Allegory

Always a seriously long wait, but understandably so. The vibes and the cocktails are always on point. The nice part is that there are multiple other establishments that you can spend time at while waiting for your table.

The theme of this speakeasy is an interesting spin on Alice in Wonderland with Ruby Bridges as the main character and her experience as the first Black child to integrate into an all-white school. I personally love an educational speakeasy.

My favorite drink was actually a non-alcoholic drink that had ube in it. It was so unique and delicious and the presentation was great! A great place to spend the night with friends.

Absolutely loved the vibes and eclectic and innovative concept of this speakeasy! They had an Alice in Wonderland theme going around, told through the eyes of Ruby Bridges (American Civil Rights activist).

They don't take reservations, so the only option is leaving your name and number at the front, and receiving a link that tells you what your place in line is. We arrived around 9PM and were 11th in line, we waited for about 2 hours and were seated at 11:05PM. I was surprised at how small the space was, but it added to the intimate and moody ambiance. Servers were very friendly and attentive, they also go around shooting a bubble gun, which I found quite amusing.

We ordered the Unicorn and Jabberwocky. Unicorn was impressive because they were actually able to recreate all flavors of the pandan, coconut, sesame honey, and eucalyptus. Cocktails definitely had unique alc pairings and were innovative. The jabberwocky was alright in my opinion, I enjoyed the first few sips but the bourbon taste overpowered the other notes.

Would come back here again to try their other drinks, but likely on a weekday to avoid waiting for hours.

Five stars for a bar that has fantastic cocktails, even better vibes, and the opportunity for a server to greet you with a bubble gun. I went to Allegory upon my last visit to DC because it is my friend's favorite spot. I can most definitely see why, as it is absolutely delightful.

It gives a bit of speakeasy vibes since it's small and cozy, and then the decor is inspired by Alice and Wonderland which makes a perfect pairing to the imaginative cocktails they have on the menu.

I cannot remember what I ordered, but I enjoyed every cocktail I had. Their bar has won several awards, so you expect inventive, well balanced cocktails.

Would most definitely return as the service and experience was top notch. While I think a visit to Allegory would be fun any time, it was definitely a vibe late night.

True to its name - the name definitely fits the motif! The speakeasy is tucked in the back of Eaton Hotel with a colorful and creative motif on Ruby Bridget's journey fighting racial injustice echoed through the menu's fable of different chapters delineating her journey, vibrant mural, and unique cocktails.

The speakeasy is first come first serve and it was packed at 5:15pm, I recommend getting here promptly at 5pm or be prepared to wait! The speakeasy is spacious and can fit ~25 people.

The cocktails are spirit-forward, don't expect sweet cocktails here. While the Jaggernacky was fun to try with a spicy kick from drops of sriracha sauce, I preferred the the slightly sweeter rum punch Unicorn with a dollop of Matcha on top. Hubby enjoyed the boozy Eyes of the Flame and Looking Glass cocktails. The cocktails and food weren't too pricey.

The Herb Goat Cheese was the perfect finger food snack with crispy crostini garlic bread with a nice cheesy herb dip! The Deviled Eggs with roasted hummus was tasty snack as well.

I'm surprised there weren't more finger food options like pretzels, fries, cheese and crackers or charcuterie board style apps.

The Eaton Hotel is quite progressive and unique with different sexual terms listed out in the restroom area and tackling racial injustice.

The speakeasy is unique and fun to try, but I'm not sure if I'd come back.

All of these years of loving me some Allegory, that I'm actually in shock that I've never written a review.

Allegory is quite easily one of my favorite places in DC. Not only is the concept rich in history and meaning, but the entire cocktail menu has been curated in the most thoughtful way to creatively align, resulting in a beautiful storytelling experience.

I've celebrated birthdays, friends' birthdays, great days, horrible days and uneventful days here just because the folks that work here have created such an amazing environment for customers to enjoy. They're able to find the hard to achieve balance of professionalism as experts in their craft, while also maintaining a fun and laid back vibe. With some speakeasies there is a lack of approachability for the more novice cocktail drinker. But not here. They're passionate, knowledgeable and seem to really enjoy sharing that with customers.

Over the past few years, the team has been stacking awards, being recognized as one of the best in the world and it is absolutely well deserved. It's been a pleasure becoming a "regular" here and I will continue to cheer for this amazing team - they deserve all their flowers!

Disappointed and left thirsty, our highly anticipated visit to Allegory turned sour due to poor communication between the door staff and the bar. After a grueling 90-minute wait, we were seated only to discover it was a pop-up event with limited drink options, two of the four drinks offered were unavailable. If only we were informed earlier, we could have made other plans. The door staff's response only added to the frustration, as they seemed oblivious to the chaos within. For a bar touted as one of the best in the US, such lackluster service is baffling.

Allegory is a cute little speakeasy inside the Eaton hotel. You don't need a password to get in, you just need to find it. The entrance is behind a door that looks like it in a library. There was someone standing outside to let us in.

My friend and I went to enjoy drinks. If they did serve food, the kitchen was closed. The drinks were fun to look and some of them were poured/finished at the table for visual effect. The drinks I ordered were delicious but as expected for a speakeasy in DC, a little pricey.

The menu was super cute and was Ruby Bridges themed along with the drink names. I highly recommend for pre or post dinner drinks on the way to another venue in the area.

Removed a star for price point and the bar was a little slow but I guess craft cocktails require a little more time.

I've been to this speakeasy a few times, and it's a really fun and innovative concept. I'm here for turning a children's fairytale into a theme for a bar and for creative cocktails. The mural on the walls and the menus only add to the theme and give you something interesting to look at.

During my last visit, we had a family party of 6 and they were able to seat us right away. It was pretty cozy, but I appreciated that we weren't super close to any other tables. It was the 1st visit for a few in our party and they were loving the theme. Our waitress was cool and even had one drink changed out when my cousin wasn't a fan. All the other drinks were a hit though, including the mocktail that I was drinking.

Another thing I enjoy about this spot is the playlist - always so good. Overall, it's a great place for an intimate drink.

Loved this speakeasy! Tucked away in the library of a hotel- super cute. The theme of the bar is Alice and wonderland through the eyes of Ruby Bridges. The art is gorgeous and pairs with the story as outlined in the menu. It's a genuine piece of art with a drink being price of admission. Service was great- bartenders were kind- it's more casual vibe and was already just only an hour into opening as it's a small space. This is a must visit in DC

We visited Allegory for the first time & grabbed drinks with a few friends for a birthday celebration this past weekend!

Allergory is a cool speakeasy inside the Eaton hotel downtown. You enter Allegory through the vibey library inside the hotel.

The speakeasy is inspired by Alice in Wonderland & Ruby Bridges's experience.

The service was friendly and attentive. The speakeasy was very clean as well.

All of the cocktails are unique and experimental. I can guarantee you are going to try drinks here that you aren't going to find anywhere else in the city! One cocktail even comes with a spray from a bubble machine!

The murals are beautiful and the space is interesting! They do not take reservations, we arrived around 5:30 pm on a Saturday evening and did not have to wait. By the time we were leaving around 7 pm, the library was filled with parties waiting to enter the speakeasy.
It does seem like you are able to order drinks and sit in the library while you wait as well.

We didn't have a chance to try the food this time, but we will be back to order some snacks!