1905: Arguably the Best Bar in DC

Greetings people, 

It's been a while since the DC Culture Club has been convened but we're back with a vengeance. For our second major meeting, we chose a spot off U Street called 1905.  And let me just say that as I liked to call them, "fire drinks" were had by all.

First let me introduce myself.  This is Lucie writing as opposed to DC Culture Club visionary, Ramsey, my husband. Second, let's just say this was a long night...  One that started as a "let's meet up for a few drinks" to "why am I still up at 3:30AM?" kinda night.

Ok, back to 1905...  

When you arrive here, you're not sure what to expect.  An awning awaits you, very shyly telling you this is actually 1905.  It is only as you walk up a narrow set of stairs that you begin to feel the vibe...  You begin to make out some music, the light of day behind you, and looking up, you see the smiling Mona Lisa staring back at you.  Not sure what to expect still, you finally get to the top.  A nice waiter greets you, or so they did for us, you look around, and you know you've arrived to what will inevitably be a good night.

Around you, the decor is filled with dark reds, dark woods and some amazing light fixtures that Restoration Hardware inevitably envies.  Unique mirrors surround you but just in a way that you can't really look at yourself without making it obvious.  There's a restaurant type to your left and more of the bar area to the right, all seamlessly combined.

Two of our fearless CC members had already arrived and guarded one of the only tables left (Thanks Becky and Mike!), menus were in place and we were ready to get this DC Culture Club night started.

Round 1: While Becky and Mike ate dinner (gnocchi with duck was good but not as good as it sounded; Mike's scallops, on the other hand, were a 9 out of 10), the rest of us kicked off the night with a wide array of drink selections.

Let me pause here real quick about something.  Ramsey and I have recently discovered an AMAZING drink.  I have decided to share it with this group.  Only because it deserves to be shared with others.  The St. Germain.  Made from the elderflower, picked in the French Alps (I kid you not here... I know "I'm from there" but really), this liqueur can be mixed with just about anything, from soda water to San Pellegrino, the list goes on.  Anyway, we have literally just uncovered this blissful drink and have enjoyed quite a bit of it over the past few weeks.  You can find it at most liquor stores though they tend to have small supplies of it and may guard whatever bottles they have left.  Last time we went to the Glover Park liquor store, the clerk looked at us take 2 bottles off the shelf, with only one remaining, and said: "You know about this?"

"Oh yes, Oooooo yes.  We know about this."

And so you can only imagine my amazement and delight when I see St Germain in one of the drink specials on this eclectic and yet not large menu.  And so "The French Blossom" it was...  and it did not disappoint.  Pat, newest member of the DC CC, on his end, ordered the "Van Gogh", sipping on it quietly, sitting back and reflecting: "It just brings your body temperature down".  The group continued testing out the different drinks throughout the night, laughing, singing, testing out the bathrooms (we'll get to those in a sec) and then... came the fire drinks, aka: The Absinthe.  Oh... You thought it was illegal?  Well, think again my friends, think again.

Becky and Mike were the actual first testers.  Ramsey, Pat, Quinn and I followed their lead later in the night.  Let's just say this involves the waiter, for one, a large glass canister of iced water, fire, a sugar cube, small cups and a spoon.  Mmmmm.  Suspicious.  And it is.

The absinthe drink is quite literally a wake up call to the system and it is an experience you will soon not forget.  It is as Pat reflected: "When you think of an absinthe bar, this is where you should be drinking."  Indeed Pat, indeed. 

All this said, 1905 received a few negatives from the CC team.  For one, it was "too fu*#ing hot", as Quinn pointed out multiple times (see photos of Quinn's red face).  And then there were the bathrooms...  As Ramsey stated upon his return (and we all know how much Ramsey cares about the bathrooms): "Interesting and terrible".

On the good side: 

- The service was superior

- Brought out separate tabs without asking

- Speaking of bills, the bill comes in a cigar box

- Vibe was a 10/10

- Music (Just ask Quinn.  He'll tell you about it for a long time)

It is as I loudly expressed towards the end of the night (after, let's just say) a lot of St Germain and a few sips of the 'fire drink': "This is a night to remember, therefore, this is a bar to remember."

Thank you 1905.  We shall return.

To see the pictures from our night, click here.

Until next time CC members, I bid you a good night.