The Bullpen

Great post Nationals Game spot to grab a drink after the game. There wasn't a live band the night we were there. The space result handled the crowd and getting drinks didn't take much time at all. We were a little sad the cigar shop wasn't open but still a cool perk on other nights.

By far the best drinking venue in Navy Yard. The food and drinks are pretty cheap — the hotdogs are delicious. They also usually have live music here on weekends and holidays. All types of genres.

Lots of vendors and plenty of space have a nice time! Great event space, will be back in the future ☀️

Great atmosphere and beer selection, a little pricey but cheaper than stadium drinks.

No better place to pre or post game party for a Nats game! Live music, cold drinks and good times!

Awesome spot for a large music function or party. Drink venues could be faster serving customers nonetheless I always have a good time when I visit.

Relaxing hangout pre baseball game. Mostly standing room and a few standing tables. More seats and tables on balcony level. Several food vendors and quality beers and spirits available.

I think they should have a capacity that allows patrons to still be vested in the jam sessions with the ability to maneuver thru the crowd. There is no distinction for lines so be prepared for the long waits. There are only a few fans circulating during the summer so there will be lots of crowding in those areas for coolness. The music is hit or miss, but they do give free water.

As someone who just moved from California, this was my first ever going out experience in DC, and I'm actually speechless. I've literally never seen anywhere like this before--the baseball game-esque vibe, different bar tents, the generous "double shot", the god awful portapotties--it will truly live down in my memory for a long time. Perfect spot to hang out with a big group of friends, pretend you're in college, or get way too drunk with coworkers you just met. Thank you for the chaotic but epic experience, The Bullpen!

It is fairly entertaining for what it is. I do wish they'd get better cover bands. This is a place to hang out before baseball games. It's named appropriately, as it's next to the stadium. Security is good about checking identification. It's a safe spot to get a beer, smoke a cigar. The prices as you can imagine are high. There are a decent amount of beer places to choose from. Strange only one with draft beer for some reason. They have decent brews, but at $9 plus each expensive. The views and people spot is popular. I like the place but don't love it. If in the area, and you have some free time before a game, it's an alright spot.

Great place to hang out and grab food or drinks before the game. Wide open space, lively atmosphere, live music, and lines were totally reasonable. Staff checking IDs at the door were great and super friendly. Drinks were good, and the hot dogs felt like a steal so close to the ballpark. Beware, a double costs double - silly me was hoping it would be quite that much. Only saw porta potties.

Honestly, I liked this spot! It's a really cool spot to pre-game and hangout both before and after the game! If you go before just know it gets crazy and it's super crowded. The drinks are cheaper here than in the actual game. I think each Marg I got was around $11. The Marg was actually reallyyyyyy good! Nice and refreshing and the perfect amount of ice, lime, salt, and sweetness. After the game starts you get half off your drinks so for two drinks it ended up being $11. They have seats and tables. Everything is first come first serve. I deff wanna come back here to hangout sometime before a game.

We had just jumped out of our Uber and started making our way towards the Nationals Park entrance when we ran into this place. The Bullpen was loud and lively and we were pumped to be heading to the game, so we decided to drop on in and check it out! (+) There was live music being played on a small stage to the far-right side of the Bullpen. They were alright. lol I'm just a big lover of live music in general, in just about all forms and genres. (+) There were a lot of happy people just having fun having some drinks, taking in the music and talking to some other baseball fans. I wasn't here a long time, but it was fun. (+) Totally free to get in as long as you are over 21 years old. Don't worry, they will get you when you order something though. lol (-) I had 1- 16 oz Miller Lite can priced at $8. Yikes. I am aware and accept the pricing since I know we are at an MLB baseball game and that just comes with the territory. I am told after ordering that there is an automatic auto grat of 20% added to the bill which will bring it to a little over $10! I would have tipped at least a buck anyways, because I am a tipper, but this came across as very shiesty and left a bad taste in my mouth. The guy literally turned around where he stood, grabbed a can, and popped the tab. This is what requires a 20% tip? It made it very easy to keep things at that 1 drink. It is a fun space to check out before the game, but they need to do away with that auto-grat nonsense. It definitely could have been better. 2 stars.

