photo by Vina Sananikone
From a press release:
“Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nicholas Stefanelli is pleased to announce the debut of Kaimaki, a wine and cocktail bar opening Thursday, June 2, at Midtown Center (1100 15th Street NW). The lively and upbeat gathering place is primed to be a go-to destination for Greek street food, after-work drinks, nightcaps, and everything in between.
Named after the term for the rich, micro-bubbled top layer of Greek coffee, Kaimaki is located across the breezeway from sister spot Philotimo–Stefanelli’s fine dining tribute to Greece–and offers a more casual experience.
The cocktail program, spearheaded by Joseph Kocjan, will feature a rotating selection of classic cocktails alongside originals, such as Red Dragon (gin, cucumber habanero shrub, pomegranate juice); Quintessence (tequila, sake vermouth, strawberry lactophosphate); and Medicane (Kleos Mastiha, Jamaican rum, house fassionola, lime, bubbles). An expansive selection of Greek wines will also be featured, highlighting lesser-known regions and labels that Stefanelli hand-selected from his travels all over Greece and the Greek isles.
The food menu features mezze bites such as dolmades, fava bean fritters and loukoumades (savory doughnuts topped with caviar), along with a variety of cheeses and Greek-style cured meats. With an emphasis on street food, Kaimaki celebrates the simple joys of gyros and souvlaki–all with a hefty dose of french fries.
The transformative and airy design can be attributed to Stefanelli himself, and design studio Grupo 7, and is an ode to seaside escapes along the Mediterranean. The space is the ultimate backdrop for the quintessential high-energy party vibes found in the best bars across Greece.
photo by Vina Sananikone
An expansive bar with seating for 12 anchors the space, and high-top tables offer seating for an additional 25 along the 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling windows giving way to all the trappings of downtown’s cityscape.
In the coming months, Stefanelli also plans to roll out Greek coffee, lunch service and grab-and-go offerings. Kaimaki is available for private events, and can accommodate up to 75 guests for a standing cocktail-style reception.
photo by Vina Sananikone
Kaimaki does not accept reservations and is open for walk-ins Tuesday-Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight.”