Summer Libations: TheListAreYouOnIt’s Summer Sip Roundup
Summer’s here, and the DMV’s bars are raising the bar, literally. Think crisp spritzes, herb-packed coolers and icy cocktails made for sunny days and sultry nights. We’ve rounded up the most refreshing summer sips shaking things up this season.
Thirsty for more? Don’t miss our Patio Pleasure & our Up On The Roof guides for the best al fresco food + drink.
Craving a martini? Check out our guide, here.
Craving something a little more…Amalfi? Don't miss our Spritz guide, here.
Looking to cool down out away from the sun? Take a peep at our list of underground bars, here.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Shuck It: Early bird tickets are available for the Shuck It Oyster festival. 65 +dc tax per person* Join them for the 12th annual Georgetown Shuck It! Beer and Oyster Festival at Tony and Joe's! Saturday, October 18, 2025 1-5 pm ID required to enter. 21 and up. Get tickets here.
RAMW DC Summer Restaurant Week: One of the region’s most anticipated food events, Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Summer 2025, presented by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), returns August 18-25, 2025. The weeklong celebration showcases the area’s diverse culinary talent, from neighborhood favorites and casual hotspots to Michelin-recognized dining destinations. Participating restaurants will offer brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and dinners for $40, $55, and $65 for on-premise dining. Cocktail, wine, or zero-proof beverage pairings may also be available at select establishments. Info here.
Bethesda Yappy Hour: Mark your calendars, because your pup's favorite party is coming back. Yappy Hour is back to Elm Street Urban Park this summer and fall on September 18 and October 9 with pop-up dog parks for large and small dogs, live music, and food and beverages for sale. Info here.
Snallygaster: On October 11, 2025 the merry monster makes its triumphant return to DC for its 13th year as a rollicking tribute to the wonderful world of craft beer. Festival goers can expect a mind-boggling selection of no fewer than 450 highly sought-after draft beers, gravity kegs and bottle + can pours from 175+ of the finest American and international producers set against a backdrop of local food trucks and two stages of live music. info here.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY:
New in Georgetown: Flor. Coffee + Books, a Buenos Aires-inspired café and bookshop has officially opened. Flor. Coffee + Books will offer specialty coffee, including their own coffee blend from Georgetown’s Grace Street Coffee Roasters, Argentinian and French pastries and soft serve from Dolcezza. A whimsical gratitude machine called The Appreciation Station will dispense gratitude prompts to inspire intention-setting and journaling. Crafted by Chef Jovana Urriola, the menu includes offerings such as Argentinian empanadas, chipás, medialunas, sandwiches, toasts, bowls, salads, and pastries, along with hot and iced espresso drinks, matcha and chai lattes, and loose-leaf teas. 1220 31st St., NW, @florcoffeeshop
A Taste of Oak: A. Smith Bowman Distillery has released the Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak, the third and final experimental whiskey from its Abraham Bowman Oak Series. Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak is made from a blend of liquids aged for 12 years in charred Hungarian Oak barrels. Bottled at 115 proof, this bourbon has a brown velvet color. On the nose, the aroma of candied apricot engulfs your glass, unfolding layers of warm honey apples and a pronounced smokey dark chocolate on the pallet. The finish lingers on the sides of your tongue with notes of dried fruit and char. asmithbowman.com
Ten is the Magic Number: Sababa has introduced a new weekday happy hour. 10 is the magic number for partaking in this new offering. You will find $10 well (rail) highballs as well as $10 select small plates. Sababa’s bartenders are also crafting a creative daily cocktail, also priced at $10. White wine and red wine, by the glass, are also available during Happy Hour. 3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW; sababauptown.com
BYOB Vinyl: Join the team at Lapop every Tuesday from 5PM - 7 PM for a new weekly series, “Mixtape Tuesdays.” You are invited to “BYOV,” or “Bring Your Own Vinyl” to share their favorite record for the whole bar to enjoy, and the turntables are first come, first served. The team will have a curated drink menu to match the mood, whether you're dropping in post-work or settling in for the evening to mingle with fellow record lovers. The team will also partner with liquor brands like Rittenhouse Rye to Vago Elote Mezcal and Tequila Ocho tequila for experimental cocktails and pop-up experiences. Lapop
