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Marvin
Bar / Beer Garden / Lounge / Restaurant
Built as an homage to singer Marvin Gaye, who grew up nearby and took soul-searching trips to Belgium in the 1980s, Marvin combines the soulful elements of its namesake with some unique Belgian overtones.
A wall-sized mural of the singer casts a watchful eye over the local bohemian types chowing down on fried chicken with waffles or shrimp and grits, highlighted by the warm glow of retro open-bulb lighting.
The small bar in the dining area usually fills up on weekends as young hipsters flock in to peruse the thirty-odd beer options or munch on moules-frites, while young professionals mingle by the street-side window waiting for a table.
After a good meal, patrons head upstairs to a lounge decked out in historic Motown photos, where hip artists and musicians move to an eclectic mix of old-school, hip-hop, and R&B spun by guest DJs.
Sweaty partiers looking for a break from the grooves can try finagling a spot at the lantern-lit bar or make their way to the heated rooftop beer garden for a brew and a bite to eat.
Although…
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Off the Record
Hotel Bar / Lounge
It’s a never-ending battle of donkeys vs. elephants in the District of Columbia, but Off the Record, a chic lounge in the basement of the historic Hay-Adams hotel, brings both parties together for a cordial cocktail after an exhausting day of work.
Located a block from the White House, this venue’s name is no accident, as its deep red velvet booths frequently fill with powerful politicians and wizened journalists engaged in hushed conversation.
Upscale hotel guests claim stools at the U-shaped bar to question the bartender on sites to see in the city, oblivious to the Capitol Hill insiders who are making global decisions at the dark wood tables nearby.
Glass chandeliers hang from the intricate plaster ceiling, while the room’s crimson walls are covered with pencil caricatures of well-known politicians, many of whom have been regulars.
It isn’t rare for someone as noteworthy as the Chief of Staff to make an unexpected appearance for a quiet night out, though lesser-known but dapper patrons are still welcome to relax on the ruby-red chairs, a fresh grapefruit mojito or Delirium draft…
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9:30 Club
Bar / Club / Live Music Venue
Often touted as the best place to catch a concert in the city, 9:30 Club consistently packs its 1,200-capacity hall by hosting shows ranging from big-name acts and DJs to up-and-comers, noise bands, and everything in between.
Long before the door opens, eager audiophiles line up outside the brick façade and unmarked door, with each night’s crowd of concertgoers reflecting the venue’s ever-changing performance calendar.
Seating options are limited at the club, so early birds score a quick cocktail at one of the two bars before securing a spot on the open floor in front of the stage, or dart upstairs for dibs on the handful of risers that line the horseshoe balcony.
A third bar on the second level keeps the crowd’s thirst in check and regulars know that the few precious barstools provide great views as well as quick access to another round.
Parents, meanwhile, make sure their wards are safely settled during all-ages shows before escaping to the BackBar downstairs, a fourth watering hole where ample seating and soundproof walls keep Dad from griping about the quality…
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U Street Corridor
Nightlife Area / Outdoor Activity
Known as the heart of DC’s African American community and home to an eclectic mix of people who share a love of music, art, theater, and food, U Street – after decades of neglect – has been the focus of a major resurgence since the late 1990s.
With historic landmarks like the Lincoln and Howard Theaters, where Duke Ellington and Miles Davis once claimed the stage, and the famed 1920s jazz club Bohemian Caverns (also an Ellington favorite), U Street has managed to hold onto its roots while making way for dozens of new and culturally diverse restaurants and bars, modern loft spaces, independent shops, and organic markets.
Live music is a big draw in this area, where Black Cat, 9:30 Club, DC9, and Velvet Lounge showcase a huge range of musical styles every night, while freshman ravers in plaid are long familiar with the cork dance floor and electronic beats at U Street Music Hall.
Fashionable singles on the prowl, meanwhile, make their way through the standing-room-only rooftop bar at Local 16 to show off…
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M Street
Nightlife Area / Outdoor Activity
Home to some of the District’s most popular restaurants, bars, and high-end shops, M Street is a central part of the Georgetown experience, especially for the fourteen thousand students at nearby Georgetown University.
Lined with cobblestone sidewalks and 18th-century colonial homes, the area is awash during the day with local prepsters shopping at mainstream stores like Lacoste, Diesel, and Tommy Hilfiger, and fashionistas maxing out their credit cards at Juicy Couture and BCBG, or heading to vintage emporium Annie Creamcheese for designer styles from the 1920s to 1990s.
Cupcake fanatics wait in hour-long lines just to get their hands on a red velvet creation from Georgetown Cupcake, while tourists make the rounds of sights including the Old Stone House, the Civil War-era Oak Hill Cemetery, or the self-guided Kennedy Walking tour, which explores the myriad residencies JFK and Jacqueline occupied during their time in DC.
Once the sun goes down, the area is flooded with congressmen, media personalities, and professionals on their way to dine at some of the priciest and most popular restaurants in the District, including Café Milano…
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Washington DC Clubs, Bars, Restaurants, Nightlife, and Events
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The nation’s capital may be a government town at heart, but its social scene abounds with new and youthful energy, buoyed by the ever-changing waves of politicians, lobbyists, foreign representatives...read more →
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Adriana
Exclusive hotspots? Chic crowds? Bottle service? Posh shopping?
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Jonah
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Emma
Amazing drink deals? Unpretentious crowds? Karaoke with friends? Dancing all night?
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U Street Corridor
U Street Corridor is a roughly nine block stretch with some of the most popular music venues in the city, but there’s much more than just live bands to warrant the Corridor’s designation as a major nightlife area, including culturally diverse restaurants, bars, and landmark theaters. Much like the Harlem Renaissance in New York, U Street was a central figure in Washington, DC’s early jazz scene, when Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and hometown
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