Russia House Restaurant & Lounge

30s / 40s / Ambient / Bar / Bottle Service / Business Casual / Button-downs / Cocktail Dress / Couples / Dinner / Diverse / Dressy / Expats / Folk / Happy Hour / International / Live Music / Lounge / Mid 20s / Politicians / Polos / Restaurant / Seafood / Slacks / Specialty Cocktails / Steak / Suits / TVs / Techno / Trance / Trendy Crowd / Upscale / Vodka
Russia House Restaurant & Lounge The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland. Washington, DC United States 38.9144171917128 -77.0465129613876
4.1 8
Russia House Restaurant & Lounge - Bar | Lounge | Restaurant in Washington, DC.
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4 User Reviews
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Ratings:
Lucas
Adriana
Jonah
Emma

Party Earth Review The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland. One of the few spots in the District where... ... read full review

  • Hours:

    Restaurant: M–Th 5–10pm, F 5–11pm, Sa 6–11pm, Su 6–10pm
    Lounge: M–Th 5pm–midnight, F 5pm–2am, Sa 6pm–2am, Su 6pm–midnight

  • Recommended as:

    • Night Spot

Party Earth Russia House Restaurant & Lounge Review

The Scene

The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland.

Dupont Circle, Washington, DC –

The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland.

One of the few spots in the District where Royal Siberian caviar flows as readily as a mango martini, this elegant four-story venue is awash in red velvet walls, dark wooden trim, and sultry servers named Svetlana managing marble-topped bars.

Well-dressed couples cozy up in romantic booths on the first two floors, where the only thing more authentic than the Russian menu might be the traditional live music performed on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Nearly two hundred varieties of vodka are served here, so the trendy patrons who just stop in for dinner usually stick around for the hand-picked vodka flights.

On the two upper floors, dapper Dimitris enjoy their borscht and blinis to a soft soundtrack of Eastern European trance and folk music, though the volume gets kicked up on Friday and Saturday nights, when big crowds pack the upper lounge areas and former Cold War enemies come together for techno and toasts that often spill into the formal dining areas below.

For late-night lounging, fine Russian dining, and refined liquor drinking, The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge offers a one-of-a-kind experience that mixes a bit of old-world Soviet charm with an overwhelming dose of capitalist abundance.

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Tip from Adriana:

Aside from the fabulous vodka flights, Russia House has a line of infused vodkas that are beyond delicious. The blueberry is probably my favorite, though the mango runs a close second!

  • Crowd

    Diverse, international mix of trendy couples, young movers and shakers, Russian expats, and older politicians, mid-20s to mid-50s.

  • Entertainment / Music

    Three TVs at the downstairs bar usually tuned to Sports Center. Ambient Eastern European folk or trance/electronic music on all floors.

  • Food / Miscellaneous

    Russian menu featuring borscht, blinis, and caviar. Happy Hour M–F 5–7pm.

  • Prices

    Appetizers $7–$30, soups and salads $7, entrées $24–$33, desserts $8–$15. Beer $6–$8, wine $9/glass or $28–$72/bottle, cocktails $9–$20, champagne $95–$450/bottle, bottle service $90–$350+.

  • What to Wear / Dress Code

    Business casual to dressy: high-end designer button-downs, Armani suits, designer shoes, flashy cocktail dresses, polo shirts, designer slacks.

  • Hot Nights / When to Go

    Friday and Saturday nights for the most bustling crowd, and Wednesdays and Thursdays for live music by a pianist, bassist, or violinist. The venue draws bigger crowds in winter than in summer.

  • Close By

    Veritas Wine Bar (2031 Florida Avenue NW) offers flights of fancy wines in a modern setting.

Tags:
30s40sAmbientBottle ServiceBusiness CasualButton-downsCocktail DressCouplesDinnerDiverseDressyExpatsFolkHappy HourInternationalLive MusicMid 20sPoliticiansPolosSeafoodSlacksSpecialty CocktailsSteakSuitsTVsTechnoTranceTrendy CrowdUpscaleVodka

Russia House Restaurant & Lounge User Reviews

Average rating:
Placibo Russia House!
Nathalie K.
Nathalie K. Aug 20, 2013
If you want to experience what Russia is about without the danger of the Mafia showing up or raids from the cops than head on over to the Russia House ! The only thing missing would be a little more of the cold air in order to reason why you had so many vodka shots without needing it to keep warm. The atmosphere is decadent, dark and mysterious. The drinks are amazing and you will enjoy making new acquaintances in that house since everyone seems to be in a good mood. If you are looking for a trip without having to pay the airfare to the MotherLand than head on over to the Russia House and have some of that chicken Kiev with a wonderful vodka martini on me
Like going to Moscow without the expensive airfare
Farrah S.
Farrah S. Apr 15, 2013
What can I say? I'm absolutely in love with Russia House. Everything about this place is amazing, from the thick Russian accents of the staff, the Soviet era wallpaper, the vodka, and the feeling that there might be some Russian mob business going on upstairs. I've been here a handful of times and every time the food was delicious, the blood sausage to the chicken kiev, I feel like every dish is a hit. Good thing they serve food here because you need something to soak up the vodka, and oh there is a lot of vodka! Great place to go on a Friday or Saturday night for a romantic dinner or a group of friends. Once you have finished dining you get to head upstairs and dance off the calories.
Like You've Stepped into the USSR
Desi K.
Desi K. Sep 12, 2012
Walking into Russia House is a transformational experience because it feels as though you've walked into a Soviet restaurant. The restaurant is a deep red shade with gold, almost gaudy wall decoration and thick, velvet accents. The restaurant is divided into 3 stories, with the bottom being the restaurant section. The waitstaff is mostly Russian, or Eastern European. The food is good and very authentic, I would recommend blini to start and the stroganoff as the entree. If you really want to get the true Russian experience, then order the caviar. However, the alcohol (vodka especially) is the highlight of Russia House. If you can handle it, do the vodka tasting, if not, the Moscow Mule is one of many great cocktails. Go to Russia House for dinner and then go upstairs to the lounge area for drinks and great people watching. It's definitely an experience and you might even forget that you're in the US capital for the few hours that you're there.
Vodka, Vodka, Vodka!
Danny M.
Danny M. Aug 2, 2012
As far as I'm concerned there's only one reason to go to the Russia House...vodka...well, maybe a couple hundred if you like tasting different types of vodka. While the name of the place is all about Russia, they actually have vodka from all over the Eastern Bloc and the rest of the world...so be adventurous and try something new (I tried a Ukrainian vodka the last time I was there). Unless you are a vodka connoisseur (do those exist?) you've likely never heard of most of the vodkas on the menu so you might as well sample a variety. But if you need something safe you can never go wrong with a couple shots of Beluga. All in all, this is a great place to just hang out at the bar and spend the night with a group of friends...just make sure you bring your drinking hat.
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