More than two years after mixologist David Strauss closed the Sheppard, a Dupont Circle speakeasy known for its handwritten cocktail menus and no-reservations policy, the bartender resurfaced in Mount Pleasant with another second-story bar built inside a century-old space above a dentist’s office. Along with five nightly cocktails and a “bartender’s choice” ($14), martinis, Manhattans, and Moscow mules are just $7 during weekday happy hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

Ambitious beer startup City-State unveiled its much-anticipated Edgewood facility right off the popular Metropolitan Branch Trail in June. The 13,000-square-foot microbrewery and taproom, almost six years in the making, comes from neighborhood resident and former congressional aide James Warner. D.C.-themed beers on tap include 8 Wards Independent (pale ale); Equal Marriage (dark wheat); and Trainspotter Green Bullet (pub ale). New custom collaborations for fellow Mothersauce Partners venues include a cold brew beer at the Freshman and a cream ale with ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, and orange peel for the Eleanor.

A sprawling outdoor drinking attraction lined with picnic tables, murals, and a retrofitted subway car arrived near the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood station this summer, marking the first big bar project for the up-and-coming development there. Local spirts and beers naturally fill out Metrobar’s drink menu, with coy cocktail names like “Red Line Rickey” and “Green Line Gimlet.” The partners, whose backgrounds are in construction and organizing groups for karaoke and bocce, plan to host art installations and other events to make it a hub for D.C. culture.

Before dining at Lyle’s, the contemporary American restaurant tucked inside London-based Lore Group’s latest luxury D.C. hotel, snag a seat at its midcentury modern bar dotted with smooth brown leather banquettes and ottomans. Cocktails stirred behind a bar made of Italian Carrara — considered the Ferrari of marble — include throwback classics like a cacao Manhattan and a gin Collins accented with peach and basil. A bar menu features a short list of drinking snacks like crispy artichokes, lamb meatballs, and smoked trout toast.

Seasoned sommelier Elli Benchimol turned a historic Georgetown row home into her dream Champagne-and-caviar bar in May. Apéro serves stylish pastries and espresso drinks by day and bubbles with more French-leaning fare by night. A glass of champagne with full caviar service can cost as little as $50. The classy setup, lined with shimmering gold accents and blue-toned walls, seats 45 inside and another 16 across a leafy patio out back.

Hush started serving the public over Memorial Day weekend, giving the new Viceroy Washington D.C. a scenic, perch for sipping tropical cocktails by a pool. Drinks that use local spirits include La Reina (charred pineapple Cotton & Reed rum, fino sherry, caramelized banana, chili dust) and a seasonal Green Hat Floral gin and tonic with lime, coconut water, elderflower, and orange bitters. A brief list of alfresco shared plates includes Mediterranean dips, charcuterie, and Catalan-style coca flatbreads.

The team behind K Street NW speakeasy the Mirror veers away from tradition with this wild new basement bar hidden under Blagden Alley. Never Looked Better is filled edge to edge with fluorescent lights, jungle vibes, pink neon, dangling silk flowers, geometric shapes, and subway tiles tagged with random stickers and scribbled messages. Go for high-brow takes on bright drinks like cosmos and appletinis, all set to an early aughts soundtrack that bounces from Lil’ Kim to Sublime.

Clyde’s Restaurant Group, the company behind fine-dining fixture 1789, unveiled a revitalized bar next-door that focuses on classic cocktails, rare Japanese whisky pours, and elegant drinking snacks, all served in a preppy, tweed-filled setting that feels pulled straight out of a Ralph Lauren ad. The two-level bar underwent a renovation that took 19 months, breathing new life into a space where art deco nightclub F. Scott’s opened in the 1960s. 1789 chef Kyoo Eom does double duty at Fitzgerald’s, sending out playful plates like herbed truffle fries, tempura calamari served with Grand Mariner aioli, and Korean chicken wings.

In late May, the former Greene Turtle space attached to Capital One Arena welcomed the first sports betting venue in the country to open inside a pro sports arena. Sportsbook giant William Hill installed 1,500-square-foot LED screen that displays odds, with more than 100 TVs broadcasting the action. The draft beer list features local picks like DC Brau’s Joint Resolution Hazy IPA and Redbear’s DC Dirt Porter, and there are about a dozen wines by the glass ($12 prosecco to $25 Moet). Michelin star chef Nicholas Stefanelli (Masseria, Officina) put together a restaurant menu that includes Mid-Atlantic reference points like rockfish imperial and half-smokes with chili, mustard, and onions.

A New York-based bar brand equipped with indoor golf simulators opened its first D.C. location in July, bringing Penn Quarter a subterranean spot to tweak swings and sip spiked Arnold Palmers, Old Fashioneds, and fruity margaritas at one of two color-soaked bars. Chef Bedros Alboyadjian sends out creative starters like mac and “cheesesteak” eggrolls, fritto misto, chicken lemongrass potstickers, and “Miami Beach” arepas that speak to his South Florida upbringing.

Hip hotel brand Yotel replaced Capitol Hill’s Liaison in 2019, and its scenic pool bar Deck 11 — named after its placement on the 11th floor — capped off the project in June. Guests can beat the heat with seasonal drinks like a watermelon frosé, a piña colada, a paloma, and a spritz. Bar bites like ahi tuna and braised mole short rib sandwiches come from chef Danny Chavez, who also runs the kitchen for Art and Soul on the main level. Public passes to sip, swim, and stay for the day start at $40 per person. The renovated rooftop features private sun decks, resort-style cabanas, communal fire pits, yard games, and a DJ booth.

This casual new neighborhood spot in Arlington opened in May for New York-style pizza, smash burgers, cheesy crab fries, and generous “Vegas-style” portions of chicken Parm. All the bar snacks at Ballston Local come from chef Jason Johnston, who was opening executive chef at MGM National Harbor. There are draft beers from small Virginia brewers, seltzers, hard cider, and adult milkshakes spiked with bourbon, vodka, or rum.

Ballston Quarter’s hybrid art gallery-restaurant debuted in June with three drinking areas: a 51-foot craft cocktail bar, a 25-seat open kitchen bar, and an intimate tasting area that plans to host visiting wineries, breweries, and distillers. The 6,200-square-foot project from gallery owner Shane Pomajambo has the vibe of an edgy New York loft, incorporating black steel ceilings, plush seating, wraparound murals, and art exhibits that’ll rotate in and out. Global plates from executive chef Eleftherios (Terry) Natas are designed for sharing.