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Bars in Washington, DC
Today May 22
Tomorrow May 23
Bar / Beer Garden / Lounge
Party Earth Review 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 ... more
2007 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Bar / Club / Restaurant
Party Earth Review A popular neighborhood haunt for artsy post-grads and young professionals, Café Saint-Ex may fly high with its aviation-themed décor, but the vibe is considerably more bohemian – in fact, a chalked sign near the door respectfully asks that “all collars be turned down prior to entry.” Named after Antoine de Saint-Exupery ... more
1847 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Bar / Live Music Venue / Lounge
Party Earth Review Little of Eighteenth Street Lounge’s façade would attract the attention of an uninitiated passerby, save for the bouncer who plants himself before its unmarked door or the lines that form beneath the neon glow of a “MATTRESS DISCOUNTS” sign on the adjacent building. Inside this three-story lounge, however, DC scenesters ... more
1212 18th Street NW
Washington DC, 20036
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Party Earth Review With a mix of contemporary American cuisine and a wine list more aptly described as a “book,” Proof attracts a refined crowd of local foodies and oenophiles who are drawn by the strong emphasis on organic and sustainable ingredients and the bar’s one-thousand-plus wine selection. Exposed brick and glowing pendant lights ... more
775 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
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Party Earth Review Policy is a bi-level venue that might also be called bipolar: offering patrons a laid-back restaurant and mixology spot downstairs and a loud, graffiti-laden lounge above. The Love Dining Room is an intimate take on the American diner, with red vinyl booths and Formica tabletops where young professionals and couples cozy ... more
1904 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Bar / Coffee Shop / Lounge
Party Earth Review Situated in a neighborhood known for its rowdy nightlife, Tryst invites Adams Morgan rabble-rousers to step back, have a latte served with animal crackers, and chill out. A wall of windows offers both mellow daytime views and safety from the nighttime chaos of 18th Street, while mismatched couches and simple wooden tables ... more
2459 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Bar / Lounge / Restaurant
Party Earth Review The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland. One of the few spots in the District where Royal Siberian caviar flows as readily as a mango martini, this elegant four-story venue is awash in red velvet ... more
1800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Bar / Club / Live Music Venue
Party Earth Review Restaurant by day, loud Latin club by night, and a sure spot to grab sugary-sweet cocktails any time, Café Citron is a popular hangout for everyone from salsa lovers to savvy tourists. Young professionals looking to cap their day with plates of plantains or pitchers of minty mojitos stop in for Happy Hour to plop into the ... more
1343 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
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Bar / Café / Culture / Bookstore
Party Earth Review A combination independent bookseller and high-end café, Kramerbooks & Afterwords has become a DC staple for an eclectic and hyper-literate clientele. Lined with classics, rarer finds, novelty books, and a wide selection of politically-minded literature, the bookstore offers a pleasant place for smartly-dressed patrons to ... more
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Party Earth Review 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 ... more
Hay-Adams Hotel
800 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
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Party Earth Review Situated just two blocks from the White House and guarded by a saluting five-foot Native American statue, Shelly’s Back Room is one of only a handful of DC establishments where folks can still get together for an indoor smoke without suffering the evil eye from suburban yoga moms and soy milk-drinking herbivores. In fact ... more
1331 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
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Bar / Gastropub / Restaurant
Party Earth Review A delectable menu of seasonal bites and a giant assortment of handcrafted ales lie behind the tall wood doors of Birch & Barley, a haven for sophisticated patrons on the hunt for good food and a lot of brew. With more than five hundred bottled beers, fifty drafts, and five casks at the ready, the venue is a veritable Shangri ... more
1337 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
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Recommended Bars in DC
Top Sports Bars
BY: Lucas
- → Public Bar
- → Ventnor Sports Café
- → The Pour House
- → Fast Eddie's Sports...
- → Rhino Bar & Pumphouse
Lucas also likes: Beer Sports Rowdy Casual Anything goes Bar Flirty
more recommended by Lucas
High-End Cocktails
BY: Adriana
Adriana also likes: Exclusive Nightclub Fashion Forward Shopping Jetsetter
more recommended by Adriana
Cool Music Bars
BY: Jonah
Jonah also likes: Live Music Eclectic Indie Alternative Non-mainstream
more recommended by Jonah
Fun Happy Hours
BY: Emma
Emma also likes: Happy Hour Culture Dancing Lively Budget-friendly
more recommended by Emma
DC Bars Overview
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that not all bars in Washington, DC were created equal…but that won’t stop us from trying all of them!
One thing is for sure, DC bars often have great Happy Hour specials thanks to the fact that so many of the people who work here (federal employees) get off promptly at 5pm. Politicos, staffers, and commuters double the city’s population every day, and cram into bars all over town as soon as work lets out.
Dupont Circle attracts a lot of lawyers and lobbyists to its high-end drinking dens, but still manages to entice all types with sports bars, quaint taverns, spacious haunts, and gay bars.
18th Street in Adams Morgan, meanwhile, has been dubbed the “Liquorridor” for a reason and gets crushed by college kids nightly, while ritzy Georgetown has everything from chichi bars to timeless saloons.
No DC bar crawl would be complete without going to the H Street Corridor or U Street, as both are major party hubs in the District and offer an endless array of themed bars, craft brewpubs, and bare-bones dive bars.
Oh yeah, there’s some pretty cool museums here too, be sure and put down the pint for a bit and check out that White House thing before getting back to sampling more great Washington, DC bars and nightlife.
Find Washington, DC Bars by Neighborhood
U Street Corridor
- Town Danceboutique
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9:30 Club
Bar / Club
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Dodge City
Bar / Club
Adams Morgan
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Madam's Organ Blues Bar
Bar / Live Music Venue
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The Brass Monkey
Bar / Karaoke Bar
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Sutra Lounge
Bar / Lounge
Downtown
more bars in Downtown
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