Awarded Cocktail Show of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Association, Silver Lyan sets a high standard for DC’s bartending scene. Downstairs cocktail bar Riggs Washington DC was crafted by London bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known as Mr. Lyan. As his first bar in the US, the history of cultural exchange in the US is reflected in both the menu and the design of the space. Lyan is known for several cocktail bars across London, most notably Dandelyan – which was named the World’s Best Bar in 2018. At Silver Lyan, you can expect internationally fused drinks like the Superman 2 (Hendrick’s gin, oak, oolong tea, Flint strawberries and green beans) and the Kiwa cocktail (Altos tequila, shrimp, pearl tea, Morita chili, tropical aperitif and lime), as well as the Silver Martini, available in four varieties, all served with oysters, olives, homemade pickled onions and lemon.
Inside downtown Washington’s Eaton Studios, visitors will find a 200-plus-room hotel housing a cutting-edge co-working space and four unique dining concepts. Walk to the back of the hotel and peer behind a wall of books, and you’ll find Fables, a sleek, darkly lit cocktail bar with an extensive libation list. Settle in on a leather couch and admire the mural that pays homage to civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, as well as a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-themed mix of absorbing literary themes.
Blagden Alley’s neon sign and good vibes greet you on the other side of the door with stickers and red lights. Never looked better Bringing a modern twist to the 90s underground rave. Sip on signature cocktails including the Dirty Martini made with homemade brine and the Espresso Martini with premium coffee liqueur and custom cold brew.
Step through a mysterious door on 18th Street and travel back to the Prohibition era. Ring the old-fashioned door knocker, give the code (hint: it's in the name), and explore the trendy bar and lounge Code Red. The cocktails pay homage to the '20s with clever names and a little backstory, while the menu includes eclectic dishes like smoked bone marrow and lamb lollipops, seared foie gras, and wagyu beef sliders. Bonus: Enjoy happy hour daily from 5 to 7 p.m. and $1 Rappahannock oysters every Tuesday.
Ring the doorbell to enter bartender David Strauss' 900-square-foot space, located above a dentist's office in Mount Pleasant. Grab a seat in the quaint candlelit space and browse the ever-changing handwritten cocktail menu on a clipboard. Enjoy half-price classic happy hour Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.
After you’ve had your fill of bivalves and boys at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, continue your 14th Street adventure with tantalizing cocktails upstairs at Tilt Sidebar. This neon-lit bar with a retro vibe is located behind an unmarked door in the back section of Black Jack. You’ll feel like you’re in an ’80s-themed pinball machine as you sip on the shareable cocktails from the Tiki menu.
Brought to you by the same team behind the popular Ghibellina and Acqua Al 2 restaurants, Denson Bar is an Art Deco masterpiece in the subterranean Pennsylvania District inspired by the hotel bars of the past. The small plates and caviar menu pairs well with a range of seasonal drinks with detailed flavour profiles.
There's more to it than meets the eye at Capo Deli, a Jersey-style import from South Florida. On the surface, it's your favorite home-cooked deli recreated in Shaw, complete with freshly sliced meats, crispy crust, seeded rolls, and prepared homestyle Italian dishes. But unlike your hometown deli, this one is open until 3 a.m. or later on weekends. That big freezer door in the back? It's actually the entrance to Behind the Scenes, a cozy candlelit hideaway bar where those in the know can sip on delightful Italian fillings and specialty cocktails.