Barmini By José Andrés

A few friends and I went to Barmini to try out what people have been talking about for so long — it was an amazing cocktail experience, but the food left much to be desired.
I have been looking forward to going here for quite some time. They have a menu with all types of cocktails, but to be honest I did not read them. We all opted for the cocktail taster, and it was great.
All of the cocktails are special, and they were techniques used here but you never see anyone else. Burning cedar planks to get the cedar scent into cups. Liquid nitrogen mixed with hibiscus so that every sip you take of a cocktail you get a huff of aroma. A frozen cocktail made right in front of you with the same process.
Don’t want to really spoil the surprise, suffice to say that I definitely recommend the tasting menu.
The food was a sore spot, and it was a complete disappointment. This is the cocktail bar after all, but for two hours you’re just drinking, so we wanted to eat some food to go along with our drinks. We ordered a few of the bites on offer thinking that they’re going to be at a Jose Andres level, but they were not. We started with the tuna, which was completely jarring and did not go with the cocktail we had. We expressed our displeasure with the dish to the waiter, and he said that none of the food is good and that all of it clashes with the cocktails. That was kind of a funny answer because it was so upfront and honest. The manager came around and asked how we were doing, and we said we had to cancel our food order because the food clashed with everything, and much to our surprise and manager also said that the food is not paired with the cocktails and he couldn’t really recommend any of the food. That was a bit shocking and not acceptable.
At the end of the day, the cocktails were amazing and that’s why he went and I would 100% recommend this restaurant to visitors or locals alike. Get dinner beforehand.

Amazingly fun time and the décor is so cute! The cocktails are amazingly delicious! I would highly recommend that you try one of the flights. We tried the Jose Experience, which was maybe 4 – 5 cocktails, each made at your table with a personal mixologist. Each cocktail is completely different from the next and incorporates some crazy, unique way to make it, i.e. blowtorching some wood to capture the essence into the ice cube. And they’re all so delicious.
One downside — the mixologist, while mixing up the liquid nitrogen concoction, managed to get some of the liquid nitrogen onto my leg, which burnt quite intensely on my skin. It also doesn’t help that we were seated next to an INCREDIBLY rowdy crowd of middle-​aged women who should have probably been cut off an hour earlier.

I came here for a birthday celebration and the staff was so attentive to making us all feel super special. The drinks were really well crafted and the presentation and pouring was an experience in it self. We had the caipirinha with nitrogen. Yep, you’ve read that right: nitrogen! The waiter had a really good pace about when to check in with us and when to leave us on our own. Almost before leaving we saw José Andrés himself greeting everyone and being as jolly as you can imagine him!

Outstanding… Very cool décor and setting.
The drinks are truly out of this world indescribably. So creative, so thoughtfully designed and such a great selection! Very impressive. The service is great and just an enjoyable experience.
Really enjoyed their food options as well. The grilled cheese is to die for, the waffles, the tuna tartare, the oysters, all are amazing. Get them all because they are all worth it and the portions are pretty small.
Getting a seat or seats is very tough. So make sure you make reservations way in advance, but the place is awesome! Definitely try it out!

This place was so good we came back a second day. Our bar-​chemist was Aaron and he did an amazing job at serving and informing. He had great humor and was one reason we returned. Excellent place to visit. The flight of drinks was nothing short of amazing and very worth the price. This place is a must-​do while in DC

Honestly, if you didn’t know about this place, you probably would never ever know of this place because it’s so well hidden! I walked by it twice sight seeing & was blown away that in the doors was a bar! When you walk in, you’re transferred into this swanky hip bar that only Jose Andres could think of. Funky tomato or cactus chairs, little and big tables of weird shapes, a domed light surrounding the table, or a good sized golden penguin saluting you as you pass by are some elements that make you smile that you got in!
I don’t know about the dress attire at night, but at 5:00pm ish, it was pretty casual. I saw people walk in with shorts and a dress shirt.
For the drinks, they go by category of alcohol. You have vodka, cocktails, whisky, tequila, gin, soju, and wine. Each has about 10 selections so you can definitely boggle your mind on what to get. When you think Jose Andres, you want to be blown away, but don’t over think it. If you see something that sounds good, just get it. If it isn’t what you thought it would be, tastes weird, or just sucks, be nice and ask for another. They care to serve.
My experience was wonderful. Having group of 6 really makes this place stand out because you can try different drinks. Talk to your waiters and learn. It’s a full on class & bar.
Thank you Jose Andres for Barmini & thanks to the waiters who served us.