I'd love to rate higher for the decent hot dogs & drinks but they took the liberty of giving themselves an 80% tip without my permission. It happened to everyone I was with who purchased something.

Place is meh. It's a good spot to hang out before a game but any food or drinks you buy they automatically add a tip and don't say anything and the print on the card readers is tiny and they don't give you more than a half a second to even look at it before they take it back and close the sale. Happened to me and my friends. Watch your drinks carefully here too....

The bullpen was a fun pregame vibe. There isn't much shade and with the game being an afternoon game at 4 it was quiet hot from the sun as well as all the people. The drinks were a little pricey but still cheaper then in the stadium. I would definitely return

Stopped in before and after a Nat's game on a Friday night. This place is exactly right outside of the Navy Yard Metro Exit/Entrance. A lot of people just having a good time. Various lines so the wait times were relatively short. Was a little crowded in general but good times. There was a cover band and then in the evening, a DJ playing music Free to get in, 21+ Food trucks

I am 23 on my id and of age. The "bouncer" decides to claim mine is fake. I tell him I am obviously of age and to bring the police over. He denies all of this and says it dosent matter, mine is "fake". And he takes my id. Now I have to go to the dmv to get a new one. God knows the dc dmv is insane. Not happy.

The Bullpen at Half Street Fairgrounds in DC is a great place to go for drinks and sports in a cool and unique atmosphere. I really like the location and everything that they have available here. Good overall experience coming here.

The Bullpen offers you a refuge before, during, and after baseball games. It's also there for you for away games! I love the aesthetic of the Bullpen first and foremost. You are surrounded by shipping containers that have been turned into bars and seating elements. There's also a large stage that often has live music. The bars offer tons of great drink options, including cheap cocktails and bites to eat. All are delicious and all are recommended by moi. The main allure of the bullpen is the convenience. It's across the street from the the metro and a block from Nat's Park. You just have to go if you're going to a game or in the area! You'll have a blast!

Definitely not what I expected when I showed up. A really cool outdoor area and what seems to be a parking lot. Drink deals are super nice during the nationals games. Live music is also a plus

First off, we had a blast at the bullpen. It was exactly what we were looking for as visitors from out of town. We were in town for the Cubs/Nationals game and we wanted somewhere we could enjoy the weather outside, have some drinks, and be apart of the action. When we walked into the Bullpen we found exactly that! It has a rooftop area as well as a lower area (where we hung out) that gave us the chance to get a bunch of different beverages and food. Is it classy? Absolutely not. Is it somewhere I want to be before every baseball game? Absolutely. We met so many fans from Washington and other visitors from Chicago who were also in town for the game. It's a relaxed, blue collar type of party and somewhere I would recommend to anyone. There was even live music! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to get the full experience of "tailgating" before a Nationals game!

Charged 20% tip for ordering 2 beers lol. After the fact I asked and the young lady said it's an automatic 20% gratuity lmao. Never heard of a mandatory tip in my life. Waiters and waitresses that bust their ass all night serving individuals food and drinks deserve 20% if not more - but to automatically charge folks 20% for turning around and grabbing a beer from a cooler is ludicrous honestly. And scummy.

I've given this place two chances and I am pretty sure I'm done with it. The first time, I saw an outdoor comedy show, and people were partying everywhere so it was hard to hear the comedy. The second time, I saw a concert and it was, again, hard to even realize a live performance was happening. Most people were totally not into the show. Also there were almost no seats or tables and we had to awkwardly stand around with nowhere to put our purses. This place is just one big party with awful overpriced drinks. I got a hard seltzer to be safe, a Vizzy, and it was fine but the cocktails my friends got were weak and awful. Luckily the weather was good but I also noticed the web site says there are no cancellations or rain checks for bad weather, which is absurd for a venue where every single spot is outdoors. Definitely do not recommend.

