Looking to tantalize your taste buds and unleash your inner explorer? Dive into the world of unique and inventive drinks across the DC metro area! This list features over 15 conversation-starting cocktails that you won't find anywhere else, from smoky and savory to sweet and floral.
For the Adventurous Palate:
- Dirty Habit (Chinatown, D.C.): Embark on a flavor adventure with the Cutie Pi's play on citrus and smoke or the cheese foam-topped Cheesy Grin.
- The Turncoat (Chevy Chase, MD): This speakeasy serves a playful twist on the Gin & Tonic in a miniature clawfoot tub - a nod to Prohibition-era bathtub gin.
- Silver Lyan (Chinatown, D.C.): Be prepared to be surprised! Here, cocktails like the Air Bee n Bee (with bee larvae!) and the Emu Queen (with emu pechuga) come with a story and a unique flavor profile.
- Service Bar (U Street, D.C.): Let the stars be your guide! Their rotating menu features astrological-inspired cocktails, each crafted with specific ingredients to match the zodiac sign.
- Tonari (Chinatown, D.C.): This Wafu restaurant offers a unique fusion experience in a glass with their Sesame Martini, combining Italian gin with house-infused sesame shochu.
- Anju (Dupont Circle, D.C.): Inspired by Korean mul naengmyeon, the In Suspense is a savory and intriguing cocktail featuring beef fat-washed vodka and a cucumber-pear brine.
- Moon Rabbit (Chinatown, D.C.): This modern Vietnamese restaurant elevates the ordinary with their Out of Dipping Sauce cocktail, a delightful mix of vodka, passion fruit, and fish sauce.
- Lapop at Lapis (Adams Morgan, D.C.): Experience Afghan flavors in a glass with the Qabooli Palow Old Fashioned, featuring ingredients like beef-fat washed whiskey and a housemade char masala bitters.
Looking for Instagram-worthy drinks?
- Fiola Mare (Georgetown, D.C.): Spice up your feed with the Sexy Fish cocktail, served in a fish-shaped glass with billowing nitrogen smoke.
- Genki Izakaya (Fairfax, VA): The Anime Lover is a dream for anime fans, featuring a vibrantly colored drink topped with an edible anime character.
Beyond Booze:
- Maketto (H Street, D.C.): Warm up with their unique five-spice honey latte, available hot or cold and perfect with their menu of Asian-inspired dishes.
- MITA (Shaw, D.C.): Indulge in a delicious and alcohol-free Kay Pacha, featuring a quinoa milk base and hints of sesame and blackberry.
Interactive Fun:
- ARTECHOUSE DC (L'Enfant Plaza, D.C.): Download the museum's app to unlock augmented reality animations that burst forth from their innovative cocktails, featuring Japanese flavors like matcha and yuzu.
For the Cocktail Connoisseur:
- Quadrant (Foggy Bottom, D.C.): The Call My Lawyer is a smoky and intriguing mezcal cocktail infused with huitlacoche, a Mexican truffle with earthy notes.
- Surreal (Crystal City, VA): Take a trip down memory lane with the Time-Traveler's Tipple, an Old Fashioned twist featuring flavors of cornflakes, granola, and dates, all infused in bourbon.
- The Saga (Foggy Bottom, D.C.): Experience a unique take on the Old Fashioned with their New Fashioned, featuring oxtail fat-washed bourbon for a rich and decadent taste.