Food

UPDATED: Your Guide to Snow Day Food and Drink Specials

Where to find brunch, all-day happy hour, hot drinks, and cheap eats.

The benefit of snow in March: spiked hot cocoa on a Thursday afternoon. Photograph via Shutterstock.

We didn’t expect to compile list of snow day specials this late in the season. Still if there’s an upside to a frigid, icy day in March, it’s a whole lineup of all-day happy hours, brunches, dining deals, and hot cocktails. You know the long winter drill by now. We’ll keep the list updated throughout the day.

Boundary Stone

116 Rhode Island Ave., NW

Hungry for brunch? This Bloomingdale neighborhood joint opens at 11 for eggs and mimosas.

Meridian Pint

3400 11th St., NW

Brunch is the snow day game plan from 10 to 3.

Dino’s Grotto

1914 Ninth St., NW

As long as the cold lasts you can get a free mug of soup with any food purchase, and a $6 lemon-ginger hot toddy. Also look for all-night happy hour when the eatery opens at 5.

Jackson 20

480 King St., Alexandria

Brunch! Happy hour! The latter begins at 11 and runs all day, while anyone craving eggs and bloodies will find them between 8 and 2.

Black Squirrel

2427 18th St., NW

The regular burger night promotion begins early at noon, so head in for 11 hours of half-price patties.

Firefly

1310 New Hampshire Ave., NW

The Dupont spot serves its Cadillac grilled cheese and soup of the day for $5, and you can add a whiskey your way and a draft beer for another $5. The deal is offered at the bar from 4 to close.

Range

5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Bryan Voltaggio’s Chevy Chase DC spot offers $8 pizzas all day, plus half-off shellfish plateaus and meats/cheeses from the salumeria.

Poste

555 Eighth St., NW

Keep it classy with the brasserie’s ongoing “Clicquot in the Snow” promo, where guests can sip $15 glasses of Veuve every time it snows.

Brabo Tasting Room

1600 King St., Alexandria

Wine lovers can head to the tasting room for “Magnum Hour” happy hour all day—the restaurant taps a magnum-size bottle, and offers pours for a discount.

Urbana

2121 P St., NW

All pizzas go for $5, which you can eat alongside $7 spiked hot cocoa or amaro punch.

DC Harvest

517 H St., NE

The restaurant offers $6 off all entrees and daily plates, though remember the fine print: you must mention the deal upon arrival, and it’s limited to parties of six or less.

Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab

750 15th St., NW

This atmospheric restaurant near the White House offers all-day happy hour, which includes half-priced oysters and draft beers among other specials.

Agua 301

301 Water St., SE

Snow means $2.50 tacos, $5.00 margaritas (frozen or on the rocks) and $3.50 Corona drafts at this waterfront Mexican.

Carmine’s

425 Seventh St., NW

Look for happy hour all day, plus discounts on meatball sliders, antipasto plates, and certain cocktails.

Pizza Vinoteca

800 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington

This new-ish Ballston pizza joint serves meals at a 15 percent discount all day (alcohol not included). Make sure to say “snow day” when mentioning the offer.

America Eats Tavern

1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean

Get a complimentary butternut squash or cream of mushroom soup with any order.

China Chilcano

418 Seventh St., NW

The newest José Andrés eatery offers a free green apple and pisco cocktail to anyone who says “snow day specials.”

Jaleo

Multiple locations

All three Jaleos offer deals. In DC a hot chocolate and olive oil torta for for $5. The Crystal City location serves a gratis grilled cheese flauta with the purchase of any beer. Over in Bethesda, buy one lunch sandwich special and get another free, alongside half-priced bottles of wine all day.

Oyamel

401 Seventh St., NW

Diners can warm up with a special combo: a margarita, hearty black bean soup with avocado leaves, and Mexican hot chocolate for $12.

Zaytinya

701 Ninth St., NW

Mention “snow day specials” and get half-priced bottles of wine.

Tryst Restaurant Group

Multiple locations in DC

All eateries including the Diner, Tryst, Open City, and the Coupe are open as usual, and pour $10 hot drinks like mulled wine, a whiskey chai, and a minty toddy until last call.

Taco Bamba

2190 Pimmit Dr., Falls Church

Warm up with a $5 bowl of pozole soup, served all day.

Restaurant Eve

110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria

Measure how much snow has fallen and get the corresponding amount taken off your meal in the dining room or bar (though not valid with other promos, like the Lickity Split lunch).

The Brixton

901 U St., NW

The bar opens early at 2 for happy hour food and drink specials until 7: $6 mulled wine, $5 draft beers, $8 Makers punch, and $5 rail drinks.

Southern Hospitality

1815 Adams Mill Rd., NW

The Adams Morgan bar offers half-price wine all night, beginning at 4.

Pop’s SeaBar

1817 Columbia Rd., NW

The specials start at noon at this beach-y bar, which serves a Miller Banquet Beer and shot of Irish whiskey for $10.

