Recessions Bar and Grill

Karaoke bar · Downtown

Recessions Bar and Grill

Karaoke bar · Downtown

5

1823 L St NW, Washington, DC 20036

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Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null
Recessions Bar and Grill by null

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Budget basement bar with pool, karaoke & pub grub  

Featured in Eater
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1823 L St NW, Washington, DC 20036 Get directions

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1823 L St NW, Washington, DC 20036 Get directions

+1 202 296 6686
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Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

Best Happy Hour Spots This Summer in D.C. | Eater DC

"For decades, D.C.’s 9-to-5 set has relied on Recessions’ oh-so generous happy hour (plus the opportunity to embarrass yourself with a karaoke solo or two). From 5-8 p.m., Recessions offers $5 house wine and rail shots, plus $2 off 28-ounce beers and $1-off 16-ounce beers." - Tim Ebner

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-dc-happy-hour-deals-summer-interns
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@eater

Best D.C. Bars for Day-Drinking | Eater DC

"There are people who love a subterranean bar with an unnecessary carpet, too many mirrors, and plenty of karaoke, and those who don’t. The first category of people is correct, and they know to hit up this downtown bar. It opens at 3 p.m. on weekdays (they open at 5 p.m. Saturdays and are closed Sundays)." - Missy Frederick

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-bars-dc-day-drinking-open-before-5pm
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@eater

18 Bars for Singing Karaoke Around D.C. | Eater DC

"Dupont dive bar Recessions hosts karaoke night from Tuesday through Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. Weekday happy hours (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) are full of specials like discounted 28-ounce beers offer more reasons to visit." - Adele Chapin

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-karaoke-bars-dc
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@eater

These D.C. Bars Were Made for Day-Drinking

"There are people who love a subterranean bar with unnecessary carpet, too many mirrors, and plenty of karaoke, and those who don’t. The first category of people is correct, and they know to hit up Recessions starting at 3 p.m. on weekdays (they open at 5 p.m. Saturdays and are closed Sundays)." - Missy Frederick

https://dc.eater.com/maps/30-places-for-people-with-summer-hours-to-drink
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@eater

The Best D.C. Dive Bars for Drinking Alone on Valentine’s Day | Eater DC

"The underground location is only part of the appeal of this after-work spot downtown. There’s also the carpet, the karaoke, the happy hour, and the puzzling decor. Happy hour specials include $4 rail drinks, 28-ounce “King Kong” drafts for $5, and $5 appetizers." - Eater Staff

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-dive-bars-dc
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Patricia Duvall

Google
This is a mixed review, because honestly, the bar staff and service were attentive and amazing. The vibe was also good with friendly patrons. I just had a few beers, and did not order any food. Just a forewarning; if you’re coming strictly for the karaoke, don’t bother unless you’re a local or bar regular who knows the KJ. I was there for approximately 2.5 hours. I turned in a song about 45 minutes in and then proceeded to watch some people sing twice and people that walking in way after me sing at least once. As someone visiting the area, it was a real letdown. Karaoke: 0 out of 10, do not recommend.

L Schmidt

Google
After work, we decided to stop by Recession for their happy hour. Tucked away in a basement reminiscent of an old speakeasy, the ambiance immediately sets the tone for a unique experience. We opted to sit at the bar and were promptly greeted by the friendly staff. Although the draft beer selection is limited, it still offers a quality range to satisfy different tastes. The standout feature here is the unbeatable happy hour pricing, with a generous 28oz beer available for just $9. While we didn't sample the food on this visit, we were pleasantly surprised by the lively atmosphere, complete with nightly karaoke and pool tables. For those seeking a fun, relaxed spot to unwind with colleagues after a long day, Recession is a fantastic choice for happy hour.

Michael Angelo Viray

Google
My friends and I would often come here to just hang out and enjoy karaoke. But DJ is utterly disrespectful and low tempered. Makes sense from the same past reviews of him. You'd wait hours only for his friends to get the top list when they want it. Never going back again with my friends. Definitely would not recommend for karaoke goers. But if you just wanna hang, place is fine.

Adrien Halliez

Google
We went on a Saturday night quite late. Great crowd. The DJ is nice and will find the song you want. Good mix of locals and tourists that makes for fun karaoke vibes. Drinks were not excessively pricey and they serve food late.

