Hey there! I apologize in advance, as I can imagine there are 100 threads on this subject already. But I'll be heading out to DC in a few weeks for a four-day stay with my wife to visit a friend. Curious if there are any can't miss bars/breweries/restaurants/beers/bottle shops that I should be on the lookout for. Any advice would be so very appreciated! Thanks in advance, gang!
Bars: Churchkey is a must, great tap list (~40 beers) and bottle list (hundreds). Smoke & Barrel and Merdian Pint are also great bars with great tap lists, usually serving many locally produced beers. Brewery: Bluejacket and Right Proper are great breweries worth checking out in the city. Bottle Shops: P Street Whole Foods, one of the best beer selections in the city.
I like Lost and Found alot, but it's a hipster joint with a small-medium sized can/bottle list, all of which can be found elsewhere. The Paradisos are great for food and beer. I think Right Proper is a must, Bluejacket if you have time. I also kind of like City Tap House in Chinatown, but Churchkey is much better.
The Sovereign will be worth checking out, and it's brand new. Opens today. It's a new Belgian bar opened by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (same people who owns Churchkey & Bluejacket). Haven't been able to find a tap/bottle list, but they should have stuff from Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Girardin, Tilquin, and De Cam etc. Looks like they may also have Belgian styles made by Jolly Pumpkin, Prairie, Crooked Stave and Jester King.
Just across the river in VA is Rustico in both Arlington and Alexandria, Galxay Hut in Arlington and its sister establishment Spacebar in Falls Church. Would also recommend Dominion Wine & Beer in Falls Church. Unsure of your dates here but there may be events on going, http://www.dcbeer.com/calendar is worth a look.
We actually are staying with friends in Arlington, so this is an awesome suggestion. Also the dates we're in town are Saturday the 20th and leaving later in the afternoon on Tuesday the 23rd.
Rusticos probably have the best beer selection. Either of the Lost Dogs in Arlington will have a good selection as well and may be more your speed if you have kids. Westover Beer Garden can be nice with their outdoor space and fire pits, just be careful if you buy bottles - check the dates. I've found Heavy Seas Ales House to be nice and a way to dive into one particular brewery's offerings. Finally, Mad Fox in Falls Church, close to Dominion Wine & Beer, great food and great beer from a purely local operation.
In Court house is Fireworks Pizza, another good option in Arlington. Also a brand new bottle shop called, The Brew Shop, it opened last week I haven't been but from posts I've seen it sounds like they have an excellent selection, plus growler fills.
Do you know what area of Arlington? Also, I'd stay away from Westover Market. They are price gougers and that behavior should not be encouraged. That place causes a lot of discussions on here. Everything they will have can be found elsewhere at better prices. The Brew Shop is new to Arlington as well, but again, pricey. It's really nice though and some of their bottles are competitively priced. They also sell homebrew supplies. Their growlers are crazy expensive though. Just stick with Dominion or Whole Foods P St for bottle shops, and the bars/breweries recommended here are all great. Also, go check out Ocelot Brewing & Aslin Beer Company. Besides Right Proper, they are the best local breweries in the area. Of course, this is if you have access to a car. Those breweries are out near Dulles Airport.
If you are in Virginia on the 20th or 21st, Mad fox in Falls Church has a very good annual Barleywine festival, with dozens of barleywines from various breweries across the country.
Churchkey is a must. My other favs are Mederian Pint and Pizza Paradiso on P Street. When picking restaurants try the Washingtonian list online.
