I adored my experience! Thank you for a wonderful night! would love to highlight two things in particular. First, the olives used in my gin martini were sublime. briney and buttery, tender and rich, not the stale cartilaginous nonsense that one might unfortunately encounter elsewhere. if i had to guess—Castelvetrano? i have been privileged to have many gin martinis in my life, and the olives are often an afterthought. not so here! brilliant choice, whoever made it. Second, our server was perfectly charming. I apologize, i've forgotten their name, but they had a truly spectacular beard. when i ordered my goat themed drink, they baa-ed in an unhesitatingly uncanny impression of a goat, to which i replied, yes, exactly, because this is exactly the right way to respond. a sweet dream of an interaction. give this person a raise. they have turned this establishment from a bar into a singular human experience. five stars, baby, five stars. i will be back as soon as my wallet and liver permit.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Classy bougie ritzy glamorous AF. This place is beautiful in all caps. You best be blinged out to match the interior. Probably one of the most beautiful bars I’ve been to, and I’ve been quite a few. Envisioned by a woman named Hollis, who was José Andreas right hand woman for 10 yrs, her concept creation consists of this speak easy and the 2 adjacent restaurants on either side w each having their own unique identity that are complete standout knockouts! At this speak easy, you will find maestros of mixology. The man that attends to you at the door, is equivalent to a sommelier of gin, which this establishment specializes in. They have other drinks of course. We had the Aviation w a gin called Wilde, after Oscar. The drink was silky smooth enveloping your taste buds, open your eyes wide in amazement good. Ya, this place is the bomb. If you notice the framed Hermes scarves, check them out. They are one of the best ones.

Beautiful interiors and solid cocktails if you like gin. The door is normally locked so you have the ring the bell to get in. We rang the bell and no one came for about 5 minutes. I think it’s best to stick with cocktails on their menu. They didn’t have a traditional Negroni on the menu, but my husband asked for one. The waitress was very unsure if they could accommodate the request- which seemed odd for a gin-focused cocktail lounge charging +$20 for a drink. I also over heard someone order a martini at the table next to us, the waitress never asked any amplifying questions, then comes back and hands the guy a martini and says “I hope you like it, I didn’t know what you wanted because you didn’t specify if you wanted it up up, dry, dirty, etc.” Which also seems weird for a bar specializing in gin cocktails that they wouldn’t ask you these questions when you place the order.

We set down reservations for 4, which I recommend as we got a little alcove that offered just the right amount of privacy so conversations sounds don’t bounce around to other tables. The vibes and decor are on point. Big thank you to the team for offering us a complimentary mini coup glass cocktail as a warm welcome. I had the Sakura (sorry no pic), and was greeted with an edible glitter cloud to accompany it! Our server added a level of whimsy to the service that kept us laughing every time he stopped by. They alerted us that a 22% gratuity is already included into the bill. Pricing specified is the ballpark for one drink each (many we’re about $16)
Price per person
$10–20
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

If I could give this place 10,000 stars, I absolutely would. I used to come here just about every week and I loved it more each visit. The staff, the drinks, and the food are some of the best that I’ve had in a long time. Now the food isn’t a full meal, it’s more of a snack but I love snacks, so I love this. Every drink that I’ve had here has been wonderful, even if it’s off menu and a surprise. The bartenders are so incredibly talented I wish I could bring them with me everywhere. If you’re one of those people that says gin is not for them, come here, try the drinks, and I guarantee your mind will be changed. I recently left the area but when I return to DC, you better believe I’ll be visiting The Wells.

The Wells offers a high end gin cocktail experience that does not disappoint. Seating by reservation, with a 1h 40m time limit. This was the only downside... We wanted to stay longer and drink more! If you are a gin skeptic or gin lover, this is the place for you. The geniuses behind these drinks masterfully blend the key elements of cocktails into very cleaver unique experiences, pulling from fresh produce/fruit juices, to unique shrubs and botanicals. We challenged our bar tenders to a vesper-off and were exceptionally pleased with the variations they brought out. Will be returning. Ambiance and service are top notch. Nothing felt rushed or unattended.

A very good experience overall. Wells staff are personable, warm, and deeply knowledgeable of their craft. The interior is playful while also eliciting the in-vogue "speakeasy" feel. Their menu is very interesting, with fresh riffs on gin-based staple cocktails. The "Garden" is a delightful bruschetta in a glass, and the "Professional" is a damn fine take on a standard martini. And their potato chips are a great snack to share with friends. The service can sometimes lag, but the drinks are high quality and worth the wait. This is a great spot for a 1:1 hang or a date with your significant other. You won't be disappointed!

Celebrated my partners b day at The Wells and had the BEST time! We sat at the bar (which I requested) and the bartender JP was phenomenal. He made sure we had a fab experience. I am a gin enthusiast so we chatted gin & cocktails and introduced us to some delish gins I'd never heard of! The cocktails he made were outstanding, including an off the menu drink based on flavors the b day boy likes. Please do not listen to these other reviews saying the service is bad and keep in mind this is a reservation only bar. Make your reservation and enjoy the smart decor, delish cocktails and outstanding service.

I rented The Wells for a private 20s-themed birthday party with ~40 people, and I cannot recommend it more highly. Everything was impeccable - from the gorgeous decor and ambiance, to the service of the staff (several guests said that they were never ruffled despite the number of orders), to the delicious food they customized for my event. Most of all, the cocktails are just unreal no matter what your drinking preferences. It was one of the best events I've ever thrown, and my guests have been raving about it for days. 10/10 - don't hesitate to drop by or rent this space!!

We live in the neighborhood and wanted to go in on a rainy, empty evening. The hostess opened the door and we saw every table, booth, and bar seat was empty. She took a cursory glance at her iPad (which showed every table as free) and said they were busy and shut the door. I understand the difficulty of having reservations incoming but on this rainy and cold evening it was clear that nobody was coming in. I was incredibly disappointed to be turned away and not offered maybe a compromise (e.g. you can have a drink here until a reservation comes in).

I would tell you the cocktails were great, but I have no idea because my group of 6 (with a reservation well in advance) waited 45 minutes to be seated. Ordered cocktails and waited another 30 minutes before we left empty handed. The server was completely unapologetic about the piss poor service. Other people were also waiting insane amounts of time (also at Duck and Peach, where they stuck us during our initial 45 minute wait). Bad attitudes and abysmal service are the hallmark of this establishment. The owner/management should be embarrassed.

All I can say the this was one of the highlights on our recent trip to Washington DC and northern VA. I call it a great, comfortable cocktail bar with sumptuous drinks, all oriented around gin. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was the welcome received by the staff and their dedication in making sure you enjoy the handcrafted cocktails. Loved the speakeasy vibe and above all the ability to carry conversations with fellow customers without having to raise your voice. We absolutely loved it.

It's kinda gone downhill already... like most of these new, once 'nicer' bars usually do here in DC. It's sad I really loved it, originally, see my previous posts, but I was there last Friday and it's just not the same. It's really loud, the service is not great anymore (the person seemed almost annoyed every time they came to our table, I sat without water for half the time I was there, etc.) it's now like any other bar (almost). Sad. RIP

This is a really cool spot and they do a great job all around. We have been a few times and the service is always wonderful- very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. The drinks have been great with an exceptional variety. They have snacks but it’s also surrounded by great restaurants if you want something more substantial after having some drinks.
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

This place is intoxicating!! The decor is very Gatsbyesque! Totally cool private gin club speakeasy vibe. Went here for after dinner drinks with my girlfriends and it really hit the mark! The cocktails were gorgeous and delicious! I recommend the Gimlet. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable. It was a perfect ending to our girls trip and I can't wait to bring my husband for date night!!! Highly recommend!

We had a fantastic time last night for my partner's 31st birthday. We only stopped in for one drink after dinner, but we wish we had planned ahead for more. We both enjoyed our drinks (and the birthday champagne and welcome drink were excellent touches!) and enjoyed the interior design. Our server was very fun and friendly. Next time, we'll probably try to sit right at the bar.

I come here pretty regularly and absolutely love the wide variety of gin and knowledge of their amazing bartenders! I've experienced a wide array of flavor profiles and beautifully crafted cocktails. Did I mention the cocktails change with the seasons They do and you should check this place out.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Came here for a nightcap and this place did not disappoint. We were the only people in the spot and had it all to ourselves. This place is FINELY appointed. I felt like a queen with her consort. If you're trying to impress your date take them here.
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

as a gin lover, the selection and quality of gins available far exceeded my expectations, as did the craft cocktails and the sleek and moody interior design. the woman who waited on us displayed an expertise unrivaled by many bartenders and I was so impressed. it was an honour to try what this bar has to offer.

Had a wonderful experience here. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated immediately, and served our drinks pretty quickly as well. The chandelier with succulents was an especially nice decoration. Highly recommend the "Tea Time" cocktail (second picture with the big ice cube), really delicious!

I’m not sure what happened with some of these bad service reviews..we had an incredible experience at The Wells!! The cocktails were incredible, the servers and bartenders were great, and we will definitely be back. A great pre-dinner spot for a few drinks with incredible ambience.

We love this place for special occasions! We are both gin lovers, and you can’t beat The Wells. The service is fantastic and the cocktails are always delicious. They are also willing to experiment and create cocktails per your request (like this gin / green tea in my tea cup!)

A very exquisite gin bar that does not disappoint. A very nice selection of preselected drinks as well as fine bartenders that can make bespoke requests. Highly recommend if in the DC area.
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

One of the best bars in DC. Get a table at the bar if you can, they usually save them for last (it’s only 4 chairs) but if you’re a gin fan you’ll have the most tailored gin experiences imaginable. Would give more stars if I could.

Gin bar with cute atmosphere and unique spins on classic drinks (if you order a martini or ramos gin fiz without looking at the menu, you'll be in for a surprise). Drinks are delish, the food is fine but not why you go.

Overpriced, long long long service times and awkward seating. Menu is much too vague and not worth it. Was hoping for more unique and personable experience. Save your money you’re not missing out

This place is awesome!!! You should definitely check out their sister restaurant concepts down the hallway at La Collina and The Duck & Peach in the opposite direction!!!

The cocktails here are fabulous. I really enjoyed it here as did my wife. Gin is the star but the vibe is great too.

I'm biased so I won't drop a revues as I am the lead bartender . Still five stars. It all about gin (for now!!!??)

Great looking bar. Amazing cocktails. Terrible, rude staff.
Food: 5
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 5

One of my favorite bars in DC. The drinks are amazing, the music is elegant, and the service is top notch.

Had a fabulous time, drinks were great, vibe was so bide, food was delicious and service was excellent!

Pricey, but worth it for both the creative and tasty cocktails and the soft yet stylish ambiance.

Zach and the bartenders are phenomenal! An excellent place to enjoy gin in its many iterations.

Really cool gin focused speak easy
Price per person
$10–20
Atmosphere: 5

Hefty price tag for a cocktail is to be expected here. Cozy and elegant environment.

Great wee hidden gem in the hill.
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The vibe remains superb and the bartender suggestions are awesome.

Great ambience and gin selection. Cocktails were just okay.

It's a great little spot. Interesting drinks