Francisco Torres

Google
Love this place & space! Found this spot after grabbing dinner next door and…It. Is. Awesome! The staff are cool & friendly. The crowd is eclectic. And there are both pool tables & karaoke! If you’re looking for a hole in the wall (or basement in this case) with its own personality for a group of friends, would definitely recommend!

Alex C

Google
What a dump. Tonic water was flat as could be meaning my gin and tonic was a gin and water. We put a few song requests in as a group when we arrived. Two hours later, when the bar is completely empty the DJ decided to SING A SONG HIMSELF to a girl seated in the middle of the empty bar rather than the paying customers who had been spending drinking the whole time. Multiple people were able to just walk in from off the street and jump us in the queue multiple times. What a joke, won't ever be returning.

danielle kloiber

Google
Best Karaoke bar in DC!! The staff is so friendly and welcoming, the regulars are awesome to talk to and very inviting, enormous song choice, fair singing schedule, good drinks and good food. Can't ask for a better night!

Matt Schaefer

Google
This is the best dive bar in DC. Karaoke from 8-close Tuesday-Saturday, and the regulars it attracts have established a great community vibe. The song queue can get long on the weekends, highly recommend the weekday scene. The bar staff, management, and ownership are incredible.
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M S.

Yelp
Seriously disappointing Karaoke experience. Unlike 99% of karaoke places in the world, there is no book of songs and no website with a list of karaoke songs. The DJ is too cheap to subscribe to a service, so they instead use a YouTube software package to scrape songs, the night I was there, that package was down so the only songs available were a bunch of songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Ugh! The DJ also isn't too communicative on advising people on how to hold microphone as half the singers couldn't be well heard. On the other hand, the crowd was nice. There is a pool table. And it is easy to get to as it is right next to DuPont Circle.
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Nisha B.

Yelp
We randomly stopped in here, after searching for "Darts" at the Farragut North metro station - which was less than a 5 minute walk Karaoke night on a Friday. LGBTQ friendly. We didn't eat or drink at the bar, just ended up staying for a few karaoke songs. 2 pool tables Show your license to get in
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Jessica S.

Yelp
Came for a bar hop. I don't know if I normally would wander into an underground bar behind stairs and winding hallways. Very divey vibes. I was surprised they had a food menu and actual sit down tables. The bar is large and they seemed understaffed, or at least overwhelmed, by the number of people trying to order. It definitely took a while to get any drinks at all. Didn't notice any bar stools, either. There are screens for sports and a decent-looking karaoke setup. The drinks were good-sized and decent tasting. Not the worst dive bar on this pub crawl.
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Summer S.

Yelp
Do not drink the water!! The water jugs kept out for guests are moldy. When I informed the bartender and asked for a cup of water (and showed her a photo of the mold) she was unbelievably rude and mocked me after I apologized for the inconvenience. She flat out refused to serve my friends cups of water even though the bar was completely empty. I understand that it's an inconvenience, but this is a hazard. I had informed this same bartender about the mold in the jugs on a prior visit a few months ago and wasn't taken seriously. I came back because this is a convenient location with lots of karaoke options, but after this encounter with the bartender I never want to come back.
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Ileana Q.

Yelp
My friends and I tried to visit this place so we could do some karaoke this weekend. We were met by the bouncer being incredibly incredibly rude which is crazy because the place was practically deserted but to each their own, I guess. They could definitely improve on having nicer staff, especially at the door, if you guys want more people to come in, maybe be kind.
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Orest S.

Yelp
Not too much stools at the bar. The bar tender was really nice. You also can get a Goose Island, so for a guy who used to live in Chicago, it's a big deal. I don't think I want to get back there, honestly. Not my type of place.
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WindyCity X.

Yelp
Simply just ordered takeout. Bought a burger and onion rings for like $18. The doorman was nice. The lady waitress behind the bar was nice onion rings crisp. Not much else to say. I was in DC for just a weekend.

Alison K.

Yelp
My friends met there and they just got married. Love is real. Is Recessions community? Sewage issue mostly fixed.
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Zaid Y.

Yelp
Have never really heard of this place until my friend took me before going downtown in DC. It's definitely a hole in the wall spot that has its charm. The interior reminded me of an underground dive bar. There was lots to do while drinking including karaoke, pool, watch tv, etc. The service was pretty good, as I was able to meet the owner, and he treated us very well. In terms of food, I had the Lamb Chops and fries. The meat was cooked perfect and was juicy and tender. Additionally, the fries were seasoned and crispy. Overall, a fun bar with great food and great ownership/service. Highly recommend to anyone in DC.

