The Raven Grill

THE quintessential DC dive bar. Cash only. Super cheap. Most patrons ordering a beer and a shot. A long line of portraits of celebrities who have never visited. And a giant stack of 40 year old board games for your enjoyment. They're famous for being called a grill and having a neon martini glass on the window, even though they have no food and no martinis. What they do have, though, is amazing. I enjoyed my makers mark with DC Brau IPA while getting way too competitive in a game of Clue. Bonus points because they are the oldest continually operating bar in the city, so you know they're doing something right.Extra bonus points because Mount Pleasant has become the go-to neighborhood for a funky date night. Pizza at Martha Dear, a movie and cocktail at Suns, and a nightcap at Raven is perfection.

Need an antidote to all the over-priced pretentious bars in DC? Come to the Raven. It's laid-back, got good vibes, a shelf full of board games, and cheap beer. (No draught beers, unfortunately, but a fairly full bar otherwise.)

Not the greatest dive bar . They are cash only, beers are cheep. The inside is rather dirty. But plenty of seating. I would not be drawn to return to this establishment.

I came here with some friends after a wedding welcome drink celebration. We wanted a chill place to catch up and chill out. This place is a cash only, divey kind of bar, no big frills and no fuss. If you don't have cash on hand, there's an atm inside. My friends and I ordered beers, rail drinks, and a cider. I was afraid our group of six wouldn't find a place to sit, but a larger group left around the same time we arrived and we were able to grab their tables. Though, I'll note it was papacies on a Friday night. The ambiance is hometown neighborhood bar! Everyone is super nice and bartender was calm and attentive even though it was busy. While I didn't see they offered food, they did let us bring food from outside late at night. So that was nice of them. Def recommend!

Nice relaxed atmosphere. Friendly vibes. Got lots of time to play Scrabble with a group of friends. What more can you ask for? It's a typical dive bar with a social aspect thank God these still exist.lol

True definition of Dive bar - with that being said, a shot of well whiskey and some super flat Diet Coke for $5 definitely is not it. (It's a cash only bar)I love dive bars, but I didn't like the vibe at this one. If I was a local I can kinda see the appeal.

Great dive bar! Things to know is that it's cash only. The inside has a chill, laid back vibe. They also have some board games you can play.

Love this bar for what it is -- a no-frills, cheap place to grab drinks with friends or colleagues and have a blast. The music is also great (and sometimes the jukebox works). There are so few of these bars left in DC, so stay open, Raven! I was there for an after work happy hour the other day, and for two hours of decent drinks and snacks, the total price was less than $60 total. Where else can you have that?? All beers are by the can or bottle, and they've improved their selection. DC Brau Corruption, Pilsner Urquell, Guinness are now available - great options. There are also board games if you like that kind of thing. No food except for chips/popcorn/snack mix, but that's fine - this place is to grab drinks.

The neighborhood dive bar of all neighborhood dive bars. Like many of its ilk, the patrons here would strongly prefer you didn't breeze through here to "pound a few cheap brews" on your way to the club. Most folks here are regulars, and come to the Raven to soak up the chill local vibes. Great music is always on tap from the bartenders and trends toward punk, 80s, and metal vibes. Your standard selection of beer and spirits - you're coming here for a Natty Boh and a rail drink more than some kind of overdone craft cocktail or rare release craft beer. For a dive bar, prices actually aren't that cheap, but they do have some really solid happy hour prices. No food served, but as long as you're not obnoxious about it they don't usually mind if you bring food in. Expect to stumble across a special neighborhood fundraiser or birthday gathering any particular night of the week. They have a TV in back and some people come here to watch sports, but it's mostly a dive lover's paradise. Torn up vinyl booths and a retro/grandfather's basement ambiance pervades. Pro tip- it's CASH only! There's an atm in the bar if you need it.

I live in the neigborhood and have made an experimental visit five or six times over the years. Each time i am hit with the now-remembered vibe, sloppy noisy (and yeah I get it, a jukebox), dark dark in the way dark is used to hide the grime (which was there), an uninterested bar guy who made no effort to make anyone feel welcome. Had a beer.. My guess is it stays alive with young young and young DC kids who are trying hard to be cool, but, if the conversations I overheard that night were a good sample, are not one bit at all.