For local foodies, José Andrés’ Minibar is the Moby Dick of DC dining reservations: available to those truly dedicated diners who pursue it for months. For the rest of us, there’s Barmini, the adjacent “cocktail lab” that lets you try Andrés’ creations without the lead time. The menu boasts more than 100 crafty libations in addition to flight offerings, and there’s also a modest snack menu. The experience comes with a hefty bar tab, but for cocktail lovers and seekers of imaginative dining, this is a must-visit.
It should come as no surprise that the best bars in DC are as vibrant and diverse as the city itself. The city is overflowing with craft beer drinkers, wine bar lovers, and cocktail joint aficionados alike — from the capital’s diplomatic drinkers to collegiate kids in search of comradery, there’s room for all sorts of establishments and patrons.
The fact that DC isn’t technically a state has its perks: locals enjoy certain alcohol-related loopholes that aren't found in other parts of the country. For example, local restaurants and bars can purchase their liquor stock directly from distilleries and breweries, cutting out the wholesale middleman that functions as a distributor in other states (it’s a win for mom-and-pop breweries, to say the least).
So raise your old fashioned glass, clink your beer stein, or salute with your favorite vintage as you discover the best bars in DC.
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