Off The Record

Unique to get a sense of history while grabbing some drinks - fun! Wait staff was terrific.

Off The Record has the kind of masculine sophistication that almost (very briefly) makes me wish I was a top hat wearing middle aged white man so I could make this my go-to bar for a stiff drink after a long day of doing very important business stuff and playing politics; Or where I could take my trophy wife, or secret lover.

Despite being quite the opposite of all that I am absolutely smitten by this red velvet draped bar, because there is something unquestionably sexy and mysterious about it.  Maybe it's the idea of having a finely crafted potent cocktail in a cleverly hidden hotel bar; Or the fact that the location, right opposite the White House, is so classically Washington DC. But I think the appeal really comes from all the dim lighting and leather décor and cozy nooks they have set up all around the edges. And the fact that their bartenders have a generous pour making you want to lounge around for hours.

I had the David's Washingtonian which, in a sea of whiskey drinkers, looked even fruitier than it really is; but it was delicious and remarkably potent. My friend's Dark 'N' Stormy and classic Old Fashioned on the other hand appeared to be the drinks most people seemed to be ordering that night.

Off The Record is a flat out gorgeous bar that almost reeks of power. It is not the kind of bar you get drunk at, but rather very... slowly... intoxicated. And ideally over a period of several hours. It will be worth your time.

two words: david's washingtonian

i don't know who this david guy is, but he must've done something right to deserve this brilliant cocktail named after him.