The Resy Guide to Where to Drink in D.C. This Fall

Feeling like a soujourn to Paris? Take your friends to Maison Bar À Vins for olives, oyster, bread with cultured butter, and all the beverages. In addition to an impressive wine program, they have a bevy of creative cocktails, and their Poire et Poivre is already a seasonal hit. The rye-based drink includes cognac, pear, Sauternes, and black pepper. The best part? The ice cube at the center of the drink, adorned with a candied pear.

Read more about Maison here.

If you’re searching for the quintessential fall cocktail, we’ve found it for you. This egg-white foam-topped creation is comprised of cinnamon-infused bourbon, calvados, apple liqueur, lemon, and cinnamon syrup – essentially all the main ingredients of the season. Topped with a cinnamon-dusted apple slice, this drink is photo-ready and delicious to boot, handily served at one of the most photogenic bars in town.

With its boozy build and deep red color, the classic negroni is a perennial favorite for fall. For a twist on the classic, try the Balestrini. With yerba mate–infused Bombay Sapphire gin as the base, Floreria Atlantico’s version is layered with Campari, Amaro Averna, and a whisper of sea water to evoke the Atlantic coast. Eucalyptus adds a refreshing, aromatic lift, transforming the drink into something at once familiar and adventurous. The $20 pricetag is worth it for this striking expression of the bar’s South American roots, and its use of botanicals tied to place and story.

With its relaxed, seize-the-day surfer theme, Vagabond offers a space for casual meet-ups and catch-ups with friends. For a great live-in-the-moment drink, try their robust La Zuriola cocktail, which combines bourbon and calvados for a rich, spirited base. Amaro and bitter bianco introduce herbaceous and tart notes, balanced by a Basque cider cordial for a touch of acidity. The Northern Spanish cider is the inspiration behind the name of the cocktail, which refers to a popular surfing town in San Sebastian located in the Basque country.

Pomegranate season is upon us, and we’re here for it. Made especially for fall by owner Chris Francke, this stunning cocktail has vodka and pomegranate two ways — housemade pomegranate syrup, made from freshly-squeezed pomegranates for sweetness, and never-concentrated pomegranate juice for the body of the drink — as well as arak and bubbles.

This gorgeous Italian restaurant has all the makings of a fabulous night out: great service, delicious coastal Mediterranean fare, an upbeat playlist, and of course, enticing cocktails. Try the Tropicalia, a combination of mezcal with Chinola passionfruit liqueur, mandarin, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, and vanilla. The result is a drink that’s at once smoky, sweet, and slightly spicy, showcasing some of fall and winter’s best fruits — passionfruit and mandarin oranges.

When the days get shorter, we turn to dark liquors and chocolate to bring us comfort and warmth — this drink combines both. The classic Manhattan gets an update with (admittedly old school) Rittenhouse rye, cacao, sweet vermouth, and bitters. It’s a sip that’s both heady and heavenly, best enjoyed while seated at Lyle’s dark and intimate bar.

Lulu’s may be a wine bar, but don’t sleep on their cocktails. Right now, they’re offering a Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini on draft, made with vodka, pumpkin pie liqueur, Mr. Black cold brew liqueur, and cold brew. Sample it on Lulu’s patio, recently outfitted for the season with heat lamps, blankets, and a festive fall décor.

The mood at Reynold’s is low-lit and mysterious — the perfect backdrop for their Hot & Bothered cocktail. A combination of Espolon reposado tequila, Cappelletti aperitivo, mandarin orange, and honey and sesame chili-oil, it’s a little sweet, a little citrusy, and a little spicy. In other words, just what the season calls for.

Arguably the most voguish spot in town, L’Ardente also has some of the most stylish cocktails. Based on a sherry-based cocktail made with sugar and citrus, the Fig Cobbler features fino sherry accented by Lambrusco, which gives the beverage a bit of fizz. The fig and the fino are a harmonious pair, with the fig’s earthy raisin flavors a perfect foil for the honey-nut profile of the sherry. The added Grappa makes it a bit more boozy and works with the lemon to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients.

With apple-picking opportunities abounding all season long in the D.C. area, it’s no wonder apples are the first thing that come to mind when we start feeling a chill in the air. The Big Apple a Day is simple, but certainly celebrates the fruit of the season with Hudson bourbon, honey crisp apple calvados, and bitters.

The team at Ceibo loves to work with the ingredients of the season, and this beverage exemplifies that ethos. A sophisticated cocktail with a lingering warmth, the Boniato is a delightful fusion of hearty flavors: the rich depth of whiskey, expertly blended with the complex notes of Uruguayan red vermouth, and enriched with a unique reduction of sweet potato and clove. The subtle fruitiness and hint of spice give this take on a Manhattan a truly distinctive profile.

If you can’t be in Europe but wish you were, head to Primrose. Their elegant French touch extends beyond décor and food to cocktails. For fall, the bar has created this verdant cocktail built around celery vodka. Oxidized apple and génépy (a liqueur made from alpine herbs) add layers of subtle fruitiness and herbal complexity.

The Gatsby offers a whimsical 1920s vibe, and your experience there can only be complete with the perfect cocktail. Vibe along and let your mind travel back in time with the Chai White Russian, which adds chai to the traditional coffee cocktail.