|
The diverse flavors of Washington DC’s neighborhoods provides a rich, colorful palate of places to go just about every night of the week. Sassy, stylish Georgetown is home to plenty of trendy bars that are popular among local celebrities and dignitaries, and politicians pretty much live up to the stereotype by regularly haunting Capitol Hill. The bohemian Adams Morgan neighborhood is filled with too many bars and pubs to mention, as is the downtown area, which caters to anyone with a job who needs to properly celebrate happy hour (which is just about everyone in DC). Depending on the neighborhood, you never know who you might see when you’re out enjoying your night. Though they are generally filled with the locals who can walk from their homes to the bars, neighborhood spots in Washington DC are as unpredictable as they get.
Adams Mill Bar and Grill
1813 Adams Mill Road., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.332.9577
Contrasting the swanky venues of the Adams Morgan neighborhood, this Washington, D.C., neighborhood bar and grill appeals to casual after-work crowds looking for a bite and a brew with a no-frills attitude. A great place to have a drink and watch the game, Adams Mill Bar's large outdoor patio makes it an ideal place to relax outdoors on a warm summer evening.
|
Angles
2339 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.462.8100
Angles is a Washington, D.C., billiards bar that offers more than just a game of pool. With dozens of imported beers to choose from and a neighborly atmosphere, you might want to hang up the pool cue and swap stories with other bar-goers. Owned by freelance war photographer Pat O'Donnell, Angles is clean and well lit, with images of past insurrections adorning the walls. Dartboards and a lively jukebox make this neighborhood bar a sure bet for an entertaining evening with a date or your usual drinking buddies.
|
Angry Inch Saloon
2450 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.234.3041
Don't get the wrong impression from the name—this Washington, D.C., bar isn't nefarious or unpleasant, though loud and unruly might be a fitting description. A younger crowd of boisterous drinkers inhabit the Angry Inch, where classic rock sing-a-longs are as common as the hangover that is sure to come the next morning. Packed tightly into a narrow space between the wall and the bar, this Washington, D.C., bar is not for the claustrophobic or the romantic couple looking for a quiet evening of wine and cheese. Drinks are cheap and enormous; a 16 oz. gin and tonic costs $5.
|
Bourbon
2321 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.332.0800
With more than 50 bourbons offered, this Washington, D.C., bar attracts whiskey enthusiasts ranging from amateur to aficionado. Conveniently located in the Glover Park area, Bourbon is a snug tavern adorned with black-and-white photos of the bar's regulars and their families. Weekends attract a youngish crowd, and on warm nights the gathering takes place on the front patio. Tasty bar food and a dozen beers and wines provides an alternative to those impartial to America's favorite hard alcohol.
|
Bullfeathers
410 First Street, SE, Washington DC; Tel. 202.543.5005
This Washington, D.C., bar has been serving the members of the House of Representatives and all their friends since 1980. Tasty burgers and friendly service make this a popular neighborhood bar, as well as an approved destination for hungry politicians looking for a quick power lunch. The tavern's name comes from President Theodore Roosevelt, the nation's 26th Commander-in-Chief and one of America's most colorful politicians. When faced with frustrations or absurd situations, Roosevelt would exclaim "Bullfeathers!" More familiar bull-related profanities were unacceptable in proper company, he said. This legendary Washington, D.C., bar's stated goal is to "take some of the edge off, take some of the ‘Bullfeathers' out of life and put a little more fun back in." A 40-foot bar hosts a bargain happy hour from 5-8pm nightly.
|
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.
|
Dan's Cafe
2315 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.265.9241
Stubbornly clinging on to its old-school roots, Dan's Cafe is a Washington, D.C., bar with absolutely no frills to speak of, and I mean none. An Adams Morgan institution since 1965, this longtime neighborhood hangout offers six cheap imported beers, a dozen cheaper domestic beers and those miniature hard alcohol bottles served on airplanes. Even the furnishing is about as bare bones as it gets: a few beer-stained booths and a handful of bar stools make up the pub's setting. A blue-collar tavern with nothing more to offer than it did in 1965, this classic Washington, D.C., bar will probably outlive all the trendy venues that surround it.
|
Pharmacy Bar
2337 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; Tel. 202.483.1200
Situated in a tall, narrow building prototypical of East Coast urban architecture, this Washington, D.C., neighborhood bar is an eclectic assortment of New York chic, dive-bar funkiness and Adams Morgan sophistication. As the name suggests, the décor is pharmaceutically themed—the place is supremely unique in this category. At each of the 14 tables, an array of pills are scattered beneath a layer of glass, and the walls are painted with medicinal containers. But unlike the doctor's office, Pharmacy Bar offers outstanding food to complement its prescribed elixirs. Unusual sandwiches like smoked salmon and dill cream cheese, along with traditionally prepared salads, make this Washington, D.C., bar and restaurant just what the doctor ordered.
|
The Pour House
319 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington DC; Tel. 202.546.1001
A Washington, D.C., neighborhood sports bar that was once dedicated to the Pittsburgh Steelers, The Pour House has recently changed ownership, and though still a sports bar, the hardcore Steeler emphasis has since dissipated. Now the tavern boasts dozens of TVs throughout its three levels, and an awkward tiki-bar in the lower level has been replaced by a more comfortable, classic sports bar setting. The upper level martini lounge, known as the "Top of the Hill," is still a popular place to watch Steelers games, and Tuesday nights feature drink specials and the fast-paced trivia game Quizzo.
|
—Washington DC bar and club reviews by Garrett Wheeler
|
