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Barmini

D.C.'s Essential Cocktail Bars

Where to go for a stiff drink

by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Updated Oct 20, 2016, 9:32am EDT

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Barmini

| R. Lopez

by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Updated Oct 20, 2016, 9:32am EDT

D.C.'s a great place to sip a Manhattan, martini or negroni. But it's also an excellent place to see bartenders get creative with unique spirits and interesting techniques. New bars featuring mixed drinks pop-up around town all the time. But these ones stand out as the city's key places to go for cocktails.

From high-end drinking destinations like the new Columbia Room and José Andrés' Barmini to great neighborhood cocktail destinations like Hank's on the Hill, Copycat Co. and Room 11, there's something for every price range and atmospheric desire. Find additions this time around like the city's top tiki bar and the triumphant return of The Passenger. And while neither really has a bar meant for casual drinking, it's worth noting that the addition of the talented Jeff Faile to the Rose's Luxury/Pineapple & Pearls team makes both of those restaurants worth a visit for serious cocktail aficionados. Not a cocktail drinker? Here's Eater's overall picks for top D.C. bars.

Here's a list of 18 essential cocktail bars to try today.

— Updated by Tierney Plumb

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2 Birds 1 Stone

Adam Bernbach's playground below Doi Moi is a place to hold an actual conversation while sipping a cocktail that might have an Asian influence to it. The place also has interesting happy hours like its recent frappe hour during the summer months.

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Also featured in:

Archipelago

This summer, a surge of tiki fans came out of the woodwork, and this U Street bar — with its arsenal of delicious drinks, wacky straws, ornate tropical cups, and strong rums at the ready — is always on tiki time. Don't forget to look for the shrine to Magnum PI.

1201 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Also featured in:

Bar Pilar

Hemingway provides the inspiration for cocktails at this longtime favorite in Logan Circle.

1833 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Also featured in:

barmini by José Andrés

Jose Andres' cocktail bar is atmospheric, with stark white walls, weird and mismatched furniture and bartenders on display giving theatrical presentations as they mix drinks both classic and new.

855 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bourbon Steak's Lounge

Bourbon Steak's big book of drinks is a mix of old favorites and new standbys.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Copycat Co.

Devin Gong has worked to make this Atlas District bar an essential destination for classic cocktails. Its intense chalkboard menu changes regularly with different drinks and themes.

1110 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Hank's On The Hill

Hank's is always an interesting place to drink, and is famous for its cleverly-named cocktails. The company's new Petworth bar Twisted Horn is also worth a visit for mixed drinks.

Open in Google Maps

633 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Jack Rose Dining Saloon/Dram & Grain

Go to Jack Rose for whiskey. Move to the rooftop for tiki drinks. And head to Dram & Grain in the basement for experimental cocktails.

Open in Google Maps

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Left Door

This classic watering hole from Tom Brown offers rare spirits, and well-crafted drinks in a range of prices. Its Victorian-influenced design has chandeliers and even a pulley to flush the toilet.

1345 S St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Off the Record

Off the Record is a very D.C. place to go for a Manhattan or a martini with a side of history.

800 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Also featured in:

PX

Watch Todd Thrasher do his magic at this speakeasy-inspired Alexandria bar, where the glassware is exquisite, the vibe is classy and the drinks are uniquely named and well-balanced.

Open in Google Maps

728 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Room 11

Room 11 is Columbia Heights' longtime, cozy destination for cocktails.

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Southern Efficiency

Whiskey cocktails are the focus at this bar, one of three Derek Brown operates on one street in Shaw.

1841 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Columbia Room

Derek Brown strikes again with the return of The Columbia Room, with scenic touches like a library room and punch garden, and an exclusive tasting room that adds flavor to the forward-thinking cocktails like This is Not a Rose.

Open in Google Maps

124 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

The Gibson

D.C.'s first speakeasy has always been a chill place to go for classic drinks.

2009 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Gin Joint

Gin is, of course, the focus of this underrated cocktail bar.

Open in Google Maps

2317 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

The Passenger

The beloved bar came back to life recently in a spot further up the street. Find the same great hangover brunch, plus new additions like chartreuse on tap.

Open in Google Maps

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Wisdom

Wisdom specializes in gin (and has a great absinthe selection) but the bartenders there can fashion a well-made drink using just about any spirit.

Open in Google Maps

1432 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

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2 Birds 1 Stone

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Adam Bernbach's playground below Doi Moi is a place to hold an actual conversation while sipping a cocktail that might have an Asian influence to it. The place also has interesting happy hours like its recent frappe hour during the summer months.

1800 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Archipelago

1201 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This summer, a surge of tiki fans came out of the woodwork, and this U Street bar — with its arsenal of delicious drinks, wacky straws, ornate tropical cups, and strong rums at the ready — is always on tiki time. Don't forget to look for the shrine to Magnum PI.

1201 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Bar Pilar

1833 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Hemingway provides the inspiration for cocktails at this longtime favorite in Logan Circle.

1833 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

barmini by José Andrés

855 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Jose Andres' cocktail bar is atmospheric, with stark white walls, weird and mismatched furniture and bartenders on display giving theatrical presentations as they mix drinks both classic and new.

855 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Bourbon Steak's Lounge

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007

Bourbon Steak's big book of drinks is a mix of old favorites and new standbys.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Copycat Co.

1110 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Devin Gong has worked to make this Atlas District bar an essential destination for classic cocktails. Its intense chalkboard menu changes regularly with different drinks and themes.

1110 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Hank's On The Hill

633 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Hank's is always an interesting place to drink, and is famous for its cleverly-named cocktails. The company's new Petworth bar Twisted Horn is also worth a visit for mixed drinks.

Open in Google Maps

633 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Jack Rose Dining Saloon/Dram & Grain

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Go to Jack Rose for whiskey. Move to the rooftop for tiki drinks. And head to Dram & Grain in the basement for experimental cocktails.

Open in Google Maps

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Left Door

1345 S St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This classic watering hole from Tom Brown offers rare spirits, and well-crafted drinks in a range of prices. Its Victorian-influenced design has chandeliers and even a pulley to flush the toilet.

1345 S St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Off the Record

800 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Off the Record is a very D.C. place to go for a Manhattan or a martini with a side of history.

800 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

PX

728 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Watch Todd Thrasher do his magic at this speakeasy-inspired Alexandria bar, where the glassware is exquisite, the vibe is classy and the drinks are uniquely named and well-balanced.

Open in Google Maps

728 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Room 11

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Room 11 is Columbia Heights' longtime, cozy destination for cocktails.

3234 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

Southern Efficiency

1841 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Whiskey cocktails are the focus at this bar, one of three Derek Brown operates on one street in Shaw.

1841 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

The Columbia Room

124 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Derek Brown strikes again with the return of The Columbia Room, with scenic touches like a library room and punch garden, and an exclusive tasting room that adds flavor to the forward-thinking cocktails like This is Not a Rose.

Open in Google Maps

124 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

The Gibson

2009 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20003

D.C.'s first speakeasy has always been a chill place to go for classic drinks.

2009 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Gin Joint

2317 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Gin is, of course, the focus of this underrated cocktail bar.

Open in Google Maps

2317 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

The Passenger

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The beloved bar came back to life recently in a spot further up the street. Find the same great hangover brunch, plus new additions like chartreuse on tap.

Open in Google Maps

1539 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Wisdom

1432 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Wisdom specializes in gin (and has a great absinthe selection) but the bartenders there can fashion a well-made drink using just about any spirit.

Open in Google Maps

1432 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Related Maps