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.
I had a business meeting here - and after taking a cab to this building, and go the wrong way on the stairs (going up five floors, before realizing it's on the below ground floor. A little humor at the end of a long day...) I find myself a very charming and charismatic bar.
This bar is reminiscent of old bars I see in history books, fine wooden furniture, ornate walls, furniture. A dark, formal, sultry setting, dotted with couples or business groups in business or formal attire. This is a bar intended for gatherings of a bit more upscale in nature. Once I sat down, I immediately drawn towards the caricatures of politicians current and past, rather curious editorial views of each subject.
Anyway, I began to peruse the menu, printed on a heavy paper, it had nice feel to it. The menu does contain a good selection of alcohol and assorted meals, ranging from light appetizers to entrees. For starters, we had the Cheese Platter and Charcuterie Platter. I never had a Charcuterie platter before, but I must say I did enjoy my exploration of this cuisine. The coppa was my favorite, and the prosciutto had a great amount of flavor and really tender texture to it.
Cheese platter was evenly enjoyable as well, there was different bleu cheese that I'll remember, nothing that I've seen in a regular grocery store.
I would recommend just ordering these two platters by themselves, with drinks, it's enough to for 2 or 4 people. :-)
I also had the Tuna Nicoise Salad as well; perfectly seared tuna. Very tender, and still savory. The potatoes were perfectly seasoned and done, and the greens were crisp. This is a salad to be ordered and enjoyed.
All in all- for a formal atmosphere to host a meeting, or go for a date, this is truly a spot to stop by, take in the atmosphere, and enjoy a good meal.
This is a really nice bar - classy and posh with super expensive drinks. I had a margarita that someone here wrote was the best in town. It was fricking $16! And not even the best I've had. But good.
Well, as i said a nice bar, but don't go here for great draught beer. Our waiter didn't even know what ales they had. Or even what ale is..?
We was a bit hungry and ordered sliders. This is new to me - but I like it! Small burgers! The snack menu was ok but the sliders were a bit on the dry side.
All and all we had a nice evening out - I guess this is were you go for afterwork (aw) before going home or getting on.
They accept AMEX.
Watched one of the NCAA games here. The place was soooooo busy and I was surprised at the mix of clientele. Â The hotel is a favorite of mine and my husband while staying in DC which is often. The bar is downstairs and cozy with TV, a great bar and great tables to sit at. Â If in DC and want to go for drinks late night this is a great place. Â Make sure to visit if you are near the whitehouse.
Review Source:I ordered a draft Stella but it had a lot of foam. Â The bartender said he would fill it up after the foam went down. Five minutes later he comes over with another beer almost full. Â What great service! Â I wouldn't spend an entire night their, but its a nice place for a couple drinks heading back to your room or a night on the town.
Review Source:We came here in the afternoon to celebrate the engagement of our friends. Â Since we got there a little early we sat at the bar and ordered drinks and lunch. Â The Martini I got was fantastic and they even have stuffed olives! Â It's certainly not the cheapest place to eat, but for a special occasion it's definitely worth it.
Review Source:Fantastic Bar
I have a blackmail photo of a congressman canoodling with a pretty (drunk) young intern :)
I'm a big fan of dark old wood paneled bars with a bit of history or inside gorgeous places. I loved the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis and the Oak Room at the Plaza in NYC when I wanted to feel like a grown-up and was looking fancy :) Now that I AM a grown-up the novelty has worn off a little...unless like this place it's done soooo right.
Off the record had great bartenders who made very yummy drinks and the food was perfect (not just delicious but well seasoned and perfectly cooked). What more can you ask for?
Is it just me or can anyone else not say the "Hay" in "Hay Adams" like "Heeeeey"?
While I've dined in their restaurant (it has a lovely view of the White House, and if you need to impress Daddy Warbucks, well here's a good spot to do it...), I found myself at Off the Record enjoying a nightcap to a wonderful West Wing Christmas tour--can it get any more DC than that??!
Yes, it comfortably achieves its goal of classy, politico, somewhat pretentious old money vibe. The staff is attentive, the cocktails well balanced, and it has a beautiful scotch and port selection. As others have mentioned, the dish of assorted nuts, olives, and corn nuts (!! random but props for the tongue-in-cheek nod to its bar-reality), was welcomed. The food was decent, although they ignored my cheese-free housemate's request to hold the manchego from the St. John's sandwich.
