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Sugary Mardi Gras doughnuts at Astro Beer Hall.
Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Where to Eat, Drink and Party for Mardi Gras in D.C.

Bring on the beads and booze for Fat Tuesday

by Tierney Plumb
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Sugary Mardi Gras doughnuts at Astro Beer Hall.
| Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography
by Tierney Plumb

Fat Tuesday is tomorrow, February 25, and plenty of bars and restaurants are celebrating the epic New Orleans holiday in a big way.

Between a foie gras feast at Hazel, fried gator po’boys at Republic Cantina, and yard-sized servings of Hurricanes at Black Jack, there’s no shortage of calories, liquor, or Big Easy-themed fun to go around.

Here’s where to go all out on the eve of Ash Wednesday:

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Hazel

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Executive chef Robert Curtis celebrates “Mardi Foie” with a full-blown foie gras menu takeover at his typically Turkish-leaning spot in Shaw. Think grilled foie gras with ras el hanout and apple butter or gnocchi with foie ragout and sheep tomme. A “Foie Feast” that evening includes whole roasted foie spiced with baharat. There’s even a foie-washed Rob Roy.

808 V St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 847-4980
(202) 847-4980
Hazel
Hazel
R. Lopez

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McClellan's Retreat

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McClellan’s Retreat has been featuring New Orleans cocktails all month. On Fat Tuesday, indulge in $10 Hurricanes and “Improved Brandy Cocktails” (Pierre Ferrand “1840” original formula cognac, simple syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, & herbsaint rinse) all night.

2031 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-6270
(202) 265-6270
McClellan’s Retreat/official photo

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Black Jack

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The party at this Logan Circle bar starts with “Indie-Gras” tonight (Monday). The industry night includes special guest bartenders from Service Bar, DJ Nate, and a family meal. Fat Tuesday will bring food and drink specials all night long and a performance by Crush Funk Brass Band. Dishes include fried green tomatoes with chipotle remoulade, crawfish cheddar chive biscuits, Cajun pizza, and Muffuletta bites. Frozen Hurricanes (passionfruit, strawberry, orange, and lime) are served in a proper yard stick.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
Black Jack/official photo

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Dock5

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The 4th annual Mardi Gras Extravaganza (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.), headlined by New Orleans native David Guas, Spike Mendelsohn, and Gina Chersevani, brings the party with drag queens, jazz funk brass bands, a costume contest, and Hurricane cocktail competition. Proceeds from each all-you-can-eat-and-drink ticket ($50) benefits DC Central Kitchen. Drinks include Abita Beer, Admiral Nelson’s Rum, Appleton Estate Rum, Bayou Rum, DC Brau, and Maker’s Mark. An epic raffle for a two-night trip to NoLa includes a stay at International House and dining at Brennan’s, Napoleon House, and Redfish Grill.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(301) 347-3998
(301) 347-3998

Republic Cantina

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Truxton Circle’s Tex-Mex cafe celebrates its Gulf neighbor (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) with themed bites like fried gator po’ boys and a crawfish taquito that pair well with ice cold Abita Andygator beers. Hurricanes can be filled in $2 to-go “Don’t Mess w/ DC” cups (but must be consumed on-site). A Zavala Sazerac (cognac, mezcal, rye, absinthe rinse, mole bitters, demerare sugar) is a nod to shared Mexican and French-Cajun roots of East Texas. Lorenzo de Zavala is a a Mexican politician turned Texas empresario whose holdings included the area of East Texas next to Louisiana.

43 N St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 997-4340
(202) 997-4340
Republic Cantina/official photo

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Hotel Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

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Fat Tuesday calls for half-priced cocktails and a Big Easy buffet in this hotel lobby bar downtown. During happy hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), a Sazerac, Criollo and Mardi Gras punch is $7.50 a glass, with gold, green and purple Mardi Gras beads for all. A limitless buffet from executive chef Jordi Gallardo includes shrimp-corn, chorizo jambalaya, oyster fritters, spinach artichoke dip, Cajun-style chicken wings, crêpes and pancakes ($25).

