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Olive-garnished martini with a menu in background. — The martini at Old Ebbitt Grill.

18 Places to Order a Martini in D.C.

Gin or vodka, olives or twist — all are on the table

by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Updated May 5, 2022, 3:01pm EDT

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The martini at Old Ebbitt Grill.

| Missy Frederick/Eater DC

by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Updated May 5, 2022, 3:01pm EDT

Beyond being one of the most iconic drinks in cocktail history, martinis bring a certain elegance to any situation, especially for customers who prefer their beverages on the savory side. This map makes no judgment on gin versus vodka, dry versus vermouth-heavy, or garnish debates that may determine what makes the ultimate martini. But it does stick to places that excel at classic versions rather than the sweeter (or more dressed-up) drinks that share the same name. For anyone craving an espresso martini — there are plenty of those out there right now, too.

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O.K.P.B.

This speakeasy (with bartenders from the former Sheppard) offers half-priced martinis (among other classics) during happy hour, which means they’re $7.

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3165 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

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The bar at O.K.P.B. in Mt. Pleasant.

Maydan

Find a flavorful twist on the martini here featuring Capitoline vermouth, za’atar olive brine, and sumac-sesame oil ($16).

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1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

A martini with herbs in it. — Za’atar martini from Maydan.

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Left Door

Order a martini at Left Door, and the bartender will immediately ask you what gin-to-vermouth ratio you are looking for. The martini spin on their current cocktail menu, Revenge of the Gibson Girl, is a mixture of Beefeater, Dolin Dry Vermouth, Genepy, celery bitters, and a big onion they pickle themselves (be warned it’s on the sweeter side).

1345 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Martini with a pickled onion — Revenge of the Gibson Girl at Left Door

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Annie's Paramount Steak House

This longtime gathering place for the gay community and the Dupont Circle neighborhood as a whole is known for martinis that are strong and generously portioned.

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1609 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse storefront, with someone whizzing by on a scooter in front — Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse

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Astoria DC

Though their tiki drinks have received more attention, Astoria has a full cocktail menu devoted to the classic, and they encourage variation in martini ordering, where customers can specify ratios, spirit, and garnishes, ask for the house version, etc. That house version is smooth and chilled, and goes down easily.

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1521 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Visit Website

Martini on a coaster with a tiki cup in the background — Martini at Astoria

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Convivial

French restaurants are often a good bet for ordering a martini, and Convivial has a pretty interesting concoction in its Martini de la Mer. Spanish gin and dry vermouth find a pairing with anchovy and caper-washed sherry, and there’s also some olive oil in the mix ($13).

801 O St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Inside a restaurant with Edison blubs hanging from the ceiling and a neutral color palette. — Convivial D.C.

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Lady Bird

The martini service at this Kimpton relative newbie means for $21, martinis are brought tableside with a variety of garnishes. Choose from classics, dirty, various ratios, etc.

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1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Never Looked Better

Though some high-end cocktail bars tend to get snobby about vodka, this newish speakeasy in Blagden Alley is anything but, going as far to divide its menu into “Vodka Has Never Looked Better” and “Not Vodka” sections. The bar’s dirty martini is accented with bleu cheese stuffed olives, and its French martini keeps things on the wet side (there are even some throwback spinoffs like an espresso martini and an appletini).

Open in Google Maps

130 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Espresso martini next to a couch on an art deco-style table with another drink to the side of it — Espresso Martini from Never Looked Better

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Bourbon Steak

The lounge at this restaurant within the Four Seasons in Georgetown is one of D.C.’s classier locations to sip a martini, and the bartenders consistently serve well-executed versions. At one point, a truffle-accented dirty martini appeared on the cocktail menu.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

A long bar with wooden seats and back-lit bottles — The lounge at Bourbon Steak

Also featured in:

Off the Record

One of D.C.’s best hotel bars (as well as a historical hangout for journalists), Off the Record is the place to order a generously-portioned martini if you’re looking for an old-school vibe.