It has a cool, vibe, and I did value the quiet, playful somberness.
So why only 3 stars?
There was nothing really pulling me here. Everything was just...barely above ok in comparison to the cost.
While the server knew proper serving and pouring of libation techniques (which is impressive), he could not engage with me with regards to single malts, ports, or wine. My housemate received her food improperly, and overall, while I had an enjoyable time, I realized it was likely from the company and that the place, while a decent backdrop, did not contribute as much as I would have liked.
Will I go back? Sure, I have no reason not to go. When will I go back? Probably when I'm next invited, as I have no real reason to go, either.
I remember my first visit to Off the Record and thought it was a old school elegance and an interesting place with interesting people to stop in and have a drink. Â
We loved the potato chips that were served with our drinks and the old timer bartender. Â Now that has all changed we stopped in to have a drink and noticed the changes. Â First no chips, instead we were given nuts and corn nuts, the bartender was gone and the atmosphere was lacking. Â
The service was not the same and there appeared to be an undercurrent between the employees there. Â Rather weird. Â It is a shame that Off the Record has lost it's appeal and atmosphere.
With no potato chips there is no reason for us to stop for a drink. Â It is Off my Record.
Drinks were delicious ($15 cocktails better be, I suppose) - on a Saturday night, it was rather empty, so the group of us were able to enjoy a private booth sitting with no pressure. The only awful part was the "deconstructed" apple cheesecake. Oh please, the minute crunch bubbles are not "crust."
Review Source:What a bar! fantastic bar staff, fantastic atmosphere, fantastic drinks. This place is intimate and cozy. The cocktail are great as are the corn nuts and olives you get when you sit down.
Sit at the bar or in one of the cozy nooks, you can't go wrong. I can't wait to bring other people here, which says it all really.
Lots of the people in the bar when we were, were treating themselves to a little Prue dinner tipple. But you could easily make this your all night stop too, if you want somewhere quiet to enjoy each others company and wash the conversation down with something delectable.
Be prepared for the price point, but if you appreciate a really classy bar that feels like it's got some pedigree behind it you won't be disappointed.
"What in the flying fxck does 'old world charm' look like?" I scoffed, skimming the other reviews. And then I found my way inside (locked direct door requires access through the hotel) and really, there's just no better phrase to describe the vibe here. I am barely sophisticated enough for this place. Lots of after-work suits milling about in a jovial fashion. John is as charming a bartender as the newspaper articles have made him out to be, feigning amazement and deep respect at my drinking choices. Olives and chips at the bar. Food menu runs basic. Lovely atmosphere and scotch selection, proper damn pours at DC prices. Before Jack Rose set up shop in AdMo, OTR would've scored a 5 stars from me, but this level of class is just fluff. Who needs a peat mistress just to make myself feel fancy, now that I have a peat wife so close to home?
Review Source:Once upon a time this was a major den for pollies, journos, lobbyists and everything in between ... but now it seems like a past-its-prime bar that is a little too well lit, and therefore feels a bit brash, rather than full of boozy secrets and political gossip. It just seems to clean!
The politicos now have their meetings at Starbucks, or at breakfast fundraisers, and Off the Record caters to tourists like us.
All that being said, it's still a fun place to come. The Pimms Cup was really fantastic - zing zing zing. Happy to pay the price for that mother of a cocktail. Â We enjoyed ourselves but decided to hunt out a place that felt more intimate and ... well, fun.
PS: GREAT women's toilets. Really luxurious. But having classy toilets does not maketh a great bar, I'm afraid.
Classy, classy, classy, classy. Â Stopped for a drink with the bachelorette crew after having taken pictures in front of the White House. Â Just a little DC stereotype, right?
Our waiter was helpful and always around if we needed anything - I ordered a Pimm's Cup, which arrived with a delicious strawberry, some basil, and a long cucumber that provided a wonderful fresh touch to the drink. After a long day of wine tasting, the refreshing and earthy Pimm's was exactly what the doctor ordered. Â At $15 it's a little pricey, but I didn't expect anything less, and we were not disappointed.
I wasn't expecting to be blown away.... not at all! Â
The location feels seductive and politically influential... just a few steps away from Obama but hidden away in the basement of the Hay Adams exclusive hotel. Warm red and plush interiors, hob nobbing types and other such important looking people.. who knew politics and sexy mixed so well?! (-:
The crab cake and regular burgers (slider version) were actually (and surprisingly) out of this world delicious. Â There was definitely some special and unique sauce on those bad boys because man oh man were they heavenly. Â Up there with the best burgers I've had anywhere, for sure! Â I'm still dreaming of these burgers. Â Pass on the truffle fries - they were thick and soggy and barely tasted of truffle. Â The regular fries were definitely better.
