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Thu / Apr 15
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, and thousands of eager interns and staffers that flow in and out like clockwork looking for all kinds of things to do.
Federal work hours bolster a hulking Happy Hour habit, where deals are made and global plans are pondered at bars and restaurants all over the city, but also where people can – and do – let loose with reckless abandon after a long day.
Later hours are easily consumed by bars and lounges catering to a richly diverse population, live music joints celebrating the District’s proud musical heritage, and clubs driven by moneyed internationals and urban trendsetters.
At the same time, the iconic landmarks that dot the low skyline and myriad events inspired by the monuments captivate millions of vacationers every year, while dozens of top schools draw young bloods and bluebloods alike on their quest for challenging classes and nightlife fun.
Even those who don’t know an energy bill from their dinner bill can enjoy DC and its social landscape primed by politics and always open to party.
Sports? Pub crawls? Rowdy bars? Good beer? Then check out these suggestions from Lucas:
Eclectic crowds? Authentic bars? Live music? Nothing mainstream? Then check out these suggestions from Jonah:
Amazing drink deals? Unpretentious crowds? Karaoke with friends? Dancing all night? Then check out these suggestions from Emma:
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 hero
... read full U Street Corridor descriptionU 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 hero
... read full U Street Corridor descriptionDupont Circle is home to a plethora of incredible museums, historic homes, row upon row of embassies, and a great example of Washington, DC’s hopping nightlife.
Easily the LGBT capital of the capital, the neighborhood features the largest assortment of gay-owned and gay-friendly restaurants, bars, and clubs in the city – particularly along P Street – as well as the District’s first gay bookstore.
Diplomat groupies already know that most of the city’s
... read full Dupont Circle descriptionIncludes: Glover Park
Originally built up as a shipping port due to its location on the banks of the Potomac River, present-day Georgetown is far more likely to be home to fashionistas than fish mongers.
With high-end shops, swanky lounges, lively sports bars, and a glut of restaurants with some of the most beautiful views of the river, Georgetown is where politicians, tourists, and current and former Georgetown University students all rub elbows.
When
... read full Georgetown descriptionAlthough Downtown Washington, DC is an area whose boundaries are hard to define, it’s generally regarded as the fifteen block stretch extending west of I-395 to The White House and sandwiched between The National Mall to the south and M Street to the north.
Unlike in most major cities, Downtown DC isn’t a jungle of high rises, the result of a long-standing federal law on height restrictions originally passed to ensure no building could be taller than the
... read full Downtown descriptionPacking more bars into a short stretch than anywhere else in DC – which makes the area both a surefire nighttime hotspot and a carmageddon parking nightmare – Adams Morgan has such a reputation for late-night rowdiness that residents call the main drag of 18th Street “The Liquoridor,” a moniker kept alive by the throngs of Friday-happy college kids who parade up and down the sidewalk looking for cheap drinks and raucous fun.
Diverse drinking dens and
... read full Adams Morgan descriptionPrior to the late 90s construction of the Verizon Center across the street in neighboring Chinatown, Penn Quarter (sometimes called “Old Downtown”) offered little to prompt a visit.
The completion of the massive sports and entertainment arena, however, brought with it a substantial revitalization of much of the neighborhood, now home to dozens of new bars, nightclubs, artsy venues, eateries, and designer stores.
Often referred to as the Times Square of
... read full Penn Quarter description