Maxwell Park
Category: Wine Bars, Happy Hour Spots, Romantic
Neighborhood: Shaw
Price:
Address: 1336 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States
✨ Vibe
An approachable, high-energy wine sanctuary that blends expert sommelier curation with a nostalgic, neighborhood feel powered by old-school hip-hop and cozy outdoor fire pits.
🍸 Best For
Romantic date nights, expanding your wine knowledge, casual celebrations with friends, wine connoisseurs and beginners alike.
🔥 Highlights
- Award-Winning Excellence: Recently named one of the Top 10 wine bars in the U.S. by USA TODAY 10Best, this Shaw staple is led by renowned sommelier Brent Kroll and recently celebrated its eighth anniversary.
- Ever-Evolving Menus: The wine list rotates monthly with playful and creative themes, ranging from "UNESCO Heritage Vacation" to pop-culture pairings, ensuring there is always something new to discover.
- Unique Culinary Pairings: Beyond the grapes, the kitchen serves up inventive and delicious comfort food like artisanal "crunch wrap supremes," dumplings, and gourmet grilled cheese designed to pair perfectly with your pour.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Seating is "old school" style and handled on a first-come, first-served basis as the venue does not take reservations.
- Check their calendar for monthly wine classes and private tasting opportunities to help expand your palate in a fun, low-pressure environment.
🔄 Weekly Events
📦 Maxwell Park Wine Club
A monthly membership including hand-picked wines by Sommelier Brent Kroll, plus educational content and tasting notes.
🍷 Monthly Wine Classes
Monthly educational classes led by sommeliers to help guests expand their palates.
🌍 National Lampoons UNESCO Heritage Vacation Theme
A featured monthly rotating wine list focusing on wines from places UNESCO deemed uniquely worth protecting.
🍇 Private Wine Tastings
Sommelier-led private tastings for groups of 4 to 40, featuring a selection of six wines paired with light fare.
Late Night Menu 🌙
While the full menu of savory snacks and mains is available until 10 PM, a specialized late night menu is offered from 10 PM until the bar closes.
Monthly Wine Classes 🍷
Educational wine classes led by sommeliers to expand your palate. Themes rotate monthly (Current theme: National Lampoons UNESCO Heritage Vacation).
Private Wine Tastings
Private Wine Tastings for your crew (from an intimate gathering of 4 to a full-blown bash of 40!).
📰 In the News
Brent Kroll celebrates 8 years of Maxwell Park
Maxwell Park, a prominent wine bar in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw District, marks eight years of operation under owner and sommelier Brent Kroll. The venue is celebrated for its approachable atmosphere and unique monthly rotations, featuring themes that range from regional spotlights like Greece and South Africa to creative concepts like Taylor Swift-inspired wine pairings.
10 best wine bars across the United States
Maxwell Park in Washington, D.C. was named one of the top 10 wine bars in the United States for 2025 by USA TODAY 10Best. Founded by sommelier Brent Kroll, the venue is celebrated for its playful atmosphere, nostalgic vibes featuring old-school hip-hop, and an expertly curated wine selection.
Tariff pricing is already popping up at D.C. bars and restaurants
Maxwell Park owner Brent Kroll is navigating the impact of proposed tariffs on imported wines and essential dry goods like napkins and straws. The Shaw wine bar is considering reviving its "tariff menu" to educate customers on potential price increases while implementing cost-saving measures to weather broader economic challenges.
Brent Kroll on the Insane Diversity of German Wines
Maxwell Park proprietor Brent Kroll discusses his expertise and passion for the diversity of German wines, ranging from dry Rieslings to Spätburgunder. The Shaw neighborhood establishment reflects Kroll's deep background in the industry and his commitment to showcasing unique, high-quality wine selections.
Maxwell Park Navy Yard Becomes a Cocktail Bar With Late-Night Party Vibes
Maxwell Park closed its Navy Yard location in early 2023 to make way for Trouble Bird, a cocktail bar with a late-night party atmosphere and a 'punk grandma's living room' aesthetic. While the wine bar's waterfront outpost transitioned to this new concept, the flagship Maxwell Park location in Shaw remains operational. The successor venue, Trouble Bird, features a menu of creative cocktails and elevated late-night snacks like carbonara paninis and polenta fries.
Recent Reviews from Google
From the moment we arrived till the moment we left, the experience was amazing! The wine selection is impeccable. There are varieties to meet every wine connoisseur’s standards yet the wine...
A good time here with friends. We tried to get extra dirty martinis but they were out of brine which is on us for ordering martinis at a wine bar (even though they have cocktails available). The wine...
I came here with my friends after Dacha, and we had a really good time. The service from our bartender was phenomenal. The red wine he selected for us was a crowd pleaser. They were also playing...
Just came here for a night cap. It was nice outside so we wanted to sit outside by one of the fire pits. The wine selection is great and rotates monthly. Definitely a great spot to check out, whether...
This place is amazing! They don't take reservations, if you want a table you have to walk in here, when you feel like it, old school style! They also have artisanal cruch wrap supremes!
