A sort of work trip, not my day job, but my philanthropic life’s responsibilities took us to Washington, DC for a couple of days in October.  So this was the perfect opportunity to kick off our DC Speakeasy Guide! And we love Washington, DC like we love London.  Once you get though the touristy sites and the museums, the food and drink scene is amazing.  Everything, from every corner of the globe, can be found in this city. And it is far from the cesspool that our nation’s politics would have you believe.

Allegory

We start off strong with our first speakeasy stop of the trip to Allegory. If you aren’t sure of the meaning of the word, they are kind enough to tell you right in the menu.  Allegory is a story, poem, picture or piece of art that operates on two levels.  A surface story with a hidden, deeper meaning (usually about moral, spiritual, or political ideas). 

We are in, right off the bat, just based on the name.  And then, their allegory:  Alice in Wonderland (one of my favorites) reimagined with Ruby Bridges as Alice.  SOLD!!! GENIUS!  Absolute love from us.  Their awards include: four times on the 50 Best Bars in North America; a history making two-time winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu (2023 and 2026); a Tales of the Cocktail Best Cocktail Menu award. Immediately, this lets you know that they are going to be good.

The Entrance

Allegory is located inside the Eaton Hotel, slightly hidden behind a nondescript door. The Eaton is a beautiful hotel, upscale and modern, just head to the back of the lobby to a beautiful warm seating area with some great floor to ceiling bookshelves. Slightly hidden, because there is a little sign outside the unmarked door, and when the hostess sets up her stand outside the door, it is no longer a secret. No task to get in, but you will want a reservation, they fill up fast, because they are such a great venue.

The Experience

Aside from this little sign hiccup, Allergory is fantastic! The ambiance, the murals, the absolutely amazing toad water pitchers.  Even before the drinks arrived, we are all in for Allegory.  The menu is an actual book that tells the story of Ruby and her fight with the Jabberwocky and segregation through the title, “Banned in DC”. A table of contents tells you the drinks and the basic ingredients, but then the story tells the inside creation and details behind each concoction. They are beautiful, and creative, and you feel so special when it is presented to you. Even the couple next to me ordered basic coctails (an old fashioned and a black Manhattan) and they were beautifully presented.

The Shakers

Be there exactly at opening time, because they fill up fast and they don’t take reservations.  The drinks were awesome, imaginative twists on classics with science-y culinary methods of flavor creation.  On theme, on service, on Wow factor, Allegory is getting a 4.5 Shaker rating, hitting everything but that little sign out front.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – Allegory was gorgeous and a complete experience from the minute you enter. Allegory also earned the #47 Best Bar in North America (The 50)

The Mirror

The Entrance

A quick little bee-bop off the street, under a green awning, down a rough industrial staircase, you may hear the music, but you get no advanced help.  No sign, no directions, just a word of mouth to help you find the giant mirror.  Open that when you find it. 

The Experience

Like the outside, The Mirror is non-descript, no frills, just a down and dirty speakeasy in downtown DC.  Spray painted walls, dark lighting, and a good solid menu.  There really isn’t much more to it than that.  You want to find a secret bar, this is it.  Find your hideaway, find your bar stool, and you will not be disappointed.

The Shakers

It’s not scoring well simply because it is bar ordering only so no service to speak of – that guy is here to make you a good drink, not to interact.  No theme, unless basement bar qualifies as a theme. So we are not giving it a theme shaker for just lack of décor.  Drinks are solid, it is hidden, and it has a task to get in, so they are getting 3 shakers from us.  We are not knocking it at all, it is just simply what it is and owns it!  We applaud that!

OKPB

OKPB almost didn’t make our list for this trip. Small venue, well rated, and popular had us believing we were not going to be able to make it at opening for a good chance at getting in.  We didn’t think we could make it work, but a sudden gap in our schedule and pure luck at the door got us an “are you ok with a standing room only spot” – without a doubt, yes.  We had heard it was small, and it was a bit out of the way, but we are so glad we got there.

The Entrance

Brilliantly hidden as a blank door next to a dentists office (that is a first in our speakeasy journey), we found it simply because someone was holding the door open when our Lyft pulled up.  The hostess will guide you up a set of stairs. Understated, yet hidden, a little sad we didn’t enter THROUGH a dentist’s office to harrass people in chairs, but you go with what you got. No task, but a hostess you need to check in with for seating.

The Experience

Six seats at the bar, four tables for four and a booth at the back.  It is an intimate space.  I was honestly not blown away in the first 3 minutes.