2401 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 429-2400
(202) 429-2400

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America Eats Tavern by José Andrés

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The José Andrés restaurant that pays tribute to the evolution of American cooking is sending out NoLa dishes like shrimp jambalaya, fried oysters, and trout meunière with dirty rice. Chef Claudio Foschi will fry up pączki doughtnuts, a traditional Fat Tuesday splurge. Hurricanes will be flowing all night, with live music from Laissez Foure on the first floor from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

3139 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 450-6862
(202) 450-6862
Shrimp jambalaya at America Eats Tavern.
ThinkFoodGroup/official photo

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Astro Beer Hall

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Astro Beer Hall rings in its first Mardi Gras with boozy doughnuts and Hurricane specials all day. A rum pastry-filled doughnut for adults is topped with a citrus passion fruit and Grenadine glaze, festive-colored sugar, and a small shot of the famous New Orleans Hurricane cocktail ($5.25). Full-sized Hurricanes are $8.

1306 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 737-1797
(202) 737-1797
Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Also featured in:

Union Pub

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Pair Fat Tuesday with a Tuesday debate at Capitol Hill’s resident watering hole. From 5 p.m. to close, sip Abita’s Mardi Gras Bock and Purple Haze drafts ($7.50) and Hurricanes and Carnival Queen cocktails ($8). The South Carolina Democratic Debate Watch Party starts at 8 p.m., and trivia night starts early at 7 p.m. (usually 8 p.m.).

201 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 546-7200
(202) 546-7200

Also featured in:

Bayou Bakery

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Chef David Guas kicks off the annual party at 6 p.m., slinging $5 Cajun favorites like Camellia red beans and rice, muffalettas, jambalaya, beignets, cocktails and Abita beers. B. B King Cake slices are $2. There’s also plenty of platters to take the party home.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410

Also featured in:

Due South

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Navy Yard’s Southern spot teamed up with NoLa brewery Abita for a big Mardi Gras bash (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Tickets ($30) include the first beer and an an all-you-can-eat buffet (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), shrimp and chicken jambalaya, Cajun fried chicken and catfish, pulled pork barbecue, Andouille sausage gumbo, and King Cake. Live music from Zachary Smith & the Dixie Power Trio will go until late.

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 479-4616
(202) 479-4616

Also featured in:

The Salt Line

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Ahead of its highly-anticipated spring opening downtown, incoming Louisiana-style restaurant Dauphine’s will host a Fat Tuesday menu preview (4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at its popular sibling eatery in Navy Yard. Expect seafood gumbo and “boucherie” meat boards from chef Kyle Bailey, with festive cocktails from Neal Bodenheimer of New Orleans’s Cure Co.

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 506-2368
(202) 506-2368
A photo of Salt Line’s outdoor seating area.
The outdoor bar at Salt Line features raw seafood, cold beer, and cocktails.
Greg Powers/Greg Powers Photography

Also featured in:

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Hazel

808 V St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Executive chef Robert Curtis celebrates “Mardi Foie” with a full-blown foie gras menu takeover at his typically Turkish-leaning spot in Shaw. Think grilled foie gras with ras el hanout and apple butter or gnocchi with foie ragout and sheep tomme. A “Foie Feast” that evening includes whole roasted foie spiced with baharat. There’s even a foie-washed Rob Roy.

808 V St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 847-4980
(202) 847-4980
Hazel
Hazel
R. Lopez

McClellan's Retreat

2031 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

McClellan’s Retreat has been featuring New Orleans cocktails all month. On Fat Tuesday, indulge in $10 Hurricanes and “Improved Brandy Cocktails” (Pierre Ferrand “1840” original formula cognac, simple syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, & herbsaint rinse) all night.

2031 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-6270
(202) 265-6270
McClellan’s Retreat/official photo

Black Jack

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The party at this Logan Circle bar starts with “Indie-Gras” tonight (Monday). The industry night includes special guest bartenders from Service Bar, DJ Nate, and a family meal. Fat Tuesday will bring food and drink specials all night long and a performance by Crush Funk Brass Band. Dishes include fried green tomatoes with chipotle remoulade, crawfish cheddar chive biscuits, Cajun pizza, and Muffuletta bites. Frozen Hurricanes (passionfruit, strawberry, orange, and lime) are served in a proper yard stick.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
Black Jack/official photo

Dock5

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The 4th annual Mardi Gras Extravaganza (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.), headlined by New Orleans native David Guas, Spike Mendelsohn, and Gina Chersevani, brings the party with drag queens, jazz funk brass bands, a costume contest, and Hurricane cocktail competition. Proceeds from each all-you-can-eat-and-drink ticket ($50) benefits DC Central Kitchen. Drinks include Abita Beer, Admiral Nelson’s Rum, Appleton Estate Rum, Bayou Rum, DC Brau, and Maker’s Mark. An epic raffle for a two-night trip to NoLa includes a stay at International House and dining at Brennan’s, Napoleon House, and Redfish Grill.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(301) 347-3998
(301) 347-3998