Lee S.

Yelp
Dropped by at 5:30 pm on a Saturday since their webpage says they open at 5:00pm. The doors were locked. After a few minutes a few employees came out in order to move a truck that was parked in the bike lane. I asked if they were open, and they said that they opened at 7:00pm on Saturdays. I told them that they should update their webpage. They just walked away like they did not give a sh*t.
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Jackie V.

Yelp
A very random bar! Go down a set of carpeted stairs through an apartment building basement to get here! Just follow the way and you make it to a grotto like bar. Draft beer has two sizes - small or large! Solid deal for happy hour off draft beers $1 off small and $2 off large. $5 shots. People come here for the karaoke so get here early to get your cards in and grab a spot especially if you have a group! I'd recommend 7:30 at the latest. Karaoke starts promptly at 8 and the Wednesday host - Paula - is great and keeps it moving. Don't forget to tip her. Crowd cheers on everyone and the night picks up around 9:30/10 for a lot of fun. Bar closes at 12. Bathrooms are clean. Didn't try and food but looked average. Overall 10/10 spot for karaoke instead of paying! If you can't use the stairs I'm not sure how else you would l get to the bar. LGBTQ friendly.
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Chavonte H.

Yelp
Great place for karaoke and cheap drinks! There was a horrible sewage smell that they should probably check on, but once the drinks and singing is flowing, you kind of forget about it. The service was a little ride at first, but over time it got better. They were understaffed for a Thursday night, so I had more patience. The chicken tenders were ok, but the food is nothing to rave about, just regular bar food. The DJ has any song you can think of, so sing out your hearts desire and befriend some strangers!

Maddie A.

Yelp
I moved to the area last year and Recessions has become my favorite karaoke spot. The staff are really nice (they are all great but especially Emily, she is awesome and makes great cocktails!) It gets pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, so naturally you'll have to wait a long time to sing when there's a long list, but that's the same as any popular karaoke place. Both the KJs do a good job of managing the crowds as best as they can.
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Jasmine J.

Yelp
Overall this place is a vibe. Intimate atmosphere and whatnot. The restrooms could use a bit more attention but on the plus side the drink prices aren't bad. It felt to me like the DJ was a bit biased and that regulars definitely benefit from the privilege of being known. My group and I enjoyed ourselves nevertheless. A more eclectic music selection is recommended as well. I appreciated the lesson in rock but would have loved to share a bit more R&B culture with the fellow patrons.
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Joe P.

Yelp
In this classic DC establishment-- that's lasted longer than John McCain in the senate-- has incredible service. Karaoke every night, play some pool, and get your drinks served with love from Amilye.

Blayne C.

Yelp
Bar tender attempted to strong-arm me into a maximum, 30% tip for subpar service. When I refused a maximum 30% tip, the bartender loudly yelled horrible, explicit swear words at me. Paula is a very nasty woman!
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Arline C.

Yelp
Food and drink is ordered at the bar. Typical bar food. No disappointment Very good service. Ambiance is nice; feels like you are in a cave. Really nice crowd and place to hang out. A good amount of young people, possibly college students. My only disappointment was the karaoke. It was not clear how the DJ selected who would sing or if he really had the songs requested. He also spent a lot of time playing his music taking a long time to call up singers. Eventually he ended up rushing to call singers up to sing but some had already left. He also seemed to favor regulars. Other than that I will definitely visit this hangout again when in DC.
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Brieski L.

Yelp
Most unsuspecting karaoke spot!!! Go for happy hour!! Great prices, decent bar food, the DJ is spectacular! I wanted to kick my heels off and dance. Pool tables, great bar service. Ask for EMILY!!! Friday night happy hour DJ Face the Music brings some of my favorite hits!!!!
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Grace D.

Yelp
I love this little basement bar! Easy to find and close to the metro, with karaoke basically every day? Nice. It's surprisingly spacious and the acoustics for karaoke aren't bad. They have a huge selection of songs and a great set-up. The mic on a stand gives you a wide range of performance options if you're a ham, and if not, is great to hide behind or hold if you don't know what to do with your hands. I appreciate the volume they keep everything at, so you can have a conversation not just between songs. On slow days or with small crowds, the DJ might come in for a song, to keep things interesting. In addition to karaoke, I had a fabulous time chatting with the bartender about old travel stories and playing pool with a cool employee. The bar will break a dollar into quarters if you need them for a pool table, so don't be afraid to ask. In my limited experience, everyone who works here is chill. If I lived around here, I'd probably be a regular. I can't speak to the menu at all, but I love the vibe.