A decent venue to meet up before a ballgame. It is usually very crowded and full of recent college graduates. Be prepared to run into familiar faces. The drinks are nothing special, but the price reflects that reality. It is not a place worth making an effort to try but also not a place to be avoided.

This is a fun venue. It's very relaxed and low key. The drinks are kind of pricey, but manageable. I love that you can go to the upper level for a better view and to socialize. And if you want to get rowdy you can go to the front, but if you want to just relax and enjoy the music from a distance you can hang out at the picnic tables or towards the back.

The Bullpen is full of liars. Which is why it's known locally as The Bullsh**. But it should be renamed to The Sh**, because it's a great concept. Every city should have these kinds of spaces near their sports stadiums and downtowns. It reminds me of the Fan Zones at the European Soccer Champs and the World Cup. They check your ID, but it's free to get in. It's usually packed with a few hot people that smell nice and a lot of smelly people that don't smell nice. The live music, none of which I've really loved, is loud and in your face. I don't buy the beer, sometimes the food, and I think it's pretty disgusting that they sell tobacco here from trucks and whatever. I wouldn't give 5 stars to them based on that alone. Plus the prices of everything, from drinks to food truck food, is obscene. But it's free to get in, so I guess no complaints from me. Anyway I need to stop writing online and get back to writing with a Bullpoint Pen.

First, a shout out to the YELP community for the free tickets to come watch White Ford Bronco at this location. Nothing like hearing 90's music, who doesn't love the 90's!? Fun area before and after Nats games. There's corn hole, food trucks, a cigar truck amongst others. Obviously drinks are here. Expensive (stadium priced) but nevertheless it's a great spot to mingle with other fans while the time passes. Sometimes they'll have concerts here which get the crowd in a positive vibe. Another great way to meet and interact with the crowd. Especially after everyone's had some alcohol in them!

It's honestly a very nice place despite other's reviews I go there all the time and the manger's is so kind but some People keep saying that it's loud but that's what you expect because it's mostly 21-30 year olds so of course it's loud but it's a good place to go after and before a baseball game

We purchased out tickets for VIP thru Groupon. This location is right up the street from the Navy Yard metro station. The VIP provided an hour earlier entrance. They didn't have a huge selection of beers but it was enough to get by with some variety. I have to say my utmost favorite was the Root Beer. I swear l never cared for Root Beer soda growing up but this was pretty good! I know l had at least 3 glasses of that. I thought the only thing good about the VIP was that you got to enter an hour earlier. We had our lawn chairs with us and they wouldn't let us bring them in. Couldn't understand the reasoning behind that. They didn't have anyone standing under the VIP tent so anyone could just enter. People were packed in like sardines. On a positive note the DJ was cranking. They had several benches that you could roast under the sun. The only reason I gave it three stars was because of the DJ and the Root Beer drink which happened to be my favorite! I'm just glad that we got a nice discount thru groupon. I plan on definitely hunting down that beer though lol.

This place is amazing! It is the absolute must go-to place before any Washington Nationals game! It's an outdoor adult playground where you can go with friends or make new ones! They typically have live music and delicious alcoholic beverages as well as a wide variety of beers. I love the margaritas and spiked lemonades! The prices are way cheaper then inside the ballpark and the bartenders are really nice and awesome! Shout out to my regular bartender Erin who is always so kind and gives great service with a smile! There are also a few food trucks at the bullpen on game days and a ton of them when they have Truckeroo which is my favorite food truck event in the city! This place is the best!! I heard rumors that they might close in the next few years... I really hope that's not true! It would be a tragedy!