Don't forget to ask for a yummy homemade cookie as you pass the front desk to leave the hotel. Â A perfect treat to the end of the dinner.
Dressy and upscale, but lively, fun and unpretentious. Â I recently finished my graduate studies, and decided to celebrate here with the friends of my study group. Â We arrived on a Friday at 7pm, got one of the few remaining tables and indulged ourselves for the evening with drinks and an overwhelming selection of appetizers. Â My Grey Goose martinis were blissfully potent, while my friends were happy with their drinks, which included mimosas and their grapefruit and basil mojitos. Â The appetizers were scrumptious--the grilled haloumi and lamb with hummus along with the sauteed wild mushrooms were otherworldly, and we also enjoyed the edamame dumplings and truffled potato sticks. Â One of my friends is vegetarian and did not drink alcohol, but she was satisfied with the options.
The ambiance has a strong strain of traditional, almost Old World culture, it's but inviting rather than stuffy. Â I was the only person who was dressed up, and one of my friends wore jeans, but we never felt out of place or intimidated. Â Our waiter was excellent, unobtrusively checking in at regular but not too-frequent intervals during the course of the evening, and the rest of the wait staff was pleasant and accommodating. Â As one might imagine on a Friday, the place filled up over the course of the evening and got louder, but not to the point of having to shout to be heard.
A nice place for a laid-back celebration.
Take the red pill, go down the rabbit hole and fall into a red velvet dream lounge... Trevor, you're not in Wonderland, you're at Off The Record and personally the name says it all. I want to have a libation, enjoy the atmosphere...soak it in and let the red pill do the rest...I just hope that wasn't a ruffie.
Located in what seems to be the basement of the Hay-Adams Hotel lies a pristine establishment. Think what if the Bull and Finch and the Red Robin Bar were to have love child bar with amazing elegance and the service of a great bar...this would be it.
Though, the focus seems to be the bar itself, the real tantalizing focus is on how you can actually seem to want to lounge and enjoy yourself. Pictures/caricatures of infamous politicians deck the walls only seem to underscore how incredibly relaxed and unpretentious the bar is considering that within minutes you're at the White House and in the heart of politics in DC.
It almost just winks ever so coyly to say, "I can tell that's a subpeona in your pocket and do you care for a drink?"
I had the David's Washingtonian. A somewhat sweet drink, but the house made sour blend cut it making it just a perfect afternoon drink. The knobby sidecar on the other end of the spectrum is probably the real reason why you come here to forget the mistakes the previous night or session on the Floor.
Decided to get some sliders and opted for the lobster and crab cake sliders. What a great duo. One cold and one hot, but perfectly balanced with the drinks.
I could just lounge here for hours...Lord knows the pill is finally taking effect on my reasoning. Enjoy yourself here, have a libation and call it an afternoon and stay Off The Record.
This is one of my favorite places in DC. It's a rare gem that is great for locals and tourists alike. I eventually take every visitor there and universally they've loved it.
The location is obviously fantastic with it's proximity to the White House.
I truly like everything about this bar. You walk down the stairs and feel like you are entering into old Washington. The rich wood, the little alcove seating, the servers that you know have overhead some interesting conversations...
I feel smarter and sexier and wittier when I'm there.
In addition to a fine Manhattan they have delicious mezze platter that includes lamb chops. They also have really yummy bar snacks that are complimentary...and none of this Costco chex mix we are talking nice olives and some dry snacks.
Drinks are pricey but I think they are worth every penny.
This place is great. Â Not 5-stars great, but still great.
I was looking for a romantic-type bar that my significant other and I could go to on a Friday after work where the noise level was relatively quiet, we could have some private space and conversation, and the drinks wouldn't bankrupt me. Â I researched bars in downtown DC for at least 30 minutes (largely on Yelp), and ultimately settled on this one because we hadn't been to McPherson Square in a while. Â And we were pleased!
Other reviewers are right - this is quintessential, old Washington, and it definitely feels that way. Â Dark wood, red booths, underground, candle-lit, and just walking in, you feel like you're amongst the heavy hitters in this town. Â A+ for ambiance, decor and atmosphere, for sure. Â When we walked in around 6 PM, it was pretty calm and easy to grab a table. Â By the time we left around 7 PM, it was hopping!