Patrick R.

Yelp
So as it turns out, that S.O.B. karaoke host on Fridays and Saturdays who everyone on Yelp (including myself!) seems to have nothing nice to say about (and rightfully so!) spells his name DeVon. Whatever you do, avoid him at all costs. Instead, go to karaoke on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Paula. She's the best! After coming back about a month after I first came, I noticed two more things: 1) The meat they use for some food could be of better quality. Similarly, their nachos are a bunch of broken chips with not enough cheese. 2) I encountered a bartender named Emily. When I first met her, I thought she was just in a bad mood, which is human because everyone has those days. But when I came back a week later, she was still very rude and abrasive. She gave me dirty looks and an attitude when she served me. She also seemed to be drunk and/or high, and that she'd much rather spend her days getting jacked up on that funny stuff than working as a bartender. I can't help but think whenever someone takes one look at someone else and judges them without getting to know them: "What do they think they're going to gain from that?" On the plus side, the following staff are super friendly, approachable, and integrating: Paula, Peter, and the owner (whose name I think is Hasid). Also, people are super duper supportive of each other whenever they cheer others on during karaoke. They're all just there for a good old-fashioned night of fun in a non-judgmental setting -- singing for the heck of it without a care in the world. I hands down recommend Recessions for a badass night of karaoke on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

James M.

Yelp
We had a good time here, but the KJ was absolutely not friendly. He acted as if he couldn't care less about us being there and refused to even talk. We tipped him anyway, hoping that he might warm up, but no dice. Still as unfriendly afterwards. The rest of the staff was exceptional, but we were there for the karaoke. Not sure we'd go back for that.
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Kevin A.

Yelp
Terrible spot. Alcohol literally tasted like soap. Sent it back. Second glass also tasted like soap. Turns out that bottle was spoiled. Other drinks tasted fine. Karaoke. What a horrible experience. Put two songs in and waited to sing for two and a half hours without ever singing. The karaoke DJ doesn't post a list of singers to let you know where you are in the queue and then takes money from individuals for them to be able to sing regardless of when they put in their song request. If this was paid karaoke it would make sense, but it's not paid karaoke. The DJ expects to be bribed for you to sing. Would never spend money here again.

Tajuana S.

Yelp
The bartender and manager on Tuesday night was nice, however, the karaoke kj was showing favoritism and slight discrimination. I waited 4 hours to sing and never got a chance after being lied to about my place in "line" when other patrons sing multiple times. I thought in times like this we are past a time of discrimination but I certainly felt discriminated against, maybe I'll try another night but this experience definitely tainted my excitement for trying a place that has karaoke.
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Sarah N.

Yelp
Great wings!! Get the party platter it's sooo good, we ordered a burger too and it was delicious!! The drinks are great too! Karaoke every night. Great service and location.

Joe C.

Yelp
I came into town for a conference, staying in the hotel right upstairs from Recessions. On my second day in the area when they were open, I went down for wings and a beer and was met with phenomenal hospitality by the owner. Super friendly environment with pool tables, karaoke, and good eats. Excellent happy hour prices with a great local beer selection. I really loved the atmosphere, as its below ground level on L Street, offering a slight speakeasy vibe away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets above. I spent two long evenings here, one getting to know the owner and the second playing a small but super fun pool tournament. I highly recommend popping in, and I will absolutely be back to see the staff and community here at Recesssions!

Anne A.

Yelp
Awesome bar, best karaoke spot in DC. Just some crazy good singers out there. Loved it

Dan C.

Yelp
Very Friendly Staff and reasonable prices. Great dive bar. The place should have later hours for karaoke. 12-midnight can be too early from time to time.

Angel W.

Yelp
Worst Karaoke experience ever. What a terrible night. I honestly don't understand it. We're "karaoke people" and have seen a lot of spots in different parts of the country, and I can say this was the worst - no contest. The guy who was the "DJ" actually ruins it. He seems to not like... people. We never got to sing - anything - after waiting for hours, buying lots of drinks, and watching as other folks went up to sing multiple times. Just bizarre. There's no list, no rhyme or reason, and this guy definitely seems to have some personal issues. We finally gave up and left - super disappointed. If we were just looking for a spot to have drinks, we would never have chosen this place. It's literally in a basement. If you're looking for a karaoke spot and actually want to... sing karaoke.... Do not go here.
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Tony P.

