So if you know me, you know that I’m a huuuuge Game of Thrones fan (House Targaryen, FTW!) and I love visiting Washington DC. So when the opportunity came to go to DC to visit the Game of Thrones Pop-Up bar in Shaw, I was alll over it.
Cocktails + Game of Thrones = my new favorite spot.
Since the premiere of Game of Thrones is this Sunday, I figured I’d tell you all about it. I’d been to this bar’s other pop-ups (an awesome Christmas/Stranger Things Bar in the winter and Cherry Blossom / Mario-themed bar in the Spring), so I had high expectations going in.
The line was about an hour, even on a Monday night at 6 pm. Luckily, I tricked my best friend Lauren into waiting in line for me as I finished up another Happy Hour, so by the time I got there, I only had to wait about 10 minutes.
Thanks Lala!
When you first walk in, you’re in “The North,” complete with crying weirwood, Jon Snow look-alike (although I thought he looked more like Khal Drogo), and branches with leaves across the ceiling.
Or maybe Adam Driver from the new Star Wars
The second bar, which is attached to the first, was made to look like The House of Black & White, and featured a wall of faces, which was only moderately creepy.
I had a really hard time closing my eyes and taking the picture at the same time.
The third bar was decorated to look like the Red Keep, with house sigils on banners and a real life replica of the Iron Throne (which required a second line to wait in, which was another hour, so we just took pictures of other people).
Also, the bar was dark and full of terr…ible lighting.
There is also a little hallway decorated to look like Meereen with “Kill the Masters” written in blood* on the walls, the Sons of the Harpy masks on the wall, and dragons coming out of the ceiling.
I’m sure she’ll love me for posting this photo.
The drinks, albeit expensive, were creatively named and delicious. My favorite was the Shame cocktail (grapefruit + tonic, $13), which came with an adorable little bell, and also the entire bar screaming “shame!” at you, while a bartender rang a bell. It was awesome.
Game of Thrones Pop-Up Bar Shame Cocktail from Sydney Gallimore on Vimeo.
The other drinks we tried were the What Is Dead May Never Die (Green Hat Gin, fino sherry, shrub, district celery shrub, cane sugar, celery bitters, sparkling water, $13), The Lannisters Send Their Regards (Vodka, fino sherry, contratto bitter, strawberry, lemon, sparkling water, $13), and the Lady Mormont (Plymouth Navy Gin, madeira, honey, passionfruit, lemon, falernum, and orgeat, $14).
Shame came in the big glass and the Lady Mormont came in the little bear.
All in all, it was an awesome experience, and I can’t wait to go back to see what pop-up they do next! The Game of Thrones PUB is happening through August 27th, so get there before it’s gone!
We match The North.
