That's right Hillers, we have our own illusive speakeasy right here in Capitol Hill. As is the tradition with most speakeasy's....it's difficult to find, impossible to make a reservation, and because of these trials and tribulations it is ultimately very, very cool.
Harold Black is located above Aqua Al 2 on 7th Street across from Eastern Market. We heard about Harold Black from friends. It seems all the buzz is by word of mouth (and the occasional blog).
I looked online and could not find a way to contact the speakeasy so I called Aqua Al 2. The hostess was so nice. She said Harold Black did not have a public phone number but that she would go upstairs and ask if they could squeeze us in and call me back - which she actually did! It's always so surprising when people do what they say they are going to do. Freaking amazing.
The night was already improving.
She called back and said they could seat us immediately but that they needed the table back by 10pm for people who actually had reservations. So across the street we ran!
To enter Harold Black do the following:
- walk through the unmarked door to the left of Aqua Al 2's entrance
- round the corner hallway
- go up the stairs
- knock on the sliding wood door
- someone will open it and ask for your name
- if they do not have your name, you cannot drink with the cool kids
The space is dark, cozy, and intimate. The decor is made up of vintage books, men's shaving brushes, and all sorts of other miscellaneous knick-knacks on the bookshelves that separate each booth.
The drinks are stout, flavorful, and delicious. Our group ordered the cocktail flight for $35- which was a hell of a deal to get sufficiently buzzed on some serious high quality booze.
The servers were knowledgeable and friendly. The vibe was chill, fun, and secretive - of course. Harold Black was the perfect answer to a rainy weekend night.
Happy Hilling!
S.
Happy Hilling!
S.
