Sip Local: The Best Breweries and Wine Bars Near You

Northern Virginia has quietly built one of the better drinking scenes in the region. Whether you are a craft beer enthusiast, a wine lover, or just someone looking for a great neighborhood spot to unwind, there is something within a short drive of almost any Arlington zip code.

Here are five spots worth putting on your rotation.

Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza — Pentagon City

Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza is a collaboration between Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero, restaurateur Scott Parker, and the team behind Aslin Beer Co., opened in Westpost at Pentagon Row. The 90s nostalgia theme is intentional, and it works. 

The 10,000-square-foot beer hall and pizzeria serves Midwest Tavern-style thin-crust pies alongside an extensive list of craft beers brewed on-site. The space holds up to 350 people and features bar games, arcade games, trivia nights, and daily happy hour specials, making it one of the more versatile spots in the Pentagon City corridor. 

It is located steps from the Pentagon City Metro Station, with parking available nearby at Pentagon Row. Easy to get to, easy to stay at. 

Location: 1201 S Joyce St, Suite C10, Arlington, VA 22202 | (571) 416-8100

Dominion Wine and Beer — Falls Church

Tucked in the heart of Falls Church, Dominion Wine and Beer is one of those spots that does everything well: a retail bottle shop stocked with fine wines and craft beers from around the world, a full-service restaurant, and a beer garden out back that is hard to leave once you settle in. 

The menu covers brunch, lunch, and dinner, with artisan-style dishes and a build-your-own charcuterie board that pairs well with whatever you pull off the shelf. The retail store runs Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with restaurant service starting at 11:00 AM daily and weekend brunch running until 2:00 PM. Guests under 21 are welcome in the beer garden at all times, making it a solid option for families too. 

It is the kind of neighborhood spot that earns regulars fast and keeps them.

Location: 107 Rowell Ct, Falls Church, VA 22046 | (703) 533-3030

Screwtop Wine Bar — Clarendon

Screwtop started with a simple idea: create a casual place where you could enjoy a really great glass of wine without having to go to a fancy restaurant downtown, and take the intimidation out of wine altogether. That mission has held up well over the years. 

Tucked two blocks from the Clarendon Metro stop, Screwtop runs a cozy wine bar and full-service restaurant open seven days a week, with lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and a happy hour Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The retail shop is stocked with hundreds of hand-selected wines, plus artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and gourmet treats to take home.

Weekly specials keep things interesting, Wino Wednesday offers discounts on wine flights all day, and Half-Off Bottle Sundays feature 50% off bottles priced at $100 or less, with over 50 bottles to choose from. There is also a monthly wine club for anyone who wants to make it a habit. 

Location: 1025 N Fillmore St, Arlington, VA 22201 | (703) 888-0845

Solace Outpost — Falls Church

Solace Outpost landed in Falls Church in the former Mad Fox Brewing space at 444 West Broad Street, and it hit the ground running. A collaboration between Solace Brewing Co. and the Hilton brothers' D.C. hospitality group, the spot can accommodate 300 patrons indoors and 90 on the patio. 

The taproom offers house craft beers, comfort food, live music, TVs for sports, and arcade games, it is the kind of place that works equally well for a low-key Tuesday or a packed Saturday night. The beer program features a rotating roster of experimental small-batch brews alongside fan favorites like Sun's Out Hops Out, Lucy Juicy, Partly Cloudy, and Crazy Pils. 

The food concept, called Sauced, focuses on thin-crust pizzas, chicken thighs, and five styles of fries. Simple, solid, and built for beer pairing.

Location: 444 West Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

District Winery — Navy Yard, Washington D.C.

For a slightly longer trip that absolutely earns it, District Winery sits in the heart of The Yards in D.C.'s Navy Yard neighborhood, along the Anacostia River, Washington D.C.'s first commercial winery. 

The tasting room offers small plates, self-guided and guided wine tastings, tours, wine classes, and a welcoming atmosphere for both longtime wine lovers and curious first-timers. Open Wednesday through Sunday, with weekend hours starting at noon. The waterfront setting, with views of the Anacostia and the Capitol Riverfront, makes it one of the more memorable afternoons you can have in the DMV without leaving the city. 

District Winery is closest to the Navy Yard-Ballpark stop on the Green Line, which makes it an easy Metro ride from any Arlington stop on the Yellow Line. 

Location: 385 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003 | (202) 484-9210

What Great Local Spots Say About a Neighborhood

Here is something worth thinking about. The fact that you can walk to a neighborhood wine bar in Clarendon, catch live music at a brewery in Falls Church, grab craft pizza and beer in Pentagon City, and visit a working waterfront winery in Navy Yard, all within a short commute of each other, is not a coincidence.

Not sure which northern Virginia neighborhood fits your lifestyle best? The answer might be closer than you think. Clarendon puts Screwtop right around the corner. Pentagon City puts Nighthawk steps from the Metro. Falls Church has Solace Outpost anchoring a walkable downtown stretch.

The spots you find yourself coming back to are often the clearest signal of where you actually want to live. We put together a full Arlington and Northern Virginia Neighborhood Guide that breaks down each area by lifestyle, whether you are a morning coffee and farmers market type or a live music and late nights kind of household. It is a good read before you start touring homes.

Neighborhoods with this kind of local character attract people who want to stay. And people who stay drive demand. That sustained demand is one of the quiet forces behind why Arlington and the surrounding NoVa market continues to hold its value year after year.

Whether you are looking to buy your first home in Aurora Highlands, exploring what 22207 has to offer, or just curious about where the market stands right now, reach out to the Varity Homes team and let's talk about finding your place in Northern Virginia.