Giving 5 stars not because it's an amazing travel destination, but because this place delivers on exactly what you think it would be. We stumbled upon this place before our first Nats game. We had family in from out of town and were unfamiliar with the Navy Yard area. After attempting to eat at several bars/restaurants in the area and being unsuccessful at each one (no seating, no service...etc) we settled on The Bullpen. We had walked by several times, there was no line to get in so we thought, why not? Honestly our plan was just to kill some time before the game, but we ended up really enjoying it. This is just an unassuming, no frills, parking lot, hangout spot. They have little stands set up all around the perimeter- hot dog tents, beer tents, a few with mixed drinks. The prices are less than the ballpark, and probably about the same as a bar. We got a $3 hot dog, listened to some great live music, and just hung out before the game. They have corn hole set up by the band's stage. And there are picnic tables on the ground, and an upper deck with a pretty cool view (standing tables only up there). If you're looking for an Instagram worthy, cool photo op type of place this probably isn't it. But if you want something laid back, easy, and chill, where you don't have to spend a fortune to eat/drink- this delivers.

Good place to go with friends before a nationals game. There are a lot of drink and food options. They have $4 hot dogs which a necessity at every baseball game as well as 6 $6 sausage and onions or $6 bratwurst. The daiquiris and rum runners were $11 but totally different mixes. The daiquiri was weak and just takes like strawberry mixer where as the rum runner was overpowering and difficult to drink. There was live music and a raised viewing area which was really cool as well.

I am a fan of the Bullpen! It is free to get in, it is right next to the stadium, the drink prices are reasonable, there are many spots where you can buy the drinks, they have good cover bands, and the shipping container construction is pretty cool. What else you need? Check it out!

I just simply love the look of the Bull Pen--the cargo crate set up along with a bunch of vendors on the sides has a lot of potential to be an awesome pre game place! Yes, the prices of alcohol - 8 dollars for a beer, 11 dollars for a mixed drink - are pretty expensive! But it's cheaper than the park and there is live music and such a lively crowd. I bumped the stars down because the security or door people before you get in are pretty rude. They kept asking me if this was my real Id the whole time. If I had a fake ID, would not go here... But other than that, I love the picnic tables and extra space. I prefer going here free night time games because the energy is so awesome when the nats win!!!

Ok, we need to get serious for a second. Sit down, we're gonna have a talk. Take a drink of water, you're gonna need it. If you haven't seen or been to the bull pen- you need to go there. If you love giant outdoor parties with live music and lots of beer, this is the place for you. Free? It's free entry. Yes FREE. You do have to be 21, but it's free. There is a ridiculous amount of beer stands and there are a couple of food trucks and a a couple of food vendors. But literally, this place is filled with people who are going to the Nationals game, or people who just want to party right next to the Nationals game. They serve summer shandy and they have about 10-15 games of corn hole going at all times. Bathrooms? They're porta potties- hence the knock off of one star. I'm sorry- as a society - we should have moved away from porta potties a while ago. This place is stationary- there should be real bathrooms. It looks like the lines are endless for all of the beer stands, but those are just people standing in front of them. Each time I went to get a beer - it took me 3 minutes. I'm assuming its only open on game day - but if you want to have a great time outside and it just happens to be a game day- there's nothing stopping you. You don't have to show a ticket- you don't have to wear a Nationals jersey. Just go. I was so tunnel vision from the metro to the stadium that I didn't realize there was 1000 people partying in the distance. The key to this place, is it's hidden. See a bunch of large shipping crates off in the distance? Walk towards them. IT'S A TRAP! No Admiral Akbar- it's a party!

The Bullpen has beer, cornhole, and live music, which clearly means it is the BEST pre-Nats game hang out spot.

Dog friendly which is a plus but no water bowls. No beers on tap, just canned beer. Their food options are what you'd expect and at a good price. 3 stars because there is zero shade unless you're sitting at a picnic table or standing under the stairs.

Perfect for warm days. I went for a movie. Expected the screen to be bigger given the event & location. For this event they checked ids, tickets & temperatures at the door. The tables were spaced accordingly. You scan the menu & order right from your phone. They had a good selection of drinks and a food, along with a food truck that had food.