And then we met Jovi.  Hello HIGHLIGHT of OKPB.  Sometimes in the service industry, someone just has IT, the big “it factor” which is totally different than the Hollywood IT.  Jovi has it. Kind and upbeat, giving you a warm sense of being welcome into a space, Jovi was awesome. Simple menu – but if eclectic is their theme, it hits with the cocktails (well, and the fantastic lemur’s getting drunk and stoned on the wallpaper).I loved the bathrooms, hidden behind bookcases, with stoned koala bear wallpaper. I loved the small group in the one booth who let me invade their space for pictures. While there were a couple of people clearly on dates, OKPB felt more like the perfect space to hangout with friendly people.

And you know we love a welcome drink, Jovi served us a good-bye drink of an herbal vermouth that we were unsure about when presented, but turned out just the perfect ending to our experience. 

And please know, OKPB does not actually stand for anything, so don’t try to make something peanut buttery out of it, thanks!

The Shakers

We will give a half shaker for the hostess clearing you for entrance, but no real task. It is getting a full shaker for hidden, without that door being open we would not have known it was there. Service is a shaker just for Jovi, cocktails were shaker worthy, the theme, I am sadly inclined to only provide a half a shaker because it was a super cool space, but I’m not sure I call stoned lemur a theme (as badly as I want to). Calling it a four shaker experience, while knowing in our hearts it is a five!

ssn – OKPB was just a cool, comfortable vibe with solid drinks and Jovi! And this is the one speakeasy that other industry professionals we spoke to all recommended!

District Still and Supply

I love old industrial spaces. They come off a little cold, but I love a building with a good history. The name is an accurate depiction of the space, in my mind, and it is located with in the old Industrial Union Building, it felt fitting.

The Entry

No fluff, no frill. The door is unmarked and as you walk down the hall you think it is just right there. But it isn’t. That is the District Still and Supply restaurant. It took us a minute, because we had read it was hidden in a basement. And sure enough, there was a staircase going down. Follow that staircase (or the old freight elevator if you are stair-challenged).

The Experience

It is simple, but felt elegant. I attribute that to the ceiling that opens up to the above floor restaurant. High beams, and brick, with great lighting and an open feel to the room, it felt spacious, and upscale, without trying to feel upscale. The service was fine, nothing outstanding, but the guy was nice (here’s where you spot the difference in service, I know Will from the Press Club, and Jovi from OKPB, and the entire staff at the Service Bar, but I have zero idea what this guys name was). I loved the cocktail, where they were making it their own. I ordered an off-menu special that included a plum cider red wine reduction that the bartender had made himself. Color me impressed. It was a great cocktail. Peggy was winding down the night with an old fashioned, but hey, nothing wrong with a well-made Maker’s old fashioned.

The Shakers

Hidden, I’m giving it a full shaker, it is only in the basement, but the fact that the upstairs is a stand alone space, this is hidden from view upon entry. No task, sadly, except an ability to make your way downstairs (that doesn’t count, that was weak sarcasm). Service was fine, not outstanding, so only a half shaker. No offense District, but it didn’t blow us away. Cocktails get a shaker, but theme does not. There was no theme, so to speak, just a building with a cool history. It does score only score 2.5 shakers. Again, don’t let that sway you from a good cocktail in a cool space. Not going to make our top ten list, but if I had a date night planned, this could make that list.

Code Red

Wow, Code Red, you got the best host in the business working that front door! Mark (with a “k”, like the bible, do not trust those “c” having European Marcs).  We were hooked for this visit before the door even opened.  Luckily we had a reservation (get a reservation!), because Mark was kindly telling people to do better next time and get a resy, because they were at capacity.

The Entry

It is hidden behind an unmarked door, however, there was a sign out front when we arrived, which we frown on. Nothing to perform, except an ability to make a reservation, but Mark gives you a brief history of prohibition and the speakeasy concept, on your way in. The lobby/waiting area upon entry is super cute. Then in you go to a beautiful, fantastic room.

The Experience

Inside, they lean into the “Code Red” concept.  Red lit bar, and red velvet booths, the décor also reflects the history of drinking and prohibition.  Our table was proudly described to us by Mark; we were at the Hemingway table. Décor a nod to Ernest Hemingway (I am a fan already) included a vintage typewriter, photos and quotes by the man himself.  Mark was kind enough to give us a brief overview of the prohibition history and concept as he seated us.  The space felt intimate, despite the loud and the crowd.

The menu is provided via an old newspaper (flashback to Cahoots Postal in London).  I opted for the Mary Pickford, Peggy had the Kinky Thompson.  Their selection listed in categories of traditional cocktails, prohibition era and modern takes (with dry ice and flair) on traditional cocktails. Doing great cocktails with such a wide variety of styles shows knowledge and skill in our book. A little bit of everything to please everybody, including mocktails and great food.

The Shakers

Code Red is doing a great job, and was a great way to cap off our first night in DC.  While we did have to take off a half shaker for the sign out front, they do get a 4.5 shaker rating, because they checked every box we love to check!