The perfect place for unique cocktails! Starting off, super cool atmosphere and unique décor. My friend and I sat on the cactus couch and our friend sat in a chair that could only be described as a peacock throne. There’s a wall with a bunch of plaster hands holding different kinds of fruit.
As for drinks, so many different selections, it’s tough to choose! It’s all sorted by base liquor (rum, vodka, tequila, even sake!) so it’s a little easier to go through, but still massive. I got a cocktail made with liquid nitrogen that turned into an alcoholic sorbet– delicious! Another favorite was the Veruca Salt, «an adult alcoholic PB&J» as described by the waiter.
I’m taking one star off for the food. Small and overpriced and pretty hit or miss, especially considering the price. Our waffle was yummy, though small. The grilled cheese was definitely our favorite with hints of truffle and gooey brie. We also got the tuna tartare with crisps. The tartare was pretty salty which wasn’t really helped by the saltiness of the seaweed crisps. The dessert we ordered (the chocolate mousse) was just strange. It came out in a can that looked like dog or cat food could be in it. The waiter opened the can in front of us and it kinda looked like dog food too. Chocolate mousse with cocoa nibs. It was pretty bitter and just not a very appetizing presentation.
Overall though, our service was excellent. Our server did a great job presenting each of the cocktails and walking us through the menu. One thing to note is that you have to have a reservation earlier in the night if you want to get the cocktail flight.

OMG. The Varuka Salt and Palermo drinks — paired with the foie gras waffle: unreal. Just to die for. I don’t give 5-​star reviews as a rule, but there was just no option — in the best possible sense.
Everything was simply superb: the reservation process, the no-​rush service, the reasonable prices, extremely hip vibe, and the sublime drinks and food. Barmini has figured out a perfect formula for success.
My friend wanted drinks on the rocks and decided on two: El Mayor and Zapata’s Horse. They were more citrusy than mine. He loved their complexity. We shared the small plates: foie gras waffle (light as air and brilliantly rich and flavorful); raw oyster (wow); one-​bite olive concoction (amazing); beef cheddar waffle (don’t know how they get the waffles so light — yummm).
Again, my two drinks (Varuka Salt and Palermo — listed under «Other Spirits») were so remarkable that I will order them next time, too. The first was dusted with peanut crumbs (the rum was peanut infused); the second had a saffron creamy finish.
I will be back again and again, dragging my friends, whether they want to be there or not. That says a lot in D.C. So yay, Jose Andres! And yay, Barmini!

This bar is very creative place. When you get inside restaurant, you should press bell. The server will come out and escort you. I was very impressed it. Interior of bar is very well designed. It looks very cozy and modernized. I am sure many girls will like it if you want to date here.
Also, there are a lot of cocktails. I am not a cocktail person, so I asked to server about the menu of cocktails. I ordered the sweet one. It was delicious. I really satisfied it. I ordered the kinda tuna salad. I couldn’t stop eating it. It was yummy!!!
I was very happy when I went there. It was really good time for me.

minibar is a concoction of itself. It’s geeky, it’s fun, you get a lot of things going on and happening. Wood is burning, liquid nitrogen is freezing your next drink in front of you, the interior space is smaller– to bring people closer together. It’s all-​around a uniqueness. And isn’t that what cities are? People wanting to find their own purpose.
Drinks are fantastically fun