Was here for an event - Truckaroo (a food truck festival). I understand that since all the food trucks were in there, they must've had to get rid of whatever tables or chairs usually fill up that middle area, but there was literally no where to sit or stand and eat, which makes a food event uncomfortable. They hired a really weird band also that spent most of the time setting up and testing vocals and just singing a few random lines from songs and then stopping and starting, which kind of killed the vibe also. I still had fun and the space is interesting and probably has a lot of potential, I just think they kind of missed it on this event.

I thought this place was great. My friends and I went for the Friday movie night. Their covid protocols were pretty top notch. Tables were spaced pretty far apart and once you're seated, there's really no need to get up from your table other than to use the restroom. You use your phone to order and each time we ordered a new round, our drinks were out within a minute or two. It was a lot of fun! I'll definitely be back.

The bullpen is so much fun! The beer and drinks aren't cheap but whatever it's still so fun! It's a great place to grab a couple drinks and play some corn hole before a Nats game. Yesterday, the Nats game had a rain delay but we continued to play corn hole in the rain as all the people are there to have some fun. I highly recommend stopping by if you're ever headed to a Nats game with friends **21+ only. Ladies - it's outdoors on a dirt / rocky surface. Don't wear any shoes you don't want to ruin. It's all outdoors - so when it rains you must leave.

Nothing better to do? Come here and listen to live music, get some beer and try some of the local cuisine sold in trucks. Plenty of security to do crowd control,petty fights and thievery. Easily accessible by metro. Beware that after 9pm no kids are allowed inside the premises. Lots of porto potties available. Just pick one without human barf or else.....

Went to Flicks & Rose themed movie night. They were showing Coco which is a friendly kid movie so I was able to bring my son. Upon arrival, temperatures were taken as part of their COVID-19 protocols. Tickets were then scanned and entry was granted. There were pumpkin decorating kits for sale $7 of 2 for $10. The ordering system was contactless. A QR code was provided at each table and you scan and order. The food and drinks were bought straight to your table for convenience. There was complimentary popcorn provided for each family that was included with the ticket price. The movie provided good sound. The picnic tables were spaced out just enough to not feel like people were on top of each other. This was a great experience and I will return.

Good outdoor spot before a Nats game (though was bigger with more options in previous years). Love the live music before games. The drinks are expensive so it's great to see some competition open up around the stadium with some outdoor space.

This place is a fun, no frills outdoor spot with live music that sells beer, a little bit of food like brats and dogs, and about the strongest drinks anywhere in DC. There's not too much seating here, just a few picnic tables so you might be standing since this place gets PACKED before and after games.

We were catching a game while in town for a conference and when we got off the metro the Bullpen was right in front of us, we thought, hey why not? It's a really great concept, grab a beer, listen to live music and hang out before the game. I like the re-purposing of shipping containers. Pretty calm vibe too. Being a Phillies fan and wearing Phillies gear I anticipated some jabs, but Nats fans are pretty docile. So we stood and enjoyed our beers. The reason it's 3 stars is the beers are 8 bucks. Yes, cheaper than the stadium. However, I learned that inside the stadium domestic beers are $6 before the first pitch. So there's just a heads up for you. Overall a great idea that I wish more ball parks had. But it's definitely 3.5 stars.

I had seen The Bullpen a few times but never ventured in - I was missing out. We purchased tickets for the baseball game (I don't even like baseball, but it's my duty to explore the area) and stopped at The Bullpen to pregame it (no pun). We arrived fairly early so it was painless to get in. The first thing I noticed was that this place is no frills. You even get porta pottys up in here. There was also a lack of seating area, which isn't usually a big deal but having never recovered from knee surgery, it became a bit of an issue for me. Other than that, this place is great and a lot of fun. There are games on the lower level, a stage with live music, bars on both levels, and the service was fast. The Bullpen was so good that we went to watch the game and then returned. It was full, but it's large enough to accommodate the crowd and even then we got good service. I just need for the flannel and big beards to go away already.