Now, you'll be hard-pressed to find a drink, wine, beer or otherwise, that's less than $10. Â That part was tough for me, but here's the silver lining: free bowls of olives and chips as long as you're drinking. Â We had considered getting an appetizer because we didn't go for dinner, but with these free snacks, we didn't even feel compelled to order anything, and that was a nice bonus. Â To give you an idea of what your bill for a happy hour might look like, we paid $40 for a glass of red wine and two Deliriums, tip included.
My only real complaint was the service (and after some observations, I think this was more our guy than the service is general). Â I think his goal for the evening was to speak as little as possible. Â When he came to take our drink order, he just stood there, looking straight forward with his arms at his sides. Â I actually wondered if I was supposed to salute him before ordering, but I took a cue from my boyfriend and started anyway. Â Very strange. Â Later on, I dropped the pen for the bill and another server was very quick and cheerful to hand me a new one, so like I said, maybe it was just this guy...
Oh, and here's a tip: Don't try to enter from the descending stairs on the side of the hotel, where the "Off the Record" awning is. Â You'd think this would be an entrance (because, you know, that's where the awning with its name is), but there is a sign on the door that asks you to enter from within the hotel lobby.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the setting (duh, it's next to the White House), so I'm sure I'll be back again.
My fiance and I had an unexpectedly grand time here, much with the help of such strong, tasty cocktails. The aura is a bit like what you would expect in a smoking room: large chairs, wood paneling, good service. We got free potato chips and olives, some of the best olives I have had in a while.
I loved the white sangria. It was fruity, refreshing, and strong. Also the Washingtonian was citrus-y and, also, strong. As other Yelpers have mentioned, these drinks are sophisticated and they are expensive, but for just one night out having fun, it really did the luxurious, splurging trick.
I'm an out-of-towner from the west coast, so it was 9:30 or 10:00 before I started thinking about looking for a drink and maybe a bite to eat.
As usual when I travel, I hit up Yelp, and find that Off the Record is only a few blocks from where I'm staying. Now, one does not have to be a Washingtonian to have heard about Off the Record and it's reputation, so I figured I'd check it out.
The Yelp reviews all included terms like "old world", "classy", "up scale", and "power bar", so even though I had already changed into jeans, I decided to throw on a dress shirt and sport coat and hope that I don't stand out too much.
It turns out that I had nothing to worry about, because amongst all of those adjectives, I don't think that that one would find the word "stuffy". Yes, it's very nice, in a classic, East coast way, but also very friendly and welcoming. I probably could have been in shorts and a T-shirt. It would have maybe been inappropriate for the bar, but I get the feeling that I would have been treated just the same, because that's what professionals do and the staff are obviously pros.
John Boswell was behind the bar and asked what I'd like. I replied that with his reputation, I'd have whatever he thought he made best. He responded in the friendliest and politest way possible with something like, "I'm good at making drinks, but not good at knowing what you like to drink. You like like you're old enough to have figured that out by now..." Fair enough.
As John has a reputation for making the classics, I ordered an Old Fashioned. Now, there's about a hundred ways to make and Old Fashioned wrong, but it doesn't seem like he knows how to do that either. Hands down, it was the best one I've ever had. There's actually a secret to a good old fashioned -- it has to have sweetness, without being a sweet drink. It was perfect. (Note: John uses a cherry in his Old Fashioned, which some purists don't like. I think that John is right)
My mouth was happy... The boozy warmth of the bourbon, the sweetness of the cherry and the citrus and the uhhh... bitterness(?) of the bitters. The only thing that could really make the drink better was something else to keep my taste buds from getting too used to the the flavor of the drink. How about a plate of complementary olives and some house made potato chips? The mix of olives and their vinegar was a good balancer, but the chips had an extra spiciness to them that was perfect.
I've now had boozy, bitter, sweet, sour, acidic and hot to get me going and my stomach sends the message that maybe I'm getting a bit hungry. It's pushing 11:00 now, but I decide to (sheepishly) ask if there's any chance that I can still get a bite to eat. John says sure and hands me the bar menu, and I decide to go simple and just order the OTR Burger -- medium rare.
