How is Nocturne restaurant rated?

Nocturne

4.7

221 Reviews

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Top Tags:

Innovative cocktail bar offering unique cocktails in a secluded, intimate space below Sugar Shack Donuts. Located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Cocktail Bar, Speakeasy, Lounge
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:45 pm–10:15 pm Fri 5:45 am–12:15 am Sat 5:00 pm–12:15 am
Phone number
(240) 542-8311
Website
http://www.nocturnebar.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Brandon McDermott
Private party facilities
If you are interested in booking Nocturne for a private event, please email us at info@nocturnebar.com.

Location
1932 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood
Shaw
Cross street
U Street
Parking details
Street parking can be found in local neighborhood and streets.
Public transit
U Street Metro Station
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Late Night, Wine

Middle East
experience the flavors of dried fruits, smoke and apple as you journey through the region
Scandinavia
bursting with savory notes that include fennel, pine and other flavor profiles inspired by nature
America Peruana
a journey through central and southern America with dashes of heat and tropical fruits
Pacific Rim
the Pacific inspires with hints of seaweed, sake, and flavors of the far east
Appalachia
bourbon reigns king in this trio as we nod to the American spirit

What 221 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Quiet

222 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on March 15, 2020
overall3food3service1ambience2
The bartenders and sugar factory cashier were very rude
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S
Sameea
Detroit
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 13, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
I had the best experience! I fell in love with their IG page and it was even better in person! The bartenders were both so nice! I would definitely suggest this place to everyone!!
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DP
DPAtron
Washington DC
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 13, 2020
overall4food3service3ambience5
birthday celebration
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O
Olivia
Washington DC
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2020
overall5food1service5ambience5
First time visit. Went early. Had the entire place to ourselves. Two bartenders were absolutely fabulous! The drinks were amazing. No food served
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EF
EstherF
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 1, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place! The bartenders were great and very funny. The drinks were amazing and worth the money you pay for, just make sure you consult the bartenders to make sure you’ll enjoy the flavor of the drink.
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f
furmanb
San Francisco
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved it! Staff were awesome, as we're the cocktails!
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TC
TacoCache
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 28, 2020
overall5food3service5ambience5
Nocturne doesn’t serve food. But it was the coolest place I’ve ever been. The cocktails are crafted with brilliance and the service was great.
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s
shawreviews
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 28, 2020
overall2food3service1ambience4
Took over 30 minutes to get one drink. We spent almost an hour and a half there and only received one drink from the bartender - oh and he wouldn't let us order what we knew we would like, but made us describe our flavor profiles to him so he could make us drinks.
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EP
ElizabethP
San Diego
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really creative drinks - both the composition & how served. All delicious.
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S
Sarah
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is awesome. We love going to cocktail bars and speakeasies, but do usually stick to certain types of cocktails, even when we have the bartender surprise us. This bar took us out of our normal comfort level with cocktails, due to the menu, but every drink we had was FANTASTIC! They were each complex, yet not overwhelming. The bartenders were personable, and answered our questions. The space was small enough that we ended up having a quick conversation with other patrons, asking them which drinks they were drinking- though others didn’t, so don’t feel like you will have to if you don’t want to. It’s a great place. Good for people who have ideas of what they like but are willing to expand their horizons, and for those who maybe haven’t dabbled in different cocktails, but are willing to try different things.
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c
courtneyb
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 21, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved !!! Will definitely go again . Tried something new and enjoyed . Bartender was awesome
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RH
RonH
Washington DC
54 reviews
vip
5.0
54 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2020
overall5food4service4ambience4
No food, so that's not relevant. Drinks were extremely good. So good that we ended up ordering the whole menu.
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ES
ElizabethS
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2020
overall5food3service5ambience5
Great place for a celebration or just date. The bartenders are extremely attentive and take passion in their craft. It was my friends birthday and they even made us a special birthday cocktail on the house.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2020
overall2food5service1ambience5
