Inside Scoop on 3 Ivy City Spots
With several distilleries and restaurants, Ivy City is an innovative area in Northeast DC that is becoming a popular destination for locals and out of town visitors. We are excited to share the stories of three businesses, each featured in our 2017 Neighborhood Profiles.
1) Green Hat Gin / New Columbia Distillers
Named in honor of Washington’s most famous bootlegger, Green Hat Gin is made
at a family owned and operated distillery that has been operating in Ivy City for almost 5 years. Co-founder Michael told us that “DC hadn’t had a distillery in 100 years, so we decided it was time for one.” Ivy City’s industrial history and feel makes it a prime location for Green Hat. It attracts local and out of town visitors and fellow distillers which leads to collaboration, building an even more robust distilling market in DC. “DC is a great space for makers” said Michael. Be sure to check out New Columbia Distillers for their weekend tours and tastings. Keep an eye out for their new rye whiskey, currently aging in barrels at the distillery.
2) One Eight Distilling
In January 2015 One Eight Distilling became the second distillery to open in the District of Columbia and the second to select Ivy City. With access to warehouse space ideal for production in the city, One Eight, decided to set up shop. The distillery prides itself on using locally-sourced grains to craft vodka, gins, and whiskies start to finish in-house. This “grain to glass” concept shows One Eight’s commitment to being a sustainable, local company. The focus on sustainability shows itself across the entirety of the business – One Eight utilizes solar panels on
its roof as a way to reduce its carbon footprint. With a massive production space, tasting room and event venue, One Eight has provided a destination for visitors and locals, alike. We even spotted some local DC products on the shelves of the
tasting room – from Embitterment and Shrubs bitters to Gordy’s brine.
3) La Puerta Verde, Dock FC, & Ari’s Diner
Mindful Restaurant Group, the powerhouse company behind Ghibellina and Acqua Al 2, is the force behind three new, exciting concepts in Ivy City: La Puerta Verde, Ari’s Diner, and Dock FC, all of which operate on the same block. We had the chance to visit the trifecta of restaurants and walked away excited to experience them all. Each one, while connected physically, offers a unique concept.
La Puerta Verde is an authentic Mexican restaurant that aims to showcase Mexico’s culture in DC. Everything from the hand-laid mexican tile, to the converted freight containers spoke to the mixture of both Ivy City history and Mexican heritage. The food is equally as creative – with both fish tacos and beef tongue on the menu, you get a little taste of everything. During our tour of the kitchen, we saw young students from DC public schools watching in awe as the chef prepared food. This field trip program gave students a behind the scenes look at the restaurant industry.
Decorated with the flags representing soccer teams all over the world, Dock FC is a soccer and sports bar that is a popular spot for nearby residents. Inspired by owner, Ari’s stint as a pro soccer player, the space was built to enjoy a good game and local brew. Guests can spend hours here watching games on their various TVs and local beers like DC Brau.
This set of restaurants in brought full circle with Ari’s Diner. A nod to Mindful Restaurant Group’s founder Ari Gejdenson who opened an American diner when he was living in Italy. Ari’s Diner pays homage to the original restaurant concept with by serving classic American food in a retro atmosphere. We can’t wait to try the pancakes-a staff favorite. We know that local foodies and DC visitors alike will be thrilled by these three Ivy City restaurants.