Our Washingtonian Recommends lists bring you the best places to eat, drink, and be entertained—all selected by Washingtonian editors.
Menus subject to change.
Bluejacket
This brewery opened in 2013, bringing almost 6,000 square feet and more than two dozen craft beers to Washington. The cavernous space, surrounded by stainless-steel brewing equipment, is made surprisingly cozy by warm lighting, wood floors and tables, and a menu heavy on creative comfort food: house-made tater tots, soft beer pretzels, crab deviled eggs with mustard seeds.
300 Tingey St., SE; 202-524-4862.
Hank’s on the Hill
Cocktails at the 22-seat Eddy Bar at the Capitol Hill outpost of Hank’s include fusions of seasonal ingredients and zany puns—the VirGINia Is for Lovers combines Catoc-tin Creek Watershed gin with berry shrub and lemon—and the bar also offers a range of house-made sodas, floats, and creamsicles.
633 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-733-1971.
Sonoma
Considering its proximity to the corridors of power, Capitol Hill is sadly overstocked with dives and lacking in wine bars. Sonoma is one exception to that rule—the hefty concrete bar and space upstairs offer a well-curated selection of wines from Italy and the US West Coast. Exposed-brick walls, a buzzing atmosphere, and a good cheese and charcuterie menu also help—and at $10, the Margherita pizza is one of the best values in the area.
223 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-544-8088.
Tune Inn
A fire gutted this Hill institution shortly after it made an appearance on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but thanks to donations from fans it reopened with a fresh look in 2011. With stuffed deer heads on the walls and Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap, the beer-and-whiskey joint is a good place for late-night cheese fries and one last drink before heading home.
331½ Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-543-2725.
This article appears in Washingtonian’s Welcome Guide.
