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Sat / Jan 23
Party Earth Review A 21st-century twist on the cabaret clubs of the 1920s, Dirty Bar is where DC’s international club kids and trendy socialites go to see and be seen – and maybe hang out in a giant birdcage. A discreet door adjacent to... ... read full review
1223 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
Red Line: Dupont Circle
202-355-5203
Tu–Th 10pm–2am, F–Sa 10pm–3am
Dupont Circle, Washington, DC –
A 21st-century twist on the cabaret clubs of the 1920s, Dirty Bar is where DC’s international club kids and trendy socialites go to see and be seen – and maybe hang out in a giant birdcage.
A discreet door adjacent to the entrance of lounge/restaurant Dirty Martini leads up three stories to this little burlesque-styled hotspot, where sultry Prohibition-era glamour draws dapper young revelers to indulge in flirty chit-chat and a bit of (dirty) dancing.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the cityscape provide the perfect backdrop for patrons sipping specialty absinthe-infused drinks like the Billie Holiday, while a mix of exposed brick, wire-framed lights, and tufted wall hangings add to the retro ambiance. A wooden swing – when not occupied by house performers swaying to the beat of DJ-spun house and Euro-trance tracks – serves as a sexy perch for stiletto-heeled guests in need of escape from the small dance floor.
Across from the feather-topped bar, velvet curtains cordon off the VIP area, where suited-up gentlemen lounge on leathered velvet couches as they watch more performers, staff and guests alike, shake their two bits inside a giant cast-iron aviary.
Considering this space is the former home of Spank – an upscale VIP lounge where patrons could reserve a bed with their bottle service – maybe it’s fate that the latest incarnation still boasts a conspicuously naughty vibe…and that Dirty Bar embodies its notorious repertoire with the tagline “Feel good being bad; feel even better being dirty.”
Although Dirty Bar has its own entrance, you can also access it through Dirty Martini. Just ask your server and they can take you up.
Trendy professionals, dapper club types, and young dance fiends, 20s to mid-30s.
DJs spin mostly Euro-trance, techno, and house remixes of old school rap and reggaeton. House dancers nightly. A few flat-screens tuned to sports or relevant news of the day.
No food.
Cover charge $20 (all night for guys, no cover charge for women before midnight). Beer $6–$8, wine $8+, cocktails $8+, bottle service $500+/eight guests minimum to order.
Dress to impress: suits, blazers, button-downs, designer jeans, sexy mini-dresses, heels.
Thursday nights for the diverse crowds that come to Provocateur Night, Friday nights for the ladies to get free entry, or Saturday nights for the most exclusive vibe and dapper patrons.
A classy lounge/restaurant that occupies the first two floors of the building, Dirty Martini makes for a perfect trendy spot to start the night off right.
Just a couple doors down, Midtown (1219 Connecticut Avenue) is a sleek and thoroughly modern club that sees long lines Thursdays through Saturdays.