Refreshing, Isn’t It? TheList’s List of Beverages

Summer drinking season in the DMV looks a little different than the rest of the year. Wine lists get lighter and colder, spritzes return to every cocktail menu in town, frozen drinks make their comeback, and bartenders start leaning into seasonal ingredients like berries and herbs and tomatoes from local farms. Even beer gardens and breweries shift into warm-weather mode with seasonal pours and outdoor events.

Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up all the can’t-miss cocktails, happy hours and summer sipping events happening around the DMV right now.

- Make a night of it with a show + a great pre or post-theatre cocktail or dinner with our theatre + dining guide (here)
- This week’s list of The List’s favorite food finds is right here
- From cocktail pop-ups and wine tastings to brewery events + summer beverage happenings around the region, we’ve got those covered here
- Looking for outdoor sipping season? Check out our Patio Pleasures + Up On The Roof roundups featuring patios, rooftops, courtyards & outdoor cocktail spots all across the DMV.

So much more glass-raising goodness below:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

L Tiki Pops Up: Liberty Tavern is bringing back its popular L Tiki pop-up for the last week of July, transforming its downstairs bar into a tropical escape complete with island-inspired bites and cocktails. Guests can enjoy specials like Kalua Pork Sliders, Mahi Mahi Tacos, and Spicy Ahi Poke Tacos alongside refreshing drinks including the Jungle Spritz and Birds of Paradise; thelibertytavern.com

Six at Six at Hay-Adams: Six at Six,” a new guided cocktail hour at Off The Record, the hotel’s celebrated bar just steps from Lafayette Square. Designed for guests who enjoy taking a closer look at what’s in the glass, Six at Six offers an intimate, seated experience at The Bench, the bar’s most sought-after seating area. Held from 6-7 pm on the last Tuesday of each month, Six at Six welcomes only six guests for an hour that feels unhurried, interactive, and quietly structured. June 30 – Gin & Jun – a bright, botanical exploration ($80.00 per person); July 28 – Vodka & Bubbles – light, celebratory cocktails that sparkle ($90.00 per person)

Mallard Turns Two With a One-Night Reunion Dinner from Chef Jeffrey Buben: Mallard is marking its second anniversary with a four-course dinner from Chef Hamilton Johnson and guest Chef Jeffrey Buben, celebrated for Vidalia, Bistro Bis, and Woodward Table, reuniting with his former protégé for one night only. The reimagined Southern menu runs $99 per guest, with beer and wine pairings available, and seating is limited. Thursday, August 6, 5:00–10:00 p.m. 1337 14th Street. NW, mallarddc.com

Who Has The Best Bubbles?: Nominations are now open for the 5th annual Top 10 Bars and Restaurants for Enjoying Champagne list, spotlighting standout venues across the U.S. that celebrate Champagne through exceptional wine programs, educational experiences, and creative events. Nominations close July 31, with the final honorees announced ahead of Champagne Day on October 23; champagne.fr/en

Summer Restaurant Week: Summer Restaurant Week returns August 18–24, bringing special prix fixe menus to restaurants across the DMV. Participating spots will offer 3-course brunch and lunch menus for $25.00 or $35.00, and 3-course dinners priced at $40.00, $55.00, or $65.00. Diners can browse participating restaurants, view menus, and make reservations now, with additional restaurants being added in the weeks leading up to the event; ramw.org/restaurantweek

Snallygaster: The District's beloved craft beer festival returns October 10, taking over 4 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW with 450+ beers from 175 breweries around the world. Along with rare pours and appearances by renowned brewers, guests can enjoy cider, wine, cocktails, live music, food from 25+ vendors, a Shop Made in DC makers market, games, and family-friendly activities. Tickets go on sale July 7 at 10:00 a.m., with proceeds supporting Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture and its mission to build a more equitable regional food system; snallygasterdc.com

Chefs for Equality: One of DC's premier culinary fundraisers returns October 19 with this year's "United Plates of America" theme, bringing together top local chefs, mixologists, and restaurateurs for collaborative dinners benefiting the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Hosted across six venues, the event features chef-driven dinners, cocktail pairings, and a new dedicated cocktail experience at Silver Lyan. Tickets are on sale now; chefsforequality.org

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Not For Long Pop-Up Bar Opens at Union Market: Gina Chersevani has opened Not For Long, a limited-run Italian liquor lair inside Union Market built around the phrase "cogli l'attimo," seize the moment. Beverage Director Michael Saccone crafted a menu of Negronis, Spritzes, and an Italian Margarita, with seasonal soft serve and gelato to close things out, all under a disco ball spinning Italian '70s tunes. It's open now, but true to the name, won't be for long. Thursday 3–9 p.m., Friday 3–11 p.m., Saturday 12–11 p.m., Sunday 12–9 p.m. 1309 5th Street. NE. @NOTFORLONGDC

