DC’s ranking among the top cities in the U.S. for vegans got a a big boost this weekend with the opening of its first vegan bar. Located on the ground floor of 1633 P St NW, DC Vegan‘s new Botanical Bar features Italian botanical cocktails, local craft beer, and vegan wines. It also offers Italian American fare from DC Vegan’s deli, which has been located on the 2nd floor of the same building since May 2021.
Veteran mixologist Starla Newman is DC Vegan’s bar manager. She has created a menu of craft cocktails and mocktails using only plant-based ingredients. Egg white foams are swapped in favor of aquafaba, dairy-based creams are replaced with oat milk, and wine and beer are produced without animal products like isinglass, chitin, or gelatin.
Highlights from the cocktail list include a perfectly balanced sweet and tart Limoncello, a delicately flavored Peach Bellini topped with an edible flower garnish, and a Strawberry infused Negroni made with gin, strawberry Campari, sweet vermouth and topped off with an orange peel and strawberry garnish.
Botanical Bar’s decor will have patrons feeling that they have been transformed to secret garden. Greenery hangs from the ceiling and the walls are coved in a dark, sexy floral wallpaper and gold framed black and white prints of wildlife.