It seems like I write a review on a yearly basis here… so I guess I need to write one more for 2016.
Anyways, Barmini is still probably my favorite bar in the Baltimore/​DC area. Even though I’ve been here many, many times, I still find myself being surprised with new drinks.
These are among my favorites:
Nakamura — This Japanese-​inspired drink is super refreshing. If you don’t want anything too heavy or too alcohol forward, but also don’t want anything too fruity, this is perfect.
Leatherette — Yes, aging brandy in leather sounds a little weird and scary… but don’t let that turn you off. If you like brandy or whisky, this drink is phenomenal. There is so much going on in this drink… but the flavors never feel «muddy» or too much… it’s amazing. Sip it. Then savor it and try to catch all the flavor nuances. Then sip some more. And repeat.
Carmen Miranda — if you love Bananas Fosters (the dessert), you’ll probably love this drink. It’s a riff off your classic whiskey/​bourbon drinks like the Old Fashioned. However, this is much more fruit forward and sweeter.
Veruka Salt — after a long absence from the menu, it’s back! It tastes a little different than when I last ordered it… I think there’s egg whites in there now, giving this drink a more smoother texture.
In terms of food, get the grilled cheese. Even if you aren’t hungry. It’s the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had in my life. I mean, even if I didn’t drink alcohol, I’d consider coming to Barmini JUST for the grilled cheese. Okay… maybe that was an over-​exaggeration. But seriously, try it out.
The bartenders here are amazing. I love JP and Chuck. They’re both very personable and incredible cocktail artists.
The only bad thing (if it is even a bad thing) is that you need to make reservations for Barmini. Of all the times I’ve been there, I think I only saw one walk-​in successfully get in. It’s a little bit of a pain if you want to go here on a whim (the available times and dates are fairly slim picking when you’re looking under 2 weeks), but at the same time, it’s nice being able to go into a bar that isn’t jam packed with people. You don’t have to fight for your bartender’s attention and you can easily hear the conversation of the person sitting next to you. In the end, I think the reservation policy enhances the experience here. :)
I realize Barmini is not for everyone. It can get pricey, the drinks (even the traditional ones) are definitely modernized (so it may not appeal to strict traditionalists), and it’s certainly not the kind of place you go if you just want to drink and get wasted. But… if you love the art of cocktail making and/​or have an appreciation for food and drink, I’m sure you will find this place to amazing.

Do yourself a favor and just make reservations. I love this place. Plenty of fancy tasty cocktail. They have a tasting menu for 65/​person which Seems somewhat reasonable if you want to make a night of it. I decided to just order off the menu.
They don’t have the largest food menu but they have a decent selection. I had truffled grilled cheese and was not disappointed!

This place is a hidden gem. Literally. It’s pretty much hidden because there are no signs from the street stating, ‘minibar’. I knew I loved the place already by that. Arriving into the restaurant it’s all white and very sleek. We were greeted and checked in. The hostess then took us into the cocktail room. The minibar itself is quite tiny. But very intimate. Definitely room for at least 30 people. I honestly felt like I was sitting in Willy Wonka’s drink factory. If there was such a thing. It has such eclectic furniture. There are chairs shaped like apples, cushions in the shape of a cactus. It’s a very very cool place!
The drinks are obviously expensive. Very expensive. But, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
Drinks we got:
I got the nakamura. It’s a vodka based drink with cucumber accents. It’s so refreshing and delicious!
My friend got the Fidelia’s cocktail, it was ok. It very gingery. Almost a little too much.
Another drink we got was the Polynesian vacation. It’s a tropical drink and refreshing. Literally makes you want to be on the islands of Fiji
Jose’s margarita was alright. It was frothy at the top, like salt waves. It was good and creative but I didn’t love it. I think I just appreciate a good ol’ Mexican restaurant margarita.
We got the truffle grilled cheese and oh my goodness. Delicious! Get them!
They surprised us with ice cream whoopie pies for the bday girl. And again, wow. Delicious.
Make reservations for sure!

Barmini By Jose Andres is a cocktail bar with the same avant-​garde style inspired by his own haute cuisine. It brings back the golden age of libations and a staircase above your local self-​proclaimed libation bar. It’s right next door to minibar with lounge sitting around the room and bar seating to view all the creations. The décor was very vibrant like the majority of Jose Andres’ restaurants. It’s like staring into the sun with the fuzzy glare after.
My mixologist was fantastic and he paced my drinks very well for the two hour experience. I always try to sit at the bar or chef’s table for these types of experiences. It’s a much better overall experience as you marvel in the spectacle of the evening. However, it’s not as amusing as the Republican debates. Lies! Liar!
Barmini has a tasting menu or you could go with ordering a la carte per se. I decided to go with the tasting menu cause that’s what I always do. The tasting menu consisted of 7 drinks and excludes any additional snacks. I had to order those items separately. It was kind of stupid like male Unilocalers warning female Unilocalers of creeps on Unilocal but they’ve dated or are dating other Unilocalers they met through Unilocal.Riiight, braaah?!
Overall, I thought Barmini was a fun experience. The creative preparations of the drinks and imaginative dishes made it worth while even though I thought the first half of the drinks were too sweet for my personal taste. I like to taste the flavor of the alcohol like drinking a 30 years old Hibiki whiskey straight up. However, I didn’t think Barmini bested the Aviary.

