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.

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.

A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

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

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!

Very cool spot, the staff are fun and kind, everything was gorgeous! Loooved the music and the vibe…read moreThe drinks were okay, i loved mine (time to pretend) but i didnt love the other drinks my friends got but the menu was descriptive so i wasnt surprised, just not my taste in drinks Love a cocktail bar, love the scene, would definitely go back Make reservations in advance !!

I have lived in the city for years and I can easily say that this is the best bar I have EVER been…read moreto in DC. When my group's reserved table wasn't ready upon our arrival, we were given free glasses of sparkling rose to sip on while we waited. Then once we got inside, the place has a super cozy yet upscale atmosphere that we loved. It is the perfect date night spot. And most important, the service was INCREDIBLE. Thank you to Troy and Ash whose infectious positive energy made our experience truly special and memorable. I will absolutely be coming back again and again.

This is a really fun, iconic basement speakeasy spot located right underneath a hotel, just steps…read moreaway from the White House. The food and drink here are both excellent and absolutely worth coming for. They serve up great, high-quality cocktails, and I also ordered the cheeseburger, which was really juicy and beautifully cooked. The space itself is famous for having political caricature artwork all over the restaurant, and they even give you fun caricature coasters that you can take home with you as a souvenir. Because it's a popular underground spot, it can definitely get incredibly busy and cramped in there. I've been multiple times, and almost every single time it is tough to find a spot to sit. However, I did come once during an off-peak time, right in the middle of the week around 1:00 PM for lunch--and it wasn't to busy, so we were easily able to just sit right at the bar.  I would definitely recommend checking this place out! While the tight crowds can make it a bit tough on a busy week day or weekend night, it is completely worth experiencing at least once for the great drinks, good food, and unique atmosphere.

This bar came highly recommended by so many people, but I feel like they've hit that point where…read morethey know tourist are coming and the prices reflect that. Four drinks and one meat and cheese board topped us over with tip at 200 bucks. We had gone for multiple dinners and lunches over several days in DC and did not spend that much on an actual meal..... Pros- -the meat and cheese board was massive, had plenty and was more than enough for two people and became somewhat of a meal. -The drinks were very good heavy pours. -The vibe is great - kind of loud but in a good way -The bathrooms are IMMACULATE Cons- -The table service was a bit touch and go; seemed like there was no rhyme or reason for which servers had which tables. -I sent back my first drink because it had very noticeably had hair in it, and the server gave me a hard time about it - there was clearly hair floating in the glass I'm not paying $25 for a drink with hair -service was also super slow and we felt forgotten at times at our table *if there is an event or wedding at the hotel that definitely can add to being overcrowded and slow *take the time to walk around and check out the cartoons - and make sure you take home a coaster or two!!!!

I've never been there, but l was always invited out to go there with co-workers who would have…read morebecome friends. I would never go with them. The time wasn't right and it was always awkward for me at that time for one reason or the other. I've seen beautuful photos of the establishment. I love the decor. I hear the food is great also. One day l will visit. And l know l will fall in love with the place.

I got to hit up the oldest saloon in DC before heading back home! A lot larger than I expected…read more(which is amazing!) to help accommodate all of the people wanting to go there. Super popular tourist spot (and with good reason!),I def reccomend making a reservation. Luckily for my visit on a Saturday at 1pm, the wait to be seated wasn't too long, only about 10 minutes. I've never had oysters anywhere besides New York so I wanted to try them here and my mom got the fried oyster deviled eggs. Our sever Stephanie was such a delight and probably has the coolest pin collection I've ever seen. Also the restaurant just has a really beautiful atmosphere to sit down and enjoy some really great hospitality. Onto the food! Oysters were smaller than I thought they'd be but SO FLAVORFUL and just the right amount of brine, and slid beautifully from the shell 10/10 The deviled eggs were given a 10/10, presentation was beautiful and the pickled relish was a well rounded addition We then finished up by sharing the cheasapeake eggs Benedict! Which featured their famous crab cake. The HOLLANDAISE?? literally danced in my mouth. The crab meat was so tender and buttery! Only difference I would've loved if the smoked paprika that was on the deviled eggs to also be featured on the Benedict! Over all it was a very lovely and sense awakening experience 9/10

We only popped in for a quick drink. I had the snapdragon and it was very good, a little on the…read moresweet side (I think due to the lychee) if you prefer sweeter tasting drinks. Really cute ambiance as well. Everyone was so nice and accommodating whilst in the middle of prepping for a private event.

Hosted my husband's surprise birthday party here and it was amazing! Everyone had a great time,…read morefood was on point and there was plenty of space to celebrate. I definitely recommend getting two oches for 15+ people. Most of all Jessica was amazing and a great host for us. We look forward to coming back!

If you love spicy food and sichuan pepper seasoning you will love this vibey neighborhood spot. If…read moreyou are lucky enough to find a reservation, definitely go. Great cocktails, better food. Some of our favorites are the salt and pepper eggplant and the OG LaZy chicken. Inside is dimly lit with energetic music. There are only 6 or 7 tables inside and rest is seating. Outside is nothing special but you'll still have great food.

Astoria completely lived up to the hype. It's one of those coveted DC reservations that's…read morenotoriously hard to get, and after having it on my list forever, I can confidently say it's 100% worth the wait. Tucked into the heart of Dupont Circle with its unmistakable bright blue awning, the restaurant is intimate, moody, and always buzzing. Inside, you'll find dim lighting, a handful of cozy wooden bar booths, seats along the bar, and a few outdoor tables. It's not a huge space, which only adds to its charm and makes every reservation feel like a win. The atmosphere is perfect for sharing dishes and lingering over dinner with friends. The food was incredible...I genuinely loved every single bite. Just be prepared: the Sichuan spice is no joke! If you aren't expecting it, it'll definitely sneak up on you (in the best way). My must-orders? The chili wontons, Dan Dan noodles, and beef noodles. Every dish was packed with bold flavor and left me wanting to come back for more. If you've been trying to score a reservation, keep at it. Astoria is one of those places that's absolutely deserving of its reputation, and I'll be thinking about those noodles until my next visit.