Everyone who drinks likely has a favorite neighborhood watering hole. But maybe you’re looking to be fancy for a night, or have a burning desire to spend way too much money on drinks. Enter the hotel bar, where you can mingle with regulars and out-of-towners over cocktails made by some of D.C.’s best bartenders. Here, according to DCist writers, are eight of the best hotel bars in the city.
Photo by Rebecca Schley.
ZENTAN AT DONOVAN HOUSE: Zentan is probably best known for its delicious food (seriously, the sushi is beyond amazing), but the Donovan Hotel restaurant and bar also serves up some amazing drinks. At the rooftop bar, which boasts a spectacular view, this DCist editor had a Death in the Clouds, a transcendent mix of house made absinthe, lemon, sugar and sparkling wine. At the indoor bar, which is surrounded by fake candles, the friendly and knowledgable mixologist Josh Berner treated me to a Freedom, Sweet Freedom. The drink mixes vanilla-infused tequila, pecan-infused averna, lemon and egg whites, and tastes about as good as the sushi does.— Sarah Anne Hughes
Zentan is located at 155 14th Street NW.
14K RESTAURANT & LOUNGE AT THE HAMILTON CROWNE PLAZA: For years, legendary D.C. bartender Sam Lek slung drinks, magic tricks, and his old school wit from legendary hotel bar Town & Country. When the Mayflower closed the power spot, the back of the house spot they had to offer during hotel renovations wasn’t a match for Lek’s outsized personality. He returned to his native Cambodia to work on his charity, Sam Relief. A job behind the bar at 14K at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza lured Lek back to the area this past May. The bar, laid out in royal purple and some gold trim (the 14K is a play on the location as well as precious metal), the bar boasts a good happy hour for downtown. Lek will guess what card you’ve pulled out of a deck and with the money you save if you get there before 7 p.m., Lek can show you how he makes a dollar bill disappear. But he’ll give it back to you so you can order more drinks. — Josh Novikoff
14K is located at 1001 14th Street NW.
Photo by bhrome.
QUILL AT THE JEFFERSON HOTEL: This bar is off the beaten path, even within the scheme of the Jefferson Hotel, but it still attracts a host of local regulars. The rotating cast of bartenders are all the winning combination of gregarious and knowledgeable, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie that extends to the clientele. They know the obscure cocktails that their important guests order, create their own gems (like the light and not-too-sweet Sakura Haiku) and may test out their new concoctions on lucky patrons. The wood, gold paint, and sketches of former presidents add an air of importance to the bar, as does pianist Peter Robinson who plays there Tuesday through Saturday. — Valerie Paschall
Quill is located at 1200 16th Street NW.
BISTRO BIS AT THE HOTEL GEORGE: Located around the corner from Union Station, Bistro Bis at the Hotel George has an old-world charm and grand feeling to it. Think tall columns and wood paneling. While the vieux carré this editor had contained a little too much ice, the sidecar my companion drank was simply wonderful. Make sure to eat the complimentary house-made chips. — Sarah Anne Hughes
Bistro Bis at 15 E Street NW.
BAR ROUGE AT HOTEL ROUGE: The decor for this bar looks just as luxurious (and red) as it sounds. Visitors to this Kimpton hotel could be forgiven if they thought the floor looked suspiciously like Dorothy’s ruby slippers, but the leather chairs and cushy plush booths give Bar Rouge an appeal that’s more glamorous and less kitschy. If you want to escape the outside world/city (as most patrons did) it’s easy to sink slowly into the hypnotic beats of EDM-lite remixes. But for those who wish to remain ever-connected they had CNN turned on behind the bar. Most importantly, the cocktails are well-made. Several come with Washington-centric names like Bipartisan, The Bailout and Interns & Scandals, which, no shock here, contains Jose Cuervo. However, the Pumpkin Chai Cocktail (which includes cream and both pumpkin and ginger liquor) is a must-have for the seasonal visitor. Also, put any cupcake bias aside and say “yes” to the citrus cupcake with strawberry frosting. — Valerie Paschall
Bar Rogue is located at 1315 16th Street NW.
Photo by anokarina.
THE POV ROOF TERRACE AND LOUNGE AT THE W HOTEL: The POV Lounge on the top of the W Hotel downtown isn’t an amazing bar, but it’s got an amazing view overlooking the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the National Mall. It’s a good spot for lunch, to wow your visiting friends or relatives, or for a drink on a nice night. The cocktails (mostly traditional ones like a mojito, Moscow mule, and fruity ones with vodka) are pricey at $15 each, but you’re paying for the view, not the drink. The decor is sleek and modern and food is solid bar food — burgers, calamari, sandwiches and the like. — Andrew Wiseman
POV is located at 515 15th Street NW.
OFF THE RECORD AT THE HAY-ADAMS: There are two approaches one can take to an evening at the Hay-Adams basement bar, Off The Record. Slip into one of the red leather booths if you want a quiet evening alone or intimate company. If you feel like making friends, pull up to the bar and order a frothy David’s Washingtonian or a Manhattan (made with West Virginian rye). Just across the street from The White House, OTR may be one of the more storied hotel bars, but it’s just like most watering holes: the desire to imbibe is the great equalizer for lawmakers and D.C. denizens alike. — Catherine McCarthy
Off The Record is located at 800 16th Street NW.
HOTEL TABARD INN: Very few words need to be written about the Tabard Inn, the famed Dupont institution. Those who know it love its cozy atmosphere and varied seating, as well as its custom cocktails.
Tabard Inn is located at 1739 N Street NW.
