Dirty Habit
Category: Cocktail Bars, Brunch Spots, Hotel Bars
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Price: $$$
Address: 555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
✨ Vibe
Tucked away in the historic 1841 General Post Office building, this film noir-inspired venue offers a chic, modern escape with a sleek, dim-lit interior and an expansive, fire-pit-adorned urban courtyard.
🍸 Best For
Lively sing-along brunches, stylish date nights, dog-friendly "Yappy Hour" gatherings, and sophisticated pre-game cocktails across from Capital One Arena.
🔥 Highlights
- New Culinary Direction: Recently appointed Executive Chef Derek Watson (formerly of Rose’s Luxury and Morimoto) has introduced a bold, globally-inspired menu featuring a creative fusion of Japanese, Latin, and American Southern flavors.
- Cutting-Edge Bar Program: Experience a progressive drink menu known for inventive creations like "The Cheesy Grin"—a savory-sweet cocktail featuring Parmigiano-Reggiano foam—alongside their famous signature Brunch Punch and bottomless mimosas.
- Premier Urban Oasis: The sprawling, wraparound courtyard is one of DC’s top outdoor spots, hosting high-energy events like Tasting Tuesdays and "Riviera Royale" patio activations with shared roulette-style tasting plates.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Take advantage of the weekday happy hour from 3 PM to 7 PM, featuring $9 glasses of wine and $13 signature margaritas and old-fashioneds.
- Reservations are strongly recommended for the high-energy Sing-Along Brunch every Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM, featuring live DJs spinning R&B and pop favorites.
📰 In the News
Cocktails Have Entered Their Cheese Era
Dirty Habit in D.C. serves 'The Cheesy Grin,' a flagship cocktail that incorporates upcycled Parmigiano and cheddar cheese rinds to create a savory, umami-rich foam. The drink balances sweet and salty elements by pairing the cheese foam with Rakija brandy, Pedro Ximenez sherry, and quince jam.
D.C.’s summer happy hour scene in full swing
Dirty Habit features an expansive, wraparound patio in Washington, D.C., which hosts a seasonal "Yappy Hour" on Saturdays for dogs and their owners to socialize. The events include food and drink specials, doggy goodie bags, and splash pools, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Humane Rescue Alliance.
The Best Outdoor Spots to Sip on a Cocktail in the DC Area
Dirty Habit features a stylish courtyard tucked into the Hotel Monaco in Penn Quarter, recognized as one of the city's premier outdoor drinking spots. The venue hosts a weekday happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. with specials including $9 glasses of wine and $13 margaritas and old-fashioneds.
Taco John's, Bobby's Burgers and more executive movement
Dirty Habit D.C. has appointed Derek Watson as its new executive chef. Watson brings 15 years of industry experience to the role, having previously worked at high-profile restaurants including Morimoto, Momotaro, Rose’s Luxury, and Nama Ko.
Dirty Habit Names Derek Watson Executive Chef
Dirty Habit has appointed Derek Watson as its executive chef, tasking him with bringing a globally inspired menu influenced by Japanese, Latin, and American Southern flavors to the Washington, D.C. restaurant. Watson is focusing on evolving the venue into a dynamic culinary destination with highlights like the Riviera Royale courtyard activation, featuring fire-kissed small plates and shared roulette-style tasting plates.
Recent Reviews from Google
Stopped in on an early weekday morning and was blown away. As expected, we had no wait and our choice of seats. The ambiance offers a chic and almost elegant feel and the layout is genius (great for...
Service was a little slow until we told the waiter he needed to do better, which he did. It should not take 20min to get water brought to the table. It did not look that crowded, but maybe they are...
The patio bar is like an escape from the city. You are transformed from Washington to some chic place. Lots of area for a friend group gathering. I think they have a happy hour. The restaurant decor...
Went to Dirty Habit DC and honestly, it was a disappointment from start to finish. The hostess greeted us with a stank face and zero professionalism felt like we were inconveniencing her just by...
All about the food, service and entertainment! Our server Ruben was a star: friendly, attentive, and kept those bottomless mimosas flowing. Many in our group ordered the “Waffle It Up,” “The Monaco,”...
