Allegory

Washington DC, US

50Best Accolades
  • No.45 North America's 50 Best Bars 2023

Hidden meanings abound at the aptly named Allegory, a strikingly moody bar tucked behind a nondescript door in the Radical Library at Eaton DC. The most notable first impression comes from the bar's arresting wall murals; painted by Erik Thor Sandberg, the surreal artworks depict the story of Alice in Wonderland as told through the eyes of young girl Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to desegregate a school in Louisiana in the 1960s. The story continues through the cocktail menu, created by Deke Dunne — who has enjoyed stints at DC's Columbia Room —, where a stunning array of drinks made using forward-thinking molecular techniques are presented. Like falling into a rabbit hole, the windowless bar leaves the outside world in the rear-view and takes drinkers on a journey into the fantastical unknown.

Key Information

Location

1201 K Street NW #1, Downtown, Washington DC, 20005