Stetson's Famous Bar & Grill Bar / Restaurant

U Street Corridor, Washington, DC –

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 the walls, though it’s hardly awash in western kitsch.

A smattering of wine and cocktails grace the drinks list, but beer’s the booze of choice for the regular blue-collar Joes and chill sports fans who line the long bar in the early evening to catch the game.

Students, meanwhile, pack in for Tuesday’s trivia night, when participants are wise to show up early if they want to snag a table and try to win $50 off their tab.

A second floor hosts another bar, as well as foosball, a dartboard, a pool table, and a classic arcade tabletop, while the cozy patio provides respite from the inevitable heat that infiltrates when the place gets crowded.

The vibe is usually chill, but even on busy weekends as the congressional staffers are let loose from their pens, there’s usually a corner to tuck into and scarf down a few chicken poppers from the small menu.

Casual and gritty, Stetson’s probably isn’t really “Famous,” but it’s a well-known place for trivia, cheap domestics, and starting or ending the night.