clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

12 Winter-Ready Cocktails to Try Right Now in D.C.

Where to Eat Brazilian Food Around D.C.

D.C.’s Most Festive Holiday Pop-Ups

More in Washington DC See more maps
The Mardis Gras Extravaganza is tonight at the Showroom on 14th Street NW.
Mardis Gras Extravaganza/Facebbok

12 Places to Celebrate Mardi Gras in D.C.

Where to toast Fat Tuesday in D.C.

by Tim Ebner
View as Map
The Mardis Gras Extravaganza is tonight at the Showroom on 14th Street NW.
| Mardis Gras Extravaganza/Facebbok
by Tim Ebner

New Orleans is the home of Mardi Gras, but D.C. is full of people who want to drink freely and wear festive beads without booking a flight to Louisiana. Today is Fat Tuesday, the final day of the Carnvial season. Here are a dozen places to indulge in festive food and drinks.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

PassionFish Bethesda

Copy Link

While Acadiana and its low-country cooking are no more, its sister restaurant Passion Fish in Bethesda is where revelers can go for Cajun cooking and cheap cocktails. The Mardi Gras menu is available at the bar starting every night at 7 p.m. through Tuesday. Cocktails, like a hurricane or Sazerac, go for just $7 each.

7187 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 358-6116
(301) 358-6116

Brookland's Finest Bar and Kitchen

Copy Link

The Fat Tuesday menu at Brookland’s Finest features a three-course meal paired with New Orlean’s style cocktails. The $35 prix-fixe menu includes crispy frog legs paired with a Borough Bourbon Bywater (made with bourbon, green chartreuse, averna, and amaretto); etouffee and a Rodham Rye Sazerac; and beignets and a Civic Vodka Sweet Baby (made with Crème Yvette, vodka, and simple syrup).

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 636-0050
(202) 636-0050

Also featured in:

Black Jack

Copy Link

Black Jack and the adjacent Tilt Sidebar are hosting Mardi Gras-themed parties on 14th Street. Specials include half-price drafts, pizzas, and Addie’s mussels, plus 2-for-1 oysters, $5 red, white, and sparkling wine, and $7 dive burgers.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-5225
(202) 986-5225
Black Jack/Facebook

Also featured in:

Mardi Gras Extravaganza at the Showroom

Copy Link

A ticket to the blowout benefit for DC Central Kitchen costs $55 for bottomless food and drinks from a deep cast of local chefs and bartenders. David Guas and Spike Mendelsohn headline a crew of 20 chefs — including representatives from Chiko, the Salt Line, and Julii — that will plate up New Orleans-style dishes. Buffalo & Bergen’s Gina Chersevani leads a group of 12 cocktail makers.

1099 14th St NW ste 101L, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 844-6222
(202) 844-6222
Mardis Gras Extravaganza/Facebbok

Pennsylvania 6

Copy Link

Masks and beads will be provided for guests at Pennsylvania 6 on Fat Tuesday. The menu features shrimp and chicken gumbo, jambalaya, and Cajun crawfish cheesy bread. There’s also king cake, provided by Bayou Bakery. One lucky winner who finds the baby will receive a gift certificate to brunch at the restaurant for up to four guests.

1350 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 796-1600
(202) 796-1600
Pennsylvania 6/Facebook

Po Boy Jim Bar and Grill

Copy Link

It’s the best po’ boy shop in D.C. now with two locations (U Street, NW and H Street, NE). Here you’ll find both seafood and meat po’ boy varieties along with spicy voodoo wings.

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-7071
(202) 621-7071

Also featured in:

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

Copy Link

Back by popular demand, Astro is selling its king cake doughnut. Adorned with green, purple, and yellow-gold sanding sugar, this vanilla glazed, yeast doughnut is topped off with a fleur-de-lis sugar topping. Limited quantities are available for walk-ins on Tuesday only.

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 809-5565
(202) 809-5565
Jennifer Chase/For Astro Doughnuts

Also featured in:

Amphora Bakery

Copy Link

It’s not to late to put in an order for king cake at this Northern Virginia bakery, with two locations in Vienna and Herndon. Both locations are taking orders today. In addition, there’s a Mardi Gras-themed menu featuring blackened chicken steak and shrimp Creole.

4222, 405 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 281-5631
(703) 281-5631

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

Copy Link

Chef David Guas is a New Orleans native known for serving up some of the best gumbo inside the Beltway. He’s also a devotee to Crystal hot sauce, another spicy byproduct of Louisiana.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410
Bayou Bakery/Facebook

Pearl Street Warehouse

Copy Link

For a free Mardi Gras concert, head to Pearl Street Warehouse on Fat Tuesday. The diner there will crank out southern snack food favorites, like pimento cheese dip. Meanwhile, the band, The Crawdaddies, plays with Zydeco flare and goes on stage at 8 p.m.

33 Pearl St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 380-9620
(202) 380-9620
Pearl Street Warehouse [official] Pearl Street Warehouse [official]

Also featured in:

Due South

Copy Link

Due South is letting the good times roll with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Tickets are $30 and include entry plus a beer. The buffet, which is served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. features shrimp and chicken jambalaya, Cajun fried chicken, three cheese mac and cheese, bacon braised collards, fried-green tomatoes, and Mardi Gras king cake.