We had a great time here. As stated before there’s around a two hour limit and you have to release your seats for the next reservation. Our reservations were early around 6p, so it was still pretty quite and we received our bartenders full attention.
All our drinks were amazing! We loved the food as well. The grilled cheese was rich and cheesy= awesome! The beef tartare was fantastic as well. The drink were pleasing to the eye and the palate! Our total can to $ 124 for 3 people of drinks and apps. Drinks were no less than $ 12 each but I think the experience was worth it! We can’t wait to try Mini Bar the adjoining restaurant next door. It was highly recommended by our bar tender.
FYI there were some items on the menu that they didn’t have. He said it was an old menu. That was kinda disappointing!

What a fun experience! We were in DC for the weekend to hang out and stopped by to do the flight of drinks. The menu is overwhelming so we thought it was best to just let them choose what we drank, we figure they would hit on their most popular drinks.
I’ve been to a few fancy cocktail bars and love the little surprises you get doing flights. This didn’t disappoint. The best part is that it’s just not the drinks — you have our own personal bartender for the night and he engages you throughout. The creativity behind the drinks were on full display. The drinks weren’t super strong so you could enjoy all of them until the end.
I highly recommend this place for a date night on the town!

barmini is a cocktail lab, attached to Jose Andres’ famous restaurant, the minibar. After having dinner next door, the hubs and I were then led here to finish up the rest of the desserts. I guess it was the restaurant’s way to kind of give you a more ‘socialized’ touch after watching all the chefs cook in front of you and to wind down with drinks from the bar and to chit chat with the other guests (as well as other patrons who were already at the barmini). The drink list is extensive, offering gin/​rum/​whiskey/​tequila/​brandy/​sherry/​vermouth/​vodka/​beer variations, as well as small plates to enjoy with your beverages. I loved the décor (especially the cactus chair, the apple cushions, and the wall décor of hands holding oranges at the bar). Just note that you have a 2-​hour maximum once seated, as it is a small space and the bar requires you to wrap things up at the end of the couple-​of-​hours mark!
+attached to minibar
+various drink variations
+2-​hour maximum

I came here for my birthday last night and did the cocktail flight, along with some snacks and an extra drink. So I have a pretty good idea of the types of drinks on offer!
I rang the doorbell and was promptly let in. I was able to check my coat and take a seat at the bar. I love that there’s a no-​standing policy; everyone who’s there has a seat, which really takes the pressure off and gives it a chill vibe. I hate hate hate fighting my way to the bar for a drink, so having someone catering to your every whim is a bonus.
The bartenders are super friendly and walk you through what goes into the drinks and what classics inspired Barmini’s take. The menu is extensive and features nearly any type of liquor you could want, and they’re also happy to make something else if you ask.
I’m just going to walk through everything I had.
– Cross-​Eyed Mary: I *think* that’s what it was called, anyway. It was from off the menu and is apparently something new they’re trying. I enjoyed it. It’s kind of a take on the daiquiri, with rum, honey and lemon, topped with passionfruit whipped cream. It’s refreshing and delicious.
– A take on the negroni. I’m not a negroni fan, exactly, but the way this was made was cool: They used some sort of dry-​ice technique to form an ice crust on top, and you broke the crust with a spoon to get to the drink. Sort of like a boozy crème brûlée.
– A classic margarita with a salt foam top. If you’ve been to Oyamel, you know what this is.
– Dark Side of the Moon. This was fabulous and I’d heard a lot about it, so I’m glad it was in the flight. It’s gin, crème de violette, lemon, egg whites and citrus «ash» on top.
– Highlander. This one definitely had the coolest presentation. The makeup isn’t fussy: It’s scotch, mezcal and a rosemarry twig on ice. But it’s filled with crème de cacao smoke (which eventually dissipates, leaving the flavor in the glass) before it’s served to you.
– Foie flip: Foie gras cream, calvados, honey, egg and allspice. Definitely kind of a weird combination, but the resulting flavor is nice, with the allspice coming through more than anything.
– Veruka Salt: Not in the flight, but I had to order it, given its reputation. Peanut-​infused rum and pineapple gross, garnished with crushed peanuts.
I also ordered bar snacks:
– Grilled cheese: Brie, Valedeon, white cheddar and truffle, cut into strips and served with mustard. Delish.
– Foieffle: This one’s out there. It’s a waffle stuffed with foie gras cream and covered in honey, peanut butter and chopped peanuts. Delicious but super messy. Ask for a fork.
– Beef tartare: Served with steam buns (only complaint, could’ve used another bun or two), it’s raw beef with miso, uni cream and seasoning. A little out-​there if you’re not used to the classic dish, but very tasty.
The cocktail flight, at $ 60 and six drinks, is a great deal. Most drinks are in the $ 12-​$ 16 range, so getting six for $ 10 each is a steal. They also provided a wide variety, including some «flashier» drinks and some classics, with different flavor profiles. If you’re not sure what to order or want a variety, it’s a great idea. The bar snacks aren’t quite enough for dinner, especially if you share, but they make great complements to the drinks.
Go, and have a great time.

