When Washington’s democratic mayor Muriel Bowser celebrated her re-election last night, she had the option of toasting her success with any one of the 24 rotating drafts at Franklin Hall. Washington City Paper reported that Bowser’s team had set up a watch party for the mayor at the sprawling beer hall in the U Street NW corridor equipped with massive projection monitors often utilized to screen sports. The Washington Post reports that Bowser, who is the first D.C. mayor to win re-election since 2002, gave her victory speech at Franklin Hall.
Take your date to Atlas Arcade to geek out on your favorite arcade games — think Mario Kart and Pac Man — and music from the ‘80s and ‘90s, or challenge them to some friendly competition at The Board Room with games like Yahtzee, Battleship, Scrabble, and Operation. It’s almost impossible not to love H Street Country Club, where you can spark some friendly competition over a game of mini golf, shuffleboard, or skee ball, and the same goes for Franklin Hall, offering tabletop games like Uno and giant Jenga.
If you’ve ever waited half an hour for a beer at a bar crowded with people waving $20 bills in the air, Peter Bayne can relate. With his latest venture, Franklin Hall, the co-founder of restaurant group Tin Shop DC and his business partner Geoff Dawson are setting out to ease your pain.
Franklin Hall is D.C.’s new, swanky beer hall. The industrial-chic space has a snack-stand themed restaurant, politic-inspired decor, and 24 drafts – nine of which are constantly rotating. The space is perfect for large gatherings, but it’s worth it with or without company.
Located in the trendy Manhattan Laundry building, Franklin Hall is already a bustling drinking destination, whether for large groups or rowdy happy hours. The bar brings the classic European beer hall vibe to D.C. In addition to the communal tables, there's also a huge bar top and spruced-up seating areas with leather couches. The bar features 20 taps showcasing a diverse selection that spans different styles, and while there's a local emphasis, craft beers from across the U.S. make the list.
This beer-focused, watering hole, carved out of the historic Manhattan Laundry Building in the U Street Corridor, brings a self-service approach to the drinking scene, flanking its bar with ordering kiosks, and serving its creatively topped sausages and Frito pies from a walk-up window. Long wooden tables fill the exposed- brick, industrial space that's outfitted with salvaged artifacts and flea market finds. There are two lounges as well.
This 5,600-square-foot newcomer isn’t your Opa’s beer hall, though tenets of the classic setup remain: namely, good food and big beers. A list of nationally representative beers is available mostly by the pint or liter (except for the high-octane stuff), which can be properly paired with grilled sausages such as spicy chorizo, Thai pork and kielbasa, available “naked” or “dressed.” Pro tip: The weekend breakfast tacos are worth getting out of bed for.
You’ll most likely visit Franklin Hall for a birthday party. Or work party. Or after work happy hour. It’s a good option that benefits from its proximity to 14th and U without being stuck on 14th and U.
If you’ve ever waited half an hour for a beer at a bar crowded with people waving $20 bills in the air, Peter Bayne can relate. With his latest venture, Franklin Hall, the co-founder of restaurant group Tin Shop DC and his business partner Geoff Dawson are setting out to ease your pain.
Bayne is a partner in the brand-new Franklin Hall, which opens today in the historic Manhattan Laundry building at 14th Street and Florida Avenue NW, as well as a string of other establishments, including Penn Social, Big Chief and Highline RxR. He says the latest venture is an experiment in speeding up the bar experience.