New Cocktail Series at Off the Record: Off The Record, the acclaimed bar at The Hay-Adams, has launched a new quarterly series that will introduce internationally inspired cocktails, each crafted by celebrated bars at fellow members of The Leading Hotels of the World. The first cocktail in the series, ‘The Lady,’ is now on the menu at Off The Record. Crafted by Zaccaria Medda, Food and Beverage Manager at The Place Firenze, The Lady exudes effervescence and elegance. A radiant blend of Campari, Select Aperitivo, Chambord, rose elixir, Cointreau, Prosecco, Peychaud’s Bitters, and garnished with candied orange peel and edible flowers, this signature cocktail encapsulates the artistic soul and convivial spirit of Florence’s famed aperitivo culture. hayadams.com
NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:
The Butterfly Effect: Silver Lyan's annual menu release is based upon the mysteries of the Butterfly Effect, and the unexpected ways people, inventions, literature, flavors and culture are connected. Silver Lyan's bartenders-cum-storytellers weave together narratives and devise drinks on stories both hugely profound and little known, in a creative process taking nearly 9 months. Drinks include the Pikachu pop with Ketel One, pisco, kiwi ketchup, sauvignon blanc, mace, olive leaf and boldo soda. 900 F St. NW, Washington DC; silverlyan.com
Just a Little Spritz: Corso has 5 new summer spritzes for you to cool off with this summer as a part of their summer spritz menu. Try the limoncello spritz, malibu spritz, hugo spritz and more. Just $9 each at Happy Hour, $15 all other times. They all come with matching colorful straws so they can be the perfect Instagramable moment. 4024 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia; corsoitalian.com
Kick the Kegs: ChurchKey invites beer lovers to cap off their weekend with Kick the Kegs, a Sunday night tradition where select draft beers are just $5 each from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM — or until the kegs kick. No tickets or reservations needed — just show up and enjoy the fun. 1337 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; churchkeydc.com
Dupont Rooftop: The rooftop at Casamara is officially open. The cocktail and mezze-focused dining menus will be entirely distinct from Casamara’s main floor, with bites created to complement city views, warm breezes and sun-filled days and evenings. Think: Caesar Beef Tartare, a delightful mingling of two classics brimming with the flavors of white anchovy and parmigiano; Mussels on Toast, featuring garlic aioli, peppers and herbs brightened with sherry vinegar. The drinks include creative fizzes like the Hugo No. 7, a pink-hued take on a Hugo Spritz with lemon-infused vodka, elderflower liqueur, housemade pink peppercorn syrup, soda and sparkling rosé, and the Italian-inspired Ciliegia Notte, with bitter Punt E Mes and Carpano Bianco kicked up with brandied cherry syrup, balsamic vinegar, soda and prosecco. 1320 18th St. NW.; casamaradc.com
Vintage Cocktail Season: Buffalo & Bergen's Gina Chersevani and newly minted Beverage Director, Michael Saccone, are back together again, raising a glass to the past with their ingenious "Vintage Vendors" Summer Cocktail Menu—seven carefully crafted libations that tell the largely untold stories of the market's founding merchants through the universal language of really excellent drinks. Drinks include the Sol Solins Produce, a clarified tomato cocktail that would make its namesake fruit-and-vegetable vendor beam with pride - Tequila, Basil, Tomato, and Water, and more. 1309 5th Street, NE, Washington, DC; buffalobergendc.com
Spicy Pop Up: Chacho, the jalapeño-infused aguardiente founded by DC entrepreneur Dan Ziegler, is turning up the heat this summer with the inaugural launch of Chacho Outpost, a spicy pop-up bar experience at the upstairs level of Le Mont Royal in Adams Morgan. You can sip on a rotating menu of specialty and classic cocktails, such as the Sassy Llama and Chacho-Rita, all showcasing the spicy jalapeño kick of Chacho’s signature spirit. chachousa.com
Tea Time: Step into a world where sophistication meets spirited indulgence—The St. Regis Society Afternoon Tea is a modern affair inspired by long lunches, sun-drenched garden salons, and a touch of old-world glamour. Seasonal scones with classic accompaniments and a curated tea selection—ranging from bold Darjeeling to fragrant herbal infusions—round out this indulgent escape, with champagne and craft cocktails available to elevate the occasion even further. 923 16th St NW; marriott.com
Amalfi Summer, Thai Surprise (High Tea Alert): Flore Cafe has launched a new "Amalfi Summer, Thai Surprise," tea experience. Flore Café offers specially curated cocktails and mocktails by The Rowing Club at Sisters Tysons, available for an additional charge. Enjoy cocktails like Limone Bliss (Tito's Vodka, Limoncello, Yuzu Purée) and Citrus Serenade (Malfy Gin Rosa, grapefruit juice, sparkling wine), or refreshing mocktails such as Sorrento Shine and Blush Coast. 7735 Capital One Tower Road; Florecafe.com