Plan ahead, grab a light dinner, and make your way to Barmini for an exciting night in DC. Cocktail bars aren’t as popular in DC as it is in FL or CA but the imagination of Jose Andres shines at this location.
Location and ambiance is set to impress, you start by ringing a door bell. Someone will open this tiny door to let you in /​almost like a 50’s speak easy type location. Once you walk in, the location is absolutely beautiful and feel like you just went down a rabbit hole. Most of the stuff we ordered I can’t even tell you what it exactly it was but… Cocktail infusion and liquid nitrogen makes for an entertaining evening. Of course after 2 or 3 cocktails each, you’ll realize it isn’t a place you would go every week. It isn’t cheap but I would recommend it for a fun evening in DC if you feel adventurous and the type to take the red pill, stay in wonderland, and want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Make it a point to go here! You won’t regret it, I promise.

The attention to detail here is astounding. It feels less like a bar and more like a high end kitchen at a friends house. The drinks are amazing especially ticket to Phuket which was the perfect amount of spicy. Our server was attentive and really knew the menu well I highly recommend barmini you really can’t go wrong every thing we had was delicious.

Fantastic experience. Left with a nice buzz. The drinks were great and the bartenders put on a great show. We almost couldn’t find the place as it is on the corner of a very nondescript building. Reservations are required as this is a very small and intimate bar.
Our bartender «Chuck» was funny and attentive. If you don’t know what to order off the menu (which is huge), they ask what you like and don’t like and come up with a magical potion of liquor goodness. I highly recommend this place!

Where do I even start?! My friend was visiting DC so I decided to take him on a Jose Andreas experience. We ate at Zaytinya before coming over to Barmini. The menu at barmini had a lot to choose from and we didn’t know what to get, so we decided on the cocktail experience for 60 a person. Boy was that a good decision. It was truly an eye-​opening experience.
Our bartender JP was humble, and the best mixologist I have ever met. I go to quite a bit of cocktail bars and have tasted a lot of very good cocktails. Barmini however, surpasses them all, the cocktails I had there really opened up my eyes to another world of cocktails. A molecular gastronomy bar, they used liquid nitrogen, smoke from a cedar plank, citrus ash, and many other fancy techniques to make your cocktails. Each one showcases a particular set of skill/​technique, and the showmanship from JP was top notch.
Drinks that stood out to me that night:
A banana infused bourbon (Carmen Miranda on the menu, they sous vide the banana and bourbon)
Ticket to Phuket (ordered after the experience, it was a spicy and sour cocktail, fave of the night)
A Passion fruit cocktail with passion fruit foam made with CO2
The famous mojito drops!
We also tried the wagyu beef with uni tartar. See pics below.
I will be coming back here soon. Very soon.
⁵⁄₅ drinks ⁵⁄₅ snacks 4.5÷5 décor
Please über there, parking sucks and you’ll be drinking.
Shout out to bartender JP: thank you for showing me a good time, now every time I go out to drink, I’ll be thinking about your cocktails … and how the rest can never compare …

It’s cool, it’s chill, everything is really good. Get the tasting menu, it’s definitely worth it. Lots of variety and great care taken into everything.