Segreto

Hidden in the basement of a pizza parlor, my best advice is to grab a slice on your way down. It’s an African style pizza, and it looked amazing.  The guy working there was super nice too.

The Entry

But head back towards the freezer door.  Loved the inside that is wallpaper that looks like a storage for the pizza parlor, complete with their name on the labels.  Down the stairs to the Segreto Speakeasy.

The Experience

It is super cute.  Long bar, with table seating to one side, lit with blue lights, white back lit marble bar top, their motto is “Loud thoughts speak easy”.  The cocktail menu was a little limited, but I loved the Purple Stuff, and Carlos makes a great drink.  It’s simple, it is straight forward.  Much like The Mirror, there is not much too it, but it works. 

The Shakers

They get a shaker for hidden and a shaker for task, Carlos gets a shaker for service.  It was hard to commit a full shaker to theme and therefore for cocktails, but the drinks were good, and it was beautiful so I will give them half a shaker for each.  Segreto gets a 4-Shaker Rating from us.

Silver Lyan

Now here is a beautiful bar.  As elegant as the name sounds, inside a beautiful hotel, The Riggs, the concept is described as classic elegance with playful kitsch. Silver Lyan explores the culture, stories, and traditions associated with the hotel.  It fits.

The Entry

Silver Lyan is located in the basement, inside the former vault. We were sorely disappointed that the entrance wasn’t through the huge vault door across the hall from the entrance (there is your hint, look for curtains across from the huge vault door!). There is no task to get in, just some curtains hanging over the doorway.

You will need a reservation, so it will reluctantly get a half shaker for that (busy enough that they were hesitant for our last minute change from a reservation for two to include a third person).

The Experience

The drinks were fabulous, you knew the thought and detail that went into each drink.  The menu was a booklet with great descriptions inviting you to imagine the taste prior to ordering.  They were impeccably garnished, served in beautiful glassware.  Silver Lyan is upscale and sofisticated, bordering on pretentious, but sometimes that is exactly what you want to experience.  Go here to feel special and bougie.

The Shakers

They are getting a 4-shaker rating from us, because they worked their theme. The cocktails were beautiful and carefully crafted, the service was good, and while in the basement they get a half for half hidden, and only a half for the lack of task.  Dress up, feel special, and check out the quality of Silver Lyan.

ssn – Silver Lyan earned the Best US Bar Team award at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. They also rank #55 on North America’s Best Bar list (The 50). The teamwork and precision behind the bar are standout, it was fun to watch!

Off the Record

We debated whether Off the Record was a speakeasy.  It is, and we have included less loosely defined speakeasies, so it is being included as a speakeasy, but it is also a great bar that gives that drinking in Washington DC feel.

The Entry

It is hidden in the basement, behind a door near the elevators.  There is a sign advertising Off the Record Bar in the lower lobby, so I am defaulting to our scoring on Silver Lyon, half because it is tucked away and not obvious, but losing half for the sign.  But down the stairs you go, and down around the corner to find Off the Record.  Follow the fantastic political caricatures.

The Experience

The bar is exactly what you would see if you envision a hidden bar in the basement of an upscale hotel (Hay-Adams Hotel) in Washington DC.  It was rich wood, deep red hues, a sense of the history of the venue and as mentioned, fantastic political caricatures covering the walls – and they cover the Obamas, Nixon, Carter, and historical events and make fun of the political parties with evenly distributed humor.  They specialize in classics, get a martini or an old fashioned.  Pony up for a traditional cocktail, do not look for flair or exotic gimmicks, just sit back, toast your friends or coworkers, and socialize. 

The Shakers

We are going with only a 3.5 sadly, because there was no task needed, first come first served seating, half hidden, cocktails on point, theme on point, and good service. 

I would also like to mention I did not take off any shaker points for the terrible caricature bar coaster I received of RFK, Jr, because it was balanced with Peggy’s coaster of Bernie Sanders – like I said, they don’t play partisan politics, they make fun of everyone equally.

DC Speakeasy Wrap-up

Washington DC was a good visit for us. We hit some highs, we hit some solid venues, we had enough variety to hold our interest the entire trip.  There is something for everyone which we love to find in our nation’s capital especially during voting season.  We were a little shocked that we had zero 5-shaker ratings, but like I said, they were solid and worthy of your trip.  Pick your attitude, pick your vibe, and find what works for you.

Washington, DC may be a city where secrets are currency, but these are the ones we’re happy to share! From hidden doors to expertly crafted cocktails, the capital’s speakeasy scene proves there’s more to DC than politics and power plays. Whether you’re chasing the perfect pour or the thrill of finding a bar hiding in plain sight, these Washington, DC speakeasies are worth uncovering. So skip the political debates, raise a glass, and remember, what happens behind closed doors in DC doesn’t always have to stay classified.

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