Free State
Category: Neighborhood Bars, Taproom, Basements
Neighborhood: Gallery Place / Chinatown
Price: $$
Address: 501B G St NW, Washington, DC 20001
✨ Vibe
Free State is a cozy, underground neighborhood gem that offers a relaxed pub atmosphere perfect for low-key conversations and celebrating the best of the Mid-Atlantic’s local craft scene.
🍸 Best For
Craft beer enthusiasts, pre-game drinks before Capital One Arena events, intimate group conversations, and fans of local Maryland and DC spirits.
🔥 Highlights
- An impressive rotation of 14 taps featuring a curated selection of local craft beers, including hard-to-find Maryland brews and unique sour ales.
- Lively weekly entertainment including Sunday Music Bingo with $8 cocktail specials and popular trivia nights that bring a fun, competitive energy to the weekend.
- A sophisticated cocktail program known for its creative recipes, spirit-forward pours, and special seasonal pop-ups like "Sparkling December."
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Located in a spacious basement setting right behind the Capital One Arena; walk-ins are always welcome, but you can email for table reservations for larger groups.
- Don’t miss the "Maryland’s Finest" Happy Hour on weekdays, featuring special brewery releases and local favorites from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
🔄 Weekly Events
🍸 Martini Mondays
$10 Martinis available all night long.
🎶 Music Bingo Sundays
Combining the fun of bingo with the excitement of recognizing popular tunes. Win prizes and enjoy drink specials all game long: $6 Zadie’s Lager and IPA, $8 Cocktails (Gin Rickey, Tom Collins, Greyhound, Americano, Sea Breeze).
🏈 Ravens Game Watch
Free State is the #1 Ravens bar in DC. Sound is on for all games.
🍾 Sparkling December
An annual holiday tradition throughout December. Each week features new selections of bubbly from around the world. Complete a punch card to join the Sparkling December Hall of Fame.
Happy Hour
$6 selection of Wine, Beer, and Rail Drinks (Vodka, Gin, Rum, and Bourbon). Includes Union Brewing, Zadie’s Lager, Manor Hill Brewing IPA, and select Malbec and Verdiccio.
Recent Reviews from Google
It's really hard to find a bar that is good for just sitting and having a convo. Free State has a nice pub atmosphere. They dont really play music too loud so it's a good place to sit and chat. The...
I'm utterly impressed by this place! From the moment I spotted the staircase leading down to the basement, I had a feeling it would be fantastic, and boy, was I right! With a selection of 14 taps...
Chill underground bar. We went on a Monday so it was pretty dead but we had a group of us and there were deals on the drinks, plus they were playing pretty good music so all-in-all, it was a cool...
We frequent Free State at least once a week since we live nearby. It’s got a solid happy hour, chill and friendly staff, and the vibes are always great. Trivia on Sundays is a fun bonus, and overall,...
Free State is a cocktail bar in the basement of a Chinatown building right behind the Capital One Arena. You walk down steep stairs, show the bouncer your I.D., and you're in. The space itself is...
