Nightlife in Washington, D.C.

250 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in Washington, D.C..

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 250.

Photo: Michael Shields, CC BY 2.5 (licence)

BuyBookshopDupont Circle
Kramers
A great independent bookstore and a tried and true Washingtonian experience. It's an odd bookstore, in that it has a full restaurant and bar—pick up a travel guide inferior to this one and then sit down for filet mignon, perhaps? Occasional evening author talks, and live music on weekends.
Sun-Thu 7:30AM-1AM, Fri Sat 24 hr; brunch (popular and crowded): Sat Sun 8AM-3PMFood: $10-20 · Wi-Fi · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkNightclubGeorgetown
Blues Alley
One of the world's great jazz clubs, playing host nightly to mostly national and international acts. The atmosphere is wonderful, in a brick building off Wisconsin in an actual "Blues Alley." The venue is tiny and packed full; patrons are respectful and do not talk during performances (if you want conversation, go elsewhere). The range of music, however, has become a little wider than jazz purists would like—check the website calendar to make sure you'll hear music to your taste. Seating is not assigned, so get in the line early, which starts to form one half hour before shows.
1.5-2 hour sets at 8PM & 10PM dailyCover: $20-40, drink minimum: $10
DoTheatreNear Northeast
Atlas Performing Arts Center
First opened in 1938, the Atlas Theatre was an old movie palace that was transformed into an arts center and performance venue in 2004 via an extensive $22 million renovation. Performances run throughout the whole year, and vary from drama to musical to cabaret to dance. The building also houses a public art gallery.
Art gallery: Tue-Sun noon-6PM
DrinkNightclubShaw
9:30 Club
Check the calendar as the top shows sell out fast. This standing-room-only 1,200 person venue boasts top-notch lighting and sound systems, and expensive booze. The place is small enough where you are going to have a great view no matter where you are standing.
6-11:30PMcover: $10-60 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeCapitol Hill
Congressional Cemetery
All sorts of notables from American history found their final resting place here, from composer John Sousa to FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover. The cemetery hosts regular yoga classes in the summer as well as a monthly book club.
DoTheatreShaw
Lincoln Theatre
Native Washingtonians Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey performed in the Lincoln Theatre. The theatre also hosted shows by Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Billie Holliday and Sarah Vaughn.
DoTheatreEast End
Warner Theatre
The Warner Theatre is a gorgeous old building. A former 1920s movie palace, having long languished in disrepair, was finally reopened in 1992 following extensive restoration. The Warner Theatre hosts Broadway shows, concerts, dance, and stand-up, etc.
$35-75
DoTheatreShaw
Howard Theatre
A historic theater, opened in 1910 and extensively renovated in 2012 after decades of vandalism, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
DrinkNightclubShaw
Black Cat
Hosts indie-rock and underground hip hop. The sound system certainly suffers compared to the 9:30 Club, but the cost is lower, and there's more to do here: in addition to the live music, they have another room for DJs and dancing, one for shooting pool, and another for a vegetarian cafe!
Sun-Thu 8PM-2AM, Fri Sat 7PM-3AMcover: $5-30 · Limited wheelchair access
DoTheatreWaterfront
The Anthem
Versatile 6000-person venue with bars, featuring rock concerts and other performances.
Wheelchair accessible
DoTheatreEast End
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
This is the top theater company downtown for seeing new plays. Drama here is edgy, takes real risks, and is almost always memorable.
$25-50
DrinkBarAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Bossa
The food is subpar, the drinks are pricey, but the bands are usually great.
Closed · opens 5:30 pm tomorrowAdmission $5-8; Mojito $10 · Wheelchair accessible · Live music
EatBurger restaurantAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Lucky Buns
Specialty burgers. The popular Aussie inspired Bogan burger comes with gouda and bacon jam, and the El Jefe has hatch green chili relish and queso fresco. Sides include thick cut British style fries with ketchup, mayo or curry. Also features a Tropical-esque cocktail program inline with the nightlife in AdMo.
5PM-midnight$10-35 · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkBarWaterfront
The Bullpen
Basically a big yard for pre-game drinking. It's always lively before night games, with random live music, $6 drinks, plastic cups, and passable bar food served out of trucks. The food in the stadium itself can be better, but it's less expensive here.