Drafting Table

1529 14th St., NW

The pub opens at noon for happy hour, with $4 draft beers, $6 wines by the glass, and $5 specialty cocktails.

Takorean

Multiple locations

The Union Market and Navy Yard branches of this Korean taco shop open at 11 and offer $4 craft brews all day.

American Ice Co.

917 V St., NW

The bar opens at 1 with $3 pours of Astra an Bell’s Winter White beer (add a shot for $2), and $5 draughts until 5.

Chez Billy Petworth

3815 Georgia Ave., NW

The original location opens at 2 and serves happy hour until 7 alongside discounted eats like a royale with cheese ($10) and $6 French onion soup.

Marvin

2007 14th St., NW

The covered rooftop opens at 1, so bundle up and head over for $4 Stellas, $6 wines, $5 rail drinks, and half-off burgers until 7:30.

The Pig

1320 14th St., NW

Drop by for $5 bourbon flights, a $4 whiskey du jour, and $6 burgers.

Arcuri

2400 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Head in for $3 “cello” shots in seasonal flavors like artichoke-lemon, rhubarb, raspberry, and chocolate-orange.

Logan Tavern

1423 P St., NW

It’s happy hour all day at the bar and communal table.

Et Voila!

5120 MacArthur Ave., NW

Anyone in the Palisades neighborhood can head in for a free glass of house wine with an order of mussels or cassoulet during lunch or dinner.

Grillfish

1200 New Hampshire Ave., NW

Oysters go for $1 until 7, alongside $6 draft beers.

Commissary

1443 P St., NW

A rotating selection of movies plays on the projector all day along. Watch while sipping half-price hot cocktails,

$4 spiked cocoa, a $4 Natty Boh and shot combo, and $5 veggie and beef burgers.

Richard Sandoval Restaurants

Multiple locations

Masa 14, Mango Tree, El Centro D.F., Zengo, Toro Toro, and Ambar all offer happy hour specials throughout the day and evening in the bar.

Clyde’s Restaurant Group

Multiple locations

Several locations, including Chevy Chase, Tower Oaks Lodge, and Mark Center are open and serving half-price burgers.

Gypsy Soul

8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax

Chef RJ Cooper’s Merrifield restaurant serves $8 Irish coffees and specialty cocktails, $6 chicken noodle soup, and $12 fried chicken.

(Updated as of 2:15)


Jack Rose

2007 18th St., NW

Warm up with mulled wine and hot whiskey cider, both discounted to $6 from 5 to 7:30.

Scion Restaurant

Multiple locations

Both the Silver Spring and Dupont locations serve a $9 craft beer and shot combo, $5 Old Overholts, and $1 off a select brew.

Fainting Goat

1330 U St., NW

The pub opens early at 3, serving burgers and meat/cheese boards to hungry patrons alongside happy hour with $5 drafts and glasses of wine. The regular menu starts at 5.

Hill Country

410 Seventh St., NW

The barbecue spot opens with drink specials including $3 beers, $5 well drinks, and $4 wines.

Cafe Saint-Ex/Bar Pilar

1847 14th St., NW/1833 14th St., NW

The sister 14th street pubs both offer happy hour pricing until 7 (Pilar opens at 2).

Bastille

606 N. Fayette St., Alexandria

Happy hour runs all evening with half-priced wine, craft beers, and cocktails, plus bar snacks like escargots beignets and frog wings.

McClellan’s Retreat

2031 Florida Ave., NW

Take refuge in the Civil War-themed bar come 4 with specials like $5 beers, $5 shots of rye, and $7 hot toddies.

Vinoteca

1940 11th St., NW

The wine bar’s typically extensive happy hour goes all night, with 20 wines by the glass priced at $5, discounted bar snacks, and $5 beers.

Hank’s on the Hill

633 Pennsylvania Ave., SE

Drop by the Capitol Hill location of Hank’s Oyster Bar—maybe after some illicit sledding?—for $1.25 local oysters, $5 punches, $4 canned beer, and a $12 shrimp and grits lunch special.

Cork Wine Bar

1720 14th St., NW

The cozy restaurant offers their cinq à Sept happy hour throughout the night, while the nearby market sells bottles of sparkling wine for ten percent off (buy two bottles of any wine and get a 15 percent discount).

BLT Steak

1625 Eye St., NW

Hot cocktails go for half-off at this downtown steakhouse, such as a Hennessy hot toddy for $6.

City Tap House

901 Ninth St., NW

Head in for happy hour all day: $5 craft beers, $6 house wine, or a shot-and-beer combo for $7. Snacks include bacon popcorn and duck fat fries with truffle aioli.

J. Paul’s

3218 M St., NW

More all day happy hour! Look for $5 appetizers and discount 23-ounce draft beers.

Old Glory

3139 M St., NW

Find chili for half-off all day and night.

Mio Restaurant

1110 Vermont Ave., NW

Happy hour runs all day with $5 beers, wines, and select cocktails, and snacks such as ancho chile chicken wings and Puerto Rican fritters.

Food Editor

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.