 Okay, I know this blog is called “Oldest bar in every state”, but “Oldest bar in every state, plus Washington D. C.” is just way too long. So here we are at Old Ebbitt Grill on 15th Street, near the Whitehouse. We didn’t plan for this to be a trip to meet up with anybody, but when we started discussing our plans to visit D.C., we discovered it was the same timeframe that my parents, nieces, uncle, and Glenn, (who is basically family) all had planned to be in D.C. overlapping on one night. We had loved sitting at the bar and getting to know local patrons and bartenders when making our oldest bar visits, but enjoying the historic grandeur of this setting with family and friends was a wonderful first for us. The place was so crowded you could barely fit through the front door, but we had made a reservation so we had a table in the Atrium room next to a large beautiful fountain. The food was absolutely amazing and since it is also a restaurant, it was kid friendly which had chicken fingers and crayons to keep my nieces happy! | |
After dinner Bruce, Glenn, and I stayed to have a drink in the corner bar to make sure we completed the oldest bar experience. There are four separate bar areas in addition to the dining areas which were all ornately adorned and every area was full of people! It was easy to see how Old Ebbitt Grill for several years was the restaurant that boasted the highest sales in the country. We barely had room to enjoy our beer, but it was worth the squeeze to look around and enjoy all of the artifacts, antiques and artwork that made the atmosphere so unique. The Saloon began in 1856 as a boarding house owned started by William E Ebbitt, and moved locations, changed owners, and accumulated a priceless collection of fixtures and furnishings. The mounted Walrus head is said to have been shot by Teddy Roosevelt and the walls are covered with beautiful paintings, and everything you see looks beautiful, old, historic, and probably has a good story! Unfortunately the place was far too busy to talk to anyone there about the history but it was an incredible environment for the three of us to enjoy some beer together!
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