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Drinks Lafayette Square, National Mall & Downtown

Off the Record

A place for a drink in Lafayette Square, National Mall & Downtown, pricey ($$$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Late evening.

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Why go

Low-lit basement bar in the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Square from the White House.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in National Mall & Downtown, alongside 2 activities, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. 5 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Old Ebbitt Grill and Old Ebbitt Grill.

Type
Drinks · Nightlife
Neighborhood
Lafayette Square
Price
$$$
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Late evening

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond National Mall & Downtown. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Old Ebbitt Grill

    Washington's oldest saloon, founded in 1856, with mahogany bars and an oyster bar a block from the White House.

    Food · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Old Ebbitt Grill

    Historic saloon next to the White House, known for its oyster bar.

    Food · Washington, DC · 0.3 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Round Robin Bar

    Circular, green-walled bar inside the Willard, a meeting place for Washington politicians for generations.

    Drinks · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Willard InterContinental

    Grand 1901 hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, two blocks from the White House and a walk from the Mall.

    Stay · 0.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Round Robin Bar

    Circular bar in the Willard hotel where the mint julep came to Washington.

    Drinks · Washington, DC · 0.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Smithsonian museum tracing African American history from slavery to today.

    Sight · Washington, DC · 0.7 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Off the Record is a stop on our Washington, DC New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in National Mall & Downtown

Off the Record is our only drinks pick in National Mall & Downtown; here is what else we recommend there. See the full National Mall & Downtown guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Washington, DC

Our climate figures for National Mall & Downtown come from nearby Washington, DC. Average daily highs in Washington, DC run from 40°F in January to 88°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Off the Record itself, we suggest: Late evening.

Modelled monthly averages for Washington, DC from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Washington, DC weather by month (covers National Mall & Downtown).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Off the Record, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
38.90040, -77.03700
Destination
National Mall & Downtown, District of Columbia

Off the Record: quick answers

How much time do you need at Off the Record?

Plan on about an hour at Off the Record. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Off the Record?

Our pick: Late evening.

Which TripsCircle routes include Off the Record?

Off the Record appears on Washington, DC New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Off the Record to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to National Mall & Downtown.

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Also in National Mall & Downtown

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.