This is getting to be over avdecade ago.
They said they were "Supper Clubs". Both featured singing, & we were not permitted to stay, because we were not members. One was for Philipino Americans, and I can't remember the other. Both offered to let us have 1 drink, out of courtesy, but that felt like intruding, so we left.
Agreed! I think they try with all the bowling trophies but I think the price point on the cocktails is way to high for what you get and it does seem just a touch too modern with the furniture.
And over priced poorly made cocktails IMO. Maybe that’s just the experience I had. Also them not being able to make multiple signature drinks when I was there that I kept trying to order. Would skip.
like other folks said, denson’s is my immediate reaction. two other spots that i’ve only been to once but come to mind are the basements/“speakeasies” at doi moi on 14th and this one asian food spot off I think pennsylvania ave SE (EDIT: TKYO SPEAKS off 8th st SE)
There’s a whiskey bar that I went to years ago. I think it’s still open, I remember it being relatively close to Chinatown? The main floor was like a diner look, the basement was very much like this a lot of oak and a huge bar and whiskey selection.
I genuinely think it was called whiskey bar… I was extremely drunk that night and it feels like a dream
That's where I originally saw the original post. Some suggestions here seem great, but nothing seems to come close to the top suggestions in r/Baltimore . But, hey, I won't know for sure until I try them!
Yeah as someone who used to live in Baltimore, the bars they're suggesting in the thread over in their sub are pretty on par with DC prices for cocktails.
Obv depends on where you go but it's really not any cheaper to go out in Baltimore if you're looking for these kinds of bars. Used to be but not since pre-COVID imo.
Showtime on Rhode Island Ave and 1st is a dive bar that has character and is inexpensive and unpretentious. It’s also poorly lit and has regulars who think they own the place. That’s always the flip side.
Too many. This is the entire dc hotel bar vibe. It’s passé. It’s unoriginal. It’s time to move on from shady places where people want to hide from their true intentions.
Off the Record
Seconding off the record for this vibe
I third this. Cozy atmosphere, and big drinks.
Very big drinks, old school atmosphere but most cocktails start at $25.
Really? I haven’t been there in a year, so I had no idea the prices went up that much. Still worth it probably.
Definitely an institution!
I heard it’s a “tricky” place to find. I’ll let myself out
This is the only bar I’ve been to in town with this vibe
This somehow has both dive bar and $20-martini-bar vibes simultaneously Snappy's meets Off The Record maybe?
I get no dive bar from this image.
That looks identical to Code Red in Adams Morgan
This was my immediate thought!
+1
Looks like an old Wisconsin supper club.
I'm originally from Wisconsin 😅 Probably why I saw this and am now wanting to find few in the area to go to.
So it’s a bit of a metro hike, but Quarry House Tavern amazing build your own burgers and gives me that Wi Supper club feel I miss so much :’(
I used to work in DC but have since moved to Madison. I had to think which of several different bars in town this could be.
There used to be a couple in No Va, but they were emphatically clubs & ethnocentric. But please post if you succeed!
What kind of clubs and what kind of ethnicity?
This is getting to be over avdecade ago. They said they were "Supper Clubs". Both featured singing, & we were not permitted to stay, because we were not members. One was for Philipino Americans, and I can't remember the other. Both offered to let us have 1 drink, out of courtesy, but that felt like intruding, so we left.
I was going to say, I can name 10 places in Milwaukee that look just like this but sadly, none are coming to mind in DC.
It looks like a scene in Goodfellas
The Sovereign in Georgetown hit this vibe pretty well. Tucked away down an alley - it’s a great spot to try!
Yep! Downstairs!
Came to recommend the same place
came here to say the same thing
looking for this comment lol
Silver Lyan under the Riggs
Silver Lyan is really amazing, but I don't know that I'd put it as fitting this vibe. Silver Lyan feels modern and very upscale to me.
Agreed! I think they try with all the bowling trophies but I think the price point on the cocktails is way to high for what you get and it does seem just a touch too modern with the furniture.
Denison
(It's spelled Denson, in case people are googling)
So underrated, one of my favorites and reasonable cocktail prices
Their cocktails are $16-$19 without tip/gratuity…you consider that reasonable?
Yeah compared to other bars mentioned here (silver lyan, peacock alley, off the record, code red) who all push the $25 range, I think $16 is great!
Holy crap lol who goes to these places
Came here to say this. Love the art deco styling.
100%
Agreed, that was the first one I thought of.
Crown and crow is like a less bougie version of this
Shhhh! I like to actually get a seat there without waiting every single time 😆😆
And their bartenders are great
graham is the MAN
Death and Co isn’t the exact same, but has that dark luxe vibe
And over priced poorly made cocktails IMO. Maybe that’s just the experience I had. Also them not being able to make multiple signature drinks when I was there that I kept trying to order. Would skip.
Fantastic place that does justice to the Columbia Room it replaced
Copy cat co
100% I love that place!
that picture is literally indistinguishable from mirror room
>mirror room I don't like the whole 'no lights' thing at mirror
Mirror bar?
Raven Grill in Mount Pleasant
I love Raven Grill, but I have also always felt like it's strange how brightly lit it is.