Yelp
This place feels and looks like it's part of a church gathering hall that mated with a taqueria. The KJ is cold as ice and gives no response to any inquiry. I'm not from DC but I assure you there is better karaoke out there. Save your time, money and sanity.

Hina A.

Yelp
Stopped by with some friends after a bar crawl and was blown away by the incredible service that we received here. The owner treated us with such kindness and made sure our group of friends were being taken care of. It's a dive bar kind of vibe with cheap drinks, pool and karaoke. The karaoke was so fun and my friends and I had the best time. And the lamb chops!!! SO so good! Not only it tasted great but the presentation was a 10/10 (better than what you'd get at a nice restaurant). Good value too. Will definitely be coming back again!
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Sam S.

Yelp
My friends and I have been coming here for a while but we came here for a bar crawl and we had the best bartender literally ever!! Blonde pretty girl named Hannah I think? She was AMAZING! We will be back.
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Dave N.

Yelp
You go to a dive like Recessions, you have to know what you're going for. For me, it's the happy hour with cheap beers, bigger beers, and apps that make it worth it. You don't come here for curated taps of beer, you go because the pints are $4/5/6 or you're crazy enough to get the Kong size. The apps are pretty hit or miss and are likely frozen fair, but for $5 you can't really expect more than that. And honestly the staff and DJs have been pretty chill the nights I'm there, so I usually look forward to their Tue-Sat karaoke nights as soon as happy hour ends. Earlier in the week it's pretty hit or miss if it's gonna take off, so if you want that I'd say Thursday Friday Saturday are your best bets. It does tend to be predominated by whatever group dynamics are there - one night was filled with car guilty pleasure throwbacks, while another Saturday midnight had a crew spittin' rhymes while somehow nailing every Prince hit on Earth. But consistently between the regulars and whoever's popping in, I've only had pretty good vibes here. Kinda feels like the communal joint you'd find in Cheers. At least for me, since Circ stops just a light away, Recessions is my go-to spot in the city whenever I'm feeling the microphone mood.
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Mike M.

Yelp
My Yelper philosophy is to try to tell people when they would want to go to a business and to rate with that in mind. Recessions is super divey. The aesthetic is fake-plant diner meets dubious party the mischievous church kids are throwing in the church basement bingo hall (complete with low lighting that's still somehow awkward). And most nights it's filled with regular people singing karaoke badly. When you're looking for something classier than that, this isn't your spot. But, when you need to decompress with affordable XL beer mugs, normal human bartenders, and song and dance, and you want to have a lively but low key good time with a group of amicable strangers (and maybe some friends), Recessions delivers. If you want to flex your foodie muscle, get the best cocktail, or soak in the most beautiful environment, DC offers much better. But, when you want to just relax and dance badly while singing familiar songs, it's totally your spot.

Jason D.

Yelp
I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I really enjoy coming here for karaoke, but the sewer pipes are always backed up. When you first walk in it hits you like Mike Tyson. Eventually if you get drunk enough you stop noticing it. But when you look around the room, they have commercial blowers trying to push the fecal laden air out, but it's in a sealed basement. The air isn't going anywhere except into everyone's faces. The setup for cleaning glasses is pretty gross too. Just sitting in tubs with some half filled water (cleaning solution?). I just ask for whatever they have in cans to avoid using the glassware.

Lindsey C.

Yelp
Best hidden gem karaoke bar in D.C! A great place to go with a group. Also had the best chicken tenders of my life here - very unexpected. Another thing to note was that we had a bit too much fun and left our phone there and the owner was incredibly kind helping us get it back not during normal business hours. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Torrian D.

Yelp
Drinks were great. Vibes were on point. Hanna and Kyley were outstanding bartenders and kept us drunk and happy all night.

Matthew L.

Yelp
The bar itself is solid. Decent prices and all the bartenders and staff are lovely people. I am a karaoke freak however, so I must point out 1 important downfall of this place. Their weekend karaoke dj is terrible at his job and not a people person. It can take over an hour to sing once, and he doesn't care less. Plus he is rude and unresponsive to guests. I recommend coming on Tuesday or Wednesday. The dj's on those days are people friendly and get things moving quickly.

Bailey F.

