I am attending a reunion of sorts of some old friends in DC. I had some free time yesterday, so I finally got the opportunity to visit the Washington Pubkey.
I have posted a few times about the NYC version. I have a great time whenever I go:
The Washington DC version of Pubkey is located on 7th Street in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of the city. It's not far from Ford's Theater and the J Edgar Hoover FBI building. Capital One Arena, where the Washington Capitals play, is down the block. It is an upscale, touristy location.
Pubkey DC opened in January, 2026, according to the website, but I thought it had been around longer. Yesterday the Washington Capitals had an early game, so there were plenty of fans in jerseys milling about. When I walked in I immediately noticed how different this place was from the New York version. It's huge, around 12,000 square feet, with two bars, a stage, and big screens everywhere showing sporting events. There was a good crowd, which looked to be a mix of tourists, locals, and hockey fans. I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the place interested in bitcoin.
This is not an in your face bitcoin space. I had just had a long car and was hungry. I decided to sit at the bar and have some lunch after exploring a bit.
At first I didn't notice much bitcoin stuff, but it is all strategically placed to fit in unobtrusively. I liked the low key design. It could be any sports /tourist spot in any city.
There were a few stickers in the men's room:
I then noticed a large wall display with some actively mining bitaxes:
And this small, but intriguing stack of bitcoin and bitcoin adjacent books below a "Free Samourai" sign:
I sat at the bar and saw this cool display:
Occasionally the ticker had a news flash scrolling across the screen.
When ordering my lunch I let the bartender know that I planned to pay in bitcoin. I was told that if I did, I would receive a 21% discount, which is impressive. I asked about the payment setup, and was a little disappointed that they just use square. I tried to.engage my server in a little bitcoin banter, but it was obvious he had no deep interest. I dont want to sound negative. All of the workers were friendly and competent. The menu was similar to the NYC Pubkey. I had a Caesar wrap, which was very good. I must say paying with the square app was quick and easy. You select the tip amount before the invoice is generated, which is nice. I have experienced a few awkward moments trying to tip at the NYC Pubkey. You never can be sure if the server would prefer sats or dollars. This way they probably get a choice.
That being said, paying with square is still disappointing.
On the way out I found this board near the front bar:
I guess this proves there are some bitcoiners patronizing the place.
I didn't get to experience an event, but there is plenty of room for bitcoin gatherings. NYC Pubkey always feels a little cramped. I know Thomas Massie will be holding a discussion soon. I hope I get some time on my next trip to catch a presentation.
I've not been to either of the Pubkeys, but I'm going to make it one of these days. I didn't realize how different of a space it was.
I do respect how it seems that Pubkey manages being a space for Bitcoin but also feeling welcoming and normal for average folks.
Here's a better photo of the miners:
Amazing, appreciate the write-up!!
Been meaning to go there but (luckily!) not had a reason to pass by DC since they opened
I been meaning to make my way here haven’t had the chance yet hopefully in the future I can.
Pretty annoying to only use Square. That seems to go against the spirit of using bitcoin.
Really great, thanks for sharing. As @Scoresby says, what's cool is that it's a bitcoin space without being weird for anyone walking in, normalcy without giving up what makes it yours, the next step isn't a bigger bar, it's a bar that doesn't need square to charge.
That’s a good view of Washington DC’s Pub key. The entrance has a good layout of a hidden entry into the serene space for Bitcoin meetups.
In defence of the servers, most McDonalds employees probably don't realise they work for one of the most successful real estate enterprises in recent times and also wouldn't be interested even if aware
It's a long game now and hopefully lightning can come good over time despite it's detractors like Paul Sztorc and the spark effect that seems to be infecting ln rn
love
Physical Bitcoin spaces matter more than people think. Online communities are great for information, but there's something about being in a room where everyone gets it that you can't replicate on a screen. Pubkey DC, Pubkey NYC — these are becoming third places for Bitcoiners. Hope the reunion was good.
Physical Bitcoin spaces matter more than people think. Online communities are great for information, but there's something about being in a room where everyone gets it that you can't replicate on a screen. Pubkey DC, Pubkey NYC — these are becoming third places for Bitcoiners. Hope the reunion was good.