The Raven Grill

The Raven. DC needs more places like this. The Raven is the diviest of dive bars, but in a city of suits, it’s refreshing. It’s in the heart of Mount Pleasant and attracts the real neighbors of Mount Pleasant from the college student to the professional to the person just wanting to walk into a bar in a hoodie and not be judged in this city. They have cheap beer both in terms of quality and price, but it adds to the allure of it. If you want a bar to be yourself in, stop by The Raven. You’re bound to meet a character or two.

Home away from home, wouldn’t it trade it for the world.
Pros:
1. The neighborhood bad for La Mon’ Plensa, great people and always a good conversation to be had.
2. Surly backtalking bartenders that won’t take any guff.
3. Cheap ass beer until 8 pm.
Cons:
1. Overrun by ‘edgy’ bridge and tunnel crowd on weekends.

Unassuming from the outside, cozy and rustic inside. A divey dive. I can smell the cigarettes in the furniture.
Natty bo $ 2. Other beer $ 3 – 5. Angry Orchard $ 4
Tunes heard: Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, (Jukebox selections)
Keep your eyes open because you may not be able to find this bar from the street.
Also keep cash on you. They don’t accept cards.
Clientele run the gamut, but mind you this is not a place for «dressing up and going out». Have a chat with the regulars or the bartender.
If you’re in the mood for a dive, this is it. Steer clear if you want something upscale.

Stopped in for a drink and the bartender was nice, made a great gin and tonic and it was just super affordable.

The Raven is a Mt. Pleasant staple. Your typical dive bar with reasonably priced drinks and a fun vibe.

A 5-​star dive bar seems somewhat counterintuitive, but this is a great place. It is literally the first dive bar in DC, has the second oldest liquor license in DC behind Old Ebbitt Grill. Talk to Gretchen the manager, she’s really cool and knows everything about the local bar and restaurant scene. Cash only, inexpensive drinks, the perfect dive bar.

Very cool old bar. If you’re looking for a great dive bar, The Raven Grill is it. Cheap beer and inexpensive mixed drinks make it easy to have a relaxing experience without breaking the bank. It isn’t too loud either which is great.

A prefect dive bar — great selection of bottles and rail drinks not too big and not loud either. Cool un-​pretensious crowd, well maybe some hipsters… Wish I knew this place was around a long time or even last weekend… may have to go back, soon.

Ahhh, The Raven. I found this place years ago and I have never been disappointed. This is not a bar that you would not go for girls night out. An ex of mine did that and her friends felt out of place since they were dressed up to go clubbing.
The bar is simple, a lot of great cheap beers, they used to have Schlitz but upgraded to PBR. Nothing on tap, just bottles and cans.
Their cocktails are pretty simple, they have mixers (sodas) but I have only had 7 and 7’s and rum and cokes. The happy hr crowd is friendly. I did go on a weekend night and it was packed. The have renovated and it is not as divey as it used to be but still one of my fave bars. The booths are a nice touch and yes, the jukebox is something special. As far as the hipsters hanging out here, yeah, they’re there but it’s not Brooklyn doucy, yet.
Beer is cheap, cocktails are strong, and this is one of the better dive bar in DC.
Cash only.

My favorite bar in DC. Unapologetic for what it is and plenty of personality. Cash only and charge extra for tonic water — so be warned. Jukebox is great!

One good thing I can say about this place is that it was unpretentious. Other than that, not much. I was willing to overlook the disappointing beer selection and complete lack of ambiance, but sorry, I couldn’t abide being literally shouted out of the bar before closing time. Especially after leaving generous tips the entire night and quietly minding our own business. Wow. Some people are just looking for a chill place to have a beer and a conversation, where they can build a respectful relationship with the bar staff. Unfortunately, this is not that place. I was hoping this could be my neighborhood bar, but I guess they’re just interested in collecting a quick buck. Won’t be coming here again.

Not exactly what I expected from passing by it so many times a day on the outside, but enjoyable nevertheless. I was anticipating something even more dingy and occupied by slightly tougher folks, but in reality this is 100% pure hipster. That’s fine, though — it’s still completely fun, and I’ll deal with pretty much anything for these prices.
Before 8pm, Natty Boh is $ 2, and the rest of the (bottled and canned only) beer is really affordable, at least by DC standards. They have a great selection of hard liquor, but don’t make the same foolish mistake I did of asking for anything to mix in it… they won’t have it. I was caught off guard by that and so ended up just ordering beer, but next time I’ll go in prepared for shots. They also have chips and snacks for purchase if you get the munchies. Cash only, though, so don’t forget!
Add all that to pretty good privacy in the booths to chat and hang out, great music in the jukebox, and highly entertaining bathroom graffiti (at least in the women’s room, because my fiancé said the stuff in the men’s room was pretty lame), and you know I’ll be back for more.

