Georgetown has plenty of college bars and wine rooms, but when the Alex opens its doors on Friday, the neighborhood will get its first “steampunk”-inspired watering hole.
The new lounge in the swanky Graham Georgetown hotel takes its name from Alexander Graham Bell, and its aesthetic from the sci-fi fantasy subgenre that mixes Victorian, futuristic, and industrial influences—in this case, think the Will Smith movie Wild Wild West meets happy hour. Design firm Swatchroom outfitted the space with a brass pipe ceiling installation, animal skin rugs, thick drapes, and textured fabrics.
The drinks and food, however, don’t venture into Steampunk’s post-apocalyptic realm. Expect spins on classic cocktails like a Boulevardier—a cousin of the Negroni—made with unaged Irish whiskey, and a selection of Scotches and whiskeys that can be ordered by the flight. Bar nibbles include shrimp cocktail, Korean short ribs, and mini baked Brie, as well as larger hotel standards such as a classic chicken club.
The Alex in the Graham Georgetown. 1075 Thomas Jefferson St., NW.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
