According to Washingtonian magazine, the D.C. area has “seen new cocktail lounges, old-school arcades, and food-focused bars join an already impressive roster of neighborhood joints, swanky hangouts, and kinetic dance floors.” But who says we can’t have more? The magazine’s March 2013 edition lists 75 Great Bars throughout the region, and six are located in the DowntownDC BID area. They are:
- Proof (775 G Street), noted as “a serious wine-sipping spot.”
- The Source (575 Pennsylvania Avenue, located in the Newseum), recognized for three “spectacular small plates” offered during weekday happy hours.
- Fiola (601 Pennsylvania Avenue), praised for its $6 happy hour cocktails and snacks.
- Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street), acknowledged as “one of Washington’s most legendary taverns,” and equipped with four bars offering “good drinks and some of the area’s best oysters.”
- POV Lounge (515 15th Street, located atop the W Hotel), mentioned for its posh, open-air bar and stunning views of such landmarks as the White House and Washington Monument
- Round Robin & Scotch Bar (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, located in the Willard InterContinental Hotel), valued as D.C.’s most “storied sipping spot … wetting whistles since Abraham Lincoln was in the White House.”
The magazine also recognized three Downtown restaurants—Acadiana (901 New York Avenue), Hill Country (410 7th Street) and Johnny’s Half Shell (400 N. Capitol Street)—in its “Unexpected Places to See Live Bands” category.
- Bar Snacks to Savor – Venetian fried calamari at Fiola and chili pork wontons at The Source
- 10 Must-Try Happy Hours – Oyamel (401 7th Street), where you can’t beat the $4 tacos and $5 tequila cocktails
- 10 Great Cocktails From Top Bartenders – Fiola (again!), for its Smoke Gets in Your Rye cocktail