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Bars in Washington, DC
Today May 21
Tomorrow May 22
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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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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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 / Restaurant
Party Earth Review Though the name might elicit images of a quaint Irish pub, the DC college crowd knows McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon is the sort of place where people may enter sober but rarely leave that way. Five bars over two floors entice hordes of newly-legal kids, who flood in most evenings to pound bottle after bottle (after bottle ... more
2401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
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Party Earth Review Though the owner hails from Philadelphia – and makes no secret of his affinity for the City of Brotherly Love – Ventnor Sports Café welcomes fans of every ilk and creed with a no-fuss “games-‘n’-beer-are-king” attitude. Twenty TVs scattered over both floors ensure no one misses an important play, while two bars serving ... more
2411 18th Street 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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Bar / Restaurant
Party Earth Review Set in an area more often lauded for its refined, high-end establishments, Chadwicks is a casual joint that has been serving up basic burgers and beer since the 1960s. Students and unpretentious area residents flock to this rustic bi-level venue for daily Happy Hour specials and rowdy weekend shenanigans, wolfing down ... more
3205 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
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Party Earth Review Hidden in an unassuming row house, Granville Moore’s is a rustic neighborhood gastropub that prepares a thousand pounds of mussels and potatoes every week – all from a kitchen not much bigger than a walk-in closet. The venue also serves an array of sandwiches and steaks to the hungry regulars who flood in every night, but ... more
1238 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
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Party Earth Review Rainbow flags don’t blanket the green awning out front, but nobody inside JR.’s Bar & Grill could argue that this place is in the closet – even when it gets as crowded as one. A Dupont institution since the 80s, the narrow two-story venue attracts a diverse mix of young professionals, students, and older regulars with ever ... more
1519 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
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Bar / Restaurant
Party Earth Review Saddled on the edge of the always-hopping U Street party scene since the early 1980s, Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill remains a chill watering hole for pre-game beers and cowboy-lazy evenings. The dive’s ground floor sports a downplayed country-themed décor, with a few rustic cow skulls and scattered fake WANTED posters on ... more
1610 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
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Recommended Bars in DC
Top Sports Bars
BY: Lucas
Lucas also likes: Beer Sports Rowdy Casual Anything goes Bar Flirty
more recommended by Lucas
High-End Cocktails
BY: Adriana
- → ADC
- → P.O.V. Roof Terrace...
- → Policy
- → The Gibson
- → Buddha Bar
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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Marvin
Bar / Beer Garden / Lounge
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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