Mantis is a Slice of Satori
Written by Josh Pastor for Greenlight Washington Blitz!
MANTIS
1847 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, DC
202.667.2400
This first thing you'll notice when you visit Mantis is the smart, seductive ambiance that manifests in everything from the ultra-modern furniture to the abstract photography on the wall.
But Mantis requires further description: large windows span the breadth of each street-facing wall, offering a glimpse of the neon bustle of Adams Morgan's nightlife; sophisticated drop lights hang from the ceiling, reflecting off the impeccably shiny veneer of the bar. And, above all, a large bronze statue of the Buddha sits in a lotus position above the top-shelf booze, adding a taste of intrigue.
"The Buddha statue is hot," says Sophia, a Washington accountant. But she quickly changes her mind. "No -- it's tight." According to Sophia, Mantis is the only lounge in the area that continually attracts new faces, providing a chance to meet new friends. "[Mantis] is a hidden surprise in Adams Morgan," she says.
For Samira, a local auctioneer, it's the food that keeps her coming back. "I come to eat sticky rice and to get into a little bit of trouble," she says with a wink. She doesn't elaborate on the trouble, but says the salmon is the best thing on the menu.
Downstairs, there's a second lounge that doesn't know whether it's a dance room or a North African hookah shop. Low couches line the back wall, lit by flickering tea candles and the ubiquitous glow of modern lamps. A DJ booth sits in the back with archives of delicious downtempo records, waiting for the master in-house spinsters to blend their usual magic.
"There's something about being here that makes you feel like you're in the prime of your life," says Anya, the current successor to the goddess Aphrodite. Anya's comments are easily corroborated by watching the free-spirited patrons carouse with martini-laden tongues, their wit and beauty exposing the raison d'etre of Mantis.
"It's a playground for the young and the privileged," says Emad, a media analyst from Palestine. "It's very laid back, and the owners are friendly. When they get to know you, it's like a little Adams Morgan 'Cheers'." But how does it stack up against the other long-running Adams Morgan institutions? "I like it better than Blue or Left Bank," says Emad with a firm nod.
The head bartender, Roul, is quite possibly the best in the trade (he also has an uncanny resemblance to the Buddha statue). But be careful; although his "Oranj" Martinis taste divine, they are packed with near-hallucinogenic qualities that will leave you groping the medicine cabinet for acetaminophen the following morning.
If style, intrigue, and beauty are what you're after, give Mantis a try. And if the pricey bar tab makes you second guess a return visit, keep in mind: this is a neighborhood lounge -- the more you come, the more likely you are to enjoy the "perks" of being a regular.
The Hours:
Sunday - Thursday || 5:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Friday - Saturday || 5:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
MANTIS
1847 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, DC
202.667.2400
This first thing you'll notice when you visit Mantis is the smart, seductive ambiance that manifests in everything from the ultra-modern furniture to the abstract photography on the wall.
But Mantis requires further description: large windows span the breadth of each street-facing wall, offering a glimpse of the neon bustle of Adams Morgan's nightlife; sophisticated drop lights hang from the ceiling, reflecting off the impeccably shiny veneer of the bar. And, above all, a large bronze statue of the Buddha sits in a lotus position above the top-shelf booze, adding a taste of intrigue.
"The Buddha statue is hot," says Sophia, a Washington accountant. But she quickly changes her mind. "No -- it's tight." According to Sophia, Mantis is the only lounge in the area that continually attracts new faces, providing a chance to meet new friends. "[Mantis] is a hidden surprise in Adams Morgan," she says.
For Samira, a local auctioneer, it's the food that keeps her coming back. "I come to eat sticky rice and to get into a little bit of trouble," she says with a wink. She doesn't elaborate on the trouble, but says the salmon is the best thing on the menu.
Downstairs, there's a second lounge that doesn't know whether it's a dance room or a North African hookah shop. Low couches line the back wall, lit by flickering tea candles and the ubiquitous glow of modern lamps. A DJ booth sits in the back with archives of delicious downtempo records, waiting for the master in-house spinsters to blend their usual magic.
"There's something about being here that makes you feel like you're in the prime of your life," says Anya, the current successor to the goddess Aphrodite. Anya's comments are easily corroborated by watching the free-spirited patrons carouse with martini-laden tongues, their wit and beauty exposing the raison d'etre of Mantis.
"It's a playground for the young and the privileged," says Emad, a media analyst from Palestine. "It's very laid back, and the owners are friendly. When they get to know you, it's like a little Adams Morgan 'Cheers'." But how does it stack up against the other long-running Adams Morgan institutions? "I like it better than Blue or Left Bank," says Emad with a firm nod.
The head bartender, Roul, is quite possibly the best in the trade (he also has an uncanny resemblance to the Buddha statue). But be careful; although his "Oranj" Martinis taste divine, they are packed with near-hallucinogenic qualities that will leave you groping the medicine cabinet for acetaminophen the following morning.
If style, intrigue, and beauty are what you're after, give Mantis a try. And if the pricey bar tab makes you second guess a return visit, keep in mind: this is a neighborhood lounge -- the more you come, the more likely you are to enjoy the "perks" of being a regular.
The Hours:
Sunday - Thursday || 5:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Friday - Saturday || 5:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
