“Kramers Debuts Brand New Bar and Design”

photos courtesy Kramers

From a press release:

“Kramers (1517 Connecticut Ave, NW), the first bookstore-cafe hybrid in Washington DC known for its convivial atmosphere, robust book collection and approachable food & beverage menu, just got bigger and better with a delightfully unexpected bookstore pairing– a new bar refresh and expansion. The 970 square foot space, which previously served as the travel and kids books section as well as a storage space for old books, brings opportunity for even more community-driven Kramers experiences– from cocktail tastings to social events to date nights.

The 26-seat built-in bar provides an intimate, yet welcoming respite and is led by Catalogue collection’s Beverage Director Larry Weaver. Using Kramers’ eclectic energy and ethos as inspiration, Weaver curated a drink menu that includes a variety of natural and small producer wine labels, 18 craft beers on tap and a selection of creative cocktails to pair with Kramers’ signature dishes (or a great book). Cocktail highlights include:

Angelou: vodka, strawberry pepper syrup and citrus
Cold Brew Martini: vodka, cold brew, coffee and cacao liqueur
Spiked Cider: Avua Brazilian rum, bourbon, cider and lemon, served hot
English 75: earl grey infused gin, lemon and prosecco

To complement the robust beverage program, the team also rolls out a food menu that has something for everyone, with some unique Kramers flare. Culinary highlights include:

Hickory Smoked Chicken Wings with choice of one sauce: house herb ranch, bleu cheese or honey mustard
All Day Burger Sliders: a bite size bar snack version of Kramers’ crowd favorite with 2 smash burger patties, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, pickles and special sauce
Chicken & Waffle Sliders: a play on Kramers’ beloved chicken & waffles dish in a convenient, hand held form, made with a buttermilk waffle, fried buttermilk chicken and spicy honey butter
Spicy Carrot Chickpea Tartine with radish, cucumber, cauliflower, pickled red onion and sunflower seed
French Onion Dip with crudités vegetables, crispy onions, kettle chips

The pandemic gave the team time to refresh and update the space, adding more user friendly elements and strengthening ties to the past through custom pieces that add character and personality to the bar area. Other updates include new lighting above the bar and on the walls for optimal reading, new red bar stools for a pop of color and comfort and playful, custom made wallpaper filled with literary iconography that pays homage to Kramers’ history. The new design celebrates the rich history that inhabits the space, with subtle modern refreshes that breathe new life into DC’s beloved bookstore.

“Kramers was built at the intersection of culture and community, providing nourishment through books, food and beverages. Enriching the bar is a direct reflection of that core principle,” says owner Steve Salis. He continues, “with this enhancement of the brand, we remain committed to focusing on making the everyday exceptional, in this case, one quality cocktail at a time.”

Kramers Bar is open Monday-Saturday between 8am-10pm and Sundays between 8am-9pm. Later this winter, Kramers will unveil a new event space, adjacent to the bar, that will provide a neighborhood hangout where community members can explore their passions through art, literature and high quality food + beverage.”