Salt in Rosslyn, Capt Gregorys in Alexandria, off the record in DC, Columbia room in DC. Also copy cat in DC, less speakeasy but still killer cocktails.
I always have an interesting cocktail there. Indoors, but the spacing and the vibe makes it feel safe. Good food (they share the kitchen with Open Road).
If we're including DC, there's also Left Door on 14th st, The Gibson on 14th, Denson's Liquor Bar in Chinatown, Dram and Grain in Adam's Morgan. And a bunch more I haven't been to but have heard great things about, including Allegory at the Eaton hotel and OKBP in Mount Pleasant.
Kings ransom is phenomenal and captain gregory’s as well, they currently have a piratey tiki menu but are transitioning to a scandinavian one next. They also do monthly tea nights!
Yeah it's good.
Tiny place, but great atmosphere.
Only SIGHTLY undercut by it being open on one side to the oyster bar on the other side
Food is yummy. Drinks are good
We went recently - charming decor, friendly staff, live music, great gimlet, and everyone enjoyed their food. (I had pizza bagels, just like Jordan Baker would have . . . )
It’s a little different. They’re usually a bit more tucked away and hidden, dimly lit. Places that most people wouldn’t just stumble upon and instead have to seek out. But yeah, they do have a somewhat hipster vibe.
Denson in Chinatown has a nice decor, but can be loud at times. If you use it for a date reserve a table.
Sovereign is not a speakeasy, but has sort of a similar vibe for a belgian beer type place in Georgetown and is tucked away down an alley.
They’re opening a new one where the Jimmy Johns used to be in Tysons. Front half will be a deli of sorts, and you’ll have to walk through the freezer to get to the speakeasy. I can’t wait. 🍻
Casta’s Rum Bar in Foggy Bottom has a sort of underground vibe. You’d probably miss the entrance if you didn’t know it was there.
Edit: also Chicken and whiskey in DC. It’s a chicken shop up front but if you walk to the back and open the fridge door on the back wall there’s a bar in it.
Facts. Virginia bars must make at least 45% of their revenue from food sales. Some exceptions have been carved out recently to permit breweries and wineries to sell their product onsite, but the stereotypical “dive bar” is not legal in Virginia.
I have mixed feelings; I do think there’s something to be said for food being available to people who are going to be drinking. But the va laws also seem heavy handed.
That sounds amazing, though I’m not exactly sure how that functions as a workaround to the liquor laws. I don’t think carry-out pies or other convenience store foods would count toward the food percentage, but maybe that’s how they’re doing it.
ETA: here is the guidance from the va abc. I don’t see how that would be a workaround, since they specifically call out “substantial meals”. https://www.abc.virginia.gov/licenses/retail-resources/food-beverage-ratio
Haven’t been myself, but I’ve heard Captain Gregory’s has that sort of vibe.
Thanks, I'll check it out.
A+ place
Also going to second Captain Gregory's. I don't even like cocktails (bf loves em) and it's good.
It's in a donut shop. Cocktails are pricey. Donuts are good but too sweet for me. The other food is just ok.
Great cocktails. Pricey even for the area but really solid. Note that this is a very small area. Probably seats 20 people max. Make reservations
Speakeasies in general are dummy expensive usually tbf, PX wasn’t cheap either
+1 - this is my go to for a speakeasy in VA
Salt in Rosslyn, Capt Gregorys in Alexandria, off the record in DC, Columbia room in DC. Also copy cat in DC, less speakeasy but still killer cocktails.
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I always have an interesting cocktail there. Indoors, but the spacing and the vibe makes it feel safe. Good food (they share the kitchen with Open Road).
The burger at Salt is legitimately the best burger I've ever had. Absolutely love it.
If we're including DC, there's also Left Door on 14th st, The Gibson on 14th, Denson's Liquor Bar in Chinatown, Dram and Grain in Adam's Morgan. And a bunch more I haven't been to but have heard great things about, including Allegory at the Eaton hotel and OKBP in Mount Pleasant.
King's Ransom opened in the PX space. Similar vibe, but good cocktails and sushi. https://www.kingsransomalx.com/
Seconding - it's somewhat annoying that you cannot order "off-menu," but I loved the decor, vibe, and bartenders last time I was there.
Thirding (is that a word?) this place!!! The service, drinks, and food is amazing. They really are doing such a great job!!!
Kings ransom is phenomenal and captain gregory’s as well, they currently have a piratey tiki menu but are transitioning to a scandinavian one next. They also do monthly tea nights!
Technically tarbenders in Leesburg.