I love watching people come in here and asking, «what do you have on tap?» And the bartender simply replies, «this is a dive bar, sweetie.» They have a decent bottled/​canned selection of beer. Cheap liquor. The bartenders are all friendly and awesome. One even tried to give my friend advice on how to approach a girl, which was hilarious. They have a jukebox, so bring some quarters if you’re into that. It’s cash only, as dive bars usually are.
There’s a good amount of seating, but the bar is usually packed on Fridays and Saturdays. Not super happening during the week, but that’s what makes it so great. During the week, it’s a good place to go and wind down.

This is the best dive bar I have visited on the American continent.
Upside:
— Good, inexpensive beer selection.
— They don’t accept credit cards. This shows that we are talking about a dive bar.
— The guys who are glued to the bar chairs are friendly
— Worn-​out furniture. Don’t wear white pants.
Downside:
— This dive bar has a window, that occasionally lets sunshine in.
Bonus:
I heard that you have to serve food to get a liquor license here in DC — so they sell Utz potato chips!

The Raven is a great, local Mount Pleasant spot. They have a decent beer selection, but the best part is just sitting at a table with friends. It is very relaxed and a great place to unwind on a Friday night. They often have old movies playing without sound and many non-​functioning jukeboxes. The other thing is that it is never crowded so you feel like you can just enjoy yourself without worrying about dealing with other people, finding a seat, being too loud or other people being too loud. Basically you can enjoy yourself and not worry about anything.
Downside is that they only accept cash so make sure to hit the bank before going into the Raven.

The raven is great for what it is: a dive bar extraordinaire. No food, no fancy credit cards. Straight up good service and cheap drinks. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find that and not much else here.
Unless, that is, you happen to find yourself here on New Year’s Eve. In which case, you can expect what is likely DC’s only no-​cover celebration, which included a free midnight glass of cheap brut from a plastic cup and party poppers. I mean, seriously. You can’t beat that.

The Raven is Mount Pleasant’s quintessential dive bar and I’m fully on board!
In an area that continues to become more gentrified by the minute, there is something beautiful about this dark and corky dive bar. Serving $ 2 Natty Bo before 8PM and $ 3 cans after 8PM — Friday Happy Hour just got real cheap. My wallet appreciates it.
Hungry? Order take-​out from one of the many mama and pop shops on Mt. Pleasant Avenue and bring it in. Recently we ordered Radius pizza and brought it in — who love New York style pizza and cheap beer?
The bartenders were friendly and the service was great.
I highly recommend The Raven if your in the need for a cheap beer and good times!

The Raven was better before they got that fancy new glass window. I was never a regular here but I had been here a few years ago when I considered it a real dive bar instead of the hipster hangout it is now.
I like dive bars with sad old men sitting on stools and dirty guys lingering in the back, a place where if I get a glass bottle cracked over my head, it is my own fault for being there, instead all I get is hipsters in their quirky glasses and well groomed beards. Now there is nothing wrong with hipsters but they don’t belong in a true dive bar which The Raven use to be.
Still good place to have a reasonable priced beer, it seems they’ve traded cheap Schmidt’s for cheap Natty Bo, prices are still about the same.
I would go back but I must say there is more to a dive bar than dirty look, cheap furniture and cheap beer.

2 years later, same prices. Thank you Raven for ignoring inflation. $ 4 still gets you Sierra Nevada and $ 3 for a Bud.
Really can’t find anything to complain about. Solid bar in Mt. P.

This is a quintessential dive bar. Minus terrifyingly sad old men who appear as though life is draining out of them, one Kentucky Gentleman at a time.
What is DOES have is an amazing jukebox, cracked booth cushions that will tear up your ass, cheap liquor, and that indelible red glow that makes you feel like you are walking through a vice-​filled dream that ends with angels singing. I would happily end up here every evening to scrape off the reality of working life; alas, I live far away now and have become too lazy.
I’ve never had a less than superb time here, and I will not end that statement with «for what it is.» Come with expectations. Expect to get unpretentious service (they’re hipsters, but non-​judgy ones! Really!), inexpensive drinks ($ 5 top shelf bourbon), and an atmosphere that somehow morphs into perfection regardless of whether it’s crowded or empty. If you need a snack, there are Lance peanut butter sandwich crackers for sale.
Talk to anyone who’s lived in NW DC for a while and the Raven seems to be one of those places that has been around forever and never lost its character or tried to be something it isn’t. And with any luck, that will never change.