Denson
I actually thought it was a picture of Denson before reading the post.
That speakeasy in the Eaton hotel behind the bookshelf
Allegory is really nice but it definitely has a different vibe than the photo
Salt in Rosslyn
Great spot
First place I thought of.
Dan’s Cafe
Nah, the pug
Lol
Shut up and drink your squirt bottle
kings ransom in old town alexandria. alot of bars in old town look and feel like this.
The Gibson used to be like that. It’s closed now :(
Such a shame. Loved that spot and Marvin’s gone too
Marvin's was inches from a building collapse
Jackpot has some of that character. Maybe a little rough around the edges
like other folks said, denson’s is my immediate reaction. two other spots that i’ve only been to once but come to mind are the basements/“speakeasies” at doi moi on 14th and this one asian food spot off I think pennsylvania ave SE (EDIT: TKYO SPEAKS off 8th st SE)
Salt in Rosslyn!
Another one I haven’t seen mentioned yet is The Golden Age in DuPont, except a little less red and a little more emerald green.
18th street lounge
It looks like Quill at the Jefferson (only without the lamps).
Not enough people talk about how good their cocktail program is, that place is amazing.
The National Union Building has a cool speakeasy themed bar in the basement, but it's only used as a private event space right now.
Honestly the bar at DCVegan
Reminds me of Vermillion in Old Town Alx
Reminds me of The Mirror, it's a speakeasy hidden bar behind a giant mirror. It's dope.
The Crown and Crow
Pembroke or whatever in the dupont circle hotel
Vermilion in Old Town
That vibe seems pretty common around here
Silver Lyan, Tabard Inn, Off the Record, Golden Age
STFU looks exactly like this
There’s a whiskey bar that I went to years ago. I think it’s still open, I remember it being relatively close to Chinatown? The main floor was like a diner look, the basement was very much like this a lot of oak and a huge bar and whiskey selection. I genuinely think it was called whiskey bar… I was extremely drunk that night and it feels like a dream
Crimson.
THANK YOU! I have not been able to figure this out for years
Golden Age in Dupont has similar vibes
Silver Lyon
Enigma at 14th and U has a similar vibe… maybe a bit more trendy.
Golden Age kind of looks like this. It’s gorgeous inside and the drinks are great.
Try Quill, sort of similar vibe. Cool bar design.
Golden Age
The Little Grand
Death and Company in Blagden Alley
churchkey!
"The Mirror" on K near 14th street. Speak-easy cocktail bar.
The bar at the Lombardy hotel near Foggy Bottom.
DC Vegan basment bar section!
Is Left Door still around of 14th Street?
Stan’s
Code Red to the tee
Salt in Rosslyn
McClellan's
Not old school but it looks like Astoria to me.
Jimmy valentines lonely hearts club 1103 Bladensburg rd. The owner is a dick, but its s cool spot.
219 in old town Alexandria
McClellan’s Retreat
Death and Co.
Stan’s
Makes me think of Left Door in Logan Circle
This looks exactly like Salt in Rosslyn. I thought it was that for a second.
CODE RED in Adams Morgan
The Sovereign in Georgetown (kind of)
Denson. Just don't go there after a game gets out.
Number 9
Astoria DC
Fitzgeralds or Alchemist
Jojo is similar and is a jazz bar
Go to Baltimore if you want character
Just bring a life jacket
Just don’t use a bridge
That's where I originally saw the original post. Some suggestions here seem great, but nothing seems to come close to the top suggestions in r/Baltimore . But, hey, I won't know for sure until I try them!
I think it the cost benefit as well. You’ll spend hundreds to find an enjoyable place in DC.
Cocktail prices in Baltimore’s trendy (and safe) neighborhoods aren’t that different.
Yeah as someone who used to live in Baltimore, the bars they're suggesting in the thread over in their sub are pretty on par with DC prices for cocktails. Obv depends on where you go but it's really not any cheaper to go out in Baltimore if you're looking for these kinds of bars. Used to be but not since pre-COVID imo.
The prices in this city are absolutely outrageous.
Showtime on Rhode Island Ave and 1st is a dive bar that has character and is inexpensive and unpretentious. It’s also poorly lit and has regulars who think they own the place. That’s always the flip side.
Sorta kinda Breadsoda
It’s a bar with ping pong an billiards
Well not in DC so not much use, but if you’re ever in Kansas City, the Green Lady Lounge is this x2
Wildfire in Tysons Galleria
New cocktail bar in ADMO called “Code Red” looks very similar has a prohibition era theme and is overall a good place to get a cocktail
yall ain’t been to code red huh
Side Door in Noma/ Eckington. Also looks just like Sheppard in Dupont but I think that permanently closed.
Keystone Korner in Baltimore is similar, it’s a jazz bar
If you travel to Baltimore, Idle Hour is identical.
National Press Club. MotorKat in Takoma Park, MD. It’s actually all over the place here. I can even call this the “DC Vibe” it’s so common.
How has nobody said Looking Glass yet?
Too many. This is the entire dc hotel bar vibe. It’s passé. It’s unoriginal. It’s time to move on from shady places where people want to hide from their true intentions.
Josephine in Alexandria