OUT OF OFFICE AT MANIFEST

“Where should I begin….like from the upstairs “check in exclusivity” to the hostess down the winding stairs greeting our party with the most infectious smile, I knew we were in for a culture treat. From the ambiance to the award winning hip-hop playlist this place did not disappoint. I ordered the guava mimosa 4x which was yummy and the short rib burger was beyond delicious! My homegirl ordered the truffle chicken sandwich that had remnants of a Michelin star chef, with the seasoned potato wedges being a crowd pleaser for everyone at the table (it was four of us)! All in all, this place will now be on our brunch rotation for experiences meant to leave you feeling good and well fed.”

“Decided to go here on a week day, we got a same day reservation pretty easily. The drinks were beautiful and the aesthetic of the speakeasy is gorgeous. Really nice for a more intimate space, it’s not too loud or crowded. Our service was a little slow but our server was so nice that she discounted our drinks. Definitely recommend their specialty cocktails, we tried most of them and they were all fantastic.”

“A couple of my friends and I went there last Wednesday for their speakeasy bar. The speakeasy is beautiful with comfortable seating, especially the booth areas. We ordered two rounds of drinks which started at $18. I appreciated that the menu stated the vibes for each drink which made it easy to find the best option. If you do not like any of the pre-constructed cocktails, you can describe what you’re interested in and they’ll make you a drink. My friend did this option with a mocktail since there weren’t any on the menu. The drinks were beautiful and yummy. It appeared that our server was also the bartender and maintained the entire speakeasy by herself. We didn’t mind that it took a little more time to come around and get our drinks. We were taking our time as well. When our first round of drinks came out we asked for our waters that we had yet to receive. The staff member was rude and dismissive. She was negative with us for the rest of our time there. Overall, my friends and I liked the speakeasy vibes and drinks but were thrown off by the service. Due to the negative service experience, I’m hesitant to return.”

“If you're a fan of Maketto along H Street NE, you may like Black-owned Manifest in Adams Morgan. With a slick storefront that could easily be in NYC's Soho or Santa Fe, Manifests sticks out in an inviting way. Step inside and you'll find a barber shop that triples as an apparel store, cafe and cocktail bar. Stopping by to crank out work on a Friday afternoon in June, here's my experience: 1) Cafe: Open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 9 a.m., coffee from Black-owned Black Acres Roastery in Baltimore is brewed. In my two hours there, I ordered two iced lattes and it was delicious. The espresso used was more nutty, which I loved. With a splash of sugar/honey, it was refreshing on a hot day. My bill was under $10 for two lattes. At 6 p.m. the cafe bar turns into a bar called Out Of Office open Thursday through Sunday. While sitting at the bar in the afternoon, they did offer to make me a cocktail- Manhattan or Negroni. 2) Space: It's a design-forward space, albeit small. They make good use of the space with the barber shop in the front by the large windows. The cafe/bar is in the back with the apparel spread throughout, including on a second floor. Working from the cafe bar, they had strong wifi that was easy to connect to and outlets behind the bar for my computer. 3) Service: Every staff member I encountered was friendly and clearly proud of what they created. 4) Parking: It's always a problem in this neighborhood, but I was able to snag a spot a block south along 18th Street NW. Using ParkMobile, I was able to park for two hours.”

“This is easily one of the top two worst haircuts I’ve ever had in my life, which is wild because I didn’t even get the service I actually booked. They downgraded me to the essentials like it was a software trial, and honestly that probably saved me. Paying more for this would’ve been a felony. They didn’t even dust the hair off my face or neck, so I walked out looking like I just escaped a barber school final exam. I’m not gonna lie, Great Clips might’ve treated me better and if you reading this you know damn well you wouldn’t let Great Clips touch your head even if it was free. Manifest is a cool spot to hang out though. Real lounge, real vibes. Just don’t come here expecting a good haircut. I’ve been wanting to try this place for a long time too, which makes the disappointment hurt even more. Never again.”