manifest 001 - Adams Morgan — Attraction in Washington

This is a review of the speakeasy within Manifest, called Out of Office. My girlfriend and I made a reservation at OOO for 6:00 on a Friday evening. We arrived on time and were seated at the bar after a short wait. During our time there, a few bartenders cycled in behind the bar and there were only a few other customers in the place.

I ordered two cocktails over the course of our 90 minutes there. To preface the rest of my review: this bar's cocktails cost $18-22 each, which is on par with the most expensive bars in the city. The first cocktail I ordered from the menu seemed to be a riff on a classic daiquiri, but was very unbalanced (under sweetened) and one-dimensional. After that, I tried to ask for a cocktail that was not on the menu, but the bartender refused and suggested a few that were on the menu. I next tried a mezcal cocktail they created, which seemed intended to be halfway between a Last Word and a Oaxacan Old Fashioned. This one was nearly undrinkable--I understood from the drink's description that it would be Mezcal-forward, but this cocktail tastes like a glass of straight Mezcal (acrid and smoky without anything to balance it out).

Overall, the service was adequate and the drinks were disappointing. As I drank my $22 cocktails, it occurred to me that I had seen this kind of bar before: one far more concerned with vibes than the actual quality of their cocktails and creativity of their bartenders. If you're going to refuse to serve food ostensibly to focus on the cocktail program (and then charge $22 for those cocktails), the cocktails should be stellar and your bartenders should be able to accommodate off-menu requests. It's debatable whether any bar deserves to charge $22 per cocktail, but this one...

If you're a fan of Maketto along H Street NE, you may like Black-owned Manifest in Adams Morgan. With a slick storefront that could easily be in NYC's Soho or Santa Fe, Manifests sticks out in an inviting way. Step inside and you'll find a barber shop that triples as an apparel store, cafe and cocktail bar.

Stopping by to crank out work on a Friday afternoon in June, here's my experience:

1. Cafe: Open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 9 a.m., coffee from Black-owned Black Acres Roastery in Baltimore is brewed. In my two hours there, I ordered two iced lattes and it was delicious. The espresso used was more nutty, which I loved. With a splash of sugar/honey, it was refreshing on a hot day. My bill was under $10 for two lattes.

At 6 p.m. the cafe bar turns into a bar called Out Of Office open Thursday through Sunday. While sitting at the bar in the afternoon, they did offer to make me a cocktail- Manhattan or Negroni.

2. Space: It's a design-forward space, albeit small. They make good use of the space with the barber shop in the front by the large windows. The cafe/bar is in the back with the apparel spread throughout, including on a second floor.

Working from the cafe bar, they had strong wifi that was easy to connect to and outlets behind the bar for my computer.

3. Service: Every staff member I encountered was friendly and clearly proud of what they created.

4. Parking: It's always a problem in this neighborhood, but I was able to snag a spot a block south along 18th Street NW. Using ParkMobile, I was able to park...

Visiting Washington DC from Bermuda provided an opportunity to experience the epitome of black excellence, and our journey led us to an extraordinary gem - Manifest, a black-owned speakeasy that exceeded all expectations. This hidden treasure offered an elevated experience like no other, boasting an exquisite selection of drinks, a beautifully curated retail space, and an accompanying luxury barbershop.

Upon stepping into the speakeasy, we were immediately captivated by its sophisticated décor. The drinks, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, proved to be nothing short of exceptional. The retail area of the speakeasy was a delightful surprise. My husband couldn't resist the allure of the retail space, where he stumbled upon a true treasure - a pair of 1989 Studio sneakers by the renowned black designer Chaz Jordan.

What impressed us the most was the genuine warmth and hospitality extended by the staff and the owner, KJ Hughes. Their passion for creating an inclusive space where everyone could revel in black culture and excellence was palpable. It was evident that this establishment was more than just a business; it was a labor of love, a celebration of black entrepreneurship...