D.C.’S PANDA-THEMED BAR HAS ARRIVED

Woodley Park’s pint-sized gastropub Duke’s Counter pays homage to its cute new neighbors that are finally ready for their close-up. The Bamboo Bar at Duke’s Counter, located right across from the Smithsonian National Zoo’s entrance, opens indefinitely tonight with plenty of nods to the cuddly creature’s favorite food, themed cocktails, giant stuffed pandas sporting Duke’s-branded vests, and steel mugs as souvenirs (3000 Connecticut Avenue NW).

D.C.’s nearly year-long panda drought ended last fall when China’s two giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, landed in Dulles International Airport. Members of the zoo get a first look of the adorable cubs currently rolling in the snow starting today (January 10-January 19) ahead of the exhibit’s public reveal on January 24. That dearly missed panda cam goes live this month, too.

Bamboo Bar’s themed cocktail menu ($13-$15) includes a Bamboo Mule with ginger-chile syrup, “Bao-zy” hot chocolate spiked with bourbon and “Panda-Colada” with rum, coconut, and lime. The “Don’t Forget the Red Panda” nods to its distant relative already at the zoo that eats bamboo, too. Topped with red neon dust, the drink features lychee and raspberry liqueurs, Red Bull watermelon, and a Champagne float. Take home glassware for select cocktails for $15.

The Duke’s family loves a good theme. Duke’s Grocery in Navy Yard went all in on Narnia for its holiday pop-up bar last year, and the same design team put together the Bamboo Bar’s look. The East London-styled pub with a best-selling Proper burger and other D.C. locations in Dupont and Foggy Bottom enters the Maryland market this winter.

D.C. is a panda-obsessed town, so the anticipated homecoming is a big deal. When the zoo’s former furry friends flew away on a FedEx “Panda Express” plane to China in late 2023, the restaurant world mourned with all sorts of goodbye specials.

The pandemonium around the new arrivals doesn’t stop in Woodley Park. In Foggy Bottom, the historic Watergate hotel offers an overnight “panda package” now through March 16 with panda-themed desserts and pajamas sets for kids, a cuddly keepsake from the zoo, and round-trip transit to see the beloved pandas in real life.

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken commemorates the comeback with panda doughnuts featuring a black cherry jam filling, cream cheese glaze, and Oreo cookie panda faces ($5.25). Available online and in-store from January 24-31. (For now, Astro celebrates the playoff-bound NFL Washington Commanders with these football-themed spheres.)

2025-01-10T21:19:00Z