Yes We Like Pina Coladas: Colada Shop Turns Up the Tropics with Its First Annual Piña Colada Festival. Colada Shop is celebrating the piña colada with a two-week festival featuring three limited-edition, influencer-crafted drinks from local tastemakers Baylee Bogard, AJ, and Liz Strom. Guests taste and vote on their favorite, with the winning influencer earning $1,000 for the charity of their choice. It runs July 8–26 at all Colada Shop locations except DCA. coladashop.com 

Low ABV on Beat: Public Interest has introduced a new beverage program centered on low-ABV and alcohol-free options, making it easy for sober, sober-curious, and moderation-minded guests to enjoy an elevated dining experience. Highlights include low-ABV cocktails like the Rye of the Tiger and Pink Grapefruit Club, spirit-free creations such as Strawberry Rickey Forever and Get Figgy With It, and non-alcoholic beers from Athletic Brewing Co. The inclusive menu reflects the growing demand for mindful drinking without compromising on flavor or the social dining experience; publicinterestdc.com

Trilogy of Tonics: Kyojin is cooling things down with 3 new seasonal cocktails designed for summer sipping. The lineup includes the Matcha No Kaze ($21.00), a refreshing blend of herb-infused vodka, citrus, tonic, celery bitters, and matcha; the Scarlet Elixir ($20.00), featuring Cabernet, apple brandy, and amaretto; and the tropical Fifth Element ($20.00), crafted with rum, velvet falernum, passionfruit, orgeat, and citrus; kyojindc.com

Japanese-Inspired Refreshers: Yume Sushi is welcoming the season with a new lineup of Japanese-inspired summer cocktails. Sip the Ember & Pear, blending smoky Scotch with baked pear, honey, lemon, and thyme; the tropical Emerald Wave with vodka, matcha, pineapple, and lime; the light and bubbly Honey Eclipse, made with gin, honey, ginger, passionfruit, and sparkling water; or the Ruby Petals, a vibrant mix of tequila, hibiscus, lime, cinnamon, and grenadine; yumesushiva.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: 

Sunset Sensations (Happy Hour Alert): Fiola Mare has introduced a new daily Sunset Happy Hour, available from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., featuring $12.00 cocktails and spritzes alongside a selection of the restaurant’s signature seafood bites. Highlights include the Lobster Donut, Wild Kampachi Amalfi-Style Crudo, and the Marina Platter, offering a taste of the Georgetown waterfront favorite at happy hour prices; fiolamaredc.com

Brewing & Business Experienceship: DC-based craft brewery Soul Mega has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Brewing & Business Experienceship. Selected from breweries across the country, Soul Mega will receive mentorship from Jim Koch and the Samuel Adams team, collaborate on a specialty beer, and attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Known for blending craft beer with music, art, and community, the award-winning brewery continues to build on its growing Mid-Atlantic presence following recognition for its flagship Worldwide American Pale Ale and its community-driven approach to brewing.; brewingtheamericandream.com

Shot. Shot. Shot: Moxies is embracing summer with new food, drink, and group-friendly specials. The restaurant has introduced a 5 for $55.00 specialty shot offering, letting groups mix and match five signature shots, alongside seasonal menu highlights like Lettuce Wraps, Ahi Tuna Salad, and Scottish Salmon. Guests can also sip on refreshing summer cocktails including a Grapefruit, Hugo, or Aperol Spritz, or opt for the alcohol-free Tropic Thunder made with Seedlip Garden 108, passion fruit, lemon, and a chili-lime rim. The new offerings are available now, with patio dining open for the season; moxies.com

Take Flight: The acclaimed cocktail laboratory from José Andrés has introduced Savor the Season, a new 6-course cocktail tasting that explores the flavors of spring and summer through inventive mixology. Priced at $115.00 per person, the experience features imaginative creations like the Golden Goose with tequila, gooseberry, and saffron, the vegetable-forward Salad Days, the savory Yaki Negi, and the playful Second Slice, crafted with baijiu, parmesan, and bread air. Developed by barmini’s award-winning team, the new flight showcases the bar’s signature blend of creativity, technique, and unexpected flavor combinations; minibarbyjoseandres.com

Supra Sodas: DC’s Georgian favorite has introduced Supra Sodas, a new lineup of all-natural house sodas inspired by Georgia’s iconic Lagidze Waters. Available now, the handcrafted flavors include Tarragon, Cherry, Orange, Grape Saperavi, Chocolate, and Cream Soda, each made in-house and served for $7.00. Guests can also add a house spirit to create their own Georgian-inspired cocktail. The launch is the latest tribute to Georgia’s rich culinary traditions from owner Jonathan Nelms, who developed the recipes after studying the famed sodas during a recent trip to the country; supradc.com