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Bars in Washington, DC

Today Aug 24

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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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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

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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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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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

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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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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Bourbon

20s / After Work / Anything goes

Party Earth Review Patrons looking for an escape from the typical turbulence of Adams Morgan will find it at Bourbon, a homey bar and club that brings a bit of Kentucky charm to this college-heavy strip of 18th Street. Rich wood floors and dimly-lit sconces and chandeliers create a mellow vibe, especially during the week when everyone from ... more

2321 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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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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Sign of the Whale

Bar Food / Blazers / Blouses / DJ

Party Earth Review Since the early 70s, Sign of the Whale has served as a dingy retreat for overworked politicos and the barely twenty-one crowd looking to swallow their troubles and maybe harpoon a mate. Half off the drinks list during the 4 to 7pm weekday Happy Hour makes the venue a popular hangout for area young professionals ... more

1825 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Lucky Bar

20s / After Work / Arcade Games

Party Earth Review Three-dollar weeknight drink specials and a couple dozen TVs make Lucky Bar a fan favorite for after-work beer and sports – especially soccer, since it is one of the few dedicated soccer bars in DC. Neighborhood regulars, local young professionals, and international tourists with “fútbol” on the brain crowd around the venue ... more

1221 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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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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Ventnor Sports Café

20s / 30s / 40s / After Work / Brunch

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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ChurchKey

Alternative Rock / Ambient / Bar

Party Earth Review Whether they’re in the mood for delectable chocolate porters or a smoked bacon lager, patrons pining for the perfect hops will fare well at ChurchKey. With more than five hundred bottles, fifty drafts, twenty reserved labels, and five casks at the ready, this cozy bar – located above sister restaurant Birch & Barley – packs ... more

1337 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Rhino Bar & Pumphouse

Bar Food / Burgers / Casual / DJ / TVs

Party Earth Review Rhino Bar & Pumphouse normally kicks off the night with a traditional sports bar feel, as friendly groups of neighborhood sports lovers sit glued to the couple of dozen TVs and root for any team but the Yankees. The ground floor saloon fills up quickly on game nights, with hordes of young male professionals and the occasional ... more

3295 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20007

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Trio's Fox & Hounds

20s / 30s / 40s / Anything goes / Bar

Party Earth Review With its laid-back atmosphere and large patio, Trio’s Fox and Hounds is a quintessential neighborhood haunt popular with easygoing locals. The slightly edgier sister establishment to adjoining Trio’s Restaurant, the Fox is usually full of khaki-clad, sandal-wearing regulars catching up outside as they survey the bustling ... more

1537 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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The Tombs

20s / Bar Food / Brunch / Burgers / DJ

Party Earth Review Tucked beneath 1789 Restaurant, its swankier sister establishment, The Tombs is a lively sports-themed bar mere steps from the Georgetown University campus – and the venue has been a big draw for both students and faculty since it first opened in the early 1960s. Polo shirts and college-brand attire are the norm in this ... more

1226 36th Street NW
Washington, DC 20007

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Bayou

20s / 30s / 40s / Bar / Brunch / Casual

Party Earth Review Whether stopping in for the jambalaya ‘n’ grits or a Bloody Mary made with pickled okra, hungry diners are guaranteed to taste the flavors of New Orleans at Bayou – where they’re equally assured of hearing live jazz or rock emanating from the upstairs stage. Due to its proximity to both George Washington University and ... more

2519 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037

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Chadwicks

20s / 30s / Bar / Brunch / Burgers / Rock

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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Granville Moore's

30s / 50s Music / 60s Music / Edgy

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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19th

After Work / Brunch / Casual / DJ

Party Earth Review Although 19th has a subtle golf theme, this cozy neighborhood bar doesn’t discriminate when it comes to sports – and its décor suggests that drinking games are a better team activity anyway. Vintage alcohol signs take up much of the turf-green walls, commingling with placards bearing tried-and-true axioms like, “Beauty ... more

1900 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20006

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Recommended Bars in DC

Top Sports Bars

BY: Lucas

Ventnor Sports Café

Lucas also likes: Beer Sports Rowdy Casual Anything goes Bar Flirty

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High-End Cocktails

BY: Adriana

Russia House Restau...

Adriana also likes: Exclusive Nightclub Fashion Forward Shopping Jetsetter

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Cool Music Bars

BY: Jonah

Rock & Roll Hotel

Jonah also likes: Live Music Eclectic Indie Alternative Non-mainstream

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Fun Happy Hours

BY: Emma

Café Citron

Emma also likes: Happy Hour Culture Dancing Lively Budget-friendly

more recommended by Emma

DC Bars Overview

Open City - Diner | Coffee Shop | Bar 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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