2 days ago
A Guide to Eating and Drinking Through D.C. Pride
The month of June has always been an exciting time in D.C., with Capital Pride Alliance putting on fun events and an exuberant parade; gay bars planning wild parties ; and restaurants around D.C. putting out their rainbow flags and hosting extravagant drag brunches. The list of events and specials is even longer this year, with World Pride bringing an even bigger parade and street festival to the District. This guide includes the best LGBTQ+ Pride-themed events across D.C. in the month of June. (And if you're looking for one-time drag brunches, scroll to the bottom.) For D.C.'s best gay bars, go here . Barrel House Cafe & Bar
1341 14th Street NW
The June pop-up at this new Logan Circle spot is fairy garden-themed, with plenty of cabaret nights, live music events, and late-night dance parties to celebrate Pride all month long. Check out the second night of ElixHER World Pride Cabaret on Sunday, June 8 and a perfect seat to view the World Pride parade on Saturday, June 7 from Barrel House's new patio with live DJs, a parade live stream, and even bottle service. A special Pride menu will also be available for all of June in collaboration with Absolut Vodka. Aslin Beer
1740 14th Street NW
Aslin is also a fantastic spot to watch the start of the World Pride parade in a huge beer garden overlooking 14th Street NW. The brewery is also collaborating with Rainbow Families again to serve a special double IPA beer called Now More Than Ever, with flavors of stone fruit and citrus with a bit of coconut. A percentage of each purchase of the fruity beer will go towards Rainbow Families' mission of supporting LGBTQ+ families and prospective parents. After a few beers you might even want to buy some of their Pride merch, including bright T-shirts and beer glasses. Via Sophia
1001 14th Street NW
This Italian restaurant in the Hamilton Hotel is another great parade viewing spot, with an extra special World Pride Parade Viewing Party featuring RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 winner Symone and Drag Race All Stars Derrick Barry and Miz Cracker. The Via Sophia patio peers directly into the parade route and the kitchen will be serving up themed cocktails and brunch bites amid DJ sets. Fashion icon Nigel Barker will also be serving up tastings of his signature Barker Martinis at the hotel's micro-bar, Society, during the parade. Café Riggs
900 F Street NW
This elegant restaurant in the bottom of the Riggs Hotel has rolled out a thoughtful Pride Icons cocktail menu for June to pair with the contemporary French-American cuisine. The Harvey Milk is a bourbon and maderia drink that actually includes clarified milk and maple, inspired by Milk's favorite breakfast of matzoh meal pancakes, while a zero-proof Elton John spritz celebrates the musician's 34th year of sobriety. All four of the thoughtful cocktails include playful illustrations of each icon, drawn by LGBTQ artist Diego Blanco. Pair them with an order of french fries plus caviar and creme fraiche. Atlas Ivy City
2052 West Virginia Avenue NE
The Atlas Brewery location up in Ivy City is throwing an LGBTQ Benefit Show on Saturday, June 14 from 2 to 8 p.m., with seven musical acts from across the Northeast. All ticket proceeds will benefit The Trevor Project, SMYAL, and HIPS. The $15 tickets are available on Eventbrite. Love, Makoto
200 Massachusetts Avenue NW
If you'd rather watch the parade from a sunny spot or celebrate Pride in a park, this Japanese food hall is selling picnic packs for two with a Rainbow Roll, kale soba salad, two rainbow vanilla doughnuts, and two yuzu lemonades. The $45 picnic can be ordered at Love on the Run in-person or on Love, Makoto's website, plus you can get delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Make it a boozy picnic by switching out the lemonades for Makoto margaritas or Chika Sake Cups, with the Party Pack version costing $65. Plus, all proceeds from any heart-shaped, rainbow vanilla doughnuts sold during June will go towards The Trevor Project. Lulu's Winegarden
1940 11th Street NW
A special Love is Love at Lulu's cocktail menu is being served at this U Street-adjacent wine bar, with drinks like a purple-hued Taste the Rainbow gin, creme de violet, and fresh raspberry, and a strawberry-coconut daiquiri called Come to My Window. A dollar from each Pride cocktail and rainbow bottles of True Colours Cava sold will go towards the Human Rights Campaign.
1785 Florida Avenue NW
The essential pupusas place at the foot of Adams Morgan unleashes a new lineup of summer cocktails just in time for Pride Month. Every $1 from each one sold goes to Ayuda in support of immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities in the DMV. In addition, a new Taco Tuesday revamp calls for 10 tacos and three sauces for $40 and a marg carafe-and-taco trio combo for $35. MXDC
1610 14th Street NW
Located right along the Capital Pride Parade route, MXDC by Todd English invites attendees to celebrate with a one-day burrito stand on Saturday, June 7. Swing by during parade hours to grab a $15 burrito (chicken, steak, or mushroom), $12 margs, $8 Coronas, and more. Grab a burrito and margarita for $25 (or by the bottle for $40). A limited number of prime-time outdoor VIP tables are available by reservation. A speedy drag brunch round-up
There are plenty of fabulous year-round drag brunches in D.C., but a few restaurants are throwing one-off drag brunches to celebrate Pride this weekend. Here are a few highlights: Arrels is throwing an unlimited tapas brunch on Sunday, June 8, with performances by De'ior Kouture, Nadia Cole, Jalah Nicole, and Ervena Chloe, hosted by Bombalicious Eklaver. The $60 brunch goes from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. RSVP on the Arlo Hotels website. (333 G Street NW)
Lyle's famous drag brunch has a special visitor this weekend, with Miss Leggs Benedict returning for a very special Pride Drag brunch on Saturday, June 7. She and Hennessey will be hosting the bottomless cocktails brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make a reservation on SevenRooms. (1731 New Hampshire Avenue NW)
Hotel Monaco's Dirty Habit is hosting a drag brunch with Drag Race star Alyssa Edwards, along with Utica, Mercedes Iman Diamond, Crimsyn, and Druex Sidora, on Sunday, June 8. A $150 ticket includes access to a brunch buffett and two drinks, while a $239 ticket also includes a meet and greet with the drag queens. Tickets are available on Etix. (555 8th St NW)
star Alyssa Edwards, along with Utica, Mercedes Iman Diamond, Crimsyn, and Druex Sidora, on Sunday, June 8. A $150 ticket includes access to a brunch buffett and two drinks, while a $239 ticket also includes a meet and greet with the drag queens. Tickets are available on Etix. Newcomer Willowsong hosts a Brunch Out Loud event on Saturday, June 7, that includes a three-course brunch, bottomless brunch cocktails, and plenty of drag performances. Two seatings are available, starting at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Reservations start at $75 a person and are available on OpenTable. (801 Wharf Street SW)
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