Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
Cocktail Joints
The Passenger is one of Cocktail Joints.

1. The Passenger

1021 7th St NW (at L St NW), Washington, D.C.
Cocktail Bar · Mount Vernon Square · 116 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Love the staff and the vibe; plus, you really can't mess with the institutional knowledge of this bar. Exercise every opportunity to try new and different styles of liquor.

Room 11 is one of Cocktail Joints.

2. Room 11

3234 11th St NW (at Lamont St NW), Washington, D.C.
Wine Bar · Columbia Heights · 82 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Jess et al are awesome, plus price is right. Put your faith in her and her staff and you will be satisfied. Less pretentious than other places in the city too.

American Ice Company is one of Cocktail Joints.

3. American Ice Company

8.7
917 V St NW (at 9th St. NW), Washington, D.C.
BBQ Joint · U-Street · 105 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: SPIRITS IN BLACK! Top notch drinks during SIB, possibly some of the best I've had in DC. Great soundtrack too.

PS 7's is one of Cocktail Joints.

4. PS 7's

777 I St NW (at 8th St NW), Washington, D.C.
New American Restaurant · Chinatown · 35 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Gina C. and her crew are doing solid things here. This may have been the only place I've had a drink with Sriracha (or some other hot sauce) in it. Don't forget to try the half-smokes.

The Gibson is one of Cocktail Joints.

5. The Gibson

2009 14th St NW (at U St NW), Washington, D.C.
Speakeasy · U-Street · 137 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Drinks here are STRONG and extremely well-made, but pricey. However, you really only need two drinks from here, so it's somewhat cost-effective.

Bourbon is one of Cocktail Joints.

6. Bourbon

2348 Wisconsin Ave NW (at Calvert St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Whisky Bar · Glover Park · 53 tips and reviews
Blackbyrd Warehouse is one of Cocktail Joints.

7. Blackbyrd Warehouse

2005 14th St NW (at U St NW), Washington, D.C.
Seafood Restaurant · U-Street · 20 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Great liquor selection here, but staff not always sure what to do with it. Don't go off menu or use selection as an opportunity to try stuff you've never had before (e.g. old tom gin or Fernet Branca)

Estadio is one of Cocktail Joints.

8. Estadio

1520 14th St NW (at Church St NW), Washington, D.C.
Spanish Restaurant · Logan Circle - Shaw · 159 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Go here for the phenomenal food, but drinks program is no slouch thanks to Adam Bernbach. Great g&t made w/ Old Raj gin + housemade tonic; saffron hints in Old Raj are good call for a Spanish place.

Fiola is one of Cocktail Joints.

9. Fiola

8.5
601 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at Indiana Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Italian Restaurant · Penn Quarter · 67 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: The bar program here is outstanding. Also, the individual pour of your drink from the shaker into an empty chilled glass in front of you is a nice touch.

Tabard Inn is one of Cocktail Joints.

10. Tabard Inn

8.5
1739 N St NW (btwn 17th & 18th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Hotel · Northwest Washington · 144 tips and reviews

Alex L.Alex Leonidas: Can't mess with this place either for food or drinks. Cocktail list has some more "classically" styled drinks, and some more adventurous choices now that Pat Owens came here from American Ice Co.