800 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006

Visit Website

Two red chairs, a table, and two cocktails on the table, including a martini with olives to the right — Cocktails, including a martini, at Off the Record

Also featured in:

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Miami transplant steakhouse Joe’s has lofty ceilings, a terrific happy hour, and bartenders who know how to make a good martini. Sadly, though, martinis aren’t currently featured on the half-priced classic cocktail menu during said terrific happy hour — but you can still pair one with discounted snacks and raw bar.

Open in Google Maps

750 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Joe’s Seafood dining room — Joe’s Seafood

Old Ebbitt Grill

Old Ebbitt’s well-trained bartenders know their way around a number of classic cocktails, including the martini. Have one at the oyster bar during happy hour when raw bar items are half-priced.

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Olive-garnished martini with a menu in background. — Martini from Old Ebbitt

Also featured in:

Mastro's Steakhouse

Mastro’s is the rare place where they’ll shake the martini in front of you and leave what remains in the shaker behind for you to refresh your drink with later. Their signature spin on the cocktail is vodka-based, and garnished with bleu cheese-stuffed olives.

600 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

A martini next to a cocktail menu — Mastro’s house martini

Also featured in:

Silver Lyan

Situated in the depths of Penn Quarter’s Riggs hotel, this classy cocktail lair led by London’s world-famous bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana is back with its martini service for one ($21) or two ($40). There’s two options each for vodka or gin, served with an oyster, pickled onions, and lemon. Chetiyawardana’s version of choice? The fifty-fifty ratio of Fords Gin and Dolin vermouth. — Tierney Plumb

Open in Google Maps

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

Also featured in:

barmini by José Andrés

Find three different versions of a martini in the “classics” section of this avant garde bar’s drink menu. There’s a spin on the James Bond-themed Vesper, spiked with Kina, a classic dry martini, and a martini cocktail that adds sweet vermouth and orange liqueur to the mix.

501 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Grill

The Grill has a fun “martini your way” section of its menu where diners can customize by spirit, style, garnish, etc. The cocktail menu also contains a traditional and “perfect” riff on the drink, as well as a spin on the James Bond-influenced Vesper cocktail.

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

Martini-style cocktail with bar in the background — Cocktail from The Grill

Also featured in:

Caruso's Grocery

The antipasto dirty martini sounds like a gimmick, but Caruso’s actually pulls it off. The martini itself isn’t too briny, and it’s surprising how nicely mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes work as less traditional garnishes here. The best part? It’s $10.

Open in Google Maps

1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

A martini with olive, mozzarella, and cherry tomato as garnish, on a table with a menu — The antipasto martini at Caruso’s

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O.K.P.B.

3165 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

This speakeasy (with bartenders from the former Sheppard) offers half-priced martinis (among other classics) during happy hour, which means they’re $7.

Open in Google Maps

3165 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Visit Website

The bar at O.K.P.B. in Mt. Pleasant.

Maydan

1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Find a flavorful twist on the martini here featuring Capitoline vermouth, za’atar olive brine, and sumac-sesame oil ($16).

Open in Google Maps

1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

A martini with herbs in it. — Za’atar martini from Maydan.

Left Door

1345 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Order a martini at Left Door, and the bartender will immediately ask you what gin-to-vermouth ratio you are looking for. The martini spin on their current cocktail menu, Revenge of the Gibson Girl, is a mixture of Beefeater, Dolin Dry Vermouth, Genepy, celery bitters, and a big onion they pickle themselves (be warned it’s on the sweeter side).

1345 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Martini with a pickled onion — Revenge of the Gibson Girl at Left Door

Annie's Paramount Steak House

1609 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

This longtime gathering place for the gay community and the Dupont Circle neighborhood as a whole is known for martinis that are strong and generously portioned.

Open in Google Maps

1609 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse storefront, with someone whizzing by on a scooter in front — Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse

Astoria DC

1521 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Though their tiki drinks have received more attention, Astoria has a full cocktail menu devoted to the classic, and they encourage variation in martini ordering, where customers can specify ratios, spirit, and garnishes, ask for the house version, etc. That house version is smooth and chilled, and goes down easily.

Open in Google Maps

1521 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Visit Website

Martini on a coaster with a tiki cup in the background — Martini at Astoria

Convivial

801 O St NW, Washington, DC 20001

French restaurants are often a good bet for ordering a martini, and Convivial has a pretty interesting concoction in its Martini de la Mer. Spanish gin and dry vermouth find a pairing with anchovy and caper-washed sherry, and there’s also some olive oil in the mix ($13).

