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From the sexy, sleek vibes of the ultra-exclusive lounges to the playfully delicious Latin clubs, anyone who loves dancing will never be left at home twiddling their thumbs on a Friday night. The dance clubs in Washington DC are some of the best in the country, offering unique hangouts where even the first-daughters can be seen gallivanting about. It’s easy to get lost in some of these clubs, since their huge layouts, incredible music and flashing lights often make a maze of hot glitterati hips swinging to pulsing beats. Some places, like Chloe Restaurant and Lounge, have a seemingly endless line of hopefuls trying to get through their doors, while others welcome anyone and everyone with little to no wait, like the charmingly funky Chief Ike’s Mambo Room. There are also a variety of unique themes in the dance clubs in DC, such as Club Heaven and Hell, which offers it’s patrons the choice between being good little angles and being naughty little sinners.
Chief Ike's Mambo Room
1725 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.332.2211
A charmingly offbeat Washington, D.C., bar, Chief Ike's Mambo Room has been a hotspot in the Adams Morgan district for years. Once frequented by Bill Clinton's senior political advisor George Stephanopoulos, locals say the bar reached its peak popularity in the mid ‘90s. Still, the D.C. nightclub continues to draw in an eclectic mix of students, Hill staffers and middle-age singles. Its funky decor and colorful cocktails entice those wanting to deviate from the standard bar/lounge scene of the area. A dance floor occupies the downstairs, while upstairs is the choice location for sipping martinis and puffing imported cigars.
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Chloe Restaurant Lounge
2473 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.265.6592
If you're skeptical of Chloe's reputation as a premier dance club in the Adams Morgan district, just check out the mile-long line waiting to get in on any given weekend night. Rumor has it even first daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush couldn't avoid the inevitable half-hour wait. With Miami Vice neon lighting and industrial accents, this swank Washington, D.C., club emits an atmosphere cool enough to chill a penguin. An exclusive VIP area is a good, albeit pricey, way to ensure your group unrestricted access—tables start at $500 for six people. A giant metal globe houses the DJ, who spins pulsing house music for the booty-shaking dancers below. Sexy and sleek, this Washington, D.C., hotspot attracts a hip crowd that will surely have you asking, "How you doin'?"
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Club Heaven and Hell
2327 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.667.4355
A Washington, D.C., club ambivalent by nature, this two-in-one bar presents you an important choice: ascend to Heaven or fall into the depths of Hell. Heaven, appropriately located upstairs, is a vibrant dance club with flashing disco lights and a wood dance floor. Every Thursday is the ever-popular '80s Night, which has been running practically since the decade of excess itself. To escape the do-gooder dancers, head down to Hell, a more traditional bar scene decorated with skeletons, devil masks and apocalyptic artwork. Enjoy a game of pool and sample one of the bar's specialty shooters, such as the blood-red "666."
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Habana Village
1834 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.462.6310
A Cuban oasis located in the heart of the Adams Morgan district, this Washington, D.C., restaurant and bar is a colorful tribute to the sounds and culture of the island city that bears its name. Since opening in 1991, Habana Village has been a popular hangout for D.C.'s Cuban émigrés, who gather to socialize over a game of dominoes. The bar also helped ignite a salsa dance craze that swept through the area in the mid '90s and has been going strong since. Authentic Cuban cuisine such as pollo con arroz and fried plantains is available, and refreshing cocktails like the mojito, a drink native to Cuba, are served to perfection. With three spacious stories and two dance floors, Habana Village is sure to heat up your appetite for a spicy Latin night.
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Latin Jazz Alley
1721 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.328.6190
Do you Tango? Samba? Mamba? If you answered yes, or if you're curious to try any one of the numerous genres of Latin dance, head down to this hot little Washington, D.C., dance club. Only open Wednesday through Saturday, Jazz Alley hosts lessons several nights a week before the doors open at 11pm to the serious dancers. Sparse yet tastefully decorated rooms comprise this bar and restaurant, and if you need an excuse not to dance, fill up on the delicious Mexican fare served downstairs at El Migueleno Cafe. Wednesdays feature live Latin Jazz.
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Nolan's
2323 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.319.1111
Formerly known as Crush, this Washington, D.C., bar and dance club attracts a youngish crowd looking to groove down and hook up. Inexpensive drinks, a decent dance floor and no cover charge make Nolan's a solid alternative to the ritzier venues prevalent in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Standard pub fare is available along with weekly drink specials like the Power Hour on Friday nights.
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—Washington DC bar and club reviews by Garrett Wheeler
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