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    Ugly Duckling

    4.6 (13 reviews)

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    UGLY DUCKLING ATMOSPHERE

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    Deirdre G.

    Ugly Duckling has quickly become one of my favorite happy hour spots in the city. It's hard to put into words, but every time I visit, it feels like stepping into a small, tight-knit community of friends. There aren't a lot of seats but somehow, there's always a seat. The staff, though small in number, are warm and attentive, and before long they start recognizing you, even recalling your drink orders. It's the kind of place that makes it easy to call "your spot." The vibe is moody, cozy, and unfussy--with floor-to-ceiling windows, tea candles after sunset, and a laid-back atmosphere that works whether you're catching up with a friend or kicking off a night out with a group. It's understated, but it works. Drinks are the real draw here: imaginative, balanced, and never boring. The Gullywarsher (a coconut-lime cocktail with popcorn gin) is a fun, interesting, must try cocktail. My other favorites include the Like a Toreador and their espresso martini. Wine and prosecco are also solid picks, and happy hour pricing makes the experience feel like a steal. The menu isn't huge, but it doesn't need to be because you're guaranteed something good. Snack-wise, the lamb kofta meatballs are a crowd favorite, and the cheese board is a reliable go-to. While options during HH are limited, the quality more than makes up for it. Whether you're solo, on a date, or out with a group, Ugly Duckling delivers on comfort, creativity, and consistency. It's sophisticated without the snobbery and once you go a few times, you'll probably become a regular too.

    White wine spritzer $7
    Shari D.

    My bf has wanted to stop in here for a while and we took advantage of being in Shaw to give it a try. We got the chance to try a few menu items and I'll say without a doubt the lamb kofta meatballs are AMAZING! They are very well flavored, and the right portion, as they pack a punch. We also indulged in the Gullywarsher, the Tom Collins and some olives, all met and exceeded our expectations. If you're in the area and are looking for something new, take advantage of their menu you won't be disappointed! Senora our bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming, she added to our experience!

    Rachel R.

    This place is creative, and brings immaculate date night vibes. Definitely try the popcorn infused drink. 10/10

    Gullywarsher
    Audrey R.

    who knew my life was missing popcorn gin? - I am really excited about all the emerging cocktail bars in DC as someone who loves the social energy of a beer garden but doesn't like the beer - we had such a sweet waitress during our time here. she was incredibly nice, chatty and personal. she gave us a few recommendations and described how some of the drinks are made. - one of these drinks was the gullywarsher! it was a coconut lime drink with popcorn gin. this was absolutely mind blowing. it literally tasted like liquidated popcorn with hints of coconut. a true 10/10 in uniqueness and flavor, I'm so so impressed. - we got tom collins as well which were perfectly balanced and refreshing. all these drinks are on their happy hour menus meaning they were between $7 and $10. this is a great happy hour deal and we were happy to coincidentally run into it. the full prices are around $15, not horrid for DC but we luckily were able to avoid that - my overall qualm with this bar is it was very bland. there were a few decorations, but when I walked in I was like "oh am I in the wrong place?" considering their online branding has so much personality to it. the place was rather empty and they just seriously lacked an aesthetic or decorations to any interesting degree.

    Chenée T.

    Believe the hype around this new bar. The cocktails are so imaginative with ingredients Ive never heard before. They had an all night happy hour for New Year's Eve with a popcorn flavored cocktail and an excellent manhattan. The service was really fast and attentive and they had a lot of cute seating areas so you had your pick between a cozy couch area, hightops, or the bar. I didn't try any of their snack foods, but I did try the dessert cake and while it was a little dry, I appreciated that it didn't taste sugary and was a good palette cleanser.

    Yuzu martini
    Mitchell A.

    Ugly Duckling recently opened and is such a gem. A great spot for wine, cocktails, and heavy apps. We had Dennis as our waiter and he was truly fantastic - made some great wine and cocktail suggestions for us when we all gave our likes and dislikes. He also sold the cheese and charcuterie platter by having a deep knowledge of each of the products and talking about why he liked them. The bar is open, moody colors, and perfect for a cozy night or cocktails with friends or on a date! Looking forward to coming back and trying HH there!!

    Orange wine

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    Aaron H.

    Thank you so much for the kind words. We can't wait to see you again!

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    Cucina Morini

    Cucina Morini

    4.5(190 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Martini Hour alert!…read more First, I think that the martini hour is absolutely genius! It runs from 5-7pm and the selections of martinis were perfect. Ambiance: the restaurant is beautiful but note that martini hour takes place in a small bar area with limited seats. Nonetheless, you can grab a few friends and make this a moment as you enjoy those perfect martini selections. Bites: there weren't much to eat at martini hour so we moved to the general area afterwards to enjoy some food. Service: the staff was amazing and very accommodating. Shoutout to Nesto, the best bartender around! Martinis: Morini Martini: I absolutely love this drink. It was crisp, refreshing, and had a little bold flavors from the white pepper. I absolutely loved this drink and would get it again Sicilian Martini: another fav! Think summer time refreshing with a hint of sweet and citrus burst from the mandarin and lemon Espresso Martini: this drink was another great selection. Freshly brewed and perfectly prepared. I loved it Least favorite: Cala Rossa. I only disliked the drink because it was very sugary and I don't really enjoy sugary drinks. Food: Rigatoni: this dish was divine! And quick note, the smaller plates were perfect serving sizes. But back to the dish. The pasta was cooked al dente and the lamb ragu was soooooooooooooo good! No seriously, it was absolutely divine. Perfectly seasoned and rich in flavors. Other members of my party enjoyed their dishes: Cappelletti and Paccheri Alla Norma, both were described as absolutely perfect. Excellent evening, great service, incredible food and perfect drinks! What's not to love about this place?! I'll be back!

