They keep the tight space unassuming by ushering a small bowl of goldfish crackers to each table. Take the stairs to the second level to discover the bar. The bottom floor is a small Chinese street food shop selling potstickers, bao, and skewers.It’s often reported that the top bartenders in the city go to Cop圜at for a drink. The wide range of knowledge among the bartenders caters to all types from liquor forward to sweet drinks. The bartender will ask you one or two questions about preferences and will return with a drink perfect for you. Although Copy Cat’s menu offers a wide range of classic cocktails, many patrons go with bartender’s choice, a sure sign of trust in the quality of cocktails.Nonetheless, here is my list of the best cocktail bars in Washington DC: Cop圜at Co on H Street NE Copycat Co. We have such a strong cocktail bar scene that it’s impossible to objectively decide on the top. The fact that people will disagree with my picks means our city has a lot to offer.
Gram-ability: how photogenic the bar it is (since this blog is published by and for the DC Instagram community).Īs you read through the list, keep in mind this is one person’s opinion.Neighborhood: how accessible and entertaining the neighborhood is (afterall, most cocktail bars are just one stop in a long arrangement of evening plans).Whether it’s the bars on Capitol Hill catering to politicians or the outdoor patios on U Street for young professionals, both worlds center menus around cocktails.Īfter living in the city for 12+ years and consuming more than just a few cocktails, I’ve ranked the best cocktail bars in DC around four categories: Even as more breweries and distilleries emerge throughout the city, Washingtonians still like their cocktails. Beer is to Portland, Denver, Asheville, and Grand Rapids as cocktails are to Washington, D.C.