Russia House
1800 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
You’ve passed by the building every time you walk around Dupont Circle. On the northeast corner of Florida and Connecticut there is a large white staircase, a Russian flag and a neon sign saying “Russia House.” Don’t let the flag or the name confuse you. It’s not an embassy, it’s a bar.
More than a bar, Russia House is an upscale lounge complete with beautiful mahogany floors and red velvet chairs. Appealing to a trendy upscale crowd, the bar recommends that you “dress smartly.” Fellow Russia House attendees interpreted dressing smartly to be anything from wearing jeans and flip-flops to adorning beautiful skirts and stiletto heels.
One of the two owners will always be at the entrance to greet you with class (and check your ID) and will immediately try to find you the most comfortable place in the bar. From the entryway, go left and you’ll be in a unique oval room with a low-slung couch and massive mirrors. Go right and you will be in a slightly busier bar (standing room-only at times) with more low-slung couches and the buzz of house jazz coming through a well-designed sound system.
We went right and were immediately presented with an exquisite cocktail menu. With 59 vodkas listed (the largest selection in D.C.) and a unique list of beers from Eastern Europe, making a decision on drinks can be a little daunting. Luckily, our waitress was helpful and recommended the mango martini for me and a pale wheat beer from Lithuania for my friend.
I was a little apprehensive about spending $10 on one drink (especially with my bad martini luck last week), but upon the arrival of my large cocktail I was immediately pleased. As we all know, ladies, size matters – but so does character. I enjoyed every sip of this martini. The mango martini is made with house-infused citrus vodka and a fresh fruit puree. Together, they make for a unique flavor you’ll never forget.
If the mango martini isn’t on the menu by the time you arrive at Russia House, don’t be alarmed. The bar changes its drinks seasonally (25-30 times a year) depending on what fruits are available in perfect condition. Having said that, I don’t doubt that whatever seasonal martini is available on your night to Russia House will be spectacular.
If the cocktails aren’t enticing enough, Russia House also boasts the largest collection of caviars in D.C. as well as a delightful dinner menu. I know I will be saving Russia House to take my parents back to for graduation. But if your folks are coming in for parents’ weekend, why wait?
By that time, Russia House will also be offering an array of vodka samplers. Six 1-ounce vodkas will be brought to you in any form you’d like – from their delightful infused-fruit vodkas to “A Taste of Russia” for the more acclimated palate.
From the vodka to the caviar, Russia House is a classy establishment, and I know I’ll be back for more delicious fruit-filled cocktails.
Belle Rating: 
