The State Room Will Be Capitol Hill’s New Private Party Zone

An iconic Capitol Hill happy hour destination is getting a second life as an upscale private event space called the State Room.

A tipster sent Popville a picture of new signage going up outside the former watering hole on Thursday, June 28. 201 Bar (201 Massachusetts Avenue NE) closed on Friday, June 15 after over a decade of keeping congressional staffers in cheap drink deals.

Management says its next incarnation — the State Room — is inspired by the name of the middle (and largest) room inside now-defunct 201 Bar. Unlike its former function as a place for interns and cash-strapped government workers to blow off steam while adhering to a budget, the State Room will be a “strictly private space,” the team tells Eater. 201 owner Matt Weiss is still on board; he is slated to co-run the State Room alongside new TBA partners.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to all my wonderful staff and our guests who have supported 201 both in its original incarnation as Lounge 201 and then later as 201 Bar,” Weiss said in a statement he sent Eater. “It has been an amazing 16-year run.” Weiss also owns Bloomingdale’s Truxton Inn and Dupont Circle’s McClellan’s Retreat.

Weiss tells Eater than an official statement about the full-scope of the State Room is “coming soon.”

• First Sign of the 201 Bar’s Replacement - The State Room [Popville]
• All-You-Can-Eat Japanese Restaurant Zentan Is Closing June 30 [EDC]