The bullpen is open before and after ballgames. It is a place we hang out at while waiting for the metro crowd to wind down. You can play hacky sack or just visit. The stadium bathroom lines are ridiculous after a game. The lines at the Bullpen are reasonable.

Normally The Bullpen is a great place for lunch. Today, however, is a different story. We sat ourselves and received a menu and drinks quickly. It was 20 min. until our food order was taken and another 35 before the food was brought to our table. As with most businesses, the lunch break is only an hour. We asked for the check and boxes to go and had to wait another 15 minutes for the check. I hope this is the influence of the Covid-19 atmosphere and not the new norm. I for one am skeptical to return until things are back to normal. 2-stars as the food is quite good, except the burger was undercooked a little.

Check out the Bullpen after a Nationals game! Great time to relax with friends (if they're all over 21, of course). There was a cover band playing and the crowd featured a variety of ages. Drink selection was limited BUT a good selection nonetheless and at a fair price.

With Weinergate finally put to bed (I think) I felt as if I was finally in the clear for a ballpark wei...er...hot dog. I mean, I'm at the ballpark. Er...kinda. Who really cares? I can hear the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, I'm root, root, rooting for the home team with a brew in hand... I'm just not in the ballpark. It's okay though because I can play cornhole. And I can show off my guns at the pitching range and be a strange up, overcompetative D-bag about it because little kids are not around. So it's cool. Fun spot to pregame or stop by after the game, but sometimes I like to drop in during the game if the Nat's are getting slaughtered or if the sun is slaughtering me and I'm just over it all. Oh yea, and the weiners are pretty big so I'd recommend one of those as well.

Washington Nationals, you have finally impressed me! Well... maybe the Nationals weren't exactly directly responsible for this one... but someone around there was thinking about the fans! Rising out of the metro stairs on the home opener 2012, fans were greeted with a new Bullpen entrance. Instead of The Bullpen taking up a measly corner of the block, it now takes up most of the entire block. Lots more bar areas (much needed!) seating, tents, live music, and food trucks (who's novel idea was that! I hope they decide to stay there at least for maybe the weekend games!) They still have cornhole, and much more space for it. I'm much more impressed with how they expended The Bullpen. It's a great meeting place for before the game.

Been to a handful of Nats games, but had never stopped by the Bullpen until this past Saturday after the Nats/Red Sox preseason game. I'm so glad I did! It's right across from the stadium. Just show your ID (21 and older only), and you're in! Cheaper beers than the ballpark (they take credit/debit cards), a giant tent with big-screen TVs, cornhole, baseball pitching game, and awesome cover bands. They also serve a small selection of frozen cocktails, wines, and Red Bulls. The band on Saturday played a mix of oldies, old-school rock, and Motown. We had a blast being silly and dancing with a small group of brave souls. We tried to encourage others to join in, but they were too shy, I suppose. I had a blast, and will certainly stop by after my next Nats game!

Good spot to hit up before games and events, or head to for events (Truckeroo, hello). Tons of people with live music, and a variety spots to get food and dink. Yes, the drinks are pre-made, but they handle the crowds better that way and move the lines through. With this kind of melee, you might prefer it. Trust me.

Was here for a concert so they had their normal food vendors (not food trucks) and the food was gross. All meat and gluten.. no vegetarian, vegan, nor GF options. Like, not even a boring salad? It's also 80 degrees and everyone is dancing so I asked the hot dog stand woman to refill my water bottle and they don't HAVE running water!?? The vendors all get plastic water bottles. This place is an environmental disaster. One star because they had a decent drink selection with beer, wine, and mixed drinks (albeit pre-mixed) including vodka and iced tea (nervous they didn't tell you which brand... makes me think it was crappy.

Holy good time..... If you're looking for a spot to kill time before a Nats game or celebrate afterwards, look no further than the concrete jungle that is the Bullpen. Live music, plenty of bars, corn hole boards, food trucks, and plenty of Natitude. Extremely, extremely crowded. But that's to be expected I suppose! Still worth a visit.