Off The Record

The only thing I could complain about is the price of everything... but it's literally like a block from The White House, so is that even fair? Off The Record is a speakeasy that's not one of the most hidden city ones... there's a sign outside, but you can't access it from out there. Either way, that sign basically tells you where it is inside. The inside of the hotel is simply splendid. I couldn't immediately find the stairs to get to the lower level, but that gave me a chance to see the gorgeous event space and the decor. I beat my friend there, so I stopped in the bathroom. It was bright, and had the neatest hand cloths for drying hands. Off The Record is unsurprisingly political LOL. The seating is abundant, and feels somewhat upscale. Highlights of the evening included a pear martini, deviled eggs, and edamame dumplings -- the latter were REALLY incredible. I would go back for a special treat, but the price is a deterrent from going regularly. Unless someone wants to treat me :).

Stopped by, I think on Tuesday nightThis restaurant, is located right inside of the hotelStreet Parking. Black Lives Matter Plaza!Our waiter, Mauricio, was exceptional! He was super friendly and had good recommendations!All of the Staff were very nice!There is a bar area or you can walk in for a table. Not sure if reservations are needed, but we just walked in and got a great tableAmbiance reminded me of a speakeasy, but the music was a little too loud for me at times, which made everyones conversations also elevatedCeasar salad was crispTable snacks were good!Drinks were goodBathroom was super clean and sheek!

This bar is so swanky! It felt like a speakeasy vibe in the basement of the lobby of the Hay Adams hotel - covered in red velvet, low lighting, & decorated with political caricatures. I went with a group of coworkers after dinner & it was the perfect vibe. The circle tables are ideal for bigger groups (we had a group of 5), and both the bartender & waiter were great. The only negative is that it was very crowded when we got there, so there was a bit of a wait for a table. Luckily, we snagged some bar seats for a glass of wine & bar snacks while we waited! The wine list is lovely, and my friends who got cocktails said they were great as well. I would highly recommend stopping by for a drink if you're in DC!Food: B+Drinks: A-Service: B+Ambiance: A+

What a fun basement bar - up scale, surprisingly warm for a basement, and you might run into a famous politician. Expect high prices, but good drinks and food! Is this a speakeasy? It's tucked away in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel, it's pretty easy to find or the hotel concierge will help! Obviously political, I loved seeing the decor - lots of political sketches and cartoons. It feels upscale and there is plenty of seating - just pricey!

Visiting from out of town. Cute bar filled with people in suits and loud conversations. We were a walk in and found seats within minutes. The bar is old fashioned looking with cartoons of politicians on the walls. The service the day we went was slow, but friendly to be expected with the crowd that was there. I got the pear martini which was delicious. The free bar snacks were tasty too.

The service here is great; super professional. We came in with a big group on a busy night and they immediately whisked around all the chairs to make us fit comfortably. The decor inside is moody and elitist (in a good way). Sadly, I can only comment on the quality of one mocktail ($15), as every other drink was over $20 and I couldn't justify it... the monarch mocktail was great though! And they brought olives and nuts to the table. Ultimately, this bar is good for a one-time thing to gander at the political cartoons or show visitors to DC a cool spot.

"The place to be seen, not heard"Located in the historic Hay-Adams Hotel, Off The Record is an elegant speak easy cocktail bar with a rich history. A couple of colleagues and I stopped in for a beverage before going to the airport, recommended by a friend that works in the area. We were surprised at what we stumbled upon. Greeted at the door of the hotel by Concierge, once inside a well dressed gentleman asked how he could be of service. He informed us how to get to the bar. Down 2 short flight of stairs to the left, there it was, a red room, full bar, cocktail tables and hand drawn cartoon characters of politicians lined the wall. The place was pretty empty with only a few customers. We were sat at a corner booth. Nuts and crackers were brought to our table with menus. Noticed immediately the prices were more expensive than average. We all ordered 2 rounds of drinks. For me the Ghost of Lincoln and the Old Fashion were both unique and strong, with great balance. Our server was awesome, reviewing the menu with us and sharing the history of the hotel and bar. By the time we left around 4pm, the place was packed. We had a great time.

This bar is at the bottom of the hotel and is a lot of fun. When you walk in you will see a wide array of political cartoons. It's cozy inside and I can tell it can be hard to get a seat at times. We got lucky and got the last two seats at the bar. The bartenders were attentive and our cocktails were quite nice. They give you some bar snacks to munch on. The wasabi peas are a nice pop of spice.

Skip it, over priced tourist trap with poor service. Drinks were fine, but after two visits it's clear they stay in business based 100% on location and nothing else.

Fun downstairs bar with comfortable seating and a good vibe. Drinks were very good but were VERY expensive considering there wasn't more of an experience with them (something more creative tableside). The "Brooklyn in the House (of Representatives)" was really good, with a twist on an old fashioned / sour with a Chianti floater. Quite interesting disposable political coasters too...