All About Dirty Habit DC:

Location:  Although Dirty Habit DC is located at the busy Penn Quarter area, the restaurant is tucked into the back of Hotel Monaco, creating an escape from the busy streets of the area. With its close location to the metro, it makes it the perfect place to have a few drinks without having to worry about driving home!

The Scene: Previously known as Poste, the space of Dirty Habit DC has been beautifully redecorated with dark colors and metallic touches, giving it a sexy and mysterious vibe. Perfect for a date night. The bar area is lined with hundreds of spirits from the usual suspects to the rare picks.  I really liked the outdoor space with fireplaces, an ample bar, and cozy couches. I can see this space jumping in the spring…

The Cocktails: I was nine months pregnant with la piccola when I visited Dirty Habit DC. Sarah Ruiz created mocktail versions of some of her favorite cocktails for me. She began with The Gaucho, a beautifully presented drink with pineapple gomme, grapefruit bitters, yuzu, and yerba mate soda. The mocktail is presented in a gorgeous mate cup from Argentina. I never had a cocktail with yerba mate, but I was pleasantly surprised with the marriage of flavors.  Dining Traveler Tip: most bars do not have a non-alcoholic menu but most (good) bartenders are more than happy to get creative to make you a mocktail.

I also sampled “Lost in Sonora”, the mocktail version of “Prickly Position” on the current cocktail menu. This mocktail is made with nopal, pineapple, citrus and serrano ice cubes. I loved the mix of these ingredients. The cocktail version adds mezcal which the Dutchman loved. We both loved how the serrano ice cubes gave the drink a gradual spicy touch. Unfortunately we didn’t get to eat there as their new menu looks amazing but we did get to try their truffle fries…delicious! We’re hoping to return for dinner soon. The staff was raving about the braised short rib by Chef Kyoo Eom, on our list to try soon!

The Verdict: Love the space at Dirty Habit DC and their inventive cocktail program. Suggest this space for date night, girls night out, or happy hour.

Dirty Habit DC, 555 8th Street NW | Washington, DC, Website 

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Millian Palma, the manager at Melrose Georgetown Hotel The Lounge Bar was gracious enough to share his cherry blossom cocktail recipe with us.  Even if you live miles away from Washington, DC, you can bring a bit of the cherry blossom spirit to your party.

Cherry Blossom Cocktail Recipe: Blossomtini at Melrose Hotel Georgetown 

Put all the ingredients in a mixing glass except the beer and garnish, shake it very well. Pour it into a chilled cocktail glass, add beer and garnishes and cheers to blossoms!

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Oval Room:  Although The Oval Room is known for its award winning menu, their cocktails are a hidden gem.  Their head bartender, Max is from the UK and has come up with a unique take of a hot toddy with rum, freshly brewed tea, and nutmeg. After your cocktail, go for a stroll by the White House to check out the National Christmas Tree.

Art & Soul:  This is one of my favorite restaurants in DC. I must admit that I tend to go there more often in the warmer months because of their patio with a view of the Capitol.  However, they have a mulled wine on the menu that will warm you up after a tour of the Capitol.

Bibiana:  Bibiana has a 25 days of cocktails special in their menu which ends Christmas Eve but the cocktails will continue to flow after the 24th.  One of my favorites is their take on the Negroni, the Nero Amargo (on their regular menu) with gin,​ Amaro Lucano, and Gran Classico.  I like to pair it with their selection of salumi (Italian cured meats) handpicked by their executive chef, Jake Addeo who honed his craft in the Piedmonte region of Italy.

STK:  Although I am not the rockstar I used to be, I love the rockstar feel of STK, even if I am just going there for drinks with friends and in bed by 11pm.  STK’s holiday cocktail, “Naughty or Spice” is a mix of spiced Rum, lemon juice, Rekorderling Pear Cider and a pinch of ground cinnamon, perfect to indulge after a long day of catching up with family and friends.

Mio Restaurant & Cafe:  Coquito is Puerto Rican eggnog made with coconut milk, eggs, spices, and rum.  Every family on the island has a unique way of making it, and Mio is no exception.  They will be serving plenty in the next few weeks along with other Puerto Rican classics such as roasted pork, pasteles, and arroz con gandules.

This holiday season I have been taking it easy: catching up with friends, making dinner, and Skype sessions with those across the pond. Instead of being stressed about gifts or holiday parties, I decided to focus on spending time with those I care about, over food and cocktails, of course!  What are your favorite holiday cocktails in DC?

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The Midnight Moon cocktail, created by talented bartender Stéphane Ginouvès (check him out in action on this video), is made with honey from hives on the hotel’s terrace.  I gave this champagne cocktail recipe a try at home and the results are delicious and very easy to make.  Dining Traveler tip: stir the honey with the gin before adding the champagne.  It makes the drink much smoother.

He was gracious enough to share the recipe with the Dining Traveler:

Midnight Moon Cocktail

4 oz. Champagne

0.7 oz. Bombay Sapphire East Gin

0.3 oz. Honey

1 Lemon peel

Mix the honey and gin, pour into glass (I prefer coupe glass versus flute), follow by pouring the champagne, and finish with a fresh slice of lemon peel (twist peel before dropping it into the drink for more lemon flavor).

My version is not as fancy as Mr. Ginouvès (I’ll admit, I used Cava), but I plan to serve it as an aperitif at my upcoming holiday Christmas party.  I also used Bond Street Gin, a small batch gin from Oregon, which I find a lighter than Bombay Sapphire. There’s something about a bubbly cocktail that gets the party started.  Do you love bubbles as much as I do? What’s your favorite champagne cocktail recipe?

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Although the W Hotel brand is known for its nightlife, I decided to head to W Taipei Yen Bar for afternoon tea after spending the morning at the National Palace Museum.   When I arrived at Yen, I was smitten with the design, plush chairs, delicate glass fixtures, and boom! there it was, Taipei 101 staring back at me as I sat at my window booth.

Although the experience is labeled as “afternoon tea,” I was told about the extensive cocktail list and their variety of mojitos (the bartender, Jacky, told me they can make 100 variations!).  Needless so say, I went straight for the cocktails! I had a gorgeous mojito with Ti Kuan Yin, a traditional Taiwanese tea.  The blend of the bitterness of the tea, mint, rum, and simple syrup  sounds chaotic but went down like a beautiful melody.  Cocktails were paired with an intricate tower resembling Taipei 101.  It was a collection of sweet and savory treats.  When I went to bite into a sweet sesame ball, I noticed a hair.  I immediately called the server over, and he was horrified.  He notified the manager who took the time to apologize and send me a beautiful set of creme-filled sweet buns dusted with chocolate.  What I truly admire about an establishment is how they bounce back from embarrassing situations of this kind.  Although it was an unfortunate incident, the grace in which the management handled it reiterated the professionalism of their staff. 

I appreciated how the bartenders, Farrah and Jacky, took the time to chat with me and give tips about Taipei.  I visited the bar by myself (the perils of solo travel) and enjoyed how they made me feel at home in their space.  If you are in Taipei, make sure to add tea time at the W Taipei Yen Bar to your itinerary. Tip: tea time is way less crowded than their evening service. You won’t have to share the view with that many people, and the staff has the time to craft you the perfect cocktail.  Not only do you get the view but great service and cocktails as well. Reservations highly recommended.

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