Cocktails on cocktails on cocktails… where do you even start?! Barmini is in a sort of hidden location that you may have passed by everyday while walking thru Penn Quarter and is attached the Minibar. I went here by happenstance one day after work before a Caps game deciding what to do before the game. I walked by Barmini and saw a host outside and inquired if they had any space for one patron to try some drinks. and I was in luck! They let me in with no reservation but said I can only be there for an hour, perfect! (Although I am sure with larger groups you definitely need a reservation).
The interior is elegant, fresh, modern, and WHITE! There is so much to look at on the walls, tables, and the bar, you feel like you are in a whole different world of a drink laboratory that makes unique cocktails along with a few classics.
The staff and bartenders were amazing, they really knew there knowledge on drinks and I watched in amazement them pouring their creations as we chatted. They even showed me how to make certain drinks and some techniques they used to make them.
I honestly can’t remember the names of the drinks that I ordered but I was first served a small shot at the beginning which was nice. I then continued to order one vodka based drink that had egg white in it that provided for a fluffy and creamy texture. The next drink i got was whiskey based and perfect for a fall day that was meant to be sipped on because of its intense flavor. I know they also have a cocktail flight for $ 60 that you can get which offers of some of the best cocktails for the price which I would like to try next time when I am not on a time crunch.
They have small bites to eat while you enjoy the cocktails and I got a small waffle filed with cheese and topped with a divine piece of beef on it as well as a very fresh oyster.
All in all I had a very pleasant experience as I came here unexpectedly and although I am not a cocktail guy, this place provided a fresh new taste on my pallet.

A hidden office building in Metro Center is home to a world or food and drinks created by Jose Andres. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Barmini (and Minibar for that matter), but I’ll try.
First, eclectic and interesting options prepared to perfection. Second, helpful friendly service. Everyone was free to answer a question, even if it was something basic. We also had a long conversation about American bourbon and its origins with a wonderful bartender. What was great about this was as a foodie, I always have a million little questions so it was wonderful to have someone who could talk about each item in an elevated way without any pretention or snobbiness to it at all.
Highly recommend taking in the full experience and doing the $ 60 per person tasting. Worth the time and $.
One more thing, wonderful that you can reserve on OpenTable. We were eatting a Minibar that night, and came a bit early to have a drink first. They were very accomodating and sat us almost immediately as walkins.

what an awesome experience from start to finish. barmini is a small and intimate cocktail bar located adjacent to minibar, which is a full restaurant by jose andres. we opted for the cocktail tasting menu which offered several (about 6 or 7) decently-​sized cocktails of their choosing for $ 60 a person, a steal when their individual cocktails run from $ 14 – 17 each! the cocktails were fabulous and incentive creations, one of which included their famous brazilian capirinha with liquid nitrogen that’s also served at the bazaar in LA.
additionally, we ordered several appetizers, including the foieffle, wagyu and uni tartar, tuna tartar, grilled cheese with truffle, avocado toast, and oyster ceviche. all were delicious but my favorite was the grilled cheese with truffle. the foieffle didn’t have enough foie — if you’re going to make a waffle with foie, you better go big or go home and put a lot of foie in there!
for my friend’s birthday, they surprised her with a delicious chocolate ice cream sandwich concoction that was just perfect! i left feeling quite full and not feeling like i needed to round out the night with a box of pizza so that’s for sure a win. i wish they had something like this in LA. it’s perfect for a happy hour type of evening that substitutes for dinner. i will definitely return if im in the area again!

Undoubtedly one of the best cocktails I’ve had in DC or anywhere for that matter. This place picked something to aspire to and achieved it quite well. I hope to return in the future.
I had the highlander which was a scotch cocktail that involved a chocolate and mezcal aroma placed on the top. The aroma lingered for a while and was awesome.
We had some food too. The tuna tartare was amazing, high quality tuna and well flavored. The chili oil dropper added to the experience. The oysters were fresh, but the horseradish added a bit too much of a concentrated.
I would be interested to try some of the other cocktail and food combinations.