Terrible servers, didn’t come around for drink orders for 30 minutes even though was only 12 people in the bar instead our bartender spent 30 minutes conversing with a couple two tables down from us.
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MG
MsGoodie89
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Chef D was awesome! The drinks were AMAZING what a great place. I can't wait to return.
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JV
JadeV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday. Our servers were attentive and friendly. The drinks were literally a masterpiece! They taste good but please don't let that fool you, they are strong. We got the Jamaican and Mediterranean flight expecting them to be a bit watered down but about halfway through the second drink we both looked at each other like "uh-oh" lol. Please be mindful that your seats are held for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Our reservation was at 10:15 and we were seated by about 10:20. I was a bit disappointed that we were moved towards the door a bit before our time was up because I wanted to bring in his bday at the bar. But Hakim heard my concerns out and offered to move us when a couple left and even gave us 2 birthday shots to celebrate. Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to bring my parents this weekend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2020
overall3food1service2ambience5
Date night. Had a reservation for 9:45pm, but didn’t get sat until around 10:20pm. No communication whatsoever about this once. No apology. Was sat against the wall. There were 3 open seats at the bar and asked if my date and I can switch to the bar. The gentleman leaves to go ask his colleague, comes back and doesn’t say anything. So, I said, “not happening huh...?” He said, “nope.” Overall, the place is nice, the vibe is hip and modern with the lighting. Good music. Areas of opportunity are definitely service overall (guest satisfaction) and speed of service. Finished our drinks and waited over 20 minutes in between rounds. For this price, unacceptable. Especially at this rate you can have maybe 2 drinks each... Service overall, just never really felt like we mattered. At all. Out of the entire clientele that was sitting at the bar, they probably had the beat chance of making the most money in tips with us. My date and I are well known and prominent in the restaurant industry (in the Bethesda area), which means absolutely nothing, but we tip well for good service. This was not good service. Whoever owns this place needs to really keep an eye on what’s going on and take care of your guests before it’s too late. There are plenty of other places to go and in this business, the first impression is absolutely crucial. if you can’t handle your bar or the patrons aren’t being taken care of in a timely manner, staff your bar appropriately. CLEARLY needed another bartender back there. Ugh, we will unfortunately not be back. There are way too many other places deserving of my money.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2020
overall5food3service5ambience4
Enjoyed Nocturne and then to the Atlas theatre for PILGRIMS: MUSA and SHERI so the Middle East drink flight was a perfect pairing!
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KP
KenyaP
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2020
overall5food2service5ambience5
The drinks and service were AMAZING!!! Will definetly return.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 18, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderful experience. The staff and the cocktails are amazing. We will be back!!!!
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RF
RobertF
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great cocktails with knowledgeable bartenders who are passionate about their work. You have to have a reservation to get in. Also, there's no food. Open Table forces that response. A great place to impress others.
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t
taylers
Tampa
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2020
overall1food1service1ambience1
Stood outside for 45 minutes waiting for a text reply to get in - I had a reservation. Will not be returning.
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EC
EmilyC
Richmond
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 12, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a unique spot! Amazing experience and loved the attentiveness to detail with each drink and presentation. Will be back for sure!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Austin
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 4, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing experience! Amazing service! A must-see.
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R
Robert
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2019
overall5food4service5ambience5
Super cool speakeasy in DC with probably some of the best cocktails around. The drink menu changes from time to time, so there's always a surprise. Totally worth it.
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KE
KaylaE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 29, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
We did not have any of the food, but the drinks were all amazing! The best part were the bartenders who we absolutely loved talking to. It was one of our favorite parts of our trip to DC.
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ES
ElizabethS
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2019
overall5food3service5ambience5
I have been to Nocturne before and ordered a flight. This time I went with 2 friends that have not been and the bartender was so helpful in getting us to a decision and making sure we taste as many flavors as possible. The cocktails are AMAZING and the ambiance is unlike any other. The seating is very limited and making the experience personalized. Highly recommend for a date or a smaller group of friends since it is so intimate.
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AB
