The best bars in DC aren’t always the ones you can see from the street.
Go Underground for Happy Hour
Tucked beneath the MICHELIN-starred The Dabney on 9th Street NW, The Dabney Cellar is the kind of place that rewards the curious. This English basement wine and cocktail bar opened in 2017 as the casual, brick-lined counterpart to one of DC’s most celebrated dining rooms — and it has been quietly earning its own loyal following ever since.
Happy Hour runs Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 7pm, and the deals are genuinely worth planning around: $10 classic cocktails including martinis and old fashioneds, $10 wines, a $12 Boilermaker pairing a local lager with an amaro dell’etna pour, and $10 off a full dozen oysters. That’s a MICHELIN-pedigree night out at neighborhood bar prices!
Oysters, Cocktails, and a Raw Bar That Means Business
The raw bar is the anchor of The Cellar experience. Violet Sky Oysters from Barnegat, NJ come in at $4.50 each, with platters scaling from the Little ($65 for a half dozen oysters, lobster, tuna tartare, and shrimp cocktail) to the Big ($175 and worth every dollar). The cocktail menu leans into Mid-Atlantic ingredients with precision — the Cellar Old Fashioned with Sagamore Rye and Virginia maple is a standout, and the Vesper made with organic vodka and St. George Valley Gin signals serious bartending craft. Wine drinkers will find an equally thoughtful list, with Virginia pours sitting comfortably alongside Loire Valley selections and Bordeaux. The spirit-free menu is equally considered, featuring the St. Agrestis Phony White Negroni at zero percent!
Private Events Below Street Level
The Cellar also books private gatherings for up to 45 guests, making it one of DC’s more atmospheric options for receptions, celebrations, and corporate evenings. The combination of raw bar, craft cocktails, and warm brick surroundings does the heavy lifting for any host.
The Dabney Cellar. 1222 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Happy Hour: Wednesday–Saturday, 5–7pm Average spend: $40–$80 per person.
