Side Door
✨ Vibe
Recently featured as one of the best vinyl bars in D.C., Side Door offers a nostalgic "cool grandpa’s basement" aesthetic complete with wood paneling, midcentury decor, and an incredible library of over 1,000 records.
🍸 Best For
Vinyl enthusiasts, hidden gem seekers, creative cocktail connoisseurs, and intimate date nights.
🔥 Highlights
- Themed & Bespoke Cocktails: Enjoy a rotating list of creative, themed drinks and barrel-aged classics, or ask the expert bartenders to whip up a custom creation based on your personal flavor profile.
- Immersive Audio Experience: The walls are adorned with an extensive vinyl collection that fuels a curated, on-brand soundtrack for a truly 10/10 musical atmosphere.
- Modern Gastropub Fare: While focusing on drinks, the venue serves high-end comfort food like Creamy Rigatoni Mac & Cheese, Buttermilk Scallion Hush Puppies, and the signature "Heidi" crispy chicken sandwich.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- To find this subterranean speakeasy, walk through the Pub & the People patio, look for the retro stripe on the ivy-covered wall, and head down the stairs.
- Reservations are highly recommended and can be found on the Pub & the People Resy page.
📰 In the News
The Best Vinyl Bars in D.C.
Side Door is a neighborhood bar in Bloomingdale located beneath Pub & the People, offering a retro atmosphere reminiscent of a "cool grandpa’s basement." The venue features a library of over 1,000 vinyl records, barrel-aged cocktails, and midcentury-inspired design elements like wood paneling and vintage posters.
Bloomingdale’s New Retro Drinking Den Is a ‘Cool Grandpa’s Basement’
Side Door is a retro, 25-seat drinking den located in the basement of Pub & the People in D.C.'s Bloomingdale neighborhood. Designed with a "cool grandpa’s basement" aesthetic, the bar features a 1,000-record vinyl library, midcentury modern furniture, and a cocktail program specializing in barrel-aged spirits and '80s-themed drinks.
Recent Reviews from Google
Very fun experience, makes you feel like you're hanging out in a cool basement from the late 70s / early 80s, with vinyl adorning the walls and a little corner bar offsetting the vinyl wraparound...
The bartender set 10/10 vibes. Cool music, movies and vinyls all around. Those drinks were AWESOME. I hope the baby yoda drink becomes a permanent menu item. Food was pretty good but ive had better....
11/22/2025 10:45. Walked in, stayed for maybe 10 min, and the bartender made it seem like why am I in this establishment. Asked for a drink in the nicest way and got an attitude for asking for a...
So glad we finally made it over to Side Door for drinks. They definitely nail the "grandpa's basement" vibe, and it's hard not to chuckle a bit when you first enter. If you have the time, take a...
Vibes here are unreal. Drinks are to die for. One of the only places I have ever been where the bartenders are real cocktail snobs in a way that isn't pretentious and annoying. Rotating short list of...