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 479-4616
(202) 479-4616
Due South/Facebook

Also featured in:

Two Nineteen Restaurant

Copy Link

In Old Town, locals know Two Nineteen Restaurant as the place for cigars, Cajun-style cuisine, and a basement bar, known as the Bayou room. Happy Hour here is seven nights a week, including Fat Tuesday, when drink specials run from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 549-1141
(703) 549-1141

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

PassionFish Bethesda

7187 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

While Acadiana and its low-country cooking are no more, its sister restaurant Passion Fish in Bethesda is where revelers can go for Cajun cooking and cheap cocktails. The Mardi Gras menu is available at the bar starting every night at 7 p.m. through Tuesday. Cocktails, like a hurricane or Sazerac, go for just $7 each.

7187 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 358-6116
(301) 358-6116

Brookland's Finest Bar and Kitchen

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

The Fat Tuesday menu at Brookland’s Finest features a three-course meal paired with New Orlean’s style cocktails. The $35 prix-fixe menu includes crispy frog legs paired with a Borough Bourbon Bywater (made with bourbon, green chartreuse, averna, and amaretto); etouffee and a Rodham Rye Sazerac; and beignets and a Civic Vodka Sweet Baby (made with Crème Yvette, vodka, and simple syrup).

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 636-0050
(202) 636-0050

Black Jack

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Black Jack and the adjacent Tilt Sidebar are hosting Mardi Gras-themed parties on 14th Street. Specials include half-price drafts, pizzas, and Addie’s mussels, plus 2-for-1 oysters, $5 red, white, and sparkling wine, and $7 dive burgers.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-5225
(202) 986-5225
Black Jack/Facebook

Mardi Gras Extravaganza at the Showroom

1099 14th St NW ste 101L, Washington, DC 20005

A ticket to the blowout benefit for DC Central Kitchen costs $55 for bottomless food and drinks from a deep cast of local chefs and bartenders. David Guas and Spike Mendelsohn headline a crew of 20 chefs — including representatives from Chiko, the Salt Line, and Julii — that will plate up New Orleans-style dishes. Buffalo & Bergen’s Gina Chersevani leads a group of 12 cocktail makers.

1099 14th St NW ste 101L, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 844-6222
(202) 844-6222
Mardis Gras Extravaganza/Facebbok

Pennsylvania 6

1350 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Masks and beads will be provided for guests at Pennsylvania 6 on Fat Tuesday. The menu features shrimp and chicken gumbo, jambalaya, and Cajun crawfish cheesy bread. There’s also king cake, provided by Bayou Bakery. One lucky winner who finds the baby will receive a gift certificate to brunch at the restaurant for up to four guests.

1350 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 796-1600
(202) 796-1600
Pennsylvania 6/Facebook

Po Boy Jim Bar and Grill

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

It’s the best po’ boy shop in D.C. now with two locations (U Street, NW and H Street, NE). Here you’ll find both seafood and meat po’ boy varieties along with spicy voodoo wings.

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-7071
(202) 621-7071

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Back by popular demand, Astro is selling its king cake doughnut. Adorned with green, purple, and yellow-gold sanding sugar, this vanilla glazed, yeast doughnut is topped off with a fleur-de-lis sugar topping. Limited quantities are available for walk-ins on Tuesday only.

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 809-5565
(202) 809-5565
Jennifer Chase/For Astro Doughnuts

Amphora Bakery

4222, 405 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180

It’s not to late to put in an order for king cake at this Northern Virginia bakery, with two locations in Vienna and Herndon. Both locations are taking orders today. In addition, there’s a Mardi Gras-themed menu featuring blackened chicken steak and shrimp Creole.

4222, 405 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 281-5631
(703) 281-5631

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Chef David Guas is a New Orleans native known for serving up some of the best gumbo inside the Beltway. He’s also a devotee to Crystal hot sauce, another spicy byproduct of Louisiana.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410
Bayou Bakery/Facebook

Pearl Street Warehouse

33 Pearl St SW, Washington, DC 20024

For a free Mardi Gras concert, head to Pearl Street Warehouse on Fat Tuesday. The diner there will crank out southern snack food favorites, like pimento cheese dip. Meanwhile, the band, The Crawdaddies, plays with Zydeco flare and goes on stage at 8 p.m.

33 Pearl St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 380-9620
(202) 380-9620
Pearl Street Warehouse [official] Pearl Street Warehouse [official]

Due South

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Due South is letting the good times roll with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Tickets are $30 and include entry plus a beer. The buffet, which is served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. features shrimp and chicken jambalaya, Cajun fried chicken, three cheese mac and cheese, bacon braised collards, fried-green tomatoes, and Mardi Gras king cake.

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 479-4616
(202) 479-4616
Due South/Facebook

Two Nineteen Restaurant

219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

In Old Town, locals know Two Nineteen Restaurant as the place for cigars, Cajun-style cuisine, and a basement bar, known as the Bayou room. Happy Hour here is seven nights a week, including Fat Tuesday, when drink specials run from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 549-1141
(703) 549-1141

Related Maps