Degrees Bar & Lounge   

Situated in the lobby level of the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Degrees Bar & Lounge is designed to capture the mood and history of this historic incinerator building. Featuring exposed brick walls, black slate floors and a long, sleek 25-seat bar, Degrees invokes the nostalgic feeling of popular clubs and lounges of the 1940s. The drink menu here offers classic cocktails with a contemporary twist. The hotel's signature drink, the Zentini, swaps sake for vodka and results in a fresh-tasting, less fruity cosmopolitan that even the manliest of men are willing to order. Sip it from a specially designed red-stemmed martini glass -- another detail meant to pull together the building's fiery history. The bartender here is known to create seasonal drinks. In summer 2004, a cocktail was served in honor of the 17-year cicadas, and for the holidays, you can sip a Peppermint Paddy -- Baileys, creme de menthe, hot chocolate, whipped cream and peppermint shavings. Strike a pose at the bar for a dramatic view of the 175-foot tall brick smokestack cylinder that serves as the hotel's centerpiece. -- Jamy Bond