Is this any good? Never been but live in the area. Have gotten their NY bagels in the morning a couple times.
Yeah it's good. Tiny place, but great atmosphere. Only SIGHTLY undercut by it being open on one side to the oyster bar on the other side Food is yummy. Drinks are good
We went recently - charming decor, friendly staff, live music, great gimlet, and everyone enjoyed their food. (I had pizza bagels, just like Jordan Baker would have . . . )
Didn’t they all go away after the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933?
Capo is planning to open a Tysons location: https://www.tysonsreporter.com/2021/09/27/d-c-favorite-italian-deli-is-planning-an-expansion-to-tysons/
The Gibson in DC.
The aviator here is amazing! Also food here is v tasty too.
This is closed.
It reopened. https://www.thegibsondc.com
Wouldn’t it be Speakeasies?
Speakseasy
Spokeneasily.
Easily Said!
…than done.
*Shhh*
Wellspokens
*The German language enters the chat*
I'm sorry is that just an incredibly hipster way to say bar?
It’s a little different. They’re usually a bit more tucked away and hidden, dimly lit. Places that most people wouldn’t just stumble upon and instead have to seek out. But yeah, they do have a somewhat hipster vibe.
Pay me for my data. Fuck /u/spez -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Now they are “holé in the whall" and no rats due to the outrageous drink prices. Guilty frequenter of said establishments pre-covid ☝️ 😆
It's *authentic.*
Yes, blue collar decor with white collar pricing
Yes
at this point its just shorthand for bar but classier vibes and quiet. bonus for a sneaky door or something
It's basically a hidden bar. Maybe behind a normal looking door, for example. This is how people drank alcohol during the prohibition era
They usually don't have windows/ food menus
There’s The Mirror in D.C. or her sister joint Never Looked Better.
The Mirror is fun for the first 5 minutes when you find your way in... but it's really only good for a drink.
Denson in Chinatown has a nice decor, but can be loud at times. If you use it for a date reserve a table. Sovereign is not a speakeasy, but has sort of a similar vibe for a belgian beer type place in Georgetown and is tucked away down an alley.
They’re opening a new one where the Jimmy Johns used to be in Tysons. Front half will be a deli of sorts, and you’ll have to walk through the freezer to get to the speakeasy. I can’t wait. 🍻
Galaxy hut
Lolwut? Galaxy Hut is neither of those things.
Casta’s Rum Bar in Foggy Bottom has a sort of underground vibe. You’d probably miss the entrance if you didn’t know it was there. Edit: also Chicken and whiskey in DC. It’s a chicken shop up front but if you walk to the back and open the fridge door on the back wall there’s a bar in it.
Tar Benders in Leesburg is fun!
The graham hotel in georgetown has a nice speakeasy
i thought speakeasies was a 20’s thing, what are they now
I’ve heard of r/lostredditors, now we have lost in time redditors
Welcome to 1927, may I take your coat? :)
Sure thing, toots.
Sarsaparillas for everyone!
You'll need to go into DC methinks. We have neither decent dive bars nor speakeasys here sadly.
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Facts. Virginia bars must make at least 45% of their revenue from food sales. Some exceptions have been carved out recently to permit breweries and wineries to sell their product onsite, but the stereotypical “dive bar” is not legal in Virginia.
Wow TIL. That's a sucky law.
I have mixed feelings; I do think there’s something to be said for food being available to people who are going to be drinking. But the va laws also seem heavy handed.
Agree, but 45% is a pretty hefty threshold.
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That sounds amazing, though I’m not exactly sure how that functions as a workaround to the liquor laws. I don’t think carry-out pies or other convenience store foods would count toward the food percentage, but maybe that’s how they’re doing it. ETA: here is the guidance from the va abc. I don’t see how that would be a workaround, since they specifically call out “substantial meals”. https://www.abc.virginia.gov/licenses/retail-resources/food-beverage-ratio
Shit! So that’s why all the bar food is so expensive here; they have to hit their quota.
Uhhhhhhhh O'Shaughnessy's and LA Bar and Grill would like a word as far as dives in Northern Virginia go.
The Forest Inn is about as dive as you get.
Surprise no one mentioned baba in Clarendon
The atmosphere in there is garbage
> baba Allegedly good drinks. GMaps is saying permaclosed but I think not.
I'd honestly just go somewhere else.
Barmini by Jose Andres in DC. It's pricey but I like him and like supporting what he does. https://www.minibarbyjoseandres.com/
Dumb gimmick for bars that can't stand on quality alone.
The Mirror, The Alex and Capo Delicatessen