5 Best Bars in Washington, D.C., USA

Take a break from the city and step down to Silver Lyan, the award-winning cocktail bar in the basement of the Riggs Hotel. The former bank vault kept many of the brass fixtures, creating a dark and mysterious setting. If you are a martini lover, order the martini that comes with a beautifully plated flight of olives, oysters, and pickled onions.

Allegory, an acclaimed Washington, D.C. speakeasy, is the first bar that blends art, literature, social justice, craft cocktails, and hospitality. You arrive at the bar through a secret passage of the Eaton DC's bar library. There you will find expertly concocted cocktails with a side of history centered on social justice. Usually, a DJ is spinning lively music.

Groups of young professionals relax on sofas and armchairs in this hip hangout modeled after an Ecuadorian hacienda, while Latin jazz mingles with pop music in the background and old movies run silently behind the bar. The place gets packed on weekends, so come early to get a coveted sofa along the back wall. Pair your cocktails with a Cocina Nikkei (Japanese Peruvian) menu, including ceviche and gyozas (Japanese dumplings). Or try a hookah filled with a range of flavored tobaccos, from apple to watermelon. A dress-to-impress dress code is strictly enforced.

Sexy, elegant, and slightly hidden, Fitzgerald's is the epitome of a Washington, D.C., cocktail bar. Plush emerald-green furniture and leather couches contrast with the brass fixtures and the 1960s paintings of football players. Aside from getting a martini, the bar offers classic bar fare, such as burgers.

With stunning 180-views of Washington, D.C., Summit Bar at the Conrad Hotel is the ideal place for a drink. On a warm summer night, have a frozé at the bar and chat with the lovely staff. If you're craving a snack, you can order bites from Estuary, the hotel's restaurant.