No-waiting, no-standing policy at new D.C. bar

Catering to customers who are tired of queuing outside club entrances before elbowing their way to the bar, The Gibson is a pseudo-speakeasy with a no-waiting and no-standing policy. The Washington D.C. bar, owned by Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton, doesn’t publicize its address or phone number. Patrons who find their way to its unmarked door are shown to a table if one is free. If not, the doorman takes their phone number and alerts them by text message as soon as they can be seated.

Half of the 48 seats are booked in advance (reservations are encouraged), and the other half are reserved for walk-ins. The no-standing policy leads to a relaxed atmosphere where customers are made to feel like members, while a two-hour limit on tables keeps business moving and cocktails flowing.

Though unmarked doors and pseudo-speakeasies are hardly new on the nightlife circuit, the focus is usually on exclusivity for exclusivity’s sake, rather than on creating a comfortable experience for an establishment’s patrons. If you’re in the hospitality business, this is one to experiment with! (Related: Restaurants page waiting guests on their cellphones.)

Website: n/a
Address: 2009 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-232-2156

Spotted by: Emily Wall