I went to Barmini for my birthday and what a great surprise. The décor is very cute and the staff was very attentive. The mixologist gave a detailed explanation of their plethora of drinks. We went with the mini flights but let me tell you… I could not finish them all!!! Each drink had something cool with it and it felt like I was back in chemisty class. Lol. It is well worth the money and I will definitely be back.
This is a great place to go with friends or a fun date! Definitely go with the Jose flights. You will not be disappointed.

I’ve been to Barmini twice now and had a great experience each time! Both times (about a year apart), I did the cocktail flight, which runs at $ 60 plus tip – it ends up being 6 – 7 mini cocktails (the equivalent of 4 – 5 full sized drinks by my best guess!), so it’s a pretty generous deal, even if the upfront cost is high. The experience is a full two hours and its quite fun!
Barmini’s service is beyond amazing, super friendly and professional and they really just make you feel so well taken care of! Even though the bar was booked out both times I went (we made reservations 1 – 2 weeks in advance), the bar was only half full both times, which is part of the ambiance of the place I guess!
The flights varied both times I went, but included some staples and the major hits. The second time, they asked for preferences and switched up our menu based on our requests! Definitely a fun place to bring friends or guests from out of town for a unique experience!

We went on Valentine’s Day at 7:15 and we were seated at a little table right by the entrance. It was snowing outside and quite windy, so there was a draft when the door opened and it was pretty cold. At first I wanted to change seats, but our table was cozy, aside from the cold and the door didn’t open all that often since it’s reservation only and most people stay for at least a couple of hours.
The entire staff was excellent, from the hostess to our cocktail waitress and server.
We were served a complimentary pumpkin bourbon cocktail, which was incredibly good. It was difficult to decide on a drink to order because the cocktail menu is huge and full of delicious sounding drinks. I finally decided on a sazerac because it’s one of my favorite cocktails and my partner chose a tequila cocktail with mezcal, the name of which I can’t remember, but it was very good and my drink was as well.
For food we ordered the water olives, a lobster roll for me, and the philly cheesesteak for my partner. The olives were incredibly good, my partner loved the philly cheesesteak so much, she decided to order another and my lobster roll was amazing: light, airy, rich and bursting with flavor, it was so so good.
For our second drink we asked the waiter for recommendations and we told him what liquor we preferred, I asked for another whiskey cocktail and my partner opted for another tequila drink. He recommended the leatherette for me, a rye whiskey drink aged in leather, with lavender, and I believe he said sherry as well. The drink was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted and I loved it. My partner greatly enjoyed her second cocktail as well.
I highly recommend this place, just be sure to book in advancd! We will most definitely visit again and I’d like to try Minibar as well.

