STFU: Navy Yard Has a Hot Nightclub Now | Eater DC

"Hidden beneath the stretch of Nationals Park-facing bars, I found a refreshing new drinking den that debuted quietly in the depths of Takoda Restaurant & Beer Garden’s building. To reach the stylish speakeasy you follow a red glow on First Street and enter a funhouse-like waiting area surrounded by mirrors; pressing a going-down elevator button stamped with the lounge’s shushing-mascot opens the portal to a very-red, polished 2,000-square-foot party pad fitted with leather bar stools, large neon-lit lips, reflective walls at every turn, a high-tech DJ booth, and 15 low-level tables framed with soft couches. The late-night subterranean lounge leans upscale and bougie — casual athletic wear and baseball caps are discouraged in favor of a well-groomed look — and offers bottle service with mixers starting at $275 for Santa Teresa rum or Roku gin; the bar is in talks to share a kitchen with Takoda to add charcuterie and small plates. The cocktail program, led by Michael Joseph and Isaiah Morrisey, centers on updated Prohibition-era classics ($14–$19): a modern Aviation that loops in spiced cherry cordial and baking spices with Luxardo Maraschino, a Hemingway riff using Ten to One Caribbean rum for a uniquely oaky daiquiri, an Old Fashioned enriched with butter, chocolate, banana, and cloves, and a Last Word rebranded “Final Say” that swaps Boosma for Chartreuse and finishes with a mezcal-lavender smoke; the most popular sellers may even be bottled later. STFU opens at 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and stays open as late as 3 a.m. on weekends, and so far everyone I’ve heard from says it’s a great addition to the neighborhood." - Tierney Plumb