Where is your entrance?
We are located in the historic Blagden Alley and we actually have 2 entrances. The first one is at 1230 9th St NW, directly below the entrance to Eighteenth Street Lounge. If you peek through the windows you should get a glance of our DJ Booth. Don’t be shy, head down the stairs and come hang. The second entrance is at 130 Blagden Alley through the gray door covered in stickers. It is roughly halfway between The Dabney and Lost & Found and right next to a street lamp
Do you serve any food?
Never Looked Better is a cocktail lounge that does not have a dinner menu. For some reservations, we do offer a catering menu. Food must be ordered at least 1 week in advance to allow our culinary team to prepare the ingredients.
Can I bring in outside food?
We allow outside cakes and provide a serving knife, forks and plates. All other outside food is determined on a case by case basis.
Do you have private rooms?
Never Looked Better is one long room. We have different areas within the one room available for events. The Honeymoon Suite is the first space when you walk in. It features a chandelier and tiled mirror walls. The Polaroid Gallery is a large area past the bar and before the DJ Booth. It is neon lit with an open floor space and great view of the DJ booth. Biggie & Barbie is located opposite from the Polaroid Gallery tucked behind 2 columns. We do not have any rooms that are fully enclosed and private.
Do you have big name brands?
Never Looked Better features a unique beverage program that focuses on small batched and local spirits of the highest quality. We prefer to buy hand-made spirits that speak for themselves. Our team of experts on liquor, wine, and beer have carefully tried thousands of products to ensure we are bringing you the best possible selections. We encourage you to try something new and trust that you are in good hands. As commercials in the 90s taught us, “Image is nothing. Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst.”
What kind of music do you play?
Our weekend DJs play a variety of music. One of our resident DJs specializes in old-school hip-hop, another in R&B, and another in 4×4 House music, but it is ever changing. To be most informed follow @neverlookedbetterdc on Instagram, which features regular event posts with descriptions of what genre is being played at that event.
Can I decorate for my event?
We allow balloons and flowers for reserved parties, but we cannot allow anything to be placed/hung on the walls. Absolutely no glitter or confetti is allowed, even if contained in/on balloons or flowers. Trust us, it will never come off our floors and furniture, Please note that we cannot allow anyone inside to decorate outside of normal business hours. We open at 5 pm daily.
Why do you need a headcount for my party?
Never Looked Better is an intimate space that reaches our legal capacity most nights. In the interest of not forcing people to wait outside while there is space inside, we ask that you confirm with your guests to ensure they are coming, and that they will arrive at the appropriate time for your event. We understand things happen, and a variance of a person or two is not a big deal, but you’d be amazed how many people request a space for 30 people, only 9 ever show up, and we are forced to make 21 pour souls stand in line to avoid going over capacity. We want everyone to come inside and have a great time, so providing an accurate headcount helps us make that happen. Thanks for your cooperation!
What’s the deal with minimums?
For weekday events, we are happy to reserve space for your party with no minimums. We simply ask for a head count to ensure that we are properly staffed to take good care of you and your guests. On the weekends, when space is limited, we ask for minimum spends that are determined by the size of the party. These minimums may fluctuate depending on the specific day (NYE, Halloween, and other big party days may be higher, as well as the holiday season). This doesn’t mean that everyone has to drink alcohol – we feature non-alcoholic beer, sodas, juices, and our talented bar staff can make delicious mocktails.
Can I bring my own music, DJ, playlist, etc?
Sorry, but we are unable to accommodate any requests for change to our music. We are very proud of our vibe, and we do not have the ability to play separate music just for your party, so everyone in the whole bar will jam along to our house-selected music.
Can I bring my own music for a full buy-out of the bar for a private event?
Well that changes everything! In the case of private buy-outs, you are welcome to provide your own music or we can provide you a
How much for a private buy-out?
There is not set pricing. Please navigate to our events page and fill out the form. We will get back to you ASAP.
Can I rent out the space for a daytime event – photoshoot, baby shower, business meeting, etc?
Never Looked Better is available on select days for daytime events. Please know that there is a rental fee associated with these events – this is different than a minimum spend. Rental fees of AT LEAST $250/hour with a minimum of 2 hours. Available times for rental are generally 11am-3pm. Please note that all guests and equipment/displays/items must be vacated by 3:30pm to allow our staff to prepare the bar for opening at 5pm.
Do you have bottle service?
Unfortunately, we do not regularly offer bottle service. if you are booking an event and would like bottle service, please include the request in the notes so that the team can be properly staffed for the night.
Are tax and/or gratuity included in the pricing?
Tax and gratuity are not included in the pricing. An additional 10% DC sales tax and 20% service charge will be added to all reservations and parties with 8 or more people.
How far in advance should I reserve space?
We ask for at least a 3 day’s notice to ensure we are able to adequately schedule staff to ensure we are able to take good care of you and your guests.
What is the dress code?
Never Looked Better doesn’t have a dress code, but we encourage everyone to “dress to impress.”
What can’t I bring?
Everyone is invited to Never Looked Better, but not every “thing” can come inside. We must insist that absolutely no outside alcohol, no weapons of any kind (guns, knives, mace, tasers, etc), no illegal drugs, no oversized bags or luggage, no pets (except service animals), no underage guests, no professional photography/videography equipment (without permission), and no clothing that could be considered hateful, discriminatory, or obscene. Oh, and no f*****g glitter or confetti!