Warm Weather Coolers: TheListAreYouOnIt’s Summer Cocktail Roundup

Summer’s here, and the DMV’s bars are raising the bar, literally. Think crisp spritzes, herb-packed coolers and icy cocktails made for sunny days and sultry nights. We’ve rounded up the most refreshing summer sips shaking things up this season.

Thirsty for more? Don’t miss our Patio Pleasure & our Up On The Roof guides for the best al fresco food + drink.  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

Planet Wine Rose Fest: Planet Wine's annual pink party is back. They'll be pouring a vibrant lineup of rosés from around the globe, both still and sparkling, in an informal tasting designed to help you find your new summer favorites. On June 28th, tickets here. 

Planet Wine: Wines of the Finger Lakes: New York’s Finger Lakes is one of the most exciting cool-climate wine regions in the U.S, so Planet Wine is doing a class on the wines from this region. Join them for a casual seated wine classat Planet Wine as they dive into the geography, grape varieties, and vibrant winemaking culture of the Finger Lakes. Tickets here. 

Global Bites Fest: Join Global Bites, Rockville’s city-wide celebration of food, culture, and community from June 1-14, 2025. Dine at any of the Rockville restaurants (must be in city limits; excludes national chains) listed below and after indulging, upload an image of your receipt to the Global Bites submission form to be entered for a chance to win one of three VISA gift cards ($50, $100, $200) to fund your next restaurant outing. Get tickets here. 

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

The Playlist: Press Club's tasting menu, known as “The Playlist,” is a creative fusion of four unique cocktails that are each paired with Japanese-inspired bites and priced at $95 per person. Every of the four pairings is cleverly named after popular songs, and the current menu is modeled after iconic Arctic Monkeys tunes. Menu highlights include the "Do I Wanna Know?," which features Junmai Daiginjo Sake with persimmon, lemon and champagne, paired with potato, comté and mustard; the decadent "I Wanna Be Yours," which combines Hennessy VSOP, coffee, chocolate and cream accompanied by soft serve, miso caramel and crispies; and more. 1506 19th street; pressclubdc.com

Sunday Spritz All Day (Happy Hour Alert): Just in time for summer, Blagden Alley backyard bar Calico is launching a new “Sunday Spritz” all-day happy hour featuring discounted spritzes and tomato pie combos. Just in time for summer, Blagden Alley backyard bar Calico is launching a new “Sunday Spritz” all-day happy hour featuring discounted spritzes and tomato pie combos. 50 Blagden Alley NW; calicodc.com

Crafted Coolers: Tatte Bakery & Café has launched a new menu of Craft Coolers just in time for summer. Available in Mango Ginger, Strawberry Chamomile, and White Peach & Mint, each beverage features fresh-brewed tea infused with real fruit and herbs. tattebakery.com

Tea Time: Step into a world where sophistication meets spirited indulgence—The St. Regis Society Afternoon Tea is a modern affair inspired by long lunches, sun-drenched garden salons, and a touch of old-world glamour. Seasonal scones with classic accompaniments and a curated tea selection—ranging from bold Darjeeling to fragrant herbal infusions—round out this indulgent escape, with champagne and craft cocktails available to elevate the occasion even further. 923 16th St NW; marriott.com

Give Me Some Shuga: Shuga & Ice have added some new flavors to their menu. Their flavors include Malva Pudding: Back by popular demand, this flavor is inspired by the traditional South African dessert of the same name. It features sweet vanilla ice cream swirled with Malva Pudding cake pieces and apricot jam; Kenyan Chai: A brand new creation, this flavor is handcrafted with authentic Kenyan masala chai, delivering a bold black tea flavor layered with hints of ginger, cardamom, and other warm spices. shugaxice.com

Feeling Frozen: Paraíso has officially launched their frozen margarita bar in their private “Frida Room” just in time for summer, with more frozens, coffee cocktails, and all new paired tapas. From 4-10 PM every Thursday-Saturday, stop into this dimly lit, vibrant private bar space to enjoy music and sip on favorites like frozen Mango Chamoy Margarita, made with tequila, mango, lime and chamoy. 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; paraisotaqueria.com

