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Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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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

Heist

Bar / Club / Lounge

1802 Jefferson Place Northwest
Washington, DC 20036

JR.'s Bar & Grill

Gay Bar

Party Earth Review Rainbow flags don’t blanket the green awning out front, but nobody inside JR.’s Bar & Grill could argue that this place is in the closet – even when it gets as crowded as one. A Dupont ... more

1519 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Sign of the Whale

Restaurant / Sports Bar

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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CIRCA at Dupont

Bar / Lounge / Restaurant

Party Earth Review With a prime location on the rim of the most famous circle in the District, CIRCA at Dupont offers nearby business professionals an excuse to sneak in a fancy cocktail at lunch – or ... more

1601 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

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MIA Lounge

Club / Lounge

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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Madhatter

Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review As if the name Madhatter weren’t enough, the big eponymous figure of the character from Alice in Wonderland in the front window is about as subtle as a caterpillar smoking a hookah ... more

1319 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Eighteenth Street Lounge

Bar / Live Music Venue / Lounge

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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Café Japone

Asian Restaurant

Reviewed by Ashley A.

"Cafe Japone is a great little spot for a fun night of karaoke. They have an extensive selection of songs, and I love that you just pass the microphone ..." more

2032 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Black Fox Lounge

Jazz Bar / Live Music Venue

Party Earth Review A great alternative to the fast-paced vibe of many nearby bars and clubs, Black Fox Lounge is a dimly-lit den perfect for rounds of cocktails, live music, and relaxed conversation ... more

1723 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

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The Front Page

Bar / Restaurant

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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Public Bar

Restaurant / Rooftop Bar

Party Earth Review Frequent drink specials, weekend DJs, and walls covered in TVs and photos of athletes give upscale Public Bar wide appeal among sports fans, Happy Hour enthusiasts, and weekend dance ... more

1214 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Bar Dupont

Hotel Bar / Lounge

Party Earth Review A respite from the boisterous weekend crowds of college kids piling out of the metro a block away, Bar Dupont in The Dupont Circle Hotel is ideal for quiet evenings or a stylish slow ... more

The Dupont Circle Hotel
1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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