AllisonB
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 27, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible presentation on these unusual and delicious cocktails. Intimate vibe. Bring a date you want to impress.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2019
overall2food2service3ambience2
Liked their Old Town site (Captain Georges) much better. Drinks where not that great and the set menu is what they have, so don’t ask for any variations. I got the impression that those on staff where not bar tenders. Did not try food but they did not talk it up much and all I saw was a small selection of olives and bar food. Go to old town and skip this visit.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
AMAZING! Go in be entertained!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Baltimore
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was great. Cocktails were on point!
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AE
AEL90
Vancouver
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on December 7, 2019
overall1food1service1ambience2
We came to this place having been to their sister location in Alexandria, Captain Greogory's, and expected the same amazing experience.....we were severely disappointed. The drinks were okay, but the service was some of the worst we have ever had. My wife ordered a trio of drinks, and the bartender completely forgot to bring the second drink for her when he brought mine. He didn't return for 35 minutes so we didn't know how to tell him. When we finally told him, he argued with us that we were wrong, but eventually conceded and brought her second drink. Immediately, after however, he came back with the bill and told us it was time to leave, so she would not be getting the third drink in her trio; when he made it sound like he was giving us a discount on the bill due to his screw up, we asked for clarification and he condescendingly explained that we were indeed getting no discount. It was an awful experience. The drinks were good, but not amazing, and the presentation was weak because the bartender was weak. He did not explain anything or ask if we enjoyed anything. We were basically a bother to him. DO NOT recommend, take the trip out to Alexandria.
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DS
DeitricS
New Orleans
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
GREAT AS ALWAYS!!!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2019
overall1food2service2ambience2
Drinks are disorienting and more gimmicky than innovative. Staff knowledge is weak. Oxidizable bottles of open vermouth and quinquinas are left out on the shelf for show instead of in the refrigerator. Packaging for old bottles turns out to be full of random odds and ends instead of scotch, but is presented on the bar as something on offer. Menu has multiple typos. Opportunity lost. Staff feels apathetic.
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DH
DominicH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2019
overall5food1service5ambience5
This place was amazing. Nice and cozy spot for about 12 people, great ambiance, not noisy, the bartenders make craft exotic drinks and are VERY knowledgeable. Will definitely go back. Would even have a birthday shindig(if I was able to request my own drink menu- as not everyone is open to drink something never heard of.) Also, I wish they offered food, then I wouldn’t have had to leave so soon lol(but that may be their angle since its not large enough to have a lot of people staying for a long duration) .
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was wonderful
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2019
overall2food1service2ambience2
Very bad customer service, they left us waiting 15 minutes at the door and it was very cold. And on top of that one of the bartenders asked my friend if "she was already drunk" after one drink because she didn't know how to get back from the restrooms. Last time I went, it was a great experience, this time, one of the worse experience in DC.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 8, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing cocktails!!
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BD
BrandonD
Washington DC
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very nice, moody atmosphere. Friendly bartender. Unique, well presented tasty drinks. Menu changes periodically, so I will return to see what's new.
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JU
JustinU
Washington DC
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2019
overall4food5service3ambience5
Very sleek look, very sexy place. The service was just ok compared to other speak easy style bars. Drinks were fantastic. Great for a date, not so great for a group.
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FAQs

Nocturne is rated 4.7 stars by 221 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

1932 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Additional information

Cross street
U Street
Neighborhood
Shaw
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:45 pm–10:15 pm Fri 5:45 am–12:15 am Sat 5:00 pm–12:15 am
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Cocktail Bar, Speakeasy, Lounge
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street parking can be found in local neighborhood and streets.
Public transit
U Street Metro Station
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Brandon McDermott
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Late Night, Wine

Website
http://www.nocturnebar.com/
Phone number
(240) 542-8311
Private party facilities
If you are interested in booking Nocturne for a private event, please email us at info@nocturnebar.com.

Nocturne

Permanently Closed

Additional information

Cocktails

Middle East

Scandinavia

America Peruana

Pacific Rim

Appalachia

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Nocturne restaurant rated?

Permanently Closed

Additional information