Dangerous Drinks (Happy Hour Alert): Lucky Danger launches happy hour food and drink specials every day it’s open (Tues. - Sat) at the front bar only. $8 cocktails, including: Mandarin Mule with spiced mandarin syrup, vodka lime, and ginger; the Singapore sling–gin, benedictine, cherry herring, orange liqueur, pineapple, lime, and angostura bitters; and Lucky’s G&T with gin, melon, green tea and mint. 1101 S Joyce St; luckydanger.co

Sante & Proost: The Sovereign’s Happy Hour is your passport to Belgian beer bliss. Santé & Proost to $6 draft beers like Allagash White, TRVE Siren Saison, and Schilling’s Erastus Tripel. Pair your pour with $6 snacks like Petite Loaded Fries with mushroom cream sauce, Belgian Meatballs in Witbier mustard cream, and Brussels Sprouts glazed in kriek gastrique. 1206 Wisconsin Avenue NW; thesovereigndc.com

Dealer’s Choice (Happy Hour Alert):  It’s Dealer’s Choice at Serenata’s Happy Hour — enjoy their rotating cocktail of the day for just $8, plus a curated menu of Latin-inspired favorites like the bold Margarita 2.0, smoky Oaxacan Old Fashioned, Classic Mojito, Mezcal Mule, and zesty Paloma. Monday through Friday, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM; 1280 4th St NE, Washington, D.C.; serenatadc.com

I Said Corn Star, Not Porn Star (Frozen Drink Alert): Frozens are BACK at Pascual. Drinks include the Frozen Mango Margarita (tequila, mango, curcao, lime) ($17). Other highlights throughout the season will include a take on Frosé and variations based on produce seasonality. Plus, Pascual just opened up their covered patio for the season. 732 Maryland Ave NE; pascualdc.com

Amalfi Summer, Thai Surprise (High Tea Alert): Flore Cafe has launched a new "Amalfi Summer, Thai Surprise," tea experience. Flore Café offers specially curated cocktails and mocktails by The Rowing Club at Sisters Tysons, available for an additional charge. Enjoy cocktails like Limone Bliss (Tito's Vodka, Limoncello, Yuzu Purée) and Citrus Serenade (Malfy Gin Rosa, grapefruit juice, sparkling wine), or refreshing mocktails such as Sorrento Shine and Blush Coast.  7735 Capital One Tower Road; Florecafe.com

Tokyo in Tysons: A new restaurant has opened in Tysons called the Naisho Room. Naisho (meaning “secret” in Japanese) is both the name and the ethos of this dimly lit, design-driven space. With just a few nights of service each week, and reservations reviewed one by one, The Naisho Room is already one of the hardest seats to secure in the DC area. Those who make it inside are rewarded with skyline views, immersive ambiance, a bar program built around rare Japanese spirits, and artful bites from Wren’s Executive Sushi Chef, Hobin Kim.1825 Capital One Dr, Tysons, VA 22102; Instagram

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: 

Love is Love: U Street wine bar Lulu’s Winegarden is celebrating World Pride DC and Pride Month, introducing a “Love is Love at Lulu’s” drink menu filled with colorful cocktails and charitable Cava through June 30. And drinkers can sip for a cause, as the U Street wine garden is donating $1 from each Pride drink sold to the Human Rights Campaign. Lulu’s Winegarden has created three special pride cocktails (each $16): the crushable “Dancing Queen” (vodka, house blueberry lemonade and club soda); the purple-hued “Taste the Rainbow” (a creative riff on a classic Aviation with gin, creme de violette, fresh raspberry and lime, garnished with a rainbow candy belt); and the tropical “Come to My Window” (a strawberry-coconut daiquiri with white rum, coconut liqueur, strawberry and fresh lime, with a coconut-dusted rim).1940 11th Street NW; luluswinegarden.com

Secret Garden: Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts, owners of Cork Wine Bar, are excited to introduce The Corkyard, a refresh of the outdoor space located just behind their iconic 14th Street restaurant. You can look forward to seasonal favorites like Frosé and Frozen Cocktails ($18), along with a specially curated Rosé Bar Menu offering an array of pink wines priced between $14 and $22 by the glass. 1805 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; corkdc.com