Republic Cantina

43 N St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Truxton Circle’s Tex-Mex cafe celebrates its Gulf neighbor (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) with themed bites like fried gator po’ boys and a crawfish taquito that pair well with ice cold Abita Andygator beers. Hurricanes can be filled in $2 to-go “Don’t Mess w/ DC” cups (but must be consumed on-site). A Zavala Sazerac (cognac, mezcal, rye, absinthe rinse, mole bitters, demerare sugar) is a nod to shared Mexican and French-Cajun roots of East Texas. Lorenzo de Zavala is a a Mexican politician turned Texas empresario whose holdings included the area of East Texas next to Louisiana.

43 N St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 997-4340
(202) 997-4340
Republic Cantina/official photo

Hotel Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

2401 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037

Fat Tuesday calls for half-priced cocktails and a Big Easy buffet in this hotel lobby bar downtown. During happy hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), a Sazerac, Criollo and Mardi Gras punch is $7.50 a glass, with gold, green and purple Mardi Gras beads for all. A limitless buffet from executive chef Jordi Gallardo includes shrimp-corn, chorizo jambalaya, oyster fritters, spinach artichoke dip, Cajun-style chicken wings, crêpes and pancakes ($25).

2401 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 429-2400
(202) 429-2400

America Eats Tavern by José Andrés

3139 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

The José Andrés restaurant that pays tribute to the evolution of American cooking is sending out NoLa dishes like shrimp jambalaya, fried oysters, and trout meunière with dirty rice. Chef Claudio Foschi will fry up pączki doughtnuts, a traditional Fat Tuesday splurge. Hurricanes will be flowing all night, with live music from Laissez Foure on the first floor from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

3139 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 450-6862
(202) 450-6862
Shrimp jambalaya at America Eats Tavern.
ThinkFoodGroup/official photo

Astro Beer Hall

1306 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Astro Beer Hall rings in its first Mardi Gras with boozy doughnuts and Hurricane specials all day. A rum pastry-filled doughnut for adults is topped with a citrus passion fruit and Grenadine glaze, festive-colored sugar, and a small shot of the famous New Orleans Hurricane cocktail ($5.25). Full-sized Hurricanes are $8.

1306 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 737-1797
(202) 737-1797
Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Union Pub

201 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

Pair Fat Tuesday with a Tuesday debate at Capitol Hill’s resident watering hole. From 5 p.m. to close, sip Abita’s Mardi Gras Bock and Purple Haze drafts ($7.50) and Hurricanes and Carnival Queen cocktails ($8). The South Carolina Democratic Debate Watch Party starts at 8 p.m., and trivia night starts early at 7 p.m. (usually 8 p.m.).

201 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 546-7200
(202) 546-7200

Bayou Bakery

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Chef David Guas kicks off the annual party at 6 p.m., slinging $5 Cajun favorites like Camellia red beans and rice, muffalettas, jambalaya, beignets, cocktails and Abita beers. B. B King Cake slices are $2. There’s also plenty of platters to take the party home.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410

Due South

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Navy Yard’s Southern spot teamed up with NoLa brewery Abita for a big Mardi Gras bash (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Tickets ($30) include the first beer and an an all-you-can-eat buffet (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), shrimp and chicken jambalaya, Cajun fried chicken and catfish, pulled pork barbecue, Andouille sausage gumbo, and King Cake. Live music from Zachary Smith & the Dixie Power Trio will go until late.

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 479-4616
(202) 479-4616

The Salt Line

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

Ahead of its highly-anticipated spring opening downtown, incoming Louisiana-style restaurant Dauphine’s will host a Fat Tuesday menu preview (4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at its popular sibling eatery in Navy Yard. Expect seafood gumbo and “boucherie” meat boards from chef Kyle Bailey, with festive cocktails from Neal Bodenheimer of New Orleans’s Cure Co.

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 506-2368
(202) 506-2368
A photo of Salt Line’s outdoor seating area.
The outdoor bar at Salt Line features raw seafood, cold beer, and cocktails.
Greg Powers/Greg Powers Photography

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