D.C. has been embracing the cocktail renaissance with gusto and The Columbia Room leads the way. Derek Brown, the mixologist behind the bar, calls the joint “a spa for alcoholics,” and creates a new cocktail each week for the menu. And yes, this is a bar that requires reservations, with the prix-fixe menu including two cocktails, a glass of champagne, and two small plates. (We do recommend taking the subway or a taxi to visit, so you can drink without worry.) Another favorite bar for cocktail connoisseurs is The Gibson, in the U Street Corridor, with its popular Salad Days Sour, made up of celery-infused Macchu Pisco, lemon, celery bitters, and burnt cinnamon.

The preceding post is part of the DCist Fall Guide, sponsored by Lexus.