Government Shutdown Specials: Eat, Drink, Support

As the shutdown strains household budgets and neighborhood businesses alike, we’ve rounded up deals designed to help. In true DC fashion, restaurants, cafés, and bars across the DMV are stepping up with deals for furloughed workers (and in many cases, for everyone). Note some places you do nee a Federal ID : 

Shutdown Specials:

Alfreda
BOGO pizza (buy one, get a plain pie free) + $8 spritzes, Mon–Fri 3–6 PM
½-off wine bottles on Wednesdays

Amazonia
Sour Hour (Mon–Fri open–7 PM; all day Sun): ½-price anticuchos; select bites $10; ceviche $19; $9 pisco sours/punches; select wines & NA wine

Anju
Happy Hour (Mon–Fri, 5–6 PM, 1st floor): Mandu or pork & kimchi dumplings (3) $6; Honey BBQ chicken sandwich $10; Kirin draft $5; Shandy $7; red/white wine $7/gls

Barrel
“Unhappy Hour” from open to close: $10 milk punch, Old Fashioned, or Manhattan; $6 IPA and lager drafts.

Carmine’s
All-day happy hour throughout the shutdown for everyone: $5 meatball sliders; $8 “Here We Go Again” (frozen big berry Cosmo) and “The Essential Worker” (frozen peach bellini). Bar area only.

Compass Coffee
Show government ID: free pastry with any drink.

Cork Wine Bar & Market
Downstairs bar happy hour 3 PM–close with federal ID: $8 select wine by the glass, $5 Frico can, $5 avocado toast, $6 fries.

Daru & Tapori
All-night happy hour Sun–Thu at both spots (menus available online). Great for stretching dollars with standout Indian-inspired plates and cocktails.

Doro
$12 fried chicken lunch specials daily from 11 AM:
– Fried chicken (1-piece) + any side
– Chicken tenders + any side
– Fried chicken sandwich with berbere

Duke’s Grocery
Show federal ID: complimentary shot of bourbon or glass of house wine with any burger or entrée; $5 select beers for federal employees.

Gogi Yogi
Show federal ID: complimentary beer with any all-you-can-eat option.

Hard Rock Cafe (Penn Quarter)
With federal badge, for duration of shutdown (bar area for HH): All-day happy hour + $12 entrée special (Classic Burger or Flatbread with fries/salad + fountain soda).

Hyde Social
Half-off all drinks daily 4–7 PM until the shutdown ends.

Immigrant Food
$5 Classic Margarita with government ID at Planet Word & Ballston (normally $12). White House location: $5 canned cocktails. Valid until the shutdown ends.

KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Free punch with valid government ID at each brand, including:
– Gatsby: Greta’s Punch (mango-infused vodka, rhubarb, strawberry, ginger, mint, bubbles)
– The Grill: Grill Punch (pineapple-infused vodka, gin, grilled mango, ginger, mint, bubbles)
– Mi Vida: Ponche De Lola (mango-infused vodka, Sauza Reposado, ginger, guava, mint, strawberry, bubbles)
– Bistro Du Jour: Colette’s Punch (mango-infused vodka, rhubarb liqueur, cassis, ginger, lemon, bubbles)
– Succotash: Belle’s Punch (mango-infused vodka, bourbon, ginger, peach, mint, bubbles)

King Street Oyster Bar (multiple)
Daily HH 3–6:30 PM: $1 KSOB oysters (3 per order); $5–$7 cocktails/beer/wine; $6 tuna tacos/shrimp bites; $7 bruschetta/mussels/burger/wings/shrimp po’ boy

Madhatter
Mon: Trivia 7:30 PM + $7 build-your-own burgers
Tue: Taco Tuesday—$3 tacos, $4 Coronas, $5 house margs
Wed: Whole Maine lobster $18
Thu: $1 Coors Light mugs (8 PM–close)
Fri: $5 martinis (4–8 PM)

Mallard
Burger Wednesdays: Steamburger + any draft beer $20 (weekly rotating special burger), from 5 PM

McClellan’s Retreat
Shutdown special: $15 grilled cheese + Old Fashioned (Mon–Sat). All-day happy hour on Weds & Sun during shutdown: Old Fashioned or rotating punch $8; Paloma or Aperol Spritz $9; Martini $10.

Osteria Morini
$15 pastas for federal workers with government ID.

Paraíso
All-day happy hour for government employees: $9 Classic & Passion Fruit Margaritas; $4 Tecate; $8 wine; $12 tapas (Queso Fundido, Mejillones en Curry, Taquitos de Short Rib).

Rasa
$10 bowls (chicken or veggie) for federal workers with badge.

Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten (Dupont)
With federal ID: extended happy hour till 10 PM; $6 green tea shooters; $7 pretzel bites all day.

Shaw’s Tavern
With federal ID (Mon–Fri): $5 beers (Miller Lite or Tavern Lager), $6 house red/white, $7 Deep Eddy martini; $10 cheeseburger or pizza (red or white).

Taco Bamba
One free taco with purchase of any taco for federal employees (valid ID; in-store orders; one free taco per guest).

Thompson Restaurants (Matchbox, Makers Union, Wiseguy Pizza, Big Buns, and more)
20% off for government employees with valid ID until the government reopens. Full list of participating brands/locations at thompsonrestaurants.com.

Union Pub
$3 select beer or $7 hot dog + select beer combo.

Yume Hospitality
20% off for government employees (show ID) at YUME Sushi, KYOJIN, and RIMTANG. Not valid on happy hour. Runs until the government reopens.

You now the drill —> Offers can change; confirm before you go.