Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail lounge

What Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail lounge does

Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge is a film noir-inspired full-service restaurant and bar operating a single venue at 555 8th Street NW in Washington DC's Penn Quarter, housed within the historic 1841 General Post Office building that also contains the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. The business operates across multiple distinct physical spaces including the main dining room, the Glass House (an 81-seat modern architectural room with floor-to-ceiling windows), the Clock Room (a fully private event room with 52-seat / 75-reception capacity), the Birdcage Room (a 40-50 seat semi-enclosed space), the Eston Room (a 12-seat private dining room), and an expansive outdoor courtyard capable of full buyouts for up to 540 guests.

The venue serves four primary customer segments: general public diners (booked via OpenTable and Resy for parties under 7, or by phone for groups of 7), corporate and business event bookers (using the Clock Room, Eston Room, and Birdcage Room for groups of 12 to several hundred), wedding and celebration hosts (using the courtyard for ceremonies and multiple rooms for receptions and rehearsal dinners), and experience-seeking ticketed event attendees (Courtyard Cinema, Paws and Palms, After Dark at the Tiki Affair, Sing-Along Sunday Brunch). It also generates ancillary revenue from hotel guest referrals through its Kimpton Hotel Monaco co-location.

Revenue is generated through per-cover food and beverage sales across breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour (Monday-Friday 3-7 PM), private event hosting with quote-based pricing dependent on space, guest count, and menu, ticketed special events (most priced at $5 per ticket), and a unified 20% service charge on all guest checks (comprising 18% direct gratuity plus 2% allocated to staff wages and benefits). Seasonal activations including the summer Tiki Affair courtyard pop-up (May 15 to August 7) and the Winter Chalet winter activation provide additional programming-driven revenue. Marketing relies on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, an email newsletter, and earned media coverage in outlets including The Washington Post, Eater DC, Washingtonian, Fox 5, and NBC Washington. The business is privately held with no disclosed external funding, led by General Manager Stephanie Carre, Executive Chef Derek Watson (appointed 2024), Beverage Director Valeria Stukovnina, and Director of Sales & Marketing London Britton (joined 2024).

Name

Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail lounge

Legal name

Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

Website

https://dirtyhabitdc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dirty Habit is a privately held film noir-inspired restaurant and cocktail lounge operating a single venue in Washington DC's Penn Quarter within the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. It serves walk-in diners, corporate event clients, wedding hosts, and ticketed experience attendees across multiple private rooms, a glass-enclosed dining space, and an expansive courtyard capable of buyouts for up to 900 guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Full-Service Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Lounge Bars & Hotel Bars (THAFAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cocktail Lounges & Speakeasies (MPAGAIAD), Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

Keywords

• Full-service restaurant
• Cocktail lounge
• Private dining events
• Seasonal American cuisine
• Hotel-affiliated dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: The primary revenue stream is food and beverage sales from daily restaurant service spanning breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner across multiple dining spaces (main dining room, Glass House, outdoor courtyard). The menu features globally-inspired dishes and craft cocktails, with seasonal menus and limited-time activations (e.g., Tiki Affair summer menu, Winter Chalet seasonal drinks). Revenue is generated through per-cover charges, individual menu item sales, and bar tabs.
2. Private Event Hosting: Dirty Habit generates revenue from hosting private events in its dedicated spaces: Clock Room (full, north, south configurations), Glass House, Birdcage Room, Eston Room, and full or partial venue buyouts. Spaces accommodate groups from 12 to 900 guests. Revenue is derived from per-event minimums, catering packages, and bar service charges. The venue also hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, fundraisers, and milestone celebrations.
3. Ticketed Events and Activations: The restaurant sells tickets for special events and seasonal activations including Courtyard Cinema ($5), Paws and Palms ($5), After Dark at the Tiki Affair ($5), Sing-Along Sunday Brunch, FIFA World Cup screenings, and Halloween events. These ticketed experiences generate direct revenue and drive ancillary food and beverage spending.
4. Service Charge Revenue: Dirty Habit applies a unified 20% service charge on guest checks, comprising an 18% direct gratuity to staff and an additional 2% allocated toward staff wages and benefits. This consolidated charge supports comprehensive staff compensation and represents a structural element of the restaurant's revenue model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Dirty Habit is a full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge located inside the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC's Penn Quarter, serving seasonal American cuisine, craft cocktails, beer, and wine for dine-in, bar service, and private events. It operates an outdoor patio and offers bookable private and semi-private dining spaces for corporate functions, weddings, and social gatherings.

Product overview

Dirty Habit is a film noir-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar located within the historic 1841 General Post Office in Penn Quarter, Washington D.C. The venue operates multiple distinct spaces including the main dining room, Glass House (modern architectural space with floor-to-ceiling windows), private dining rooms (Clock Room, Birdcage Room, Eston Room), and an expansive outdoor courtyard. The venue offers globally-inspired cuisine and craft cocktails as its core food and beverage product, complemented by seasonal activations like The Tiki Affair and Winter Chalet. The business model centers on providing full-service dining, private event hosting (corporate events, weddings, celebrations), and special entertainment programming. Reservations are managed through OpenTable, Resy, and TripleSeat integrations, while ticketed events use Eventbrite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tiki Affair: Summer seasonal courtyard activation featuring mid-century tiki-inspired cocktails and atmosphere, running May 15th through August 7th. Includes Courtyard Cinemas, Paws and Palms dog-friendly events, and After Dark late-night experiences.

