Washington DC Nightlife: 45 Best Local Bars & Nightclubs in Washington DC

Black Cat

By Lisa

There are two stage spaces in the Black Cat for those looking for an intimate, indie concert going experiences. The live-music part of the night can be preceded or post-partied in the Red Room Bar and/or the Food for Thought Cafe, which features vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as coffee and the like.

by Lisa

U Street Music Hall

Nightlife 3 0

By Lisa

No-frills underground music hall

U Street Music Hall

3

Lovingly called "U Hall", this DJ-owned and operated basement dance floor is for true music and dance fans. There is no bottle service. You're VIP because you know music well enough to know the amazing DJs they book and want to hear them in an intimate space with the best sound system possible. So electronic music fans, unite.

by Lisa

The Howard Theatre

Nightlife 4 0

By Lisa

Historic theatre in the heart of Shaw

The Howard Theatre

4

The Howard Theatre is a leader in entertainment. With a spectrum of shows ranging from DC famous 90s cover band, to national headliners, the theatre maintains its diverse roots in music. Though you might only go for a show, the efforts to reclaim the space as a proper supper club translate well on the menu for normal dinner hours and late night.

by Lisa

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

Restaurants 4 1

By Lisa

Landmark indie bookstore and cafe

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

4

Book lovers will be thrilled with extensive sections in poetry, history, and travel among others. The cafe is a great place to continue your book talk over coffee, brunch, or drinks. Kramerbooks has been a neighborhood staple since the late 70s and it seems it will be a landmark for a long time to come.

by Lisa

Red Derby

Eating 3 1

By Lisa

Hip, dive bar in Columbia Heights

Red Derby

3

If you want to have fun in a casual space, look no further. Red Derby is laid-back to the max! They also have great bar food at a great price. Nighttime patrons find comfort in burgers, while brunchers find comefort in breakfast burritos and the like. It's a true neighborhood joint with a mix of regulars and their pals.

by Lisa

Zaytinya

Restaurants 7 2

By Lisa

Greek by José Andrés

Zaytinya

7

Zaytinya has an airy feel, as though you were in a Grecian grotto. With regional wines, an exacting menu, and that lightness, it's a perfect place for a business meeting midday or a date in the evening--any night of the week. Besides the great service, they are known for many specialties: octopus, lamb, kebab, horta, and all the authentic favs.

by Lisa

Madam's Organ Blues Bar

Restaurants 3 0

By Lisa

Blues bar in Adams Morgan

Madam's Organ Blues Bar

3

With live music seven nights a week, Madam's Organ has as many regular patrons as they do regular musicians. With local features of indie and blues, it's easy to get a sense of the more artsy comrades in this part of town on any given night of the week.

by Lisa

El Rey

Restaurants 3 6

By Lisa

Tacos & Tequila on U Street

El Rey

3

Though El Rey is always overly loud and raging with bros, it is completely forgivable because the tacos and nachos are so good. Whether you eat inside, take it to go, or snag an order at their street window, no one will be left hungry. For drinks there are pitchers of margaritas and micheladas. For food, steak nachos and all the tacos are great.

by Lisa

9:30 Club

Nightlife 3 0

By Lisa

Intimate concert venue

9:30 Club

3

If you want a classic, DC, live music night, this is it. With standing room only, a balcony area, and four bars, 9:30 is a cozy music experience. The place has been around for decades, as have its fans and regular comers and goers. It's a little loud, a little sweaty, and a lot of fun, no matter the show.

by Lisa

Rock & Roll Hotel

Nightlife 2 1

By Lisa

Ex-funeral parlor turned lounge

Rock & Roll Hotel

2

Rock & Roll Hotel boasts three levels of fun: a basement level performance stage for live music, a DJ dancefloor for bumping and grinding, and a roof deck clad with bar. The also host some off the beaten path nights, like DC Bear Happy Hour. They also have a small menu of bar food to pad those stomachs before a night of drinking and dancing.

by Lisa

Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar

Nightlife 2 0

By Lisa

Quirky dive on H Street

Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar

2

All kinds of people are drawn to Little Miss Whiskey's, which is no surprise given the weekly themed nights. Open mic on Tuesday, karaoke Wednesday, and once a month events for beer lovers/home brewers, 90s music aficionados, and soul/funk/disco fans. The upstairs dance parties are much coveted and attended on this block of town.

by Lisa

Biergarten Haus

Nightlife 2 1

By Lisa

Bavarian bar and patio

Biergarten Haus

2

Biergarten Haus has a stellar list of imported beer (mostly from Germany and Austria, and a few from Brussels). They also have a small menu of outstanding bavarian pub food so you can knosh as you drink your day or night away. The live music and the cohorts of soccer fans make the day and night drinking experience feel like a laid back house party.

by Lisa

Eighteenth Street Lounge

Nightlife 2 1

By Lisa

An intimate party house

Eighteenth Street Lounge

2

With antique sofas, candlelight, an outdoor patio, there's plenty of intimate space for resting your dancing shoes and having a conversation, making ESL different than other premiere house parties. Each of the different rooms hosts a different sound, a different tone: Gold Room, Main Room, Jazz Bar, Studio Bar, and Deck Bar.

by Lisa

Boundary Stone Public House

Eating 2 0

By Lisa

Bar and public house in Bloomingdale

Boundary Stone Public House

2

If you're in the neighborhood (and boy, is this neighborhood becoming hip...), Boundary Stone is the place to go and get a sense of the local flavor. The drinks and whiskey list are great. But it's also a great gastropub--the staff takes the bites as seriously as the drinks, so expect that bar burger to be slathered in house-made ketchup.

by Lisa

Tryst

Restaurants 2 0

By Lisa

Coffeehouse, bar, lounge

Tryst

2

The list of handcrafted caffeinated drinks is longwinded. For summer, there are frozen coffee drinks, smoothies, thai iced tea, and mexican coffee. For tea drinkers there are teas and tisanes. A list of house-blend drip coffees as well as a list of single origin coffees. And this doesn't even include brunch, baked goods, booze, paninis, etc.

by Lisa