Entry No. 31 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: speakeasy
The Backroom at Capo Deli
By day it's a Jersey-style Italian deli slinging hoagies. Step through what looks like the walk-in freezer and it opens onto a full bar with crystal chandeliers, velvet sofas, and a piano — a red light over the fridge switches on when the speakeasy is running, Thursday through Saturday nights.
The story
From Florida Avenue, Capo Deli presents like a reliable Jersey-style sandwich shop slinging hoagies under bright fluorescent lights. You walk in past the meat slicer, past people grabbing takeout containers, and head toward the back corner. Tucked beside the beverage coolers is a heavy, stainless-steel walk-in freezer door with a simple red fixture mounted above the frame. When that red light switches on—typically Thursday through Saturday evenings—you aren't looking at cold storage for capicola.
Yank the heavy latch, pull open the door, and step directly through the stainless threshold into a completely separate universe. The bright deli counter vanishes behind you, replaced by a moody, dimly lit lounge packed with velvet sofas, crystal chandeliers, a piano, and a full-service cocktail bar. It remains one of Shaw's sharpest architectural illusions: a legit Italian deli out front, and an illicit-feeling cocktail den stashed behind the cold-cuts fridge.
What it's like
Walk into the deli, ignore the sandwich counter if you're only drinking, and head straight for the back wall. If the red light above the freezer frame is glowing, grab the metal handle and push inside. The transition from deli-counter noise to dark, chandelier-lit lounge is jarring in the best way. On peak weekend nights, a line can stretch right through the sandwich shop while people wait for entry into the freezer, so target a Thursday night or arrive earlier in the evening if you want a velvet couch without a long stand.
The move: Order sandwiches at the counter like everyone else, then "discover" the freezer door that isn't a freezer and settle into the chandelier-lit lounge on the other side.
- 📍 Shaw
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 715A Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- 600 T — Walk one block east to this nameless subterranean bar where the street address is the only sign and the atmosphere is kept low-lit and moody.
- Left Door — Head half a mile west to continue the hidden entrance routine behind an unassuming side door next to a dry cleaner.
- The Mirror — Head south toward Downtown to trade the walk-in freezer door for a full-length mirror swinging off a basement wall.
- O.K.P.B. — Head north up to Mount Pleasant to try a speakeasy tucked away on the second floor directly above a working dental office.
Good to know
How do I know if the speakeasy is open?
Look for the red light mounted above the walk-in freezer door at the back of the deli. When it's turned on (typically Thursday through Saturday nights), the backroom bar is open.
Where is Capo Deli located?
It's at 715A Florida Ave NW in DC's Shaw neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation or password to enter?
No password needed—if the red light is on, simply pull open the freezer door handle to go inside.
Can I get food from the deli while visiting the backroom?
Yes, you can order Italian hoagies at the front counter like any regular customer before heading through the freezer door into the lounge.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: washington.org · secretdc.com · Yelp · Reddit · bardc.com · districtfray.com
last checked: 2026-07-19