D.C.’s Inauguration Guide to Eating and Drinking

Inauguration Day is a week away, and no matter what your political preference, there’s no doubt this city is going to be packed with lots of parties and places to imbibe.

Some restaurants are using Inauguration week’s anticipated traffic as a chance to give proceeds to an array of local charities. To support the Women’s March, popular recipients include the female-focused Planned Parenthood and N Street Village Women’s Shelter.

Some spots are going the non-partisan route, and a few high-profile media takeovers are in the works: NBC is airing at Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, while Politico’s at POV at The W.

Here’s a growing guide of Inauguration-related specials for catching a buzz and bite on or around the big day on Jan. 20.

Midlands

3333 Georgia Ave. NW

The beer garden is having a farewell party for the Obamas and Joe Biden on Jan. 20, with bands, a raffle, open bar and taco fiesta from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for $44. And on Jan. 21 a post-Women's March fundraiser for the House of Ruth will go from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Black Squirrel

2427 18th St. NW

From 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Jan. 21, an “Equal Pay Post-March Happy Hour” features woman-owned Denizens Brewing Co. Pay 21% less for Denizens beer and select appetizers on the main floor as a symbol of the pay gap between men and women. Beers include Denizens Southside Rye, Safety Pin Session IPA, and more.

Graffiato

707 6th St. NW

Offering its happy hour menu from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 21 so marchers can pop by for a drink and bites. A portion of sales will go to the Human Rights Campaign.

Sudhouse

1340 U St. NW

On Inauguration Day Friday, come for $6 beer and shot combos or $5 mixed drink specials all day.

Alta Strada

465 K St. NW

Starting Friday, and available throughout the weekend, Alta Strada will offer happy hour pricing ($6) on all Americano cocktails, all day. Proceeds from the “Make Americanos Great Again,” promotion will be donated to the Anti-Defamation League.

Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW

On Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, its popular sidewalk glace cart will offer passersby warming cups of peppermint chocolat chaud ($13), hot coffee ($4), as well as seasonal glacé flavors. The kitchen and bar will both stay open one hour later ‪Thursday through Sunday on Inauguration weekend.

Quarter + Glory

2017 14th St. NW

Starting Jan. 20 and through the weekend, Quarter + Glory will offer three $10 cocktail specials all day. They include “Believe Me” with rye, #NOT! with vodka, and "Who's going to pay for it?" with tequila.

The Fainting Goat

1330 U St. NW

For those planning to hibernate or get the heck out of dodge during Inauguration Weekend, a special survival kit being offered for $39 will include spiced popcorn and chocolate treats by executive chef Nathan Beauchamp, as well as beverage director Ian Fletcher's bottled punch mix. The kits serve two to four, and they’re available for pickup after noon on Friday. Email kyle@faintinggoatdc.com or call (202) 735-0344 to order one now.

Ben's Upstairs

1001 H St. NE

True to its legacy of community service, Ben's Upstairs is hosting an Inauguration Rooftop Retreat, a place to “rise above and lift our collective spirits.” The day starts at 11 a.m. and invites patrons to spin oldies on the record player and have brunch all day, plus dinner.

Dino’s Grotto

1914 9th St. NW

Both Jan. 20 and 21, the Grotto Bar will open early at 12 p.m. with full beverage menu and a limited bar menu. The regular menu will start at 5 p.m. both in the bar and upstairs. A percentage of sales both days will go to Casa Ruby, D.C.’s bilingual multicultural LGBT nonprofit providing life-saving services and programs to the most vulnerable in the LGBT community.

Art & Soul

415 New Jersey Ave. NW

Located two blocks from the U.S. Capitol, the bar is tenting and heating its patio from Jan. 18 to 22 and turning it into a pop-up lounge. In addition to offering Art and Soul's regular menu, it’ll have boozy hot chocolate selections (for here only) and to-go hot chocolate with a couple of snacks and hand warmers. Cozy cocktails, too.

Kapnos & G

2201 14th St. NW

Featuring The Bigger Picture, a cocktail inspired by the Women's March on Washington (with Van Gogh Vodka), with a portion of proceeds from drink sales going to support the Human Rights Campaign.

Kapnos Kouzina

4900 Hampden Ln., Bethesda

Offering the Ruthie cocktail (Vodka, Aperol, Cranberry Shrub, Blood Orange, Lemon) with $1 from each cocktail sold donated to the House of Ruth, an organization sheltering victims of domestic abuse.