Yelp
My friends and I came here on a whim and we had more fun than we could have even imagined. Mohammed runs one awesome bar! Emily and Peter were incredible as well! we can't wait to come back in the future.

Hannah C.

Yelp
My favorite bar in DC. Unpretentious. Good bar food. Great prices. Incredible staff. Karaoke every night of the week. I have so much fun coming here.

Brittany M.

Yelp
My friends and I came here for my birthday, and we had the best time. The whole staff, from the owner to the bartenders were absolutely fantastic. Excellent and unexpected.

Josh H.

Yelp
I may be biased, as I consider myself to be a regular. I've been coming to Recessions since it opened. It's a basement bar with a dive feel. It's the kind of place where the bartender learns your drink, but stays busy enough that the crowd is always changing. The drinks are strong, the prices are low, and the crowd is there for Karaoke. If you want pretentious... this isn't for you. If you want classy... this isn't for you. If your favorite drink has 10 ingredients and needs special equipment... this isn't for you. If you want fun, fast, and cheap... come on by, we are happy to have you!
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Andrew P.

Yelp
This was my very first happy hour after I started working in DC, so I have definitely been here a couple of times. It's one of my local favorites for two reasons: 1) They have karaoke almost every evening 2) Their happy hour lasts until 8:00. It's in a basement past a strangely lengthy corridor, so it may be a turn off for some. Once you're inside, it's surprisingly spacious. There's a very large bar and plenty of tables to sit at. They have nice strong mixed drinks and hefty mugs of beer for their happy hour. When karaoke is active, it is a big deal. Lots of people sign up, so be prepared to wait a long time. If you're in a hurry to just grab a drink and then head elsewhere, don't expect to be able to sing anything. Just to highlight a few random occasions, I once went in the winter and it was quite cold down there. There was a space heater and my group and I had to migrate to it to be comfortable. I am not 100% sure if they still have it, but they had a lunch buffet of Indian food. It was VERY affordable, but I don't think the food was anything spectacular. My most recent time, an employee invited my group in as we were walking by and offered to extend the happy hour specials just for us since it was past 8:00. Give the place a shot!
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Ken L.

Yelp
Only know you've high when you're feeling low Only hate the road when you're missin' home Only know you love her when you let her go.... Ha, stupid song keeps playing over and over in my head! Anyways, I was feeling low and hella hungry on a Thursday night... so decided to check out cheap entertainment near the hotel. Karaoke it is. $10 for a large sized gyro (comes with steak fries) - surprisingly good. Karaoke started promptly at 8:30pm and was able to get in at least half a dozen songs before heading out at 10:30pm. Recessions fit the bill and I wouldn't hesitate to return here again.
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Doug S.

Yelp
If you are looking for a bar in a basement, here's your spot. Literally this bar is located in the basement of what looks like an office building. This is a full bar, and they serve food as well. Karaoke anyone? That's right, they have Karaoke Tuesday-Friday starting at 7:30pm and goes until 11:30pm. Happy Hour runs from 5pm-8pm daily. They offer $4 Miller Lite 28oz drafts, $4 Well drinks, and $4 wine. Also during Happy Hour the appetizers start at $5. Be sure to get here early on a Friday/Saturday as it gets very busy! Karaoke brings the people out to drink!!! If you want a spot to "get away from it all," this is your place.
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Kassie E.

Yelp
I title this review.... "ONE HOUR FISH N CHIPS" So my girlfriend invited me out for a meetup to attend their Monday night comedy show. I said sure because I love to laugh, I love to drink and I LOVE to eat! But....Ive also been around the block. Ive had alot of pleasant dining experiences and many shitty dining experiences...Recessions isnt the latter. It falls in the divey near towards shitty gradient. Let me draw it out for you... Pleasant Dining 9-8-7-6-5-4-[Recessions]-2- Shitty So lets get to it. So I walk in at 7:10pm. Show technically doesnt start till 7:30 but I see that the comedy show is being run by a sista so thats actually 8:07CPT. I see my friend. I sit. Im starving. I had a 45 minute work out on my lunch break and Im ready to tear it up. My friend insists I wait on our waitress to order. OK. I look around. about 20 tables with 30-40 patrons sitting around. ONE waitress. *Let That Shit Sink In* ONE WAITRESS. Yes ONE. Singular-Overwhelmed-Flustered-Gettin her cardio table hop on-Borderline this is slavery and violates some kinda OSHA law-waitress. FDS I walk over to the bartender. Its 7:15 Two Bartenders. Giving very cautious and pleasant service to three white men who Im sure walked up to the bar AFTER me. Damn it I was born the wrong color and gender #TwoStrikes (Im not sure if the bartender saw me so Im giving him the benefit of the doubt) After 10 minutes of standing and making searing burning eye contact with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (thats mean Kass [but Im joking] Fine!) I order fish n chips, goose island IPA and a vodka cranberry for my friend. I inform the bardentender where Im sitting he's like OK I gotchu [boo] I walk away from the bar. The time is now 7:25. And right on black time the show isnt starting {Surprise, Surprise}! 7:45pm Heres where my bougieness kicks in. The industry standard for a casual restaurant is 11 minutes for your meal to come to fruitation. I check in with Tweedle Dee at the bar. He gives me the eye signal. Again "I gotchu [boo]" 8:00pm I can feel my blood sugar dropping. Im hangry. 8:05 I check in with Tweedle Dum. Hes like "I gotchu [boo]" No. Tweedle x2. You dont. Its been 40 minutes...whats the deal? (In my head) 8:10 Im hallucianting. every plate that a food runner brings out looks like mine. My blood sugar is seriously low and I need to eat PRONTO. Im past hangry. Im Hupressed (hah, get it? Hungry+Depressed shoulda got me on stage). What I am about to relay next, I dont want you to judge me. 8:15 I get up and walk the 1 block to McDonalds and order a Mc Pick meal Fries and chicken nuggets. it takes all of 2 minutes to come out and I walk back proudly carrying my ill begotten goods to my table. (food just arrived at my table. 822pm) ONE HOUR FOR FISH AND CHIPS -_-
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Monica H.

Yelp
I almost don't want to leave this review because then everyone will know how great this bar is but I have to give it to these guys - this is my favorite dive bar EVER!!!! The staff are super friendly, the drinks are cheap, the food is pretty am and the Karoake is A - Mazing!!!
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Breanna E.

Yelp
Great happy hour. Cheap drinks and good food!!! $4 rail drinks, and $5 appetizers. Including mozzarella sticks, fries, and chicken tenders!! A fantastic spot
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Carley P.

Yelp
This place is so weird and I love it. I suggest you pregame this place and everything will feel less weird. You walk through a hallway in an office building before you get into the actual bar which looks like it used to be an old people Italian restaurant with fake stone and a mirrored wall. It gave me serious basement college party vibes partly because of the cheap dance floor lights and partly because I'm pretty sure 90% of the bartenders were hammered. The benefit of that is they are super super nice (like really REALLY awesome bartenders) and make strong/cheap drinks. The only music there is karaoke so if you don't want to dance around while two blasted white girls sing a horrible version of don't stop believing then don't come here. My group had a lot of fun singing, acting like weirdos and getting pretty buzzed off their super cheap drinks before heading to the next spot.
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Loveit O.

Yelp
I should have listened to my friend when she recommended I not eat here. This happened a couple of weeks ago but I haven't had time to write about my experience. I ordered something very simple - buffalo wings and a ceaser salad. Apparently they didn't have the parmesan cheese but I told them I still wanted it (their menu claims the dressing is made in-house) and he said okay. I get there and it is a sketchy and dank cave-like spot, which isn't indicative of food quality. I've been to some great dive bars. I work very close but it took me about 45 to an hour to get the food because I ordered ahead and didn't leave the office right away. Strike 1- the bartender was nice but scratched himself in an inappropriate place in the middle of cashing me out. Strike 2 - I go to eat my salad and they gave me a greek salad. It was pretty good but I don't understand why he gave me a different salad and didn't even mention it to me. I also discovered it cost more than the ceaser. Not cool at all. Strike 3 - the coup de grace - the wings were ice freaking cold. I'm talking cold as if they were cooked, stored in the freezer, improperly heated, then sauced. There is no way these ever reached a safe temp. Even the time it took me to get there cannot account for how cold they were. I would have heated them up except they tasted HORRENDOUS. It was a sour/rotten taste that is hard to describe but was so bad I immediately spit out the 1st bite and threw them all in the trash. Suffice it to say I will never EVER eat here again! They have a lot of good reviews, so perhaps this was just an off day. There are too many spots in DC to bother giving them another shot after this experience. I'm glad I didn't get food poisoning.