The OTR comes with bacon, grilled onions, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheese, and is served with fries. The burger was cooked to an actual medium rare (which makes me think that I could trust them to make me a rare burger next time) and the toppings were ripe and fresh. I could have lived without the mushrooms -- there was nothing wrong with them, but I just didn't think that they added much when having to compete with the bacon and two kinds of onions. It was maybe not the best burger that I've ever had, but it's definitely a solid example of how good a burger can be when some consideration is paid to the ingredients and the preparation.
The fries were also perfectly fine, but a little boring compared to the chips that were on the bar. I'd probably just ask for more chips next time.
After the burger I had two more Old Fashioneds (does that word have a plural form?), Â thanked John for the drinks and his hospitality, and walked back to my hotel thoroughly satisfied and enjoying the warm summer night.
The tab? Around sixty bucks. Maybe a little more than some of the other establishments in that part of town, but not much, and really inconsequential for the service and quality of every aspect of the evening.
I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to visit DC, just to get to spend a little more time at Off the Record.
Love love love this bar. Â What is there not to love? Â It is a gorgeous bar that oozes old world seduction tucked away in a basement right across the street from the WH.
Although their selection of single malt Scotch is limited to a dozen or so, it is the perfect environment to relax and sit silently breathing in the splendors of DC or catching up with friends with the latest gossip.
This would have been a 4 star review, if the following hadn't happened:
After our hot chocolates were served, the waiter looked at our drinks with suspicion, and he asked how they were. Â He was offered a taste.
He poured himself a taste in his own glass, and declared, "I can do better."
He placed two glasses of complimentary peppermint schnapps on the table and whisked away our sub par pots of hot chocolate... Only to return with new deliciously creamy pots of heaven.
Awesome.
Awesome squared when the schnapps was added. Â
Also, he didn't charge me for the blue cheese stuffed olives I begged for when we arrived. Gotta love this place, even if you hate rich white country club people. The service here is old world and old school and top notch and impeccable. Â I want to live here.
Great service. Great ambiance. The perfect cap to the yelping Festivus evening. :)
Tucked away in the basement of one of DC's most celebrated hotels, Off the Record has established a reputation as a virtual gateway into the sultry and lascivious secrets of Washington's political class. Â The space is a bold presentation of classic design with daring burgundy hues and fine wood paneling accenting the semi-circular bar and plush couches. Â This intricate sliver of DC history is an excellent location for a late evening drink after a particularly lengthy work day. Â
The head bartender here is fantastic; when a certain someone I know (hint: me) reached an inappropriate decibel-level for this sophisticated bar, he somehow managed to reassure me that everything is okay while simultaneously warning me that I was a bit out of control. Â I'm still trying to figure out how he did that. Â
Off the Record specializes in high-end cocktails, but our selections never strayed from the paper-thin list of beers. Â Bell's Winter Ale was a perfect accompaniment on this chilly evening. Â
Prices here are not cheap, but you are paying for the atmosphere and the experience. Â While that particular experience is not for everyone, most any DC aficionado can at least have a surface appreciation for one of DC's most infamous bars.
Well done Off the Record. Â The place is a bit on the expensive side, $14 for an Old Fashioned and $12 for a Gin and Tonic. Â You know what, that's ok if you feel you're getting what you paid for. Â I sat down and ordered an Old Fashioned while waiting for my girlfriend to arrive, I asked if there was anything else the bartender had as a specialty drink of his with bourbon. Â He said it was either that or a Manhattan for the most part, and I don't do well with stemmed glasses. Â Before my girl arrived I asked the bartender if he had cucumbers, he didn't even blink and said of course, so I ordered her a Hendricks and tonic with a cucumber. Â It may not seem like a big deal but it just gave me the sense that this place really knows what it is doing. Â
The decor is pretty power Washington, it's across the street from the White House so go figure. Â Really cool ceilings and high backed tufted booths. Â We just sat at the bar and the snakcs they put out are great, particularly the wasabi crusted peas. Â Then out of nowhere, shrimp toast for everyone at the bar. Â We only stayed for the one drink but we will definitely be back again. Â The crowd leans toward the over 40 set and I was glad I came straight from work in a suit, however, we did see some more touristy type folks at the bar in polo shirts and shorts. Â The staff was incredibly professional all the way around. Â You have to now get to the bar through the main hotel entrance and I was greeted immediately through the door and personally walked to the bar area. Â It may come off as stodgy or antiquated to some younger visitors but it was just what we were looking for to start our night.