Policy Restaurant & Lounge

1904 14th St. NW

A special happy hour on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. will be for Women's March on Washington participants. Beers start at just $4.50, wine at $5.50, and cocktails at $6.50. Food specials include Executive Chef Lonnie Zoeller's Shrimp Empanadas ($4), Pork Belly Chicharron ($6), and more.

Flight

777 6th St. NW

Usually open for 5 p.m. dinner service, Flight will be opening at 11:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, offering a special limited lunch menu until 4 p.m.

Roofers Union

2446 18th St. NW

On Thursday, Roofers Union will host Denizens Brewing Company for a "Sour Days Ahead" beer event. It will be showcasing five sour/funky beers and trivia at 8 p.m.

Bar Deco

717 6th St. NW

For a special Inauguration menu, Cocktails will be $10, Bud drafts $4, and late-night sandwiches served until 2 a.m. will include The Trump (meatloaf, cheddar cheeds, White Pullman bread), The Obama, and The Roosevelt.

Port City Brewing Company

3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria, Va.

An ESB (Extra Special Bitter) release party will start at 3 p.m., and quantities are limited. There’s also live music with Derek Evry from 7 to 9 p.m. and Borinquen Lunchbox food truck in the lot serving up the area’s best Puerto Rican food.

Brookland’s Finest

3126 12th St. NE

During Inauguration week, Brookland’s Finest will tap a keg from women-owned brewery Denizens Brewing Company. The bar will also serve $10 White Russians and $10 Orange Russians (fresh squeezed orange juice, simple syrup, vanilla-infused Civic vodka and cream). Proceeds will go to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Columbia Room

124 Blagden Alley NW

For an all-female bartender takeover on Jan. 20 and 21, Lynnette Marrero, Ivy Mix, Pam Wiznitzer, and others will craft unique cocktails that speak to them and their personal stories, with a portion of the proceeds going to Planned Parenthood. The two-day event will have four seating slots available each evening. The three-course option is $79 plus tax and the five-course option is $108 plus tax. Both are inclusive of gratuity.

District Distilling Co.

1414 U St. NW

On Jan. 20, a “Put an Egg on It” brunch starting at 11 a.m. will include a comfort food-filled bar menu (think chef Justin Bittner’s buttermilk fried chicken biscuit). District Distilling will become the official fueling and recovery station for the Million Woman March on Jan. 21 and 22, with all-day menus. Proceeds from the weekend’s special Manzana Ilegal cocktail will go to the local N Street Village Women’s Shelter.

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

901 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

At its Capitol Hill location, NBC Washington will be broadcasting all day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In “pastri-otic” spirit, the bakery will serve up vanilla-cherry soda cakewiches priced at $4.50, as a nod to the incoming 45th president.

Via Umbria

1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW

The Italian Georgetown spot will host a class on how to make classic American cocktails inspired by powerful women. Cocktail Director Michael Rovezzi will walk through the steps to making five different cocktails, and proceeds will go toward Planned Parenthood. All guests must show a valid government-issued ID. Price: $25, 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 and 20.

Astro Doughnuts

1308 G St. NW

Astro will offer a “Farewell Obama” doughnut, inspired by some of the 44^th president’s reported favorite foods including salted caramels, peanuts, and chocolate. A savory doughnut, “New York State of Mind,” will be available during the week of the inauguration. A portion of the proceeds from sales of both doughnuts will go to DC Central Kitchen.

Bar Dupont

1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW

The high-end hotel bar, sure to be a great people-watching spot, is serving an Inauguration cocktail special through Feb. 6. A District Welcome ($12) is made up of District Distilling Co. Checkerbank Gin, Capitoline Rosè Vermouth, Don Ciccio & Figli Nocino, Amaro Montenegro, and lemon. Open daily at 11 a.m.

Carmine’s

425 7th St. NW

The family-style eatery is commemorating the day by offering a breakfast menu starting at 7 a.m. with a grab-and-go continental buffet plus a sit-down breakfast menu. Menu items include spinach sundried tomato and fontina frittata with rosemary roasted red potatoes and French toast with maple syrup. Carmine’s will also be serving its happy hour menu at the bar from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Bar Pilar

1833 14th St. NW

Bar Pilar will be holding a “Thanks, Obama Send-off Party” on Jan. 20 starting at 11 a.m. with specials inspired by Chicago and Hawaii. Drink specials will include Hawaiian-themed tiki cocktails, a Malort-based cocktail, and bubbles. From Thursday to Sunday, the restaurant will be participating in the All in Service project by holding a raffle fundraiser to raise funds to support ONE DC, N Street Village Women’s Shelter, and the Whitman Walker Clinic.

