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Sat / Apr 17
Party Earth Review Crammed into two adjoining row houses, Red Palace is a quirky kingdom of rock music, carnival curios, and tasseled boobies. Formed when two former neighborhood haunts – The Red & The Black and The Palace of... ... read full review
1210–1212 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Red Line: Union Station
202–399–3201
M–Th 5pm–2am, F 5pm–3am, Sa 6pm–3am, Su 6pm–2am
H Street Corridor, Washington, DC –
Crammed into two adjoining row houses, Red Palace is a quirky kingdom of rock music, carnival curios, and tasseled boobies. Formed when two former neighborhood haunts – The Red & The Black and The Palace of Wonders – joined forces, this funky two-story den now provides a one-stop shop for indie/punk music and burlesque shows all week long.
Old photos of New Orleans, book covers, and random snaps of the owner’s old dorm room clutter the walls in the first bar, while a second bar around the corner prominently displays a chaotic hodgepodge of circus oddities.
Taxidermy animals, shrunken heads, mummified corpses, and even jars of “pickled punks” take up much of the dim room, forming a macabre background for the tattooed goths and relaxed residents who settle into the wooden booths for a beer or to catch a sci-fi film on the TVs above the bars.
Concerts throughout the week make for a crowded upstairs area, as indie and heavy metal bands draw a diverse mix looking to thrash on the small dance floor, though the popular burlesque performances and magic shows also pack the house.
Eclectic and lively, Red Palace is an eccentric hotspot patrons would be crazy not to enjoy.
Varies per show, but usually a mix of local hipsters, punk rockers, young professionals, and college students, 18 to mid-30s.
Constantly changing lineup of mostly indie, hip-hop, metal, and punk bands at least five nights a week. Vaudeville acts including human block heads, women sword swallowers, magic, and popular burlesque performances fill the rest of the calendar.
Assortment of bar food from burgers and mac and cheese, to wings and sandwiches. Small patio in the back with individual drink specials.
Cover charge $8–$15. Food $3–$13+. Beer $3–$15, wine $7, cocktails $5–$13.
Anything goes: jeans, t-shirts, shorts, plaid button-downs, fedoras, funky accessories, goth gear, flannel.
Crowded for a variety of shows and live performances, but the burlesque shows, usually on Fridays and Saturdays, are when the upstairs is guaranteed to be packed wall to wall.
Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE) is a two-story music venue where live performances by up-and-coming artists rock out the downstairs and the upstairs themed rooms cater to bachelor parties and private events.