Where to Drink on Labor Day Weekend in DC
Labor Day can be good or bad depending on your opinion of DC seasons—sad if you love summer or wonderful if you can hardly wait for the arrival of fall. What we can all agree on is that it’s an excellent excuse for a long weekend full of festivals, last-chance visits to outdoor drinking holes and brunch on Monday. If you’re not heading out of the city, read up on our list of where to go this Labor Day weekend. Just remember that the guy or gal refreshing your bottomless mimosas is working on Labor Day, so leave a nice tip.
City Tap House: If you’re a Maryland crab fan, don’t miss this beer-driven restaurant’s Old Bay Day Party. From 11 AM–5 PM, enjoy all-you-can-eat blue crabs, jambalaya and corn on the cob, plus a bottomless Bloody Mary bar and drafts of Flying Dog Brewery’s Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale. (901 9th St. NW; 202-644-9433)
The Gibson: It’s a rare occasion when this 14th Street speakeasy opens its doors to the public, so don’t miss your chance to celebrate the end of summer in style on their back patio with boozy popsicles, blended drinks, punch and barbeque. The Gibson Family Reunion Cookout runs from 12–8 PM on Labor Day. (2009 14th St. NW; 202-232-2156)
Hill Country's Backyard Barbecue: If you haven’t been to Hill Country’s pop-up at the Building Museum, this weekend is your last chance. The popular outdoor spot complete with haybales, cornhole, and buckets of Shiner Bock or Ruby Redbird is closing after Labor Day. (401 F St. NW; 202-272-2448)
DNV Rooftop Lounge: Also closing after Labor Day weekend is this popular rooftop bar with a phenomenal view of the city. Drink in the last days of summer with poolside Asian-inspired cocktails-on-tap like the Saigon Gin & Tonic or Tokyo Gimlet. (1155 14th St. NW; 202-379-4367)
Graffiato: Mike Isabella’s Penn Quarter spot wraps up their extended all-day summer happy hours this weekend, so camp yourself out from 11:30 AM to close to get $5 drink specials and bites at the bar. His other spot, Kapnos, is also running all day happy hour 12–7 PM on Saturday and Sunday; try the $6 kegged lemonade with gin, rum, whiskey or mastiha. (707 6th St. NW; 202-289-3600 and 2201 14th St. NW; 202-234-5000)
Irish Whiskey Public House: For an extra extra boozy brunch, Irish Whiskey will be offering their Sunday special: get a bottle of champagne for $1 with the purchase of any entree. Usually this special only runs until 3 PM, but on Labor Day you can keep boozing for an extra hour. (1207 19th St. NW; 202-463-3010)
Toro Toro: Latin steakhouse Toro Toro will be hosting a special Mediterranean Soirée on Sunday, August 31 from 10 PM til the early morning hours of Labor Day Monday. Sip on their classic Margarita de Toro or creative cocktails like the Prickly Pear Chilcano (Pisco, lime juice, prickly pear purée, ginger) and dance to Latin and Mediterranean DJs. They’re also offering a Labor Day Bottomless Brunch on Monday, so you don’t even need to go home. (1300 I St. NW; 202-682-9500)
If you don’t want to pull the all-nighter but love Richard Sandoval’s cuisine, no fear—all of his DC restaurants are offering Bottomless Brunch on Monday. Head to El Centro D.F. for breakfast tacos and unlimited micheladas and mimosas, neighbor Masa 14 and Zengo for Latin/Asian fusion (try the Korean Short Rib Roja Vieja), or to Barracks Row’s Ambar for endless mimosas and Balkan-style crepes.
FLOFest DC: On Monday from 10 AM–6 PM, FLOFest DC celebrates food, wine, literature and jazz at the new art park and pavilion Gateway DC in Southeast. Enjoy live music performances, chef demonstrations, and sample South African wines from House of Mandela and Heritage Link vineyards. (2700 MLK Jr. SE; 202-262-3987)
Epicurience Food and Wine Festival: For a full weekend celebration of food and drink, head to Leesburg, VA for this festival which will feature farm-to-table food and highlight the best of local wines. Seminars, cocktail parties, live music, and of course lots of wine will keep you busy all weekend. Visitors will also have the chance to meet celebrity chefs, and vintners from nearby wineries like Breaux, Tarara, Sunset Hills and Fabbioli Cellars. The festival runs from Friday, August 29, through Monday, September 1. (Morven Park, Leesburg, VA)
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