Cafe Saint Ex

1847 14th St. NW

Cafe Saint Ex will also be participating in the All in Service project, with funds raised from the sale of raffle tickets from the weekend going to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

McClellan’s Retreat

2031 Florida Ave. NW

McClellan’s Retreat will be opening early Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Inauguration week starting at 1 p.m. daily. The regular cocktail menu, featuring this month’s “Top 12 Cocktails of 2016” specialty list, will be offered.

El Camino

108 Rhode Island Ave. NW

For late night Inaugural revelers, night tacos and burritos are available until 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday (11:30 p.m. on all other nights), with late night drink specials available starting at 10:30 p.m. to close. On Thursday night, the greater LGBTQ community will throw a late night happy hour, starting at 9 p.m. with $5 Tito’s and house margaritas until close.

Civil Cigar Lounge

5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW

From 4 p.m. to midnight on Jan. 20, wear a red hat, a tie made in china, or a blonde wig and get 20% off Jack Daniel's, and 20% off cigars made in Miami. Forgot to bring one? They’ll be available for purchase, with proceeds going to charity. Not participating? Buy the person next to you a drink, so as to "subsidize" their check. Disclaimer from the Chevy Chase restaurant: “If you're going to CRY don't come. If you're going to GLOAT don't come. Only come if you want to have FUN!”

Alfa Piehouse

1750 H St. NW

The fast-casual Greek concept steps from the White House will extend hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Inauguration Day specials include an 8-ounce La Colombe drip coffee and freshly-made mini phyllo pie for just $1.20. Or get two small soups, two side salads and two regular phyllo pies for $20.17.

Teddy & The Bully Bar, LINCOLN

1200 19th St. NW / 1110 Vermont Ave. NW

PRG Hospitality’s patriotic spots will celebrate the 45th president by offering a $45 Inauguration Day package that includes unlimited bar bites, American mule cocktails, seasonal snacks, bubbly, and more.

Declaration

804 V St. NW

On Inauguration Day, customers can enjoy two hours of unlimited Brooklyn and margherita pizzas plus American mule cocktails and draft beer for $35 a person.

Ventnor Sports Cafe

2411 18th St. NW

A weekend of giving will kick off on Tuesday with a Great Women in Trivia night, with 10% of the proceeds from Trivia night will go to Planned Parenthood. On Wednesday, 10% of proceeds will go to N Street Village Women’s Shelter.

Neighborhood Restaurant Group's “People are People” beer

Bluejacket has brewed a special beer (a $6 bone-dry Belgian-style Saison of 6% ABV) that will be poured at each of NRG’s D.C. restaurants: Birch & Barley, ChurchKey, Bluejacket, Red Apron Union Market, Red Apron Burger Bar, The Partisan, Iron Gate, Hazel, The Sovereign, EatBar. Starting Wednesday, proceeds from the beer will go to D.C.’s Immigrant Justice Legal Service Grant Program through the weekend and while supplies last.

Iron Gate

1734 N St. NW

Funds from a new cocktail called “We Can Do It!” will go to N Street Village Women’s Shelter. The cocktail, with Borough Bourbon from Republic Restoratives (a new D.C. bourbon made in Ivy City produced by a women-owned distillery), Caffo Mezodi L’Aperitivo, in-house blood orange/lime oleo saccharum, and lime juice, aims to highlight local products made by women. Iron Gate will also offer free to-go coffee for the Million Women’s March.

EatWell DC

The brand’s five restaurants (Commissary, Logan Tavern, Grillfish, The Bird and The Pig) will serve brunch on Jan. 20, and Logan Tavern will have complimentary hot chocolate and hot chili soup available for those joining the Women's March on Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Ripple

3417 Connecticut Ave. NW

For those looking to use Inauguration as an excuse to explore other D.C. neighborhoods, Cleveland Park’s Ripple will offer half off bottles of wine and a complimentary snack with any beverage purchased at the bar from 5 p.m. to close on Jan. 20.