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Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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Venues
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Dupont 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 foreign embassies line Massachusetts Avenue, and the strong presence of international restaurants in Dupont Circle is no doubt fueled by the multicultural representatives of these embassies, who also drive a velvet-rope scene of exclusive dance clubs, trendy lounges, and chic bars unmatched anywhere else in town.

Classy coffee houses and upscale retail stores blanket Connecticut Avenue, and though most spots trend on the pricier side, jersey-clad sports lovers, fedora-proud hipsters, and young dance fanatics have no trouble finding raucous taverns, indie music mainstays, and casual hip-shaking haunts to hang out in.

During the day, the park setting of the traffic circle that gives Dupont Circle its name features musicians, farmers’ markets, and grizzled chess players who look like they’ve been staring at the same move for twenty years, while a handful of very popular bookstores and locally-owned record shops still thrive, despite operating in one of the most expensive real estate markets in town.

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What to Do in Dupont Circle

The Front Page

20s / 30s / 40s / Bar / Blazers / Blouses

Party Earth Review Though The Front Page may not win any culinary awards, its Happy Hour has been the stuff of legends since the place opened in 1987. Daytime sees the expansive venue playing host to ... more

1333 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Dirty Martini

Affluent / After Work / Bar / Jazz

Party Earth Review A cavernous upscale temple to its namesake drink, Dirty Martini is popular for everything from a midweek working lunch – liquid or otherwise – to a post-work pre-party, to a classy ... more

1223 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036

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Barcöde

20s / 30s / 40s / After Work / Bar / Chic

Party Earth Review Popular since its opening in late 2010, Barcöde quickly gathered a loyal following due in large part to its multifaceted combination of flashy modern décor, big bargain drink specials ... more

1101 17th Street NW
(entrance on L Street)
Washington, DC 20036

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Heist

Champagne / Collared Shirts / DJ

1802 Jefferson Place Northwest
Washington, DC 20036

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 ... more

1212 18th Street NW
Washington DC, 20036

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Dirty Bar

20s / Absinthe / Bar / Blazers / Club

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 ... more

1223 Connecticut Avenue
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 ... more

1517 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

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MIA Lounge

Blazers / Bottle Service / EDM / DJ

Party Earth Review The flush of neon leaking from the entrance and the prominent sign featuring the silhouette of a provocatively posed lady in place of the “I” make Miami-styled lounge ... more

1214 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Café Citron

20s / Button-downs / Casual / DJ / Bar

Party Earth Review Restaurant by day, loud Latin club by night, and a sure spot to grab sugary-sweet cocktails any time, Café Citron is a popular hangout for everyone from salsa lovers to savvy tourists ... more

1343 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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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 ... more

1825 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Russia House Restaurant & Lounge

30s / 40s / Ambient / Bar / Couples / TVs

Party Earth Review The Communist party may be dead, but the after-party marches on at The Russia House Restaurant and Lounge, an upscale tribute to the cuisine and culture of the motherland. One ... more

1800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

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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 ... more

1537 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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