It's Sunday morning, you overdid it last night, and you're craving brunch and a bloody mary. Luckily, there are tons of terrific bloodies around town to get you back in order, with some tasty brunch dishes offered alongside. Here are seven of our favorites, from mixology masterpieces to build-your-own creations.
Barrel
Capitol Hill
Barrel may be a bourbon bar, but it takes bloodies seriously—in addition to a special housemade mix, its bloody features house-infused basil vodka. Enjoy it during weekend brunch (10:30-4pm), alongside inventive Southern-inspired eats like fried chicken with smoked sausage gravy and chilled crab and cucumber soup ($12).
Logan Tavern
Logan Circle
With 14 different liquor options to choose from, this bustling tavern's build-your-own bloody menu is intended for those who are picky about their booze—they even have four house-infused liquors, from chili tequila to horseradish vodka. You'll also get your choice of three garnishes, from standard (celery, olives) to wild (cream cheese, crispy potato strings, pickled ginger), with shrimp and/or bacon available for an extra buck.
Founding Farmers
Foggy Bottom
Founding Farmers is a family owned restaurant, and by family, we mean more than 47,000 farmers from the North Dakota Farmers Union. Its acclaimed—and spicy—$12 bloody relies on fresh tomatoes from the collective, housemade pepper-infused vodka, and a hint of Old Bay. It's also the perfect bloody for early risers: you can get it starting at 8:30am on weekends.
Smith Commons
H Street Corridor/Near Northeast/Atlas District
Tour the globe one bloody mary at a time at this massive three-story complex, where you can sample a Tex Mex bloody (with fresh cilantro and pico de gallo), a Kentucky bourbon bloody (with bourbon, liquid smoke, bacon, and grilled peppers), or a mezcal Maria (with smoked tomato, hot sauce, and jalapeño). For purists, there's also the namesake Smith Commons bloody, with vodka, basil, and pepper. Whatever bloody you choose, it's best enjoyed on the sunny third-floor roof deck.
The Heights
Columbia Heights
There are four kinds of bloodies ($9-12) to try at this lively gastropub, which features an 80-seat patio for sunny-day brunching. You can go local with the Chesapeake, topped with a crab cake and an Old Bay rim, or branch out with the High Noon, a combo of bacon-washed bourbon, Frank’s red hot, and Worcestershire topped with bacon, pickles, and potato strings. There's also a build-your-own option for the indecisive: tell them what you're looking for, and they'll make it happen.
RedRocks Neapolitan Bistro
H Street
Washingtonians have continuously recognized RedRocks as one of the best pizza joints in town, but it also offers great bloody marys—most notably, in the form of its weekend bottomless bloody brunch, which gets you two hours' worth of marys (or mimosas) for $20. If you'd rather stick to just one drink, a classic RedRocks Mary runs $7, while mezcal and green chile vodka versions go for $8.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Logan Circle
If you've never tried a bloody with oysters, you're missing out on a delicious combo (and a pretty solid hangover-buster). With raw oysters, broiled oysters, and oyster po'boys, Pearl Dive has an option for every palate, and its spicy, nicely seasoned bloody, garnished with olives and pickled green beans, makes for a great pairing.
