When the federal government closes, Washington’s bars and restaurants open up to play. Snow days have become eating and drinking holidays, with free-flowing hot cocktails, all-day happy hours, brunches, and more. We’ll update the list with more deals throughout the day.
1833 14th St., NW
Head over starting at 2 for happy hour prices until 7.
1847 14th St., NW
Saint-Ex opens at 11 for lunch, with happy hour drink prices until 7 and $8 Irish coffees to keep things toasty.
401 F St., NW
Snow days equal all-day happy hour at the ‘cue joint; $3 PBR, $4 house wine, $5 house margaritas ($20 pitchers), and $5 well drinks. You can also warm up with $4 hot chocolate, and make it boozy for an additional $4.
1238 H St., NE
The pub opens early at 11, offering the full dinner menu plus a special egg sandwich to pad the stomach for day drinking (served until 5, when regular evening service begins).
Multiple locations
Two branches of Hank’s have specials: the Capitol Hill eatery serves $1.25 oysters all day, while Dupont goes boozy with $9 spiked cocoa. Deals at the Alexandria location are still pending (it’s open for dinner only).
1190 22nd St., NW
Keep it classy with a Cherry Snowcap cocktail at the Ritz-Carlton restaurant, made with vanilla-infused vodka, chocolate liqueur, muddled cherries, and rich hot cocoa ($10).
716 Monroe St., NE
Here’s one for the kids: Children eat free when an adult chaperone orders any entrée.
3400 11th St., NW
The sister brewpub to the spot above serves brunch beginning at 10, with homemade cocoa (booze optional). Kids are also welcome—there’s free hot chocolate, coloring books, and games planned for the little ones.
1310 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Heading to the Dupont Circle snowball fight? This nearby restaurant serves grilled cheese and daily soup for $5, and you can add a Bulleit bourbon or rye (served “your way”) and a draft beer for $10.
700 F St., NW
The Penn Quarter brasserie classes up a day off with $15 glasses of Veuve Clicquot.
2121 P St., NW
Drop by for $5 pizzas after the Dupont snowball fight, and two snow-day cocktails: spiked hot chocolate or Amaro punch (both $7).
480 King St., Alexandria
Hungry Alexandrians can head to brunch from 8 to 2:30 or happy hour starting at 11.
1914 Ninth St., NW
As long as the freezing cold endures Dino’s serves a free mug of soup with food purchases, and $6 hot toddies.
3410 11th St., NW
Head in at 11 for snow-day brunch.
301 Water St., SE
Channel a warmer place starting at 11 with $2.50 tacos, $3.50 Corona Lite drafts, and $5 margaritas.
701 Ninth St., NW
Mention it’s a snow day to your server and get half-price bottles of wine all day.
1135 Okie St., NE
Bundle up and come on foot to the new distillery and you’ll get two free shot glasses with any purchase until 2.
Multiple locations
Both the College Park and Shaw locations serve all-day happy hour alongside their lineup of tasty fish sandwiches and tacos.
1320 14th St., NW
Whiskey fans can indulge in $5 bourbon flights, $4 pours of select brown liquors, and $6 burgers.
1423 P St., NW
Head in for happy hour all day at the bar and community table.
1200 New Hampshire Ave., NW
It’s all about the beers and bivalves: $6 drafts, and $1 local oysters all day until 7.
1443 P St., NW
A variety of movies are screened on the projector all day, which you can watch alongside $4 spiked cocoa and a Natty Boh combo (served with a shot of whiskey). Padding the stomach are $5 beef and veggie burgers.
1346 T St., NW
The pub opens at noon with special slushy drinks in honor of Fat Tuesday, and a snow day menu.
1500 New Hampshire Ave., NW
This eatery on Dupont Circle brings back their outdoor “snow bar” with mulled wine, Irish coffees, rum-spiked coconut cocoa, and Nutella hot chocolate mixed with caramel vodka.
Cafe Deluxe and Tortilla Coast
Multiple locations
All locations are open today, with happy hour beginning at noon.
3628 Georgia Ave., NW
Grab a drinking buddy and head to this casual neighborhood bar, where it’s buy-one-get-one-free for all drinks (yes, even the nicer ones) until 9.
901 U St., NW
Mardi Gras + a snow day = $5 hurricanes at the bar starting at 1, and extended happy hour until close.
1940 11th St., NW
The doors of this wine bar open at 5 for happy hour all night long, including 20 wines by the glass and beers for just $5, plus discounted bar snacks.
1625 Eye St., NW
Join the high-rollers for less at this downtown steak joint, which serves half-priced cocktails at the bar all day and night, including a warming Hennessy hot toddy.
2007 18th St., NW
In addition to whiskey, you can warm up with mulled wine and hot bourbon cider from 5 to 7:30 (both $6).
Multiple locations
All three branches offer a buy-one-get-one sandwich and soup deal, and Bethesda diners will find half-price bottles of wine.
401 Seventh St., NW
Beat the chill with a few specials at this Mexican spot. Guests can order a $12 combo that includes a citrus margarita, tortilla soup, and Oaxacan hot chocolate, or opt for two half-price entrees: grilled strip steak with bone marrow and chayote salsa verde, or whole marinated branzino.
3815 Georgia Ave., NW
The Petworth spot opens at 2, serving the popular Royale with cheese for $10 and French onion soup for $6. Guests can also take advantage of happy hour until 7:30.
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.
