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Bars in Washington, DC

Today Oct 22

Tomorrow Oct 23

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Café Saint-Ex

20s / 20s and up / Artists / Artsy

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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Eighteenth Street Lounge

20s / 30s / 40s / Artists / Bar / Blazers

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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The Gibson

20s / 30s / 40s / Blouses / Cocktails

Party Earth Review Bartenders in this unmarked lounge like a challenge, and the simple, one-page menu at The Gibson is better regarded as a place to start than the sum of what’s available. The intimate candlelit space is fitted out with a long bar running down the middle of the ground floor with enough room for a few dozen thirsty patrons ... more

2009 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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The Wonderland Ballroom

20s / 30s / 80s Music / 90s Music / DJ

Party Earth Review Nestled in a mostly residential neighborhood, The Wonderland Ballroom is both a popular community gathering spot and a nighttime funhouse for the young and reckless of Columbia Heights. Wood-paneled walls covered with vintage beer ads, street signs, stickers, Buddha statues, and movie posters, however, create a flavor that ... more

1101 Kenyon Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

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Dan's Café

20s / 70s Music / 80s Music / Jeans

Party Earth Review Built into a flat, square building with no exterior windows or lights, the most prominent evidence of the dive hiding behind the boarded-up façade of Dan’s Café is the string of rowdy frat boys usually careening out its door. A dozen shelves of booze stacked behind the sticky bar glitter like lost treasure, drawing a crowd ... more

2315 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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Proof

30s / 40s / Business Types / Dinner

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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The Park at Fourteenth

30s / Bottle Service / Chic / DJ / TVs

Party Earth Review Located just blocks from the White House, The Park at Fourteenth is an upscale club that seduces its stylish patrons with four stories of fashionable fun. It is not uncommon to see celebrities and pro athletes waltzing in through the red-carpeted entrance, making their way past stern, unyielding bouncers and block-long ... more

920 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Policy

20s / 30s / 90s Music / Beer Lovers

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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H Street Country Club

20s / Anything goes / Bar / Games

Party Earth Review Best known for its nine-hole indoor mini golf course, H Street Country Club is an offbeat neighborhood staple offering 7,000 square feet of games, booze, and DC-themed décor – a far cry from Member’s Only jackets and pricey greens fees. During the day, exuberant patrons of all ages crowd the long wooden tables on the ground ... more

1335 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

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Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café

20s / 30s / 40s / Acoustic / Bohemian

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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Off the Record

30s / 40s / Ambient / Button-downs

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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Marvin

20s / 30s / 40s / Artists / Bar / Brunch

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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Café Saint-Ex

20s / 20s and up / Artists / Artsy

1847 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Liked By:

Eighteenth Street Lounge

20s / 30s / 40s / Artists / Bar / Blazers

1212 18th Street NW
Washington DC, 20036

Liked By:

Local 16

30s / Burgers / Casual / Couples / DJ

Party Earth Review A large rooftop bar and an emphasis on locally-grown products have made Local 16 a popular hangout for a mix of foodies, preppies, and hipsters alike. A casual weeknight vibe quickly turns to a rowdy, overly-packed scene on weekends when swarms of college students take over the large tiki-styled rooftop deck to flirt with ... more

1602 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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The Gibson

20s / 30s / 40s / Blouses / Cocktails

2009 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Liked By:

The Wonderland Ballroom

20s / 30s / 80s Music / 90s Music / DJ

1101 Kenyon Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

Liked By:

Dan's Café

20s / 70s Music / 80s Music / Jeans

2315 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Liked By:

Proof

30s / 40s / Business Types / Dinner

775 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001

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Biergarten Haus

20s / 30s / Bar / Beer / Beer Garden

Party Earth Review With its fat mugs of frothy brew, heaping piles of bratwurst, and live polka on Fridays and Saturdays, Biergarten Haus brings the spirit of Oktoberfest to DC all year long. A spacious beer garden draws schnitzel and stein lovers eager to cram in on long communal tables and make new friends over liters of beer as big as ... more

1355 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

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The Park at Fourteenth

30s / Bottle Service / Chic / DJ / TVs

920 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Policy

20s / 30s / 90s Music / Beer Lovers

1904 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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Velvet Lounge

20s / 30s / Artists / Avant-Garde / DJ

Party Earth Review A quintessential dive bar with a knack for booking some of the best up-and-coming and niche bands DC has to offer, Velvet Lounge makes up in attitude whatever it lacks in décor. Once past the flashing neon martini glass outside, patrons will find themselves in a cramped and narrow space, rubbing shoulders with the rotating ... more

915 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20002

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Marvin

20s / 30s / 40s / Artists / Bar / Brunch

2007 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Liked By:

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Recommended Bars in DC

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DC Bars Overview

Velvet Lounge - Dive Bar | Live Music Venue in DC

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.

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