24 Aug Cocktail Tour: Washington DC

The cocktail scene in Washington DC is one of the best in the country. With names like Derek Brown and Todd Thrasher who led the charge, there is so much talent in the city today. On a recent visit to DC, my cocktail guide, and local bartender, Rico Wisner led me from bar to bar as we drank our way through the city. Here are some of the highlights (although this is just a short list of some of the best bars):

Barmini 
855 E St NW (between N 9th St & N 8th St), Washington, DC 20004

Barmini is Chef José’s Andres’ culinary cocktail lab in the space adjoining his restaurant Minibar. More than one hundred artisan cocktails are crafted and served with the same care and attention to detail as the dishes at minibar. Like all of Jose Andres’ creations, barmini is like nothing you’ve seen before and each cocktail is a work of art. Barmini has set the bar high for avant-garde cocktails.

Please note that this is not the kind of bar that you can just walk into.  Plan ahead and make a reservation.  You will then be given the code to get in the door, where you will entire an eclectic space like no other.

Hogo Bar
1017 7th St NW (between N New York Ave & N Mount Vernon Pl), Washington, DC 20001

Hogo Bar in DC takes a tropical spin in a local bar atmosphere. With Hawaiian food and a great selection of rums and creative cocktails, this is a fun place to dine and drink. In the back of the bar is a pop-up restaurant that has served as the outpost for a number of chefs as they take their cuisine to the next level. This is a great place for a casual night out for people who love their cocktails.

The Passenger
1021 7th St NW (between N New York Ave & N Mount Vernon Pl), Washington, DC 20001

Just a few doors down from Hogo, is The Passenger. Owned by Derek Brown, the vibe, the music and the mixologists give this place the ultimate DC bar feel. The ambiance is very laid back and the layout is great for friends catching up over a drink. The service and staff is also topnotch and very inviting. If you’re in the mood for a bite, there are excellent items such as the kimchi tacos, pork cheek nachos, and even chicken and waffles!