Cocktail bar
Unclaimed profileSide Door
Washington, DC · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Side Door's beverage program leans on a creative cocktail list—think Cucumber Smash and Smoky Pineapple Margarita—backed by a deep beer selection with local DC drafts and to-go growlers. Wine is modest but includes a few distinctive bottles. Non-alcoholic cocktails named after celebrities add wit. Thursday Moscow Mule deals and $1 brunch mimosas keep it approachable.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Smoky Pineapple Margarita or Cucumber Smash. For beer drinkers, the Southern Tier IPA and George Dickel Rye combo is a solid value. Try a non-alcoholic celebrity-named cocktail like The Kendrick Lamar for something different.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking original recipes, beer geeks wanting local drafts and rare Belgian bottles, and groups looking for affordable brunch drink specials. The celebrity-named mocktails make it welcoming for non-drinkers.
- When should I go?
- Bottomless brunch at $20 for 90 minutes is a draw for weekend gatherings.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Beer is modestly priced—Foster's Porter at $8.50, growler fills $15-20. Wine by the glass starts at $12. Cocktail prices are not listed, but the Thursday Moscow Mule at $6 and the $11 beer-shot combo suggest value. Brunch specials are clearly budget-friendly.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu is inventive with ingredients like passionfruit puree and jalapeno-infused tequila. Non-alcoholic cocktails named after celebrities (Jason Bateman, Drew Barrymore) add personality. To-go options across cocktails, wine, and beer growlers extend the program beyond the bar.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Creative original cocktails with a wide spirit range, plus a playful non-alcoholic lineup. Specials like Thursday Moscow Mule and brunch mimosas add value. Menu shows ambition, though pricing for most cocktails is undisclosed.
Menu strengths
- — Original recipes with diverse ingredients, e.g., Smoky Pineapple Margarita with mezcal and Grand Marnier.
- — Strong value specials: $6 Moscow Mule Thursdays and $1 brunch mimosas.
Standout selections
- — Cucumber Smash – Nolet's Gin, cucumber, mint, lemon.
- — Smoky Pineapple Margarita – Maximo Mezcal, Grand Marnier, pineapple, lime.
- — El Amor Prohibido – Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, passionfruit, fresno pepper, ginger.
Wine
A compact but global wine list with by-the-glass and bottle options. Includes a vegan Greek Sauvignon Blanc and a Spanish Mencia. Prices are reasonable for bottles, but the selection is not extensive.
Menu strengths
- — Diverse regional coverage: California, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Spain.
- — Bottles available for to-go purchase.; Reasonable bottle pricing for the listed wines.
Standout selections
- — Alpha Estate Amyndeon – Greek Sauvignon Blanc, certified vegan.
- — Feudo Maccari Rose – Sicilian Nero d'Avola.
- — Ultreia Saint Jacques – Spanish Mencia.
Pricing: Ryder Estate Still Rose $12/glass; Feudo Maccari Rose $44/bottle; Alpha Estate Amyndeon $48/bottle.
Beer
Extensive draft and bottle/can list with local DC representation (Right Proper Raised By Wolves) and Belgian classics. Includes non-alcoholic and gluten-free options. The beer-and-shot combos are a distinctive value.
Menu strengths
- — Broad selection: local DC, Belgian sours/tripels, hazy IPAs, and cider.
- — Non-alcoholic and gluten-free beer options available.; To-go growlers at $15-20 fills.
Standout selections
- — Right Proper Raised By Wolves – DC pale ale.
- — Duchesse de Bourgogne – Flanders red ale.
- — Sloop Juice Bomb – hazy IPA.
Pricing: Foster's Porter $8.50; Draft Combo (Southern Tier IPA + George Dickel Rye) $11; growler fills $15-20.
Nonalcoholic
A thoughtful non-alcoholic program with three celebrity-named mocktails and two non-alcoholic beers. The mocktails use complex ingredients like caraway, peach bitters, and jalapeno, showing real effort beyond standard sodas.
Menu strengths
- — Three distinct mocktails with creative flavor profiles.; Non-alcoholic beer options from Athletic Brewing.
- — Mocktails are integrated into the cocktail menu, not an afterthought.
Standout selections
- — The Jason Bateman – caraway, coriander, white pepper, lemon, peach bitters.
- — The Kendrick Lamar – pineapple, honey, lemon, tabasco jalapeno, ginger, cucumber.
Pricing: Athletic Run Wild IPA $7.50.
Spirits
The cocktail program demonstrates a broad spirit base—gin, mezcal, tequila, bourbon, rye, Irish whiskey, vodka, rum, and amaro. However, there is no dedicated spirits list or tasting menu, limiting direct evaluation.
Menu strengths
- — Wide range of spirits used in cocktails.; Beer-and-shot combos showcase rye and bourbon.
Standout selections
- — Ruth Bourbon Ginsberg – Redemption Bourbon, sweet vermouth, caraway, coriander, white pepper, lemon.
- — Sazerac – Redemption Rye, Grand Marnier, Peychaud's Bitters, absinthe rinse.
Pricing: No standalone spirit prices; beer-and-shot combos at $11.
How it sits with the food
While the food menu is not evaluated, the bar's cocktail and beer offerings suggest pairing with bar snacks or brunch items. The $1 Mimosas and bottomless brunch indicate a casual food-beverage experience, and the macaroni and cheese mentioned by a reviewer could pair with a robust pale ale or bourbon cocktail.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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