Top 10 Cocktail Bars in Arlington, Virginia

If you appreciate the nuanced creativity of today’s mixology, you’ll love sampling the unique tastes, twists, and local flavor of cocktails in Arlington.

Experience Arlington's spirited side with exquisite cocktails at these favorite local spots (in no particular order).

Pictured | Enjoy fun cocktails at these Arlington bars and restaurants!

1) The Board Room

With more than 50 board games, The Board Room in Clarendon lets you brush up on old-school classics like Monopoly, Pictionary, and Yahtzee that play nicely with boozy drinks. Here you'll find game-themed beverages like "Mules Against Humanity" and "Park Place Paloma," just to name a couple.

2) Salt

Amongst a sea of glass and steel, tucked away from the hum of traffic in Rosslyn, you’ll find Salt, the closest thing Arlington has to a speakeasy, underneath beloved restaurant, Open Road. Escape the hustle and bustle and sink into the intoxicating beats while you enjoy bold flavors and timeless craft cocktails.

3) WHINO

This modern open-concept venue in Ballston Quarter invites patrons to inhabit large-scale mural installations while enjoying craft cocktails, beer, wine, and globally inspired social plates. WHINO sports exposed black steel high ceilings, creating a loft-like experience.

4) Brass Rabbit Public House

Another one of Clarendon's cocktail hot spots serves up elevated pub fare made-from-scratch drinks. Brass Rabbit Pub is located just two blocks from the metro, offering traditional bar fare and inventive craft cocktails. Brass Rabbit is also the perfect place to meet for brunch with friends, dinner, drinks with coworkers, or to watch your sports team on TV.

5) Ms. Peacock's Champagne Lounge

Branded as an intimate, elegant salon from a bygone era, Ms. Peacock's Champagne Lounge in Clarendon is the perfect destination for delicious small plates, open bubbles, and well-crafted cocktails. Cocktails like ‘The Last Kiss’ or ‘Fall All Over Again’ give you a taste of this bar's repertoire - they are serious mixologists!

6) Freddie's Beach Bar

Over in Crystal City, Freddie's Beach Bar, Arlington's only LGBTQ+, straight-friendly restaurant and bar, offers visitors a fun, vibrant, and welcoming environment to enjoy delicious bites and colorful cocktails. Freddie's has nightly karaoke, Freddie's Follies drag shows, trivia nights, beach blanket bingo, and more, making their spot a great option for late-night entertainment any night of the week!

7) Cowboy Cafe

Cowboy Cafe along Langston Boulevard is a classic Arlington watering hole that has been a community favorite since the 1990s. This charming establishment is where burgers and wings meet beer and mixed drinks with a Tex-Mex vibe. With trivia on Monday nights and brunch every morning, there's something for everybody at Cowboy Cafe.

8) Wilson Hardware

In the heart of Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood, Wilson Hardware pays homage to the old Virginia Hardware store that occupied the location from the 1960s through early 2000s. This three-story venue – with a warehouse vibe, exposed brick and a rooftop bar – is a perfect spot for sipping on an eclectic selection of signature and slushy cocktails. Hardware-themed specialties include the Adjustable Wrench (bourbon, rum, vanilla and chocolate bitters), Nailed It (bourbon, peach, lemon) and Permit Denied (Draft), made with tequila, watermelon, lime, agave and mint. These are alongside favorites like the Moscow Mule, Dark and Stormy, and more.

9) Celtic House Whiskey Bar

Off Columbia Pike, Celtic House Whiskey Bar offers a curated selection of Irish whiskeys, bourbons, and scotches and a brand-new cocktail menu to showcase these authentic spirits. As the newest addition to the Celtic House restaurant family, discover the evolution of their downstairs space, and witness how their bar has been meticulously built to embody the warmth and authenticity of Irish hospitality.

10) The Salt Line

The Salt Line in Ballston is more than just an oyster bar - their cocktail menu is packed full of your favorite classics, but also features fun, nautical, New England-style mashups. Some of their most popular drink specialties include The Cape Codder G & T (Beefeater gin, lime, house cranberry tonic), The Saltier Dog (Absolut vodka, Strega, sea salt, Aperol, grapefruit) and our personal favorite, The Perfect Storm (double Bloody Mary, lobster claw, cocktail shrimp, dressed oyster, fried coddie, accoutrements).

There's More to Explore in Arlington

Looking to sip your drink outside? Make sure to check out Arlington's favorite rooftop bars.

Enjoy drinks and dancing late at night? Experience Arlington's clubbing scene (and some open-late snack spots nearby).

Related Stories:

Author

Jackie Evans

Featured: