The Alex at the Graham

This place is not what it used to be, two or three years ago I would have given this place five stars as it was a true “speakeasy”, today it is just an average bar with a passcode. None of the drinks are truly special and are all watered down. The servers have zero personality and there is no magic or uniqueness that you expect from other speakeasy. The current owners have cheapened the experience and feels like dining at an average hotel bar on a business trip.

Nice cocktail place! I had the seafood paella, truffle fries and couple of their drinks. Food was just OK with g'town price tag on it. I really liked my drink: caviar and pearls, I was worried to mix fish eggs into my drink at first but it really brought the flavor out. Great service. I would go back for a date night. Great atmosphere. The bathtub drinks were just too cute.

Well it only took two years from my first visit to return ... and that was my loss. This remains one of the top five favorite places for a classic bourbon cocktail. What kind? Any kind. In a night that included here, Bourbon and Harold Blacks, this one was my favorite. And trust me. Those other places are five star recommend as well. So consider this a five + rating.

Swanky little jazz club with real musicians. Get there early! Tight bar area, but it is a great spot to listen to wonderful music and have a drink. Did not try the food but it looked good coming out to be served.

Very cool entrance. Best speakeasy food I've yet to have! Most friendly bartenders and fantastic sevice I had in the whole city. Had my very first "Vespa" martini... The bartender knew the off-menu request recipe already and did not disappoint!!!

Super cute speakeasy. Reservations are necessary. The bartender was a joy and catered cocktails to your liking. The lamb chops were phenomenal. I would never have guessed adding Thai red curry to lamb chops would be “the way.” Can’t wait to return for jazz night.

I've been to this Alex three times and every time is like the first one. I highly recommend it if you're looking for great music and swanky cocktails. It has a superb vibe.

This is my first ever restaurant review. I generally don’t believe in complaining online but the drinks were so bad that I felt compelled. I used to dine at the Alex regularly and the drinks, service, and food were amazing. Instead of receiving their signature bathtub gin — advertised with egg yolk and edible flowers, we received two watery, over-iced, gin and tonics for $47. Swipe to see the before and after.

We went to the Alex Speakeasy and it was cool. The receptionist at the hotel gave us a code to get into the speakeasy. The vibe was older, semi formal, and Gatsby-esque. We ordered the Violette Times and it was delicious. The egg white foam on top was creamy and the flavor was sweet but not overpowering. We saw other people get their gin and tonics in a little bathtub and thought that presentation was very neat. Taking off a star because the drinks are very expensive. Like $30-$40 per drink.

Let me start with the ugly and the bad, then finish with the good! The ugly was is was 90 degrees outside and Air Conditioning was busted and they had the two back doors in the basement opened. The bad was the food which was only French Fries, but some unmelted cheese sprinked on it. The good was that the Elotes which were served on a corn husk was pretty tasty, but lacking something that I cannot put my hand on. Other than that, the drinks were hitting!

I went here for drinks with friends after dinner in Georgetown and had a great time. The atmosphere was very mellow. The drinks were good and the service was great. I definitely recommend going here if you're looking for a place to grab drinks.

Does not close at 1am like advertised. Was told last call was at 11:30pm on a Friday, by Jennifer who is a tart. She totally ruined our anniversary. I asked other patron's about her and they had stronger word choice than tart... We don't like Jennifer.

Exclusive drinks review: Courtesy of Storm Sister Shirley: 10/10 (twist on Shirley temple - no liquor) Kiwi Tequila Sour: 10/10 (sweet drink) Espresso Martini: 9.5/10 (made with chocolate rum) Passion fruit tequila mule: 9/10 Long story short: storm was storming!!!! Ambiance: Speak easy all day vibes so small and intimate.

Located in the basement of The Graham, three of us went here on a Friday night. We were early for our 9 PM reservation and were told to come back at 9 as they were packed. We returned at 9 and were seated right next to the live jazz band, which deserves a separate 5 star review, if only bands could be rated. Our server was very friendly, but she was up front about the real possibility of having to kick us out at some point. It turns out that never happened as the crowd started to empty out after the band finished at 10. The drinks were expensive (~$20), but good. The Gin in the Bath stands out, and not in a good way. It's a gin cocktail in a little ceramic bathtub. They may as well have served it to me in a toilet.

Great location and ambiance. The rest is terrible. Service was slow (there were maybe 10 tables and it took 20 minutes to even put our drink order in). Food was poor quality and clearly just re-heated frozen meals. In fact, the beef we got was still cold. Drinks were weak and had a poor taste. Horrifically over-priced for what you're getting. 2 drinks, 1 flat bread, fries, and a some beef tenderloin tips came out to $110 (with auto included 20% service charge). Frankly, you can get better food at McDonald's and make your own G&T for a fraction of that price. The telltale sign that even the servers know it's not great is they don't ask "how did you like your meal?" they just quietly give you your check and move you along. They know it's garbage too. I remember this place being great years ago, so maybe we hit it on an off night but it was terribly disappointing this go around.

I had a reservation last night and drove into DC. When we walked in, The Alex was closed and no one at the hotel could give us an answer for why it was closed and why no one had called to cancel our reservation. The least they could have done is give us a call ahead so we wouldn't waste our time. Save yourself the hassle and head over to Chez Billy Sud down the street instead--we were able to salvage our night out there.

Great spot. Drinks were excellent. Food was good. Table was a little small. Service a bit slow for how few people were there during our early dinner.

Located in the basement and has jazz on Thursdays. We're only here for Storm. He's very talented, full of charisma and very fun to hang out with!! Drinks never disappoint, and you can tell Storm what you like and he'll make something for you... to be honest I'm not quite sure what's on the drink menu here since I always let him decide for me. We've tried some food, they're okay but we prefer the drinks. After all, it's a speakeasy/cocktail bar.

I love a good speakeasy especially one with live jazz music (on Thursdays!). Reservations are recommended to be guaranteed a spot, however the particular Thursday that I visited, it was pretty empty. Drinks are good, food is okay but overpriced for what you get. I love the vibe and came for the jazz music and experience.

I was charged twice by this establishment and have left 3 voicemails that have gone unanswered by management to rectify the situation. Update, I have left many more messages and emails and have not heard back once. The drinks are average at best and not worth your money. Certainly not worth it when you get charged twice.

Great service, tasty drinks. The air conditioning was broken but they provided plenty of ice water, and warned us before we sat down. I found the door code on Yelp and had it memorized, but the concierge gave it to me anyways when I asked for confirmation that it's the unmarked door with a numeric lock.

I suppose it might be fair to say that I should have been prepared for the breathtaking prices. This is after all Georgetown and we're currently in a time of over inflated prices. The Alex Speakeasy, like many places, requires that you QR scan to get their menu. This was our first opportunity to see prices. Lowest option I saw was $17, with most drinks at $20. I understand the concept of hand crafted cocktails, some with unique ingredients, but it might be nice to have some less pricey options on the menu (other than beer). And maybe throw an amuse bouche or other small bar snack our way, since we're dropping $20 on just one small cocktail. Also of note is the automatic 20% service charge applied to every bill; this is posted on a sign behind the bar. To us "service charge" = "gratuity" so I hope the (very friendly) bartender and hostess got a share. The lounge is a very tiny, very dark space that gives the impression the hotel had an unused room in the basement they wanted to capitalize on. I can't even imagine what it must be like in that confined space when there's live music but based on older reviews that seems to be the primary reason people go. As a side note, it's a little inconvenient to have to traverse the stairs back up to the hotel lobby every time you need the restroom - also not much fun if you've had a few and you're wearing heels, I'd imagine. All in all there just wasn't enough of an experience here to justify the prices.

This place is a gem. Located downstairs at the Graham Georgetown hotel it has both the look and feel of a speakeasy. We went on Thursday and the place really didn't get full until around 7pm. They had some live jazz playing so it was a great day of the week to be there. Cocktails were really good although the pigs&peat can use more smoky flavoring, presentation is superb though. Food is good but I honestly didn't expect it to be super good because you go here for drinks.

The Alex is a cool Jazz club speakeasy. We booked on Resy however they said they are only using open table which was confusing however we were still able to be seated. The band was great and played a mix of classic jazz and some other modern songs in a different way! The ambiance was cool including the lighting. Service was a little slow but they were friendly. The drinks were great but cocktails were expensive around $17-20. I didn't try any of the food but it looked good at the tables nearby. It wasn't too loud, we were still able to hold conversation which made the experience perfect for us! We had a lot of fun here and would go back.

Ambiance and staff were sweet and kind. Great drinks, our flatbread was fantastic. Just the right blend. Great vibe, will be back.

I found this place due to my fellow Yelpers. I was looking for bars that were unique and had four plus star reviews. We already ate dinner so we were looking just to enjoy some libations. I briefly checked out the pictures on Yelp but did not read the reviews so I was unaware of the process. We arrive via walking outside and do not see an entrance separate for the Alex so we tried entering through the hotel entrance of The Graham. The guy at the desk observed our confusion and offered assistance. He informed us of a code we needed to punch in to gain access through the door to the bar. He was very friendly and helpful. We punched the code in and the door unlocked. We walked down the stairs, to which the bar was at the bottom and behind was the seating area. It took a moment to take everything in before we were guided to sit wherever we wanted. We were provided menus and looked through the many options of libations. I believe the bartender was also serving the tables and took our order in a timely manner. I started with the bathtub gin & tonic. It was good but it was more about the presentation. We ordered another round but changed our drinks. All the drinks were decent and a lot of work was put into making them. Since we arrived late, we only had 2 drinks each. Our tab was over $60, which I thought was too much. I would visit again when I have more cash to spend or just for one drink to appreciate the ambiance.

Great time here with friends. We had a bit of a wait to get a table but it was a Friday night and there are limited spots. Worth the wait. The staff was wonderful the entire night. Both the drinks and food were amazing. Can't wait to go again!

One of my favorite speakeasies in DC so far. The vibe of this place is just what I look for in a speakeasy--dark, moody, a sophisticated atmosphere and of course, delicious and unique cocktails! They have a bathtub gin and tonic which is to DIE for! But last time I went I ended up getting a few other cocktails that I loved as well. If you need to get in and don't have the door code, just ask the front desk.

We came here after a quiet but interesting night at Georgetown. The Alex is located at the downstairs of The Graham hotel. Let the hotel receptionist know that you'd like to visit the Alex, and a code will be given to you that opens the door to the stairs in which you can get to the bar. The feel is very 20s speakeasy, with a cute newspaper menu, bar seating, and more intimate seating also located. There are many drink options, done house creations, classics, and start up variety of liquors that you can order. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. The bar especially stood out to me for its relaxing and welcoming ambience, it was like I was transported back in time and having a relaxing drink. I will certainly stop by again to try a few more creations. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a speakeasy in Georgetown.

Made a reservation for 4 on OpenTable a week in advance and got a late night reservation for a Friday night. The speakeasy was much smaller than I expected, bartenders weren't very friendly and no one greeted us when we arrived inside. I got sucked into the aesthetics of the bathtub drink and OMG I absolutely hated it. I didn't even finish it, I just let the ice melt and sadly stared at it. My friend ordered a Manhattan and he said it was just strong but not very good. We both ended up getting a second drink, an Old-Fashioned, we both agreed it was better than the first drink but only marginally so. Bathroom is not in the speakeasy, it's on the floor that you enter the Graham Hotel so that is super inconvenient. Had higher expectations on this place and was disappointed I let my friends down since I'm typically the planner of all things to eat and drink in DC.

The Alex at the Graham is a great place to have a drink if you like that speakeasy vibe. My husband and I started going when we found out they do live jazz on Saturdays (note: it's now Sundays). We've been two times and enjoyed ourselves each time. They have a great selection of cocktails (I loved the one with the turmeric, my husband loved the Applewood smoked one) and wines by the glass. The menu is really cute - designed to look like a newspaper. Food is...fine. I mean, it's a hotel restaurant. Not going to be fabulous, but certainly edible. The last time we went there we didn't have dinner so we had the deviled eggs, tuna tartare, and fig and goat cheese flatbread. All fine. The jazz is great, and the atmosphere is really cool. Service is good, but often slow - both times we've been there, there's been one woman working the floor (with some food runner help) and a bartender or two. She works hard. Seems that another waiter would help a lot. Bottom line: if you like speakeasies, you'll probably like the Alex.

Cool newspaper menu with subpar drinks and poor service. I was pleasantly surprised that the friendly bouncers in the lobby typed in a code and let my husband and I in without a reservation. I had high hopes for this speakeasy with its prohibition cheek vibe and intriguing black and white newspaper menu. The service is really disappointing as the waitress refused to seat us and pointed to the bar even though there were open tables. A few small tables had Reserve signs, but no one sat there from the time I came to when I left. When I saw a small open table that didn't have a Reserve sign, I asked the waitress if my husband and I could grab it, and she grudgingly shrugged, so we took it. After waiting for another 20 minutes, we finally got our drinks. My husband got the iconic bathtub gin & tonic while I got the One Man Band pisco passion fruit cocktail and Brown Derby. While I enjoyed the creative presentation of the bathtub cocktail, I wasn't impressed with the overly sweet taste. The Brown Derby was hands down my favorite cocktail with Bourbon, grapefruit and honey. Great complementary flavors that blend well together. I would get it again! The craft cocktail cellar is pretty cozy with seating for under 30 people. It gets pretty cramped and some light background music would help. As it's tucked inside The Graham and hasn't gotten too popular yet, you might be able to drop in without a reservation. Not sure if I would stop by again just for drinks. I would be interested in making a reservation and coming back for live jazz on Sat nights. Stay tuned! I kept the newspaper as a fun memorabilia of the night.

The Alex is a restaurant/speakeasy in the basement of the boutique hotel, The Graham, in Georgetown. If you take the stairs down, you'll see the walls decorated in chalk art. Once down, you'll be seated at one of the 20+ tables where you can order a decent cocktail. If you're a guest at the hotel, you can enjoy breakfast at The Alex early in the morning. My wife and I are Hilton Honor members and were given tickets to redeem free breakfast here. They serve a decent breakfast from a European continental breakfast to waffles to an omelette. My waffle was basic, but I did enjoy my avocado toast with a poached egg on top. The coffee is Illy and it's nothing to write home about.

This place was described as "quiet and cozy" it was everything of opposite of that. The bar tender was screaming, they started playing music. We were not waited on until 15 minutes after. The waitress offered everyone around us sparkling water but never my guest and I. The flatbread was doughy almost like they took it out too soon and it took about 10 minutes for my guest to get their drink. I was very disappointed with this place. Great drinks but the ambiance kills it.

When a friend of mine first suggested The Graham on a Thursday night I was reluctant. At the time, we were in a neighborhood far, far away and it just seemed like an aggressive social move. Little (Havana) did I know, this wasn't just a typical night at The Graham. We walked into the Graham's lobby and immediately turned to go downstairs. Although I knew the speakeasy was there, I didn't expect the intimate space to be filled with people dancing to a live, Cuban band. The energy was in the room was awesome, with the space full but not overly crowded. The drinks were delicious and although I didn't try the food, it looked pretty good! When I went to the bathroom upstairs, my friend handed me a little, gold piece of paper with the code to the door for re-entry, and while I'm sure that wasn't necessary, it was a nice fun touch. Definitely a fun move should you plan on stepping out on a Thursday night!

TLDR: Amazing Cocktails, Amazing Staff, Mediocre Food. Stopped in for drinks and dinner in this speakeasy spot in Georgetown. Decided to sit at the bar as that's our preferred way to experience cocktail bars and it did not disappoint. Throughout our visit we chatted with the bartender and server about cocktails and food while taking recommendations of drink options. Their speciality cocktails are great (Pigs N Peat especially) and we took some off menu recommendations from the bartender who was aptly named Alex and were never disappointed. They have a great selection of quality liquor and Alex is a true cocktail master. The loss of a star comes from the food. The appetizers weren't bad (hummus, ricotta toast) but the main course of sous vide tenderloin was a let down. Steak was pretty bland and the broccolini described on the menu was simply steamed broccoli. The highlight of the main course was the elote corn which can be had as an appetizer by itself. Overall we'll 100% be coming back and bringing friends but will opt out of dining in-house.

Quiet Wednesday evening and we had the bar to ourselves, which allowed us you ave a great view of the mixologists working their magic! The bar tender was really skilled and seemed to have a good rapport with the waitstaff, which led to some fun conversation and smiles! All of the hand crafted drinks took a minute to come out AND they should have! These were basically worksnof art, people! While this is considered a "speak easy" it's not traditional in the sense of being secretive or giving your number to a weird guy and waiting for a call. They did have a pretty awesome "newspaper" where they had articles about prohibition and the drink list. The ambiance was low lit, which paralleled the "speakeasy" vibe they were striving for. I enjoyed it, recommend it, and will be back again!

We went here for brunch last week. Really cute charming speakeasy. We asked for their cocktail menu but they told us there was no cocktail menu during brunch. They do however have $1 mimosas! We both had the avocado toast with poached eggs on top. Overall good food and atmosphere but nothing to write home about.

I must say, this is one of my new favorite hidden gyms! This cozy Alexander Graham Bell themed restaurant and bar has so many delicious treats and drinks on their menu. Their specialty bathtub gin is a must when you visit! Both the gin and tonic are made in-house at the Alex! There is also a beautiful rooftop with a view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the monuments! I can't wait to return!

I can't speak to the bar as it is actually closed -- Yelp incorrectly indicates they are open. Per their website (10/20/2020): The Alex Craft Cocktail Cellar & Speakeasy at The Graham Georgetown is TEMPORARILY CLOSED In response to the continued risk of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and to encourage social distancing to help stop its spread, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close our Speakeasy, the Alex. We will keep you posted as this situation evolves and look forward to welcoming you back soon, as only the Graham can. If you have an upcoming reservation at one of our restaurants, our team will be in touch to reschedule, or feel free to contact us directly. Thank you for your understanding and please be safe! BUSINESS HOURS: TEMPORARILY CLOSED

My husband, 2 month old son, and I visited The Alex for brunch during restaurant week. Yep, you read that right; we brought our baby. Funniest part was when we were leaving and the young(ish) millennial table next to us could be heard saying "oh my gosh, there's a baby here!" Yes, we got lucky and he was quiet during our time there but we also planned it right. We arrived promptly at 11am, knew what we wanted so we ordered quickly, food arrived smoothly, and we were out in slightly over an hour. I'd rate this as an amazing brunch experience for us considering this was only the second time we took our son to a restaurant and this one is not exactly kid friendly. Bathroom is on the lobby level and it's a singular stall with no changing table. Luckily, we never needed one. We also sat at an end two top table and had the carrier next to the table on the floor. It worked for us but might not for all. Anyways , The Alex is a speakeasy destination by evening that offers a killer brunch by daylight. I'm not one for eating brunch out too much because my husband makes a bomb egg,ham,cheese breakfast sandwich and who can beat homemade mimosas with TJ sparkling (yup, I'll own being basic), but I LOVE RW and I thought brunch would be our best bet with a baby. Our server was great and on top of everything! It also helps that there are fewer than 10 tables and multiple servers were running around. Mimosas are $9 for the first and $1 after so of course we took advantage of that! We did cranberry but there is also traditional OJ and grapefruit. The bacon bloody Mary's looked on point ....sigh, next time I suppose. For the 3 course $22 we had an insane amount of food. As for an appetizer I chose the chicken and biscuit only because my husband chose the shrimp and grits and I wanted to try both. The grits were very rich, cheesy, and creamy. There was a nice amount of shrimp and the Cajun cream added a nice kick. Continuing on the basic train, we didn't ask for a separate bowl for the tails like the table next to us haha. The chicken and biscuit was really tasty too. The gravy wasn't overly heavy, the chicken tender with crisp breading , and the biscuit soft and fluffy. I enjoyed the few carrot shreds for a contrasting texture point. For entrees, I chose the chicken and waffles and my husband the hammered pork with eggs and hollandais and mashed potatoes. I definitely preferred my dish to his and he felt the same about his so it was a win-win. I loved how my waffles had sugar cubes in them as they did when we went to Belgium a year ago. The chicken was exactly like the appetizer-tender with a crisp fried outside. There was only syrup drizzling around the edge while I noticed other tables given a goblet of syrup but, honestly, it was tasty enough to not be doused in syrup so I never asked for any. My husband really enjoyed his dish. He says the pork was succulent. The hollandaise had a nice kick to it. Dessert was a slight disappointment-they ran out of chocolate souffle do it was either apples tart or coconut cake and we both dislike coconut so apple tart it is! It was slightly warmed but could use more cinnamon inside and a la mode would have been more appropriate. Overall, our brunch was delicious, service pretty good, and the valet attendants were AMAZING! They brought our car seat carrier down when we forgot it (First time payent problems), and they took out the base getting it out and helped my husband get it back in! Oh, valet is $20, but worth it if you have a baby; if not I'd walk it from a garage. I'd definitely be happy to return to try it out night time and I'm so thankful our first brunch with baby was do fantastic!

This speakeasy is FIRE. If you get the chance to drink by the hand of the head mixologist, Adam, you're in for a treat. Drinks that come out of smokey chests and BATHTUBS, YES BATHTUBS, this is a unique place with that romantic speakeasy vibe you are used to. Definitely check this out, if you're lucky enough to find out how to get in! ;) I would tell you but I don't want to ruin it. Have fun!!!

Great craft cocktails! Speak easy style ! Fantastic drinks ! I had the Most and my partner had Gatsby ! We share BRUJERIA ! Get it ! GREAT PRESENTATION how the drink was made ! Great drink to end the night ! Our fave drink to end the day ! All 3 drinks were incredible! We will be back ! Bartender was impeccable explaining our drinks ! GO !

After this place took my reservation/card and ended up refusing my entry due to a surprise "private event," I thought I'd never go back. I decided to give this place another shot. The result: meh. The Alex wants to be a cool speakeasy, and has some cool elements which head in that direction, but it's underwhelming in all other aspects. The location itself (inside of the Graham, a hotel) means that the location itself is already far from a secret - it feels a bit more like the Disneyland approach to a speakeasy. The decor is definitely speakeasy-esque (I particularly enjoyed the menus), but kinda lacks authenticity or any sort of punch. There's some attempt at blending Victorian elements with Prohibition Era stuff, which just kinda feels like an awkward mish-mash. There was a photo shoot going on when I was there, which honestly made me feel uncomfortable - I don't like the idea of ducking cameras to enter a speakeasy. The drinks here are just OK. None are particularly bad, but none are particularly good, either. You can throw a stick and find better bars in Georgetown. The food is fairly similar. Big picture: there are way, way better places in Georgetown. Don't bother with this one.

We were there Saturday (10/22) around 6-7 pm and it great experience as always; however, the individual who I assumed to be the manager was extremely disrespectful and condescending to staff in front of guests. Every time I've visited the Alex and the Rooftop, the staff have gone above and beyond to provide incredible service, so seeing the way they were treated by this man was nothing short of a complete disappointment. My friends and I found his behavior to be unprofessional and condescending- the guests at the tables around us agreed. The staff deserve better.

A friend and I were sneaker shopping and decided to come here on a whim on a Friday night. I didn't know this place existed and I must say I really love the concept of this being a speak easy. The restaurant is very quaint and intimate. It's dimly lit so it really creates a sultry vibe. We decided to sit at the bar and the bartenders are really awesome. They're super friendly and attentive and very knowledgeable about drinks. I decided to order the appetizer shrimp and the risotto entree that came with Brussel sprouts. I'll say I thought the paring of Brussel sprouts with risotto was a little odd but it worked really well and the flavors complimented each other. The food was tasty and the drinks were great. I'll deff be back to visit. I will day though it gets pretty busy so it may be best to call ahead and make a reservation. Luckily we were able to walk in.

This is a review of the Speakeasy Jazz Night at The Alex At The Graham on Saturday, November 5, 2016. Some of this review is informational for those that may not have visited this venue. The Music Performance Lena Seikaly (vocals) and Steve Herberman were spectacular. I've followed them for quite a while and learning of their scheduled performance is why I decided to attend. We were not disappointed. Parking As you know Thomas Jefferson Street in Georgetown is one way going south to North from K Street to M Street. Well, Google Maps doesn't tell the whole story regarding parking. First, The Graham has valet parking - just pull up in front of the hotel. We have no idea of the cost because we used Colonial Parking. There are two Colonial Parking opportunities. The first is on the left side as you drive up Thomas Jefferson from K Street before you cross over the canal. So as you drive up Thomas Jefferson from K Street look to your left for Colonial parking. The second is on M Street directly across the street from Thomas Jefferson at the intersection. It is to the left of a historic building, the name of which escapes me. But suffice it to say that if you pass The Graham hotel with no street parking, turn left at the light (M Street) and then an immediate right into Colonial Parking. Not great signage but discernible nonetheless. The Alex - The Room The room is small. However, I would use the word "intimate". We sat right up front. The staff had a challenge getting in between tables to provide service but it was no big deal if you're there for the entertainment. The decor was visually interesting with a quasi-deco and steampunk feel. The steampunk feel came primarily from the ceiling which had decorative piping with faux crystal ends on the pipes. Pretty interesting. We arrived very early to check out and to experience the rooftop bar (more on that in a bit). So, as Steve set up we noted that a guy came from doors that led outside behind the fireplace. All in all, The Alex (the room) in my mind hearkened back to what you might read those small intimate jazz clubs were like in the distant past (thus the moniker "Speakeasy" I suppose). The Service In addition to the stellar performers this is an area where The Alex REALLY shines. The very moment we walk to the door of The Graham we were greeted graciously and the gentleman somehow knew why we were there. From there as we went downstairs (again we were only the second guests there) we were met graciously by the staff and Eric. Throughout the evening you did not have to wait long for a staff person to ask if all was well and if you needed anything. This was the case even after the room was filled. This dedication to service was executed by several persons, which was great - no waiting for an "assigned" person to serve you. We go out quite a bit and this level of service is in no way a standard. This one aspect of the experience made us want to come back for sure. The Menu and The Food Some might say that the menu is limited. Our take on this is that we would like to see a limited menu of items that are done WELL rather than an extensive menu of average to sub par offerings. We shared the flatbread that had beets and goat cheese. Honestly, I thought of you Chris when I saw that it had beets. The bread was delicately light and not chewy and the toppings were served warm and palatable. A good appetizer to share. Then Karen and I had the teriyaki salmon entree which included new potatoes and asparagus. We both remarked that it was very well prepared and even better, boasted a visually pleasing plated presentation. The salmon was NOT overcooked (usually the case in restaurants) and not drowned in the sauce. The salmon's balance was highlighted by crispy edges that was ONLY on the edges (how did they do that?). The asparagus was not overcooked, tender and obviously fresh. The new potatoes blended well with both the dish overall and the sauce. This was a great entree and the meal was very good. Not knowing what to expect, this too was surprising and refreshing. The wine list was limited. I was taken aback by the fact that one of my favorite champagnes was on the drink menu by the glass as it is usually only offered by the bottle. But, alas, Verve Cliquot by the glass was - gulp - a whopping $35. No big deal, just a surprise observation. I'd like to see more wine offerings but I'm a bit of a wine snob. Again, overall the meal experience was very good. The Rooftop Bar and Lounge So, the Rooftop Bar was an extra experienced that we got from The Graham's website which we read thoroughly (a good suggestion by the way). Again, we arrived at a bit after 6PM for a 7PM dinner reservation just to check it out. We were not disappointed. The view of Georgetown is nothing less than spectacular. The Rooftop Bar is a swanky and elegant experience.

It's my first time knowing the "speak easy". It was more fun knowing about the concept of speakeasy than the actual service and taste of their cocktails. Maybe it was because it was pretty late at night that we dropped in and their kitchen had just closed, we were not impressed with the cocktails.

I was staying at The Graham and wanted to drink without going too far from the hotel. That's what led me to this speak easy. I have an affinity for aesthetically pleasing spaces and this restaurant took me to a euphoric state. The decor is unconventional and some of the items were probably picked up in an antique shop somewhere. Everything went together so well. We sat at the bar, it was a Saturday night but service was speedy and the bartenders were really helpful. We didn't do a full dinner because we weren't really hungry, but next time!! My friend and I enjoyed a fruit/cheese plate and several glasses of Veuve. This is the ultimate sexy spot. I'm glad I found it and I'm itching to get back.

This is such a fun place to stumble upon in DC. Our group arrived around 5pm and were able to sit at the bar (recommend a reservation otherwise). We got the cutest gin cocktail served in a bathtub and loved it. The servers were super knowledgeable and receptive to our questions. I highly recommend making this a stop while in the city.

We stayed at the Graham for a staycation and came to the Alex for after dinner drinks. Being that this is a cocktail bar at a hotel, you already know it's a bit on the pricey side. This is a speakeasy where the guy at the hotel door provides a code to the speakeasy door. Once entering the code, you head down the stairs to the basement bar. I love the vibes. It feels like a hidden gem. We sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks. We loved them all. The best part of the bar was the live jazz music in the background. It really made the moment. It was just unfortunate that the live jazz ended early and didn't go any longer for a Saturday night. This is a great spot I never knew about and will definitely come back on a special occasion.

