to our table dish after dish, each as good or better than the last. The boneless jerk came to our table compliments of the chef and man o man, I can see why he was proud of this one. It was extremely flavorful, moist, and came with a nice kick of heat. The lobster rangoon was tasty and packed with actual chunks of lobster meat to sink your teeth into (which may be the reason why it cost 15 for three rangoons...understandable but still steep for that menu item). And the chef-d'œuvre...the wood fired and raw oysters! With both me and my dining partner, being card carrying Cambridge foodies now, we are admittedly extremely tough critics in this department. Tilt did not disappoint. The oyst'ahs we chose from the well appointed selection were were fresh and offered up with a variety of mignonettes. The warm oysters were equally as delicious with a nice touch of spice. The baby of the Black Restaurant Group is filling out those large shoes quite nicely so far. I will definitely be back. read more

I have been to Tilt many times, and it was enjoyable. It has now changed. As a woman, I do not go to the bathroom at bars alone. I always ask a friend to escort me as I am unsure whom I may encounter in line. This time, I chose a long time friend of 4+ years (who happened to be a gay man) because I was comfortable with him and trusted that he would take care of me if need be. No less than 45 seconds in to us entering the bathroom together did we start to hear a pounding on the door. We did not initially react because there was not security/a bouncer monitoring the bathrooms nor was there signage or guidance restricting the number and gender of guests in a bathroom facility. However, when i opened the door to exit, I was confronted by a female patron I had never seen as well as 'Francisco' who said he was an employee of the bar. 'Francisco' and this female patron began to berate me and my friend and accuse us of being inappropriate in the bathroom. I feel no need to defend our behavior as we were acting as any friends would, however, these two people were clearly uncomfortable by the fact that we were friends of different gender and sexual orientation. Upon exiting the bathroom, 'Francisco' told my friend and I that we had to leave the bar. When I requested a reason or a policy, he was unable to provide me with any explanation further than "you know what you did." Unfortunately for 'Francisco,' my intentions for bringing a platonic, long term, male friend to the restroom with me were for safety reasons. It was made clear after interacting with the Tilt/Black Jack staff that I needed protection not only against patrons, but also against staff. We were forcefully removed from the establishment with no other explanation besides, "you know what you did." Upon asking for a manager, we were only met with more security as if we were criminals and not just two friends trying to enjoy a night with one another. As we were forced out of the bar and begging for a clear explanation as to why, it became clear that the unidentified woman who was standing outside of the bathroom had made it seem as if me and my friend (of different sexual orientation) were being inappropriate in the restroom. Since they had so easily and without proof taken her word as fact, I attempted to explain my side of the story by sharing that this was my long term friend that I trusted to look out for me in situations that could be potentially dangerous for a woman. I am still eternally grateful that he was with me through this experience as the "security" at this establishment were clearly not interested in protecting the patrons and were only interested in upholding "policies" that were listed no where in the entire establishment. They (the 'security') proceeded to accuse me of engaging in inappropriate behavior with my FRIEND in the restroom, and as I was desperately trying to defend myself, I mentioned I had a long term boyfriend to which they replied, "do you think he'd be proud of you now?" These employees clearly felt superior to a woman and a gay man. They had no interest in understanding why a woman would want a man (friend or romantic) to escort her to the bathroom for safety reasons. They did not even provide us with a whole reason as to why they were throwing us out of the establishment, and proceeded to demean me with words such as, "I'm sure your boyfriend would love to catch you with another man." The complete disrespect and disregard for a woman's safety is astounding. If you have strict bathroom policies, they are to be posted on the walls and enforced by staff sitting at the bathroom. It is wholly unacceptable to throw two people out of your bar concerning "rules" that were established nowhere besides the bigoted brains of the people working that evening. I felt unsafe and disrespected by this staff. I have lived in DC for almost a decade and have experienced unacceptable behavior, but never to the point of writing a review and going in the next day (which I will be doing in this case). People should be allowed to take the precautions they need in order to feel safe. And if an establishment has policies, they must be posted and NOTICEABLE to their patrons. This was a shameful experience. If you only want to protect the safety and comfort of cis, white patrons, you should not be in business in 2022. Hire a proper HR and training team to guide you in the right direction before you endanger more lives. read more

Great refuge for Adult drinks and a retro shangri-la; worth stopping in and supporting a breath of fresh air

First of all I LOVE speakeasy's... this one is very nostalgic for us 80's babies. Great music. Great vibe. Do yourself a favor and try to visit all of DC's speakeasies, lots of fun. This one is definitely on the list of "staple" bars to visit. read more

Really unique and cool bar experience. It's a bar within a bar located at the back of blackjack on 14th. Right when I walked in I was blown away by the decor and theming and there was just s much to look at! We met up with friends for happy hour (on the earlier end) so there weren't many people in there, but it was still cool. The happy hour is pretty simple, but good for DC. We had a couple pizzas which were surprisingly delicious and a few beers. The bartenders were attentive. I'll have to go back during a popular time later at night and try some of the cocktails. My favorite part was the wall covered in old movie and band posters. It had me feeling really nostalgic in the best way and led to some great bar chat with our group! The music playing was really great too! read more

I would give zero stars if I could! As an avid pinball player I was willing to over look they call themselves as a pinball bar but DIDN't HAVE any pinball machines but when I arrived I was turned away because I wasn't a "member". This is an elitist bar! It was reminisce of club not a pinball bar. Sadly disappointed and certainly won't be returning! read more

This place is awesome! A hidden gem in the back of blackjack. It is truly awesome in there. I find myself going back there every Friday night. Very reasonable drink prices as well! read more

Super cool speakeasy style bar with pinball like feel. Excellent craft cocktails with superb service.