Death & Co DC is the new cool kid on Washington, DC’s Blagden Alley
Cocktail bar Death & Co DC takes over the former Columbia Room on Blagden Alley, with intimate interiors designed by AAmp Studio
Nestled within Washington, DC’s culturally rich Blagden Alley, Death & Co DC emerges as the new cool kid in this historic district, once home to working-class immigrants and African Americans. The alley, now a blend of rehabilitated carriage-house homes and a thriving hub for bars, restaurants, and mural art, is a must-visit destination in the nation’s capital.
Death & Co DC – an intimate cocktail spot
As Death & Co’s fourth establishment, following successful ventures in New York City, Denver, and Los Angeles, the new cocktail spot, designed by Portland- and Toronto-based AAmp Studio, beckons visitors with its curated zones that range from cosy lounge areas for intimate conversations to communal spaces fostering social interaction.
‘What’s interesting is how the bar programme, created by Death & Co 17 years ago in New York’s East Village, seeks to bring together a community of cocktail lovers, and the streets in Blagden Alley feel like an extension of the bar’s moody and intimate atmosphere, paying homage to the similarly alley-like stretch of their original location on 6th Street,’ reflects Andrew Ashey, founder of AAmp.
As you step inside the 1,500 sq ft interior, a sunken dark bar surrounded by raised perimeter booths adorned in warm wood and rich greens steals the spotlight. Above, a signature wood ceiling is softly illuminated. Meanwhile, the 800 sq ft three-season patio bar and lounge feature lighter tones that harmonise with brick walls and steel-framed windows.
Despite the ample size of the room, AAmp prioritised intimacy by ’placing glass panels in strategic locations to help bring a layer of warmth’. Ashey notes, ‘We also introduced a tucked-away larger booth – affectionately known as the party pod – to have a special place where larger groups can feel a sense of privacy or autonomy without feeling disconnected.’
AAmp Studio’s ingenuity comes to life with a strategic 90-degree shift in the room and bar orientation, providing unobstructed views across the bar, outdoor patio, and charming alley. Dismantled walls and reorganised level changes create an open environment interconnecting public and semi-private spaces. The journey for visitors unfolds on the upper level, offering the choice to descend into the bar area from either direction.
‘For us, the layout and material choices all centred around the bar – literally – as we wanted that to feel like the anchoring element in the space,' explains Ashey.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
The menu features illustrated drink profiles, starting with light and refreshing options and ending with ‘spiritous’ drinks, alongside a zero-proof section. Categories include ‘Light & Playful’, ‘Boozy & Honest’, and ‘Bright & Confident’. The cocktail selection will rotate over time.
Formerly the Columbia Room, a cocktail bar and tasting room by mixologist Derek Brown that garnered industry respect and international acclaim, the venue has undergone a transformation, guided by AAmp, that respects the past while embracing the future. The central symbol, a custom mosaic mural, stands as a tribute to the former tasting room’s legacy, echoing the commitment to the fine craftsmanship of cocktails.
‘Along the side of the bar with the window facing the alley sits the Columbia Room’s original mosaic in its original location, as a nod to the lauded bar’s legacy and the space’s history,’ adds Ashey.
Sofia de la Cruz is the Travel Editor at Wallpaper*. She was born in Madrid, Spain but moved to London when she was 14 years old. Being exposed to the city’s creative pulse at such a young age shaped her into the inquisitive professional she is today. Before joining the Wallpaper* team in 2023, she worked for Hypebae and Hypebeast UK, where she focused on the intersection of art, fashion, and culture. Additionally, she contributed to Futurevvorld by covering a variety of sustainability topics.
-
Get to know Issey Miyake’s innovative A-POC ABLE line as it arrives in the UK
As A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake launches in London this week, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae gives Wallpaper* the lowdown on the experimental Issey Miyake offshoot
By Jack Moss Published
-
Eurovision unveils its 2024 stage, designed by Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour creatives
This year's stage design aims to bring the audience into the performance more than ever before.
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Ikea meets Japan in this new pattern-filled collection
New Ikea Sötrönn collection by Japanese artist Hiroko Takahashi brings Japan and Scandinavia together in a pattern-filled, joyful range for the home
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Southern Arizona sets the scene for a corking vineyard experience at Los Milics
Los Milics winery, designed by Chen + Suchart Studio, is set among vines at the foothills of the Mustang Mountains
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Enjoy camp escapism at Hotel Bardo Savannah
Hotel Bardo Savannah is a sophisticated resort inspired by the grand tradition of the early 20th-century salon
By Sallie Lewis Published
-
Dario Restaurant brings a pink punk edge to Minneapolis’ North Loop
Minneapolis’ Dario Restaurant dishes up homemade pasta in quirky interiors designed by Wittkamper Studio
By Carole Dixon Published
-
Get groovy at The Pinky Ring, Las Vegas, a 1970s cocktail lounge shaking up the city
The Pinky Ring is a Las Vegas cocktail and live music venue designed by Yabu Pushelberg for Bruno Mars
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Inside the lavish, members-only Core Club New York
Core Club opens a new flagship in New York, boasting top-tier hospitality and entertainment, and a terrace with panoramic Manhattan views
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Warren Street Hotel is a colourful marvel in downtown Tribeca
The Warren Street Hotel boasts a distinct blue façade and eclectic interiors by Kit Kemp Design Studio
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
San Sabino offers mellow Italian-American dining in New York
San Sabino debuts in New York’s West Village, helmed by Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, with interiors by GRT Architects
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Fried chicken fever? Coqodaq knows how to do it
Devoted disciples of Korean fried chicken can worship at Manhattan’s Coqodaq, designed by the Rockwell Group
By Sofia de la Cruz Published