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 seven of the best hotel bars in the city.

As we’ve told you already, it’s Restaurant Week here in Washington, which means those of us left in town can eat three course meals at some of the best restaurants around for $20.07 at lunch and $30.07 at dinner. As a Restaurant Week proponent, I view this unofficial dining holiday as a chance to try out places I’ve never been, and think restaurateurs should use the time as an opportunity to reach out to people…

Sparky’s Has Indeed Been Shuttered Following our conversation last week about the Warehouse’s impending closure, several commenters were asking about the fate of Sparky’s at 14th and R, NW, which was suddenly shuttered a few weeks back. Phone calls to the shop lead to a message that doesn’t recommend that you leave a message, because no one checks the machine We searched for something more official, but the closest we found was at Brightest Young…

The Revolving Torte It seems like it’s the season for pastry chef musical chairs, as the Washingtonian’s Todd Kliman lets us in on a bevy of changes in Washington’s world of caster sugar and ganache. Equinox’ Lisa Scruggs starts the chain reaction, as she is headed across the river to serve as dessert overseer for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (the folks who own Vermillion, Evening Star Café, Tallula, and Rustico). She and the managers for…

Ch- Ch- Chef Changes… Sometimes, the local boy makes good. Chesterfield, Md.-native Nathan Beauchamp has picked up the knife to direct the nightly deliciousness that is tradition at 1789. He’s no stranger to the D.C. scene either, having worked at both Bistro Bis and Restaurant Eve, two of DCist’s favorites. According to the restaurant, the chef will unveil his new menu sometime in February. He’s giving a nod to old favorites such as the oyster…

Alert DCist readers pointed us to the news that the Market Lunch, a staple of Eastern Market, has ceased weekend breakfast service. No reason other than possible fatigue has been cited. The Market Lunch’s breakfasts have long been one of the best options for a quick, affordable breakfast for Eastern Market shoppers. The Washingtonian noted a few years ago that the popularity of the breakfast was immediately visible: On Saturday mornings, the line for Market…

On Friday, DCist got an advanced look at IndeBleu, the restaurant and lounge on G Street that is primed to set a new standard for service, design and taste in the District. Though IndeBleu is still under construction, you can tell from this DCist photo that the view from its second floor dining room will provide a great vantage point of the Seventh Street corridor, MCI Center and the National Portrait Gallery (whenever renovations are…