Top DC bars team up at Silver Lyan to tap cherry blossom footfall
Washington DC’s peak tourism moment becomes the backdrop for a multi-venue drinks and food series running from today until 12 April.
Silver Lyan in Washington DC is celebrating Cherry Blossom season with a new collaborative event, the Festival of Friendship, which launches today (25 March) and runs until 12 April.
Ranked No. 48 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025, the venue has partnered with a selection of local hospitality names to showcase a series of cocktail and food pairings across the bar.
Showcasing DC’s hospitality scene
The Festival of Friendship brings together Moon Rabbit, barmini, Your Only Friend and Bar Betsie, each contributing drinks and dishes designed to reflect their individual style and approach.
The event coincides with Washington DC’s Cherry Blossom season, which marks the annual blooming of thousands of cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. The trees, gifted by Tokyo in 1912, symbolise friendship between Japan and the United States.
Silver Lyan said the programme takes inspiration from this history, highlighting connections within the city’s food and drink community through a limited-time series focused on flavour, creativity and collaboration.
Collaborative menus
Participating venues will each serve a signature pairing.
Partner Content
Moon Rabbit, led by chef Kevin Tien, will present Spring Euphoria, made with coconut-washed Laphroaig 10 Year alongside house strawberry and tía tô shrub.
From José Andrés’ minibar group, barmini will offer a Matcha Tiramisu cocktail combining Hibiki Harmony with cacao, sencha, cream cheese and matcha air. This will be paired with a Black Truffle Grilled Cheese featuring honey mustard, brie, gorgonzola and cheddar.
Your Only Friend, founded by Paul Taylor and Sherra Kurtz, will serve a Whiskey & Cola made with Basil Hayden and smoked cherry cola, alongside a Swedish Pintxo of Nordic pork and beef meatballs with cherry cola jam and furniture store gravy.
Bar Betsie will showcase The Cuatrifolio, blending El Tesoro Blanco with Cocchi Americano, sour cherry, chamomile and woodruff. The drink will be served with a Buffalo Chicken Patty Melt and bleu cheese dip.
Silver Lyan will also contribute its own serves, including the Sakura Vesper, made with Roku gin, Haku vodka, Sakura vermouth and pickled onion, and the Yamazaki Highball, featuring Yamazaki 12 with chilled soda water and lemon oil.
“A unique time in DC”
Alex Leidy, general manager at Silver Lyan, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome some of the city’s most creative bars to Silver Lyan for this special Cherry Blossom season. It’s a unique time in DC, when the city comes alive with colour and energy, and there is no better way to celebrate than by coming together to share ideas, flavours and experiences. We can’t wait for guests to explore these collaborations and enjoy the carefully curated moments that make this season so memorable.”
Located beneath Riggs Washington DC in a converted bank vault, Silver Lyan is known for its design-led setting. Its main menu, The Butterfly Effect, explores the concept of cultural exchange through 17 signature cocktails, focusing on how the sharing of ingredients, ideas and traditions can create wider impact.
Related news
Bar serves cocktails disguised as pints for football fans