Menu and Flights:
The cocktail menu is overwhelming! There were many interesting drinks to choose from. In addition to their six-​page individual drink menu, barmini also offers three different cocktail flight experiences ($ 40 — $ 60): 1) The Classic Experience (I know there is a margarita and cotton candy old fashioned included in this flight), 2) The Barmini Experience which includes their original cocktails and signature libations, and 3) The Jose Experience which includes Barmini’s most adventurous and innovative cocktails. I wish we had known about this option in advance and planned a little better. We were not logistically prepared to drink that many drinks in one sitting. So, now you know!
Recommendation:
I highly suggest scrolling through the Unilocal photos either beforehand or while making your drink determination. I could kick myself for not browsing the photos — I love St. Germaine and there is a beautiful photo of a drink called the Crème de Violette, which was not on the menu (I want it!!). The photos are a great way to guide you since it gets overwhelming once you are pressed for your order. The menu is nicely organized by alcohol type: vodka, sherry, gin, tequila, rum, beer, whiskey, brandy, punches, and other. See Unilocal photos for a full menu.
Experience and Drink Order:
Upon arrival, we received a Pisco Sour as a complimentary welcome drink.
Our drink orders were as follows:
Vesper — vodka, gin, and kina. My friend wanted to try a «manly James Bond» drink (reading too much GQ, I think) and this is exactly what he got — pure poison. He managed to drink it all somehow.
New York Sour — bourbon, lemon, sugar, and red wine. This drink was tart and refreshing.
Pumpkin Flip — pumpkin bourbon, Galliano, maple, allspice, egg, and nutmeg. This drink took longer than the others to mix. They had to shake it three different times and let it sit. It was a decent drink but mostly it tasted like a pumpkin iced coffee.
Carmen Miranda — banana bourbon, cinnamon, sugar, and angostura bitters. My friend enjoyed this drink immensely.
Mint Julep — bourbon, mint, and sugar. My friend has had much better mint juleps at other locations.
The presentation aspect of the evening was beautiful. Each drink was delivered in a unique glass. Cold drinks included a hand cut ice cube.
The drink prices range from $ 9 (wine) to $ 22 (D.O.C. — pear vodka, lemon, truffle honey, sparkling wine). I am not entirely sure how barmini makes any money. The seating is very limited and the total tab was not particularly outrageous.
Food:
The portions looked small, so we planned to eat in Chinatown ahead of time. There are many restaurants within walking distance.
Service:
The service was fantastic! Our server was knowledgeable and professional.
Reservations:
Make reservations in advance! Apparently you cannot reserve spots at the bar area, but they will make a notation that you requested the bar area. We booked several weeks in advance. The evening was sold out during our attendance but the restaurant was not that crowded. Tables sat empty.
Restrooms:
Many people mention the interesting toilet paper display on the wall. Not sure how hygienic that is, really (toilet spray, anyone?). The restrooms smelled so great (Airwick Mrs. Claus’Apple Pie) that I was enticed to purchase my own scented plug-​in. There are two restrooms — one men’s and one women’s. I am not entirely sure why they are not both unisex. There was a line for the women’s room, of course, and no line for the men’s room.
Additional Note:
We did not have an issue with the doorbell as others had mentioned. We asked why the door is guarded so carefully and it’s because Minibar shares part of the entryway and Barmini patrons can easily accidentally happen upon Minibar and interrupt the service.

Great place to take friends from out of town or just to huddle with your fellow Washingtonians in a fancy speakeasy milieu. Barmini is the left door when you enter 855 E Street, with the right door leading to Minibar. The décor is decidedly sleek, upscale, and neat. There are comfy couches lining the walls, and even some cactus-​themed puffy stools. The curved white bar is situated in the center directly facing the bartenders’ work area so you get to observe firsthand how they work their magic.
I had the corpse reviver #2 which had gin, cointreau, and lillet blanc. Lemon may also have been used to give it some tangy feel. It was refreshing and went well with the cool and collected ambiance. The undertones of the bar and the various containers dotting the space make it feel like a chemistry lab. There are lots to choose from in the menu, organized by liquor, and they also have a handful of wines and beer cocktails. The only rosé is from Beqqa Valley in Lebanon; it has an interesting taste and isn’t as sweet as you’d expect from a typical rosé.
There’s a large see-​through glass in the wall that lets you see what’s going on at the dining table in Minibar. Before ordering, each person gets a small complimentary apéritif as a welcome drink. The check comes in a pill-​shaped container. I guess it’s a sign that it’s time that you came to your senses and paid?
Great cocktail bar overall. I just wish the service could’ve been more attentive and the bartenders would explain each ingredient that went into the drink, as we couldn’t even figure out what some of the items on the menu were. It would’ve been nice to get a mini educative cocktail experience in addition to the drinks themselves.

This is an amazing cocktail bar with a very unique experience. The design in this spot is very modern.
It also feels like a cocktail laboratory with technique and presentation that is put into the drinks. From the rotary vacuum, to the use of dry ice to the check being placed inside a large pill inside a becker… this place is one of a time.
The service was also great. And I’m very glad I was able to try Jose Andres’ cocktail experiment.

10.21.14
Absolute bar food and cocktails perfection. Décor is modern, service is impeccable. I loved being able to discuss alcohol bases to cater to our cocktail flight. We selected their most popular drinks option. Did not go wrong there.
The food is secondary to their drinks, but amazing nonetheless. They are small bites, so don’t come in starving! The buffalo chicken skin is an absolute standout.
We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was capped off with a visit from Jose Andres himself. I die.
Total damage for two: $ 200ish