April 28, is the last day of my birthday week (don't ask) Way to bring April 28th to a jazzy close with my friend Julian Hipkins who is performing at "The Alex" in Georgetown. What a cool little spot and how did I miss the soft opening? The Alex is located in the basement of the Graham Hotel, Georgetown, which is part of the upscale Hilton chain. To reach the Alex you go thru the lobby of the hotel and an employee will lead you to stairs or the elevator which will take you to the Basement/bar dinning area. When you exit you turn right and walk back into the past. Back into the days of the ole Speakeasy. Dimly lit, live music playing and many soft conversations going on at one time. To really enjoy the music stay unto the second set. Those who are not true jazz lovers will be gone by then. There is no cover. Just make reservations for dinner. The place is small and fill up fast. Oh, (1) did I mention they have a roof top bar? They do. And it's a great view of Georgetown; and finally (2) Park your vehicle in an underground lot ($13 after 5pm) or street parking with ParkMobil (if you can find it/we are talking Georgetown). One last thing. My thank you to Islam Farag, the manager of the Alex. I made reservations for the wrong day and upon being notified by Open Table that I failed to show I contacted the hotel and within an hour Mr Farag contacted me personally and arrange to get me a table for Saturday night, April 28. When I arrived, he greeted me warmly and above all, he remember it was my birthday.

I've been really into the speakeasy vibes these days, so my bf and I decided to check this place out after a recommendation from a friend. The place is cute- a petite jazzy place with a decent number of seating/tables. The menu is creative, and I liked the overall theme they were going with. Weird tip- the bathroom is located upstairs outside the bar. You might need the door code again to get back inside. The food was fine. We had the mini lump crab cakes, steak frites, and fries. The crab cakes were a bit too creamy/soggy on the inside for my liking (if that makes sense), but overall, they were fine. Our waiter was great! I was hesitant on what I wanted to drink that day, and he recommended something to me based on my preference. He checked up on us frequently, but not TOO frequently- just enough. He was attentive and friendly, so I gotta compliment their service for sure. I would come back again to try their other drinks/cocktails and the music, but probably won't have too high expectations for food.

This is one of my favorite bars. I feel like such a dapper gentleman when I bring a guest here. You will drink and lounge in style, I promise you. The Alex is is a smokey-lit, romantic bar space that's very hidden in the basement of The Graham hotel in Georgetown. Not many people know about it. It has the charms of a speakeasy fit with plush furniture, dark woods and silver accents. I've become well-acquainted with the evening bartender here. His name is Ken and he has a booming, friendly laugh. Ken remembers my favorite drinks every time I come here. It is always uncrowded and has a very chill atmosphere. Expect to pay a little more for your drinks. Georgetown is not a cheap place. But this is a nice treat every once in a while if you want to impress.

Great atmosphere. Great service. Great food and drinks. Unique, seasonal menu - delightful to enjoy as tapas. Bring your out of town guests if you want to impress. Start with a drink on the roof and then come down to the speakeasy for delicious food and a relaxing vibe.

Great speakeasy hidden in the graham hotel. Not the biggest place so you might want to make reservations beforehand, which can be easily done through opentable.com. Definitely has a prohibition decor to it. Even the menu looks like a newspaper from that era. The staff and bartenders were very knowledgeable and helpful. And most important of all the cocktails tasted great! Will definitely come back.

This little speakeasy in the basement of the graham hotel is such a cool find in DC. If you are a fan of really unique cocktails and a chill, upscale vibe, this is it. I enjoyed a drink called "the most" which was tequila based and delicious. My husband had the "I think I'll have a drink" which I believe was whiskey based. Also, very delicious and different. We tried the "bathtub gin" which is fun and original. Don't get sucked into ordering it just for the novelty of it though unless you like gin (which we do). We did not try food here as we had already eaten earlier in the evening but many food menu items sounded good. Our server was excellent and the whole staff was friendly and smiling. A huge plus.

To enter the bar you get a slip of paper with the code from the hotel receptionist. I wish the entrance was a bit more hidden, but I thought this was a cute little spot to grab a drink in Georgetown if you're looking for a laid back night where you can actually hear your conversation. I loved that the menus were newspaper printouts.