Hora Feliz (Happy Hour Alert): Enjoy tropical cocktails, highballs, neat pours, and local beers during Colada Shop's Hora Feliz. All cocktails are $8.50 including the Maduro Old Fashioned with bourbon, gold rum, spiced maduro syrup, and cascara bitters—or try a Tropical Mimosa with your choice of guava or passion fruit. Coladashop.com

Dumplings & Deals (Happy Hour Alert):Unwind with Bar Bao's Happy Hour featuring craveable bites like JFC and Braised Pork Bao, dumplings, sushi rolls, and more—all starting at just $4. Sip on $5 drafts, $6 rail drinks and wine, $10 Aperol Spritzes and Margaritas, plus $35 hookahs.Monday through Friday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM; 3100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA 22201; Barbao.com

Super Summer Supra: Supra has a new Summer Tasting Menu with a Georgian wine pairing experience. This new offer, developed in partnership with Georgian Wine House, will be available Sunday to Thursday at dinner service throughout the month of June. This Supra, which means “celebratory feast,” is priced at $55 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) for dinner and an additional $40 per person for the featured wine pairings, curated to perfect this Georgian culinary adventure. 1205 11th Street NW; supradc.com

Golden Hour (Happy Hour Alert): La Vie has a new weekday happy hour. Try the $9 draft cocktails like the rosé sangria and La Isla Bonita, $6 beers, and crave-worthy bites like truffle frites, kefta sliders, and oyster shooters. Mondays through Thursdays – Drinks available all day, Happy Hour food from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; 88 District Square; lavie-dc.com

Aperitivo Hour is Back: Aperitivo Hour at the Red Hen is back, served Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.. Plus, we’re now pouring rotating magnum wines for just $10 a glass! Each week features a different Italian gem, served from the big bottle and available exclusively at the bar alongside these aperitifs. theredhendc.com

Pendry x Jane Jane: Boozy Tea (High Tea Alert): In celebration of Pride month, Pendry Washington, DC – The Wharf will offer a new Boozy Tea menu during the month of June made in collaboration with local cocktail barJane Jane. The $80 experience, hosted in Pendry DC’s European-inspired Bar Pendry, is inclusive of three tea-based cocktails developed by the Jane Jane team poured alongside tiered sweet and savory teatime bites. A portion of proceeds from Boozy Tea sales throughout the month of June will be donated to SMYAL, a DC-based organization which has provided LGBTQ+ youth with safe, affirming, and empowering spaces since 1984. New tea-based cocktails from the Jane Jane team include the iced Daybreak Spritz made with white tea, peach liquor, vermouth, and sparkling wine; the Latte delle Isole, served hot and made with Irish whiskey, turbinado syrup, and hojicha oat milk; and the iced Baba Royale with black tea, pickled plum, cognac, sherry, and lemon. 655 Water Street SW, Washington DC; pendry.com

Mah Jongg Players Alert: JOY by Seven Reasons invites you to come play the classic Chinese game over bites and specialty cocktails inspired by the game. Highlights from the menu include the “BIRDBAM” ($15) (Aperol, Lillet Rose, Sparkling Wine, Strawberries, Oranges), The “GREEN DRAGON” ($14) (Vodka, Lillet Blanc, Olives), and the “JOKER” ($12) (NA - Passion Fruit, Lime, Rosemary, Indian Long Pepper). Led by instructor Caryn Fagan, this experience is available on select Mondays, starting at 6 pm. You can also rent the Mah Jogg set if they’re familiar with the game. 5471 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase; joy.com

Caribbean Heat Gets Cool (Happy Hour Alert): St. James has a new happy hour. For happy hour, you can enjoy specialty cocktails such as the Dark & Stormy ($10) made with rum, lime, and ginger beer, and the Smokin’ Mirror ($10) served with mezcal, Lillet Blanc, and Luxardo Bitter Bianco. Rail spirits with mixers are available for $9 and select wines are also available for $9. 2017 14th St. NW; stjames-dc.com