Late Summer Pours & Early Fall Sips: TheListAreYouOnIt’s End-of-Season Sip Roundup
Labor Day may have passed, but we are still holding on to summer, 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.
Feeling flighty? Take a look at our list of fanciful flights, here.
Craving a martini? Check out our guide, here.
Looking for something cozy? Take a peep at our list of underground bars, here.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
DCCK Capital Food Fight: DC Central Kitchen's Capital Food Fight, presented by Tyson Foods, is set for Thursday, November 6th at The Anthem. The annual fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen includes a thrilling stage show featuring the rising stars of DC’s culinary scene, tastes from dozens of top restaurants from across the region, and appearances from some of the biggest names in food. More info here.
Old Town Cocktail Week: Presented By Suntory Global Spirits in partnership with Captain Gregory’s, Old Town Cocktail Week is a celebration of the imagination and innovation within Alexandria’s cocktail scene. Grab a featured cocktail from one of the over 40 participating restaurants or join us for a curated event and enjoy it all while on a staycation at one of the participating hotels with a stay and play package specially curated for Old Town Cocktail Week. SEPTEMBER 25TH-OCTOBER 6TH; more info here.
Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts: Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, presented with Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA), is a two-day outdoor festival happening October 4–5, 2025, in the heart of Tysons, VA. Designed for all ages, this immersive event transforms the streets of Capital One Center into a multi-block celebration of the arts— featuring interactive installations, hands-on workshops, live music, and culinary experiences for every generation. More info here.
Shuck It!: Early bird tickets are available for the Shuck It Oyster festival for $65/person. Join them for the 12th annual Georgetown Shuck It! Beer and Oyster Festival at Tony and Joe's! Saturday, October 18, 2025 1:00 to 5:00 pm; 21 and up. Get tickets 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:
Go West: After celebrated openings in Los Angeles and New York, Desert 5 Spot–a popular country western bar and live music venue–is heading east once again. Signature drinks include the Ring of Fire (mezcal, Ancho Reyes, prickly pear, lime) the Jolene (tequila, strawberry, watermelon, lime) and the Dropkick Me, Jesus (Ilegal Mezcal, green Chartreuse, chile, lime) plus frozen cocktails and large format options. desertfivespot.com
Wintoberfest: Fall is the wine world’s anxiously-awaited harvest season, and the start of Oktoberfest. So Lulu’s Winegarden, beer garden-style wine bar just off U Street, is bridging the two celebrations with “Winetoberfest” – an autumnal pop-up from September 24-November 9. You can enjoy harvest wines, apple cider margaritas, cowboy boots of Oktoberfest festbier, and new fall fare while surrounded by grape vines, gourds and amber-hued foliage. 1940 11th Street NW; .luluswinegarden.com
What’s Behind the Flower Shop?: Founded by legendary bartender Renato “Tato” Giovannoni and hospitality veteran Alex Resnik, Florería and Brasero are inspired by the cultural tides that have shaped Argentina since the late 19th century. These spaces celebrate the convergence of culinary influences—Italian, French, Spanish, Jewish, Lebanese—brought by immigrants who arrived through the Atlantic. With their Washington, D.C. debut, Florería Atlántico and Brasero Atlántico bring with them not only world-class cocktails and cuisine, but a deeper celebration of immigrant stories and Atlantic crossings—past and present. 1066 Wisconsin Ave NW;
No Phones Allowed : Hush Harbor, D.C.'s only no-phones bar, has opened and chef Rock Harper created this smartphone-free space as a way to build community when the city needs it most. The cocktail menu will keep many drinks from Hill Prince, Harper’s bar that will turn into Hush Harbor. Classics get a remake with the mole old fashioned, with both Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters and Angostura, and an Italian margarita turns red thanks to Cappelletti, a bitter aperitif. 1337 H Street, NE; hushharbor.co
Getting Our Glow: Eat Sprout has collaborated with local nutritionist and wellness influencer Jen Silverman on a limited-edition smoothie. he smoothie—fittingly named Bethesda Glow by Jen Silverman Nutrition—is designed to appeal to both adults and kids. Packed with spirulina, banana, blueberries, and your choice of a protein boost and either dairy or non-dairy milk, it delivers a nutrient-dense punch that tastes as good as it feels. eatsprout.com
Tableside Tea (Seasonal Update): Park Hyatt Washington D.C. is celebrating the return of fall with the addition of tableside tea service in the Tea Cellar, which is now available daily from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can enjoy one pot of freshly brewed tea from the featured list, accompanied by Pecan-Hazelnut Scones, with lemon curd, whipped crème fraiche, and raspberry blackberry jam prepared by Pastry Chef Colleen Murphy. 1201 24th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., United States, 20037; .hyatt.com
House Wine: RPM Restaurants will begin pouring its debut collection of three expertly blended single-vineyard wines—52W Cabernet Sauvignon, Cèpe d'Été Chardonnay and Three Kings Pinot Noir. A collaboration years in the making, the RPM wine team, led by Beverage Partner Richard Hanauer and RPM Steak Wine Director Brennan Sopko, worked hand-in-hand with acclaimed California Central Coast winemaker Andrew Jones of Field Recordings, to bring these bottles from vine to table. RPM.com
Gimme Some Shuga: In celebration of National Coffee Day (September 29), Shuga x Ice, the African-inspired ice cream and frozen dessert shop in downtown Silver Spring, will offer some limited-edition coffee-based items for the month of September. Flavors of the month include: Buna: inspired by traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, this rich coffee ice cream is made with Ethiopian coffee beans and infused with popcorn pieces and Kenyan Masala Chai: a bold, spiced black tea ice cream handcrafted with authentic Kenyan masala chai, layered with hints of ginger, cardamom, and other warm spices. 8200 Dixon Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910; shugaxice.com
Look Who’s Shaking: St. Anselm, Union Market's Americana-inspired steakhouse, is shaking things up with a brand-new cocktail program, rolling out fresh sips that bring a little extra personality to their rugged, yet refined bar program. Highlights include the Tequila Cocktail, a bright and bracing mix of Cazadores Blanco, red bitters, grapefruit, lime, and smoked salt that hits all the right notes of citrus and savor. For something playful, the Vodka & Bubbles blends Wheatley Vodka with passion fruit liqueur, vanilla, and lime, topped with bubbles for a sparkling finish. 1250 5th St NE; stanselmdc.com
BYOV(inyl): 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
NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:
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
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. 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
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
