Eco-Friendly Happy Hour: DC Bar Goes Green

We’re not going to lie: IT loves a bar with a good happy hour. And if the bar is eco-friendly? Well, we’d be fools not to show our support! Last week IT ventured over to Dupont Circle to investigate happy hour at Hotel Palomar’s trendy Urbana Restaurant & Wine Bar. “Reminiscent of a modern-day Tuscan wine cellar,” Urbana is earth-toned, sophisticated, and, last but not least, environmentally conscious.

In addition to its regular happy hour offerings on the Lounge Menu (we liked the Urbanito, a refreshing mix of 10 Cane rum, mint, apple juice, and lime juice for the reduced happy hour price of $8), Urbana gives customers the option of ordering from an Organic Wine List as well as an Organic and Sustainable Menu. We were impressed by the small but esoteric selection of organic wines from regions like Basilicata, Marche, and Veneto; IT thought about ordering the organic Elysian Fields Lamb Chop ($22), but our parsimony kept us at bay.   

IT applauds Kimpton Hotel Group mission to combine luxury and style with environmental awareness (Hotel Palomar is one of Kimpton’s enviro-friendly boutique properties, which are located throughout the U.S. and British Columbia). We especially like Kimpton’s EarthCare initiative, which ensures that every Kimpton hotel and restaurant adopts environmentally friendly products and practices with high impact and benefit to our planet. These practices include recycling and donation programs, water and energy conservation efforts, organic food options and amenities, a towel/linen reuse option, and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Reason enough, for IT, to raise a glass (of organic Syrah)!

Urbana’s organic wine menu is offered at half-price in the dining room from 5 -7 p.m. seven days a week and is located at 2121 P St., NW. For more information call (202) 956-6650.