801 O St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Inside a restaurant with Edison blubs hanging from the ceiling and a neutral color palette. — Convivial D.C.

Lady Bird

1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

The martini service at this Kimpton relative newbie means for $21, martinis are brought tableside with a variety of garnishes. Choose from classics, dirty, various ratios, etc.

Open in Google Maps

1315 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Never Looked Better

130 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001

Though some high-end cocktail bars tend to get snobby about vodka, this newish speakeasy in Blagden Alley is anything but, going as far to divide its menu into “Vodka Has Never Looked Better” and “Not Vodka” sections. The bar’s dirty martini is accented with bleu cheese stuffed olives, and its French martini keeps things on the wet side (there are even some throwback spinoffs like an espresso martini and an appletini).

Open in Google Maps

130 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Espresso martini next to a couch on an art deco-style table with another drink to the side of it — Espresso Martini from Never Looked Better

Bourbon Steak

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

The lounge at this restaurant within the Four Seasons in Georgetown is one of D.C.’s classier locations to sip a martini, and the bartenders consistently serve well-executed versions. At one point, a truffle-accented dirty martini appeared on the cocktail menu.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

A long bar with wooden seats and back-lit bottles — The lounge at Bourbon Steak

Off the Record

800 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006

One of D.C.’s best hotel bars (as well as a historical hangout for journalists), Off the Record is the place to order a generously-portioned martini if you’re looking for an old-school vibe.

800 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006

Visit Website

Two red chairs, a table, and two cocktails on the table, including a martini with olives to the right — Cocktails, including a martini, at Off the Record

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

750 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Miami transplant steakhouse Joe’s has lofty ceilings, a terrific happy hour, and bartenders who know how to make a good martini. Sadly, though, martinis aren’t currently featured on the half-priced classic cocktail menu during said terrific happy hour — but you can still pair one with discounted snacks and raw bar.

Open in Google Maps

750 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Joe’s Seafood dining room — Joe’s Seafood

Old Ebbitt Grill

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Old Ebbitt’s well-trained bartenders know their way around a number of classic cocktails, including the martini. Have one at the oyster bar during happy hour when raw bar items are half-priced.

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

Olive-garnished martini with a menu in background. — Martini from Old Ebbitt

Mastro's Steakhouse

600 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Mastro’s is the rare place where they’ll shake the martini in front of you and leave what remains in the shaker behind for you to refresh your drink with later. Their signature spin on the cocktail is vodka-based, and garnished with bleu cheese-stuffed olives.

600 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

A martini next to a cocktail menu — Mastro’s house martini

Silver Lyan

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Situated in the depths of Penn Quarter’s Riggs hotel, this classy cocktail lair led by London’s world-famous bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana is back with its martini service for one ($21) or two ($40). There’s two options each for vodka or gin, served with an oyster, pickled onions, and lemon. Chetiyawardana’s version of choice? The fifty-fifty ratio of Fords Gin and Dolin vermouth. — Tierney Plumb

Open in Google Maps

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

barmini by José Andrés

501 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Find three different versions of a martini in the “classics” section of this avant garde bar’s drink menu. There’s a spin on the James Bond-themed Vesper, spiked with Kina, a classic dry martini, and a martini cocktail that adds sweet vermouth and orange liqueur to the mix.

501 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Grill

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

The Grill has a fun “martini your way” section of its menu where diners can customize by spirit, style, garnish, etc. The cocktail menu also contains a traditional and “perfect” riff on the drink, as well as a spin on the James Bond-influenced Vesper cocktail.

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

Martini-style cocktail with bar in the background — Cocktail from The Grill

Caruso's Grocery

1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

The antipasto dirty martini sounds like a gimmick, but Caruso’s actually pulls it off. The martini itself isn’t too briny, and it’s surprising how nicely mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes work as less traditional garnishes here. The best part? It’s $10.

Open in Google Maps

1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

A martini with olive, mozzarella, and cherry tomato as garnish, on a table with a menu — The antipasto martini at Caruso’s

Related Maps