1 NoVA, 4 DC Bars Make 'The Best Bars In America 2019' List

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Nothing fights off the winter chill like gathering with a group of friends at a favorite watering hole, which The Daily Meal calls “the great socioeconomic equalizer” in its roundup of “The 150 Bars in America for 2019.” Virginia had one watering hole on the list, in Alexandria, while Washington, D.C., had four.

The list includes everything from "simple beach bars and swanky cocktail lounges" to "dusty dive bars and dens of iniquity," The Daily Meal said.

Here's a look at its Virginia and DC picks for "The 150 Best Bars in America for 2019."

Old Ebbitt Grill,675 15th Street, NW Washington, DC

Ranking on the list: No. 13

"The oldest saloon in Washington, D.C. (it opened in 1856 and has served most U.S. presidents, beginning with Ulysses S. Grant), is a legendary watering hole less than one block from the White House. Old Ebbitt Grill bartenders can make nearly any cocktail, but there are a dozen seasonal cocktails on offer, too, like the signature Bloody Maryland. It’s the bar’s take on the classic bloody mary, with the addition of a jumbo shrimp and a glass rimmed with Old Bay seasoning. Try the oysters; there is an oyster happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily and again from 11 p.m. until close."

PX Lounge, 728 King St., Alexandria

Ranking on the list: No. 14

"Walk along Alexandria’s King Street and look for a blue light, the landmark for PX (Person Extraordinaire). If the light is lit or if the pirate flag is flying, the 1920s-style lounge above Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper (owned by Eat Good Food Group, the folks also behind PX) is open. Sommelier and mixologist Todd Thrasher, a native Virginian, handcrafts memorable cocktails at this intimate, 38-seat place. The limited hours (it's open Wednesday to Saturday nights only), the dress code (jackets required for men), and the fact that reservations are strongly encouraged give the Virginia bar an air of exclusivity and glamour. The 18 seasonally changing "avant farm" drinks, like This Is Snow Cream! (Buffalo Trace bourbon and vanilla whey) and Grog and Sweet Basil (a mix of rum and lemon verbena tea served in a pirate's mug with a see-through bottom), are equally classy and memorable. Be sure to try the Irish-style fish and chips served with a choice of seven different house-made sauces."

ChurchKey, 1337 14th Street NW, Washington, DC

Ranking on the list: No. 50

"ChurchKey is known for its impressive, ever-changing selection of 555 imported and domestic beers. The breakdown: 500 bottles, 50 drafts, and five casks. ChurchKey is the upstairs bar to sister Washington, D.C., restaurant Birch & Barley. ... Copper pipes deliver the suds to the 50 taps behind the 55-foot-long bar. Beer director Greg Engert puts together an expansive list of beers on a nightly basis, and his highly trained staff members guide guests through the list using seven flavor categories created by Engert (crisp, hop, malt, roast, smoke, fruit, and spice). There’s also a food menu that includes fresh pastas, house-made charcuterie and handmade tater tots.”

Barmini by José Andrés, 501 9th Street NW, Washington, DC
Ranking on the list: No. 74

"In 2013, Chef José Andrés opened up barmini — right next door to his avant-garde tasting-counter restaurant minibar in Washington, D.C. With more than 50 drinks on the menu, barmini has won countless awards, thanks to such creative cocktails as the Cross-Eyed Mary (aged rum with honey, lime, absinthe, and passion fruit espuma) and the Mohan Travels to Peru and Gets a Haircut (a mix of pisco, Demerara rum, walnut liqueur, and chicha morada with lime, ginger, vanilla, and Amargo Chuncho Peruvian bitters). It’s also a great spot for a date, being one of America’s most romantic bars."

The Dubliner, 4 F Street NW, Washington, DC

Ranking on the list: No. 107

"Taking its name from a famous collection of short stories by James Joyce, the Washington, D.C. is one of the best Irish pubs in America. Opened more than 40 years ago by the son of the proprietor of Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub in Syracuse, New York, The Dubliner is the U.S.’s largest purveyor of Guinness, and the only place in the country you’ll find the bar’s exclusive Amber Ale and Irish Lager, brewed in County Kilkenny, Ireland, specially for The Dubliner."

Members of The Daily Meal's editorial staff have been compiling the list since 2011, explaining the process: "The Daily Meal walks into a bar and — we peruse the menu, the clientele, and the drinks list; we scrutinize the drink, the place, the vibe; we take mental notes. Then we decide to grab a wad of cocktail napkins and start scribbling notes for a list like this. …"

Read more on The Daily Meal.

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— By Patch editor Beth Dalbey and Deb Belt

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