    So this place is a go-to for pasta lovers- either in person or delivery. The large portion is a…read moremust! Even to have leftovers! One of my favorites pictured here is the squid ink pasta in a spicy sauce with blended shellfish. The bread crumbs on top, shellfish and pasta have the best texture combination. The red pepper perfectly compliments the dish. My other go- to is the gramigna- the white sauce with pepper and sausage is a very tasty dish. I truly appreciate their homemade pasta! For apps- can't go wrong with the burrata. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere chic casual.

    Photos
    Cucina Morini - Interior (deep end)

    Interior (deep end)

    Cucina Morini - Tomato Focaccia

    Tomato Focaccia

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    la Betty

    la Betty

    3.6(43 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Stopped by this wine bar for dinner on a weekday and was able to walk in. I'd heard good things…read moreabout the drinks here but wasn't sure if there would be good dinner food.. and I was pleasantly surprised! Loved the moody vibe of the wine bar, it felt very cool, cozy and sophisticated. We sat in a booth under a red light so unfortunately my food picture turned out super red. Friends loved the selection of orange wine, and we ordered mcbetty truffle fries, shrimp scampi, honey whipped goat cheese, shishito peppers, and caesar salad for 4 people. Highlights were definitely the shrimp scampi with focaccia and fries, with the goat cheese on bread as a close third. A little pricy for the portions but honestly impressed with the variety of flavors and quality of the food. Service was ok, food came out a little slower than expected. I had really hoped to pick up some pastries (miss those baked joint cupcakes!) but seems like they don't sell them in evening. I'll have to come back for brunch/lunch to get some!

    La Betty is a really cool vinyl wine bar that has all the vibes. Wine isn't usually my go to, but I…read morereally loved the space and the overall ambiance. It's got plenty of character and feels like a great spot to hang out with friends or for a nightcap. When you walk in someone will help you find a seat and once you you're ready to order, you go up to the bar to order drinks or food. Although wine isn't my main thing, they do offer a small and limited selection of alcoholic options just no cocktails. Enough to do the job. I loved the music and the dim, chill, laid back decor really complimented the overall feel. It's definitely a spot I'd come back to especially to try out some of the food. Really dope spot.

    Photos
    la Betty - Inside

    Inside

    la Betty
    la Betty - Aesthetic

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    Aesthetic

    Mandu - Galbi | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    Mandu

    3.9(934 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Food: I tried Gaji Bokum & Dak Jjim. They both were well seasoned and delicious. Dak jjim is a bit…read morespicy. Just a heads up. ;) Service: I received an incorrect order by an accident, and when I went back, they fixed the mistake quickly. Staff were friendly even though I arrived there after their closing hour. Ambiance: there is a bar area, left side when entered the restaurant, and a dining area on the right. Both parts are well spaced out to have a meal comfortably.

    I've been to Mandu a few times over the years and I'm sorry to say my most recent visit didn't hit…read morethe mark. I visited on a Friday around 6:30 PM and sat at the bar to catch the end of happy hour (Mon-Sun 5-7 PM). The bar was empty at the time, but a few other people showed up later. The dining room had a handful of tables occupied. In short, easy to get a seat. Drinks were good. I like the Somaek ($6) which is a small beer and a shot of soju. Beer ($7) was beer. We got some beef and pork mandu (dumplings) that were pretty good. 6 pieces for $10 on HH. We got two entrees, the Ddukbokgi ($28) and Yukgaejang ($29), which came with four banchan. Ddukbokgi is chewy rice cakes, gochujang, onion, and bulgogi. We thought it was only ok -- we've had better, including at Mandu in the past. Yukgaejang was a new dish for me. The menu described it as a "spicy beef stew, brisket, noodles, shiitake, bean sprouts, and egg." I expected the brisket to be sliced and recognizably brisket, but it was pulled -- it looked and tasted more like pulled pork. The dish also didn't have any noodles in it. I didn't like it. The banchan was seaweed, bean sprouts, kimchi, and cucumbers. It was okay. Service at the bar was fine.

    Photos
    Mandu
    Mandu - Pa Jeon | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    Pa Jeon | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    Mandu - Banchan | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

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    Banchan | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    The Crown & Crow - Rude lady taking 3 spaces in the bar area is this amazing space.

    The Crown & Crow

    4.5(182 reviews)
    0.6 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

    We came in on a busy Saturday early-evening for drinks before dinner. The back room was…read more"reserved", but we were told to sit back there, given the size of our group and we sat nowhere near the party that was in there. The bartender in that area was friendly, but unhelpful, directing us to use the front room's bartender, even though she wasn't busy when we approached and asked for a couple of drinks. The bartender in the main room was great, he was very friendly and once he started a tab for me he said I could use the other bar too, I guess he wasn't aware the bartender at that other bar already told me she wouldn't help me. Regardless, the drinks we had were decent. For small bites, they only had gold fish crackers, I wish they would have had more to nosh on while drinking. Overall, not a bad visit.

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    The Crown & Crow
    The Crown & Crow
    The Crown & Crow - Oh my god it's full of stars!

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    Ugly Duckling - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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