Location, location, location. Â Off the Record's got it. Â This classic hotel bar is located in the basement of the Hay Adams and is like something out of a movie set. Â You emerge and across Lafayette Sqauare sits the White House in the background.
It definitely has a mens clubby vibe going for it: Â red walls with pencil caricatures of politicians adorning them, great wood and plaster molding, nice nooks for intimate conversation; this is a place where you would never feel overdressed. Â The drinks list reflects that: Â nice selection of wines by the glass and classic cocktails, but expect to spend about $15 a pop for the latter.
I didn't know what to expect when I agreed to meet at Off the Record, but I was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere. Think of a dark, classy bar, with strong accents in Red. This is a place where you could see people of yesteryear sipping martinis and talking about politics. I got there at about 7pm on a Tuesday night and the crowd was a mix of hotel patrons and local office workers from around the area. It was a large crowd, but definitely smallish and we luckily got a table. As the night wore on the bar became more and more packed until about 10pm it was heaving.
Now down to the drinks. I had a Stormy Weather ($15) and it was a smallish glass, but it was really good. I think if you have their signature drinks you shouldn't expect to be drinking them to get inebriated, but instead appreciating the handcrafting of the drink. The wine list was good, but as I remarked at one point in the evening, after 5 glasses of wine, we should have bought the entire bottle instead. It would have probably been cheaper.
The food was good, and I would recommend the sampler with the mini-lamb chops ($18-ish) as they were fantastic and tasty and the hummus was equally good. Although, the menu said kalamata olives, I only counted about 6 - 8 on the plate, so I thought they could have had more. The other sample platter ($18-ish as well) had 2 beef skewers , 3 mini crab cakes (and when I say mini, I mean it), and 3 vegetarian wontons. Of all of those nibbles, the beef skewers and crab cakes were tasty, but the vegetarian wontons were bland and overcooked.
Date Rating: 8 (good for special occasions, business dinners, or a nice quiet drink)
Pick up Scale: 3 (mostly an older crowd and not a real pickup place, but there were quite a few single women while I was there)
I really wanted to love this place, I did. Â The place has a definite classy vibe to it. Â The place wasn't loud, crowded, or filled with annoying people, so that's a definite plus, but it wasn't an awesome experience. Â
We stopped by after dinner on a Saturday night, looking for a quiet place for a few drinks. Â The caricatures of politicians on the walls made for some fun guess who games. Â And the martinis were well mixed and well portioned (and after 3 of them, it helped soften the blow of the bill). Â
My main complaint would be that the place closed early (I guess all hotel bars do). Â Leaving us out on the street in the middle of our prime drinking time. Â At that point we just decided to call it a night. Â I would have probably rated it better if I had a few more drinks, but to the staff's credit, they didn't chase us out.
Maybe this place would be better for an after work drink, Â but definitely not late in the evening.
I think this place is one of those hidden gems in dc. The funny thing is that the bar is practically HIDDEN inside the hotel.. I'm glad i asked where it was cause I dont think I would have found it very easy otherwise.
After opening a few doors, making a couple turns and going down some stairs I walked into a very elegant plush looking bar. The atmosphere is very inviting and sophisticated. For as fancy as it looks in here, many people are still dressed pretty casual though. You'll fit in dressed a multitude of ways.
The drinks here are supposed to be astounding and have won best bartender awards. (It's not a dive though so they they aren't cheap). I was here around 10pm on a saturday night and it was relatively empty so I wouldnt recommend coming here to meet people. This is a great place to come here with people as you can get yourself a table and have great conversation.
While I was here all I had was a coke. I was still impressed though, the waiter came out and opened one of those vintage looking glass coke bottles and poured it into a glass for me. Others got various drinks and a specialty drink and seemed happy with it.
Come here if you want to have some good semi-private conversation or just want a place for some good alone time.
Thanks, Yelpers, this was just the kind of place we were looking for.
Smallish hotel bar. Dark. Lots of people talking shop at 8-ish on a weeknight.
We had a mixed appetizer plate, which was pretty good. Drinks were fine, nothing special. This looks like the sort of place that would make an awe-inspiring martini, but it was basic/average. Agree with the other yelper who said that service at the tables was spotty. When we weren't ready to order right away, the waiter disappeared forever.
Still, if you're looking for a watering hole that isn't a bar/club jammed with noisy people and loud music, this is the place. Next time we're in DC, we will go back.
