Downtown Washington DC/Penn Quarter news and urban commentary

Washington DC Puttery Delights In Penn Quarter (800 F St NW)

Posted by pqresident

August 9, 2022

Puttery (800 F St NW) opened its doors to Washington DC in late June of this year and we can now say we’ve seen it, done it, and liked it. A mini-golf themed restaurant and bar spanning multiple levels and a broad swath of space now occupies both the former Olivia Restaurant (Nopa and Zola restaurants before that) and former Spy Museum put together. The two former businesses have been cleverly stitched together to form an enjoyable evening playland.

Bar and Dining

As you enter from F Street a bar, dining spaces, and a check-in counter greet you on the entry level floor. We tried the house made Spiced Cola Soda (non-alcoholic) and The Mark of Cincoro (alcoholic) drinks to be excellent and the pizza to be delicious made with an especially perfect dough. The kitchen accommodated our request to make a split pizza, one half with meat and the other half cheese only, which we appreciated. Readers can view the menu here.

Mini Golf

A hallway connects the entry bar and dining area with the mini-golf area comprised of three courses each with its own unique theme:

Art Museum – features reimagined classic pieces of art with a humorous touch
Conservatory – decorated with nature and prickly cacti evoking desert areas
Illusion – here reality bends and all is not what it seems

While the mini golf doesn’t match the space of the outdoor experience, each course has its Instgrammable spots allowing for fun photos of you and your friends. Drinks can be ordered and brought to your group while you’re putting. The automated scoring system at each hole tracks your group’s progress and is clever enough to keep track of whether or not you’re over par, under par, or even. Reservations are recommended for mini golf but you can also try walking in although you may need to wait especially on the weekends. Indoor mini golf by its nature will be shorter and perhaps less varied than an outdoor course but Puttery makes the most of it that it can.

The last space is a second bar area with tables that greets you as you finish the Conservatory course also easily accessed before or after the Art Museum and Illusion courses. Drinks and food are available in this bar and sit down space. A few private event spaces of varying sizes are also available to rent out for an evening.

The Conclusion

All taken in Puttery delights for an evening out – the drinks and food are good, and the mini golf is entertaining albeit quick. The venue makes the most of each space and we’re delighted that Penn Quarter is its home. We were there for over two hours which passed in a flash, a sure sign that it makes for a great date night.