2001 18th Street, NW
From a press release:
“Acclaimed drinking den Dram & Grain, which recently reopened as a Wednesday-Thursday pop-up inside The Imperial, has just expanded to full weekend service. The 10-year-old bar, known for its award-winning craft cocktails, now serves its experimental grain-infused cocktails, esoteric classics and a new food menu on weekends as well.
Originally opened in 2014 in Jack Rose’s underground cellar, Dram & Grain has been named one of the country’s “best bars” by everyone from Food & Wine, CNN, Travel + Leisure, Esquire, Washington City Paper, the Washington Post, Washingtonian and more. Dram & Grain just reopened post-pandemic in June 2024, with beverage director Leighton Bagley at the helm, and an innovative new “Grain Experiment” cocktail menu. The bar teased an expansion of hours and now, will be open four nights a week to serve both weekday and weekend drinkers.
Now open Wednesday-Saturday, guests can find Bagley’s unique menu (which infuse different spirits with ancient grains such as buckwheat, farro, quinoa, barley, amaranth and sorghum), plus 15 lesser-seen classic and modern classic cocktails, all for just $14 each.
In its new era, Dram & Grain has evolved to bring a bit more fun and energy to the stylish subterranean drinking den. While the cocktails are decidedly serious in quality and execution, the atmosphere is more social and lively, offering standing room, space for groups, good music, and a large selection of other spirits and beverages who those who may not want an intricately crafted cocktail.
Dram & Grain is open Wednesday through Saturday from 7pm to midnight. Guests can choose from bar, booth and table seating. Table reservations are available on Resy, and the bar is open for first-come first-served seating. Guests can access Dram & Grain through The Imperial’s front entrance, with a separate neon-lit entrance coming soon.“