Unless you're at the bar, the service at this place sucks, which isn't entirely shocking for a hotel bar. But that flaw aside, people still flock here because it's SO COOL! And I can't blame them. This place is legendary. Smack-dab across from the White House, you don't get a much better location than this. The interior of this place rocks - cardinal red walls adorned with pencil-drawn caricatures of the most famous people in DC past and present give you something to look at and stay amused by. There is a bartender here who has been serving up cocktails to the who's who of DC for like 30 years, and I think his name is Dave. He's a nice guy, but you can tell he's been there a while - moves a bit slower than your average bartender. Doesn't matter though, something about being served by a guy who's probably poured beverages for presidents and other bigwigs is cool.
Haven't eaten here, but the beverages ain't cheap and neither is the food menu. I'd say this is a good place to go for a few beverages and some wasabi peas and cashews or bar nuts and then move on. If you stay too long, the next thing you know you'll be $100 poorer....
All in all, definitely a great place to go for a beverage and some conversation. And on a good day, you're likely to see at least some sort of famous DC bureaucrat - it's just another day at Off the Record!
I agree with Nick - it's a place to go in business attire.  It's dark wood, old-school elegance, and 40's or 50's clientèle.  It's in the basement of the Hay-Adams Hotel, at the corner of 16th and H.
I visited on 8/12/08 and enjoyed the experience. Â On a Tuesday after work in August, there were plenty of candle-lit nooks to sit. Â We weren't rushed. Â The drink menu had some sophisticated cocktails - they should be, for $15 apiece. Â I got a martini that contained Limoncello; it was delicious. Â My friend got the Belvedere martini with goat-cheese-stuffed olives and said that it was delicious. Â Our server also brought over a trio tray of complimentary wasabi peas and nuts. Â I love wasabi peas. Â
This is *not* a cheap, casual dive. Â Or even a sports bar. It's masculine, elegant, hushed, expensive and calming.
I recommend.
I have nothing but love for Off The Record, my favorite bar in my favorite city. Â I love everything about it, from the fact it's tucked in the basement of the Hay Adams to their tendency to pour a full wine glass as one serving of port to playing a game of "guess the political figure" with the dozens of caricatures adorning the walls. Â
The first time we came here was purely by accident -- we missed our flight out of Dulles and every hotel room in the Washington area was sold out except for at the Hay Adams. Â Of course. Â Nothing cures the missed flight blues like a few cocktails so we headed down to the bar and somehow I became hooked for life. Â Perhaps they sprinkled some crack on the salty snack mix. Â Â
Although this bar likely will not rank very highly on anyone elses list of places to go for "fun," my emotional ties to this place have reached unhealthy levels and I will choose to go here over anywhere else. Â I get giddy just thinking about the night time walk I take by the White House to get to the bar. Â Â
To me there is still something very exciting about not knowing who you're going to see or whose "off the record" conversation you're going to be privy to. Â I will never forget the time I ran into Henry Kissinger outside -- thankfully my brain was moving a little slow due to a decent level of intoxication, or I may not have resisted the urge to pound him into the ground with my female fists of fury.
I honestly don't know why I don't come here more often. Â Its nice being around a crowd wearing ties after work when I'm still wearing mine. Â Who wants to show off their corporate leash around all those free willed college kids? Â Its quiet, laid back and they serve good drinks and food. Â Damn, I'm skiing all next week or else I would go posthaste!
Certainly more adult and upscale than all the dupont places to the north of my office.
Off the Record is an upscale establishment that I have only been to with coworkers and business acquaintances, but never with friends. Â Located in the lower level of the Hay Adams hotel, Off the Record has a dim relaxing atmosphere. Â The prices are indicative of the clientele, which include non-elected government officials, journalists, and the private sector/K St. crowd. Â
I have never seen this place busy, but the service has always been top notch. Â One nice thing is that if you stay a while the management tends to buy your party a round or serve complimentary appetizers. Â Actually h'or derves would be a more appropriate word, since it tends to be bacon wrapped shrimp, not chicken fingers.
Overall, Off the Record has an old-Washinton feel to it. Â Warning: This place is not frequented by the young, hip and modern crowd but rather more serious and distinguished Washingtonians.
(Note: The Hay Adams is a famous Washington hotel located at corner of 16th and H St., near the White House. Â Press interviews are conducted on its roof with the White House in the background. Â Also, this hotel was featured in National Lampoon's Senior Trip movie!)
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