Like many other large professional cities filled with “type-A” people, happy hour in DC is a THING. It is both a social and professional ritual. Everyone from twenty-something broke interns to serious professional political operatives at the top of their game can be seen out in DCs bars and restaurants – often even at the same place.
I am now living in DC for the second time as an adult. DC is the melting pot for my job and there is always someone to catch up with over a drink. This list represents my favorite spots based on 5 years of “research”.
DC Political Happy Hour: Off the Record at the Hay Adams hotel – just a short walk from the White House is distinctly DC. The walls are lined with caricatures of Washington’s politicians and even the drink coasters are caricatures of the day’s most talked about figures. This is not your causal neighborhood bar but is a place you should come to at least once while in DC.
Drink with Dinner/Lunch: Old Ebbitt Grill is one of my favorite places in DC and somewhere I take all visiting family and friends. I love the vibe. I love the history (1856 – the oldest Salon in Washington). I love the décor with the wood paneling and stain glass. And even though I am anti-hunting, it is said the animal heads on display were shot by President Teddy Roosevelt (so I am willing to let it go). While they don’t have a Happy Hour menu, this is still one of my favorite places to take someone for a drink after work, sit at the bar and order a fantastic meal.
Classy: Similar to Off the Record, the Round Robin bar at the Willard hotel is a DC landmark that has been around since the 1850s. It has served Mark Twain and Walt Whitman and this is where Martin Luther King finished his “I Have a Dream” speech. What can I say, I am a history buff and love to step back in time. They are famous for their Mint Julip introduced there by Henry Clay in the early 1800s.
Fancy: Two of my new favorites for a special event are the Living Room at the Georgetown Ritz and Peacock Alley at the Willard Hotel. Peacock Alley is especially great during Christmas.
Bar Food: Down near Georgetown, the water and even the Kennedy Center, Farmer Fishers Bakers has an extensive drink menu along with fabulous bar food at a great price in huge quantities. From their website, “Farmers Restaurant group is a collection of restaurants, majority owned by American Family Farmers established on a platform of farm-inspired American food and drink in modern, upscale casual, and eco-friendly settings.”
Best View: POV at the W hotel, 12 Stories at the Waterfront, the Watergate hotel rooftop, and Skydome lounge in Pentagon City have two of the best views of the city. The POV overlooks the White House with a view of the Washington Monument. This is THE place to go. Expect it to be crowded and expensive. But you only live once! The Sky Dome is less crowded, less expensive and less cool. But you will get wonderful views of the Air Force Memorial, Pentagon, and DC skyline from this rotating lounge. The drinks and the food are nothing to write home about, but remember you are there for the view…
Fun: Friends and I recently visited Urban Roast near Gallery Place. I loved it. It has a great cocktail menu – I had a hot chocolate flight while my girlfriend had a margarita flight, it is beautifully decorated, a fun vibe but not too crowded and loud. I will go again.
Wine Bar: Sonoma on Capitol Hill or Grape and Bean in Old Town are two great wine bars. The upstairs Avenue Lounge is a relaxed and open atmosphere to catch up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine. It is always lively but rarely too loud or crowded. Grape and Bean is a small intimate shop in the heart of Old Town. They have mid-week early specials around 4 pm.
Pizza: Yes, a pizza happy hour! I love pizza and I love it even more when it can be combined with a happy hour (or brunch). For a great pizza happy hour, check out Ghibellina in Logan Circle. In between lunch and dinner they stay open and serve $10 pizzas along with discounted cocktails and wine. Their sangria is fabulous and not to be missed. If across the rive in Old Town, I also love Mia’s which has great wine and small individual pizzas you can order at the bar.
Large Group: Hawk and Dove on Capitol Hill is one of the most accommodating places in the city for a large group. They have a couple of different bar areas that you can reserve without a monstrous down payment or minimum charge. They have a wide bar menu at a reasonable price.
Eastern Market: I couldn’t decide to recommend Ambar for happy hour or save it for another list so don’t be surprised if you read about it again. Ambar has a fun rooftop terrace, great happy hour prices and a great menu of Balkan tapas.
Gallery Place: This area is filled with restaurants and bars. It is also an easy walk from the Mall after a full day of sightseeing. My go to selections for this neighborhood are Match Box (for any occasion), and Jaleo (especially in the summer so I can sit outside and people watch while sipping on their Sangria).
DuPont Circle: My favorite place here closed. I have been to several others but none worth recommending. I will keep working on it.
Foggy Bottom: I love the GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar. Because really, if you aren’t going to have pizza and drinks, then grilled cheese is the next best option! I don’t know that this is really a Happy Hour, but it’s my list!
Fries and Prosecco: This is one of my favorite combinations. Bearnaise on Capitol Hill closed but luckily Upstairs at the Marrow does a great job.
Just over the bridge in VA: My two go-to places are Rosa Mexicana in Pentagon City (I love their Pomegranate Margarita) and Screwtop Winebar in Clarendon.
Old Town Alexandria: A girlfriend loves Brabo for cocktails, and we’ve been there several times.
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