Products and services

• Full-service restaurant dining Sit-down, table-service dining featuring a seasonal American menu offered for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch at the Penn Quarter restaurant inside the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Designed for individual diners, couples, families, and small groups of hotel guests and walk-in guests.
• Cocktail lounge and bar service Dedicated cocktail lounge program serving craft cocktails, beer, and wine at the bar and on the outdoor patio. Targeted at after-work patrons, hotel guests, and walk-in guests seeking a cocktail-forward experience.
• Outdoor patio dining Al fresco seating in a courtyard/patio setting used for food and beverage service during suitable weather. Marketed as a signature feature of the venue.
• Private and semi-private event dining Bookable private and semi-private dining rooms used for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, cocktail receptions, and social celebrations, with event-style food and beverage packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• OpenTable Diners' Choice 2024 recognition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• OpenTablecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDirty Habit DC uses OpenTable as its primary third-party reservation platform for walk-in and general dining reservations for parties of fewer than 7 guests. The OpenTable listing (restref 1982) handles booking flow, including a Diners' Choice 2024 badge on the restaurant's own website linking to the OpenTable profile.
• ResysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDirty Habit DC also accepts reservations through Resy as an alternative booking platform, providing diners with a second channel for making reservations for parties of fewer than 7 guests.
• Kimpton Hotel Monaco (IHG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirty Habit DC is the signature restaurant and bar located within the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Washington D.C. The restaurant operates in partnership with the hotel, sharing the historic 1841 General Post Office building. Hotel guests are directed to the restaurant for all dining, and the hotel's event sales team cross-refers weddings and large events. The hotel and restaurant share the courtyard and courtyard patio space, with a dedicated link on the restaurant's website for booking hotel rooms for large gatherings. This is an intra-company partnership within IHG's Kimpton brand portfolio.
• Washington Capitals (NHL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDirty Habit DC has a game-day viewing partnership with the Washington Capitals NHL team, located just minutes from Capital One Arena. The restaurant promotes $20 burger and beer specials on game days, positioning itself as an official nearby viewing destination for fans, including during World Cup tournament screenings. This partnership drives sports-related foot traffic during the hockey season.
• Eat250 (DC Dining Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDirty Habit DC participates in the Eat250 summer dining program, offering a $25 Burger & Beer pairing. The program provides promotional visibility across participating restaurants and is promoted by local tourism and dining organizations in Washington D.C.
• The Macallan (Distillery)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Macallan Scotch whisky brand partnered with Dirty Habit DC to host a The Macallan Scotch & Japanese Wagyu A5 five-course tasting dinner in the Clock Room. A The Macallan representative conducted tastings during the event, and the Macallan brand was featured in event promotion. This is a spirits brand partnership leveraging premium food and cocktail pairing.
• Baron Samedi (Halloween Event Series)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaron Samedi, described as a Halloween event series, partnered with Dirty Habit DC to present 'House of Hex,' a ticketed 21+ Halloween celebration on October 31st from 9 PM–2 AM. The partnership brings themed entertainment, a costume contest, and a complimentary welcome drink, drawing event-focused crowds to the venue.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Estadio: Spanish-inspired DC restaurant and cocktail bar in Logan Circle with comparable globally-inspired small-plates menu, craft cocktails, and lively bar atmosphere. Similar GTM via walk-ins, reservations, and event programming.
• Rose's Luxury: Acclaimed globally-inspired DC restaurant led previously by Executive Chef Derek Watson. Comparable menu philosophy (Japanese, Latin, American Southern influences), cocktail focus, and bar-driven atmosphere.
• RPM Italian: Upscale Italian restaurant in DC's Mount Vernon Triangle with comparable full-service dining, craft cocktails, and private event capabilities. Competes for similar corporate and celebratory event bookings.
• Iron Gate: Historic-venue Mediterranean restaurant in DC with a comparable blend of atmospheric historic location, full-service dining, and curated private event spaces. Similar positioning as a destination dining venue.
• Le Diplomate: High-volume French brasserie in DC's Logan Circle with comparable full-service dining, cocktail bar, and large private event capacity. Direct competitor for upscale DC diners and private event bookings.
• The Hamilton: Large-scale restaurant and live music venue near downtown DC with comparable multi-space layout, ticketed events, and high-volume dining and bar service. Overlaps on private events and arena-adjacent foot traffic.
• Dauphine's: Upscale New Orleans-inspired DC restaurant with comparable craft cocktail program, event spaces, and downtown dining positioning. Competes for the same DC private-event and special-occasion clientele.
• The Occidental: Iconic upscale American restaurant in downtown Washington DC with similar full-service dining, cocktail program, and private event offerings. Highly comparable as both venues compete for the same DC power-lunch and event crowd.

Emerging players

• Momotaro: Japanese-inspired upscale restaurant in Chicago where Executive Chef Derek Watson previously worked. Comparable globally-inspired cuisine (Japanese influences), craft cocktail program, and high-end private dining model.

Broad incumbents

• Fig & Olive: Multi-location Mediterranean restaurant brand where Director of Sales & Marketing London Britton previously served as Assistant General Manager. Comparable upscale dining, cocktail program, and private event model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXgb2eS1pRbeZ9lt_IMNrnQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/dirtyhabitdc
• Instagraminstagram.com/dirtyhabitdc/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@dirtyhabitdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dirty-habit-restaurant-cocktail-lounge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dirty Habit Restaurant & Cocktail lounge