Bin 1301 Wine Bar

Thank the District that there is a still a decent Happy Hour on U Street.
If you’re reading my opening line, then you may have just felt your heart skip a beat because you remember the days of Happy Hours that were incredible drinks for $ 5 or $ 6. Now on the U Street Corridor, it is NOT COMMON to find something that cheap even on a freaking Monday night. No, we are in the days of «$ 2 off our craft cocktail» or «$ 7 micro brews on tap.»
Though fear not, fellow alcoholics, the relatively new Bin1301 Wine Bar tips their hats to the days of the past with great Happy Hour prices and drink selection to match! I’m talking anything from Vermouth to Cocktails for $ 5 specials and reasonably priced snacks. I got in-​and-​out with 2 different kinds of vermouth, 2 snacks, and a tip for 20 bucks.
The only thing I will say is I was not the biggest fan of their 3 deviled eggs. Reasonably priced, but heavy on the mustard and hard to share for a group (with 2 who gets the last, and with 4 just awkward).
Though for their prices and selection alone, this will be a go to place on the good ‘ol U Street for Happy Hour.

Great selection with a variety of price points. We went on Saturday night and the bar was not crowded. I appreciated being able to find a seat and have a conversation.

It wasn’t until my second visit to Bin 1301 that I realized how dope this place is. The first time my girlfriend and I showed up was on a Sunday afternoon, we were still on level 10 from an epic weekend and Bin 1301 served as our first stop for an awesome Sunday Funday. I knew that the food was good and we both left pretty buzzed, but I still didn’t fully appreciate my experience.
Fast-​forward to a month later: While feeling adventurous on a Sunday afternoon, I made the decision to brunch solo. I found Bin’s front door open and Benito (the bartender/​server) serving up mimosas. I had the french toast with a side of fruit and a pineapple juice mimosa. I enjoyed the food, the very chill atmosphere, and the amicable people who I found myself conversing with over an array of topics. Since Bin is known for it’s select wines, I will definitely be returning to try them out.

Such a nice little spot. Great happy hour specials. Good music. The bartenders were so kind. The cheese and chorizo was delicious. Good good good. Check and check. Perfect for an intimate date or catching up with a best friend. Right across from the metro!

This is a great place to catch up with a friend. I love the wine selection and champagne. It’s a nice hideaway from the other bars on U st. Great bartender!

great place with a good happy hour, super friendly staff. they have good happy hour wines, the only food I tried was the charcuterie – 3 cheeses and 3 meats. For cheese get the Gouda (really good), Brie and burrata was okay. I forgot what meats I got but I got a spicy salami, prosciutto, and i think another type of salami but it was good nonetheless.

Nice quiet bar, friendly bar tender! Good wine selection.

I can see why this wine bar has so many positive reviews. Catching up with an old friend was nice; on a Saturday evening this place was empty. But, I figured out why. No Happy Hour on the weekends.
But don’t let that stop you, the wine selection and the small menu is pretty good. Surprisingly a lot of vegetarian options too. If you like to go somewhere and chill and don’t want to be bothered with talking over other people and elbowing them; do go.
We had the bruschetta, which was fresh and delicious; mozzarella balls with fresh chopped tomato/​basil on top mini baguette toasts. Chad did a great job of creating our flights starting us off with Nals Margreid Pino Noir from Italy 2013. His second recommendation was the Familia Mayol Bonarda from Argentina 2013, my favorite; it was deep with a smoky flavor. And the last one was full bodied and floral (typically not used to describe reds) but that’s what I tasted, Lantides Agiorgitiko from Greece 2013. The last one was a very specific flavor that may not go over well with everyone, but I enjoyed it and felt like it was best as a last selection. Although the pour is small, the wines are well selected with big distinctive flavor.
Bin 301 just earned a new customer. It was a Good Night!

Great selection of wines but I would have preferred more food choices. The people were friendly and knowledgable. We had the deviled eggs and they were just ok but the charcuterie tray was delightful. We plan to return.