Only open during the baseball seasonOutdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkDupont Circle
Cafe Citron
A super-crowded Latin salsa/reggaeton dance club that is one of the best bets for a good party on a weekday. Weekends are too crowded to dance. Definitely try one of their renowned mojitos. No cover, strict door policy (i.e. no shorts allowed).
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-2AM, Fri Sat 4PM-3AMWheelchair accessible
DrinkBarDupont Circle
DOYLE
A classy place at the bottom of the Dupont Hotel with the best people watching in town through its wall of windows right on Dupont Circle. The drinks are excellent, and the happy hour special—$5 for their signature cocktails—is quite a bargain for this location.
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-1:30AM, Fri 11:30AM-2:30AM, Sat 11AM-2:30AM, Sun 11AM-11PMOutdoor seating
DrinkCapitol Hill
Mr. Henry's
Once the regular home to Roberta Flack, this place has seen some famous clientele—Burt Bacharach, Carmen McRae, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Ramsey Lewis, and Johnny Mathis were all fans. The live music continues upstairs, but for the most part this is just a nice dive pub, particularly gay/lesbian-friendly, and a block off Eastern Market.
Mon-Sat 11:15AM-midnight, Sun 10AM-midnightOutdoor seating
DoPerforming arts venueShaw
Washington Improv Theater
WIT
Hosts hilarious paid improv shows throughout the year, plus the pay-what-you-want "Harold Night" improv shows every Tuesday night.
DrinkAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Bukom Cafe
The "cafe" bit refers to the food, which is fine Ghanaian cuisine (don't miss the "beer meat"). But the attraction that draws the crowds is the nightly live music—mostly reggae bands, but also West African music. The friendly crowd is mostly African, and a good deal older and more laid back than the rowdy neighbors. No cover.
Mon-Thu 4PM-1:30AM, Fri 4PM-2:30AM, Sat 2PM-2:30AM, Sun 2PM-1:30AMFood: $8-16
EatJapanese restaurantShaw
Chaplins' Restaurant & Bar
A 1920s-themed Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar famous for ramen noodles.
Closed · opens 4 pm
DrinkBarGeorgetown
Georgetown Piano Bar
Great drinks, good for groups. "Come sing along with us" is the slogan.
Sun–Thu 5PM–2AM, Fri Sat 5PM–3AM. Live piano music 7PM to closing
DrinkBarDupont Circle
Larry's Lounge
One of many gay clubs in D.C., set apart mostly for the fact that people with differing tastes will be happy. The first floor is a fairly relaxed bar scene where you can chat, while the upstairs club is thumping, raucous, and dancing. The shirtless bartenders are also a draw. Offers a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
Mon-Thu 5PM-2AM, Fri 5PM-3AM, Sat 11AM-3AM
DrinkBarAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Madam's Organ
Virtually anyone who's been to Adams Morgan has been to the fixture that is Madams Organ. Live music every night—mainly blues but also jazz and bluegrass. Tuesday night is acoustic Delta blues. It owns its own atmosphere, with its stuffed animals, appliances and nick-nacks hanging from the walls and ceiling. Playboy magazine once named it one of the best bars in America, and redheads get discounts.
Sun-Thu 5PM-2AM, Fri Sat 5PM-3AMCover: usually $3 · Outdoor seating
DrinkPubAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Roofers Union
The biggest bar in the area, with three-levels plus a more relaxed rooftop deck offering great views of the neighborhood from its tables. The club, and of course the rooftop patio, can get extremely crowded, so show up early on the weekends. No dress code, no cover.
Sun-Thu 5PM-2AM, Fri Sat 5PM-3AM
DrinkBarShaw
Black Jack
An extremely popular bar with a great selection of beers and cocktails.
Closed · opens 6 pm Wednesday
DrinkNightclubShaw
Flash
The city's leading venue for underground house and techno. Excellent sound system and popular stop for DJs from the Berlin/Ibiza/ London circuit during the European off season. Features a rooftop dance floor.
DrinkPubNear Northeast
The Pug
A small, boxing-themed dive bar. "No idiots. No politics. No specials".
DrinkNightclubDupont Circle
Decades DC
A 3-story retro-themed club that plays music from the 1980s and 1990s.
Cover charge: usually $20
DrinkBarAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Grand Duchess
Classic cocktails, beer, and wine with varied music & occasional vinyl nights.
SeeDupont Circle
Townsend Mansion
Cosmos Club