Decided to drop in after work and was pleasantly surprised. Chill atmosphere and very laid back. The staff was casual, friendly and informative. Had a very robust pinot noir, followed by a malbec that was the best I’ve ever had and to top it all off, the prices were respectable, I’ll def be back!

Came in with my gf late on a Saturday night, looking for a place to hang out and kill some time. Ambiance was great; we got a seat inside (where it was warm) looking out on the patio for some nice people watching. We actually met the owner Steve who asked our preferences and gave us a recommendation. The bottle was priced very reasonably and was brought promptly. Overall a great experience.

This is quaint and friendly environment. The service is great and they offer a variety of wines, beers, and drinks. We always manage to arrive well after the kitchen closes so we have not had a chance to sample the food which sounds great. Although, one late night, the staff offered us an olive and cheese plate which tasted wonderful! We’ve been here at least 3 times and we’ve had a great time. We will return again and hopefully earlier so we can experience all of the food options.

This place is a reliably good and uncrowded enough place for a drink any time — even prime time Saturday night. Great wine selection and a collection of interesting draft beers and more specialized bottles. Also they will do a half meat half cheese charcuterie for a reasonable price compared to others in the area (fainting goat, vinoteca, etc). Plus, place is owned by the friendly people at U street wine & beer.

Came here with the Capitol Deal, which gives you two glasses of wine, a cheese plate, and an appetizer for $ 29.
The décor is really nice, especially considering the conversion from the U Scream Ice Cream shop. Very modem and warm feel. Absolutely a good place for a date.
Cheese plate is generous and comes with tasty options. We ordered the deviled eggs that were beautifully presented, I just wish they didn’t use Dijon mustard to secure them to the plate because it overpowered the other flavors.
The reason I may not be coming back is the wine. The options are nice, but they are way expensive for the size of the pour! It looked to be a four ounce pour for a $ 15 glass. If it weren’t for the Capitol deal package I couldn’t come here. Maybe when I start doubling my income I won’t mind. But for now I’m going down a block to TJ’s to get an entire bottle of wine for the same price.

This place is great! The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and the space is great. Definitely a great place for happy hour and big groups. The cheese plate is amazing and a great deal. Such a great find!

This is my new hangout spot on U street. From the time I walked in, to the time I left, the staff was super friendly. I have never in my life be treated this well at a new place. I only get this great service from my frequent spots.
The good was so delightful. The chef was super nice and very friendly. I love someone who is so passionate about there craft and is will to talk about it. (He told us all about why he decided become a chef and his passion about his craft).
I am so excited for my next visit. Believe me, I don’t think it can get any better than this visit.

Some awesome small bites. Deviled eggs & gambas are a must. $ 5 Happy hour wine to top it all off.

A classy, cozy wine bar nestled in the U St corridor. Impressive selection of both red and white wines by the glass, with great accompanying bites! Rotating beers on draft, with some rare brews coming through the lines, like Old Rasputin Imperial Stout and KBS, as well as bottles.
The food is a whole other story. The pear bruschetta was amazing, and I can’t get enough of the bacon wrapped dates. Other people mentioned the gambas (shrimp) and they are right. The sauce is crazy good! We also tried the pork special which they called «Nibbles», which I hope will become a regular dish, and that might have been the best thing we had all night.
Staff was super friendly, knowledgeable about the products, and we even got to meet the chef, who helped us match some cheese with our wine, and who delivered most of our food himself. It was great! They’ll definitely see me again.

Thought this place was unmentionable. Dead atmosphere, bartender with very little personality, nothing interesting on the by the glass list. Not terrible, not worth a special trip at all.

This is a new and underrated addition to U Street. I stopped in here for a glass of wine after work and was impressed with their selection and service.
The main reason I like this place is that it is quiet (I like actually hearing the conversation) and romantic while still being conveniently located in the U St Corridor. The prices are reasonable as well.
Later that week after my first visit, I had to organize a private party last minute. The manager and bartender let me reserve a table and extend happy hour prices all night on appetizers (Mmmm bacon-​wrapped figs) and several wines and cocktails. Ummm… Yeah, definitely coming back here for dates/​events!