Almost completed rebuilt by heiress Mary Scott Townsend in 1899, the house features a Beaux Arts, Louis XVI French-inspired design. Townsend lived there until she died in 1931. For a period of time before World War II, Sumner Welles, the son-in-law of Mary Scott Townsend and Franklin D. Roosevelt's Under Secretary of State, lived in the Townsend Mansion. The Cosmos Club, a private social club, bought the house in 1950, and continues to occupy the mansion.
DoLive music venueGeorgetown
Dumbarton Concerts
Concerts by Candlelight
Dumbarton is a prestigious street in Georgetown, and prestigious acts perform at Dumbarton Concerts. Even if they did not, any candlelight performances of classical music in a historic Georgetown church would be reason enough to come. Get your tickets in advance since they sell out quickly.
Concerts usually Sat 4PM, 8PMAdult $35, students $30, senior $30
DoLive music venueAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Sunday Drum Circle @ Meridian Hill Park
The weekly Drum Circle has been going on for nearly 50 years, and is one of the coolest events in the city, with the most diverse section of drummers, acrobats, and dancers. Come to hang out and enjoy the vibe, or bring your drum and join in the jam session!
Nice weather: Sun 3-9PM
EatBarbecue restaurantEast End
Hill Country Barbecue
Texas barbecue—the absolute best in the District—with live music every night.
DrinkBarDupont Circle
Ozio Restaurant and Lounge
A self-proclaimed cigar and martini bar, which at times seems much more of a swanky, upscale, four-floor dance club than anything else. The crowds get thick F Sa, which makes for a good night of dancing, while weeknights are better for heading to the first floor bar for that cigar and martini. The cigar menu is long and impressive.
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-2AM, Fri 11:30AM-3AM, Sat 6PM-3AMOutdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
Madams Organ
The unmistakeable mural that is (to the consternation of some of the more uptight residents) the somewhat risqué symbol of Adams Morgan.
EatItalian restaurantGeorgetown
Cafe Milano
Power lunches among the diplomatic and political elite, late night dinners for local and international celebrities and a real 'scene' on weekends. This Italian restaurant has excellent service and an extensive wine list, but merely average food—not that anyone cares: you come here to see and be seen, after all. It is possible to keep your bill comparatively low here if you choose your menu selections carefully and avoid the expensive alcohol on offer.
Mon-Tue 11:30AM-1AM, Wed Thu 11:30AM-2AM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-2:30AM, Sun 11:30AM-11PM$35-100 · Outdoor seating
SeeGeorgetown
City Tavern Club
Built in 1796 as a neighborhood pub, the City Tavern is the oldest commercial structure in the city, and the second oldest building following the Old Stone House. The interior is a beautiful trip back to the 18th century, but it is closed to the public, except for private event bookings.
EatSalvadoran restaurantAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights
El Tamarindo
This Salvadoran place offers solid food and solid drinks at reasonable prices, in a nice, comfortable dining room. Another establishment catering to the ultra-late night crowd.
Mon-Thu 11AM-3AM; Fri 11AM-5AM; Sat Sun 10AM-5AM$12-25 · Outdoor seating
DoNear Northeast
Langston Golf Course
Given its obscure location, you might assume this would be an empty 18 holes, but you'd be wrong—it's no secret to the locals. Langston's public course offers the most challenging and interesting 18 inside the Beltway, including an infamous shot 200 yards out to an island on the Anacostia River. It opened in 1939 as a segregated African-American golf club named after John Mercer Langston. It has since attracted a good amount of African-American celebrities —Joe Louis was a big fan and booster. Much better than the other D.C. golf course, Rock Creek Golf Course.
M-Th: $21 for 9 holes, $28 for 18 holes; F-Su: $25 for 9 holes, $35 for 18 holes
DoWaterfront
D.C. United Games @ Audi Field
After Major League Soccer was founded in 1996, D.C. United won four out of the first nine annual championships, although the team has not won the league since. The games are a lot of fun, kept raucous by the area's enormous Latino population. United opened its new Audi Field during the 2018 season. For the full experience, buy a field level ticket online from the La Barra Brava club website ($25), dress up in red and black (at least make sure not to wear the colors of the opposing team), learn the chants posted on the website, then join the group for a tailgating party before the match in lot 8. Be prepared to stay on your feet, jump up and down a lot, and sing their chants!
March to October; most games are on weekends in the evening$23-45, more for premium matches

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Washington, D.C. (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.