Washington, D.C.

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 daily·Cover: $20-40, drink minimum: $10

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.

6-11:30PM·cover: $10-60 · Wheelchair accessible

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-3AM·cover: $5-30 · Limited wheelchair access

Big Bear Café

This hipster café just outside Shaw in the neighborhood of Bloomingdale has a unique vibe - covered in moss and grape vines!

Closed · opens 8 am tomorrow·Wi-Fi · Takeaway · Outdoor seating

Bossa

The food is subpar, the drinks are pricey, but the bands are usually great.

Closed · opens 5:30 pm tomorrow·Admission $5-8; Mojito $10 · Wheelchair accessible · Live music

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 season·Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible

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-3AM·Wheelchair accessible

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-11PM·Outdoor seating

Dan's Cafe

This family run operation is a true dive bar and most colorful bars in the city. Operated since 1965 by owner Clinnie Dickens, who is now in his 80s. SoCo lime shooters are served in squeeze ketchup bottles. It's a one of a kind experience. If you want a dive on 18th St, this is it. Cash only.

Sun-Thu 7PM-2AM, Fri Sat 7PM-3AM·Limited wheelchair access

El Chucho

This taqueria and bar is known for happy hour specials. Specialities include margaritas (including a habanero spiced margarita that has a real kick), tacos, and grilled corn with cheese. The kitchen closes before the bar does.

Mon-Thu 4PM-2AM, Fri 4PM-3AM, Sat 11:30AM-3AM, Sun 11:30AM-2AM·Outdoor seating

Jolt 'N Bolt

Another neighborhood outdoor seating and WiFi coffee shop, this one with a more private seating area on the side of the building. The inside is attractive, decorated with local artwork.

Mon-Fri 7AM-8:30PM, Sat 7AM-9PM, Sun 7AM-8:30PM·Outdoor seating

Lot 38 Espresso Bar

A rare sign of neighborhood life in the form of an actual family-run local business! It's a great coffeeshop with a big space, and serves as a really good meeting place pre-games, if the Bullpen isn't your thing. Free Wi-Fi.

Mon-Fri 6:30AM-6PM, Sat-Sun 8AM-4PM·Wi-Fi

Mercy Me

Hip, modern bar/ lounge with a Latin influenced menu that's more Brooklyn/ Adams Morgan than West End. Very popular with a young cool crowd as well as hip out-of-towners. Although it is a hotel bar, it attracts a strong local crowd. Unpretentious and very welcoming.

5–10:30PM·Wi-Fi

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-midnight·Outdoor seating

Nanny O'Brien's Irish Pub

Laid back with excellent beers on tap. Monday night Irish jam sessions.

Sun-Thu noon-2AM, Fri Sat noon-3AM·Beer: $4-11 · Wheelchair accessible

Shenanigans Irish Pub

A good selection of Irish beers and drinks. Popular with the young and drunk crowd.

Open now · closes 2 am tomorrow·Wheelchair accessible

Solly's Tavern

Somewhat resembling a dive bar, this venue is famous for its weekly Kostume Karaoke on Thursdays, in which costumes are provided for patrons to be less self-conscious when they sing to a drunken crowd.

Closed · opens 4 pm·Burgers $12 · Outdoor seating

Tunnicliff's Tavern

Nothing terribly out of the ordinary, this is just a good bar. Prices are cheap, it's right by Eastern Market, wooden interior, and there's patio seating. The menu offers decent Cajun cuisine. Dogs are allowed on the patio and they come in droves.

Mon-Thu 11AM-2AM, Fri 11AM-3AM, Sat 9AM-3AM, Sun 9AM-2AM·Outdoor seating

Union Pub

A sports bar with many televisions and a craft beer selection.

Closed · opens 4 pm·Outdoor seating

Grand Central

During the week, it's a sports bar. On the weekend, top 40 pop songs are blasting and the venue attracts a younger, drunker crowd.

Closed · opens 6 pm·Wheelchair accessible

The Wonderland Ballroom

Columbia Heights' neighborhood bar is beloved by the neighborhood's residents, especially the hipsters for the welcoming, local neighborhood bar vibe. There's a lot of history at this bar. Its previous incarnation as Nob Hill was a legendary gay bar that had quite a run from 1954–2004. Weekends are crowded, but people will be happy to let you squeeze. Dance floor upstairs.

5PM-2AM daily·Limited wheelchair access

Zeba

A multi-level bar with a dance floor, friendly bartenders, hookah, and good pizza.

Closed · opens 5 pm·Outdoor seating

Bier Baron Tavern

Features more than 300 beers on the menu, including around 40 on tap. The servers are remarkably knowledgeable if you are looking for particular recommendations—and they might talk you out of that second rate Kenyan lager you just ordered in favor of a far superior Belgian beer. Try the fried oreos.

Mon-Thu 11:30AM-2AM, Fri 11:30AM-3AM, Sat 6PM-3AM, Sun 6PM-2AM·Beer $4-14

Breadsoda

It has all you could want of a basement-level dive bar: pool, ping pong, good sandwiches, relaxed and friendly atmosphere—except it's clean and attractive. Happy hour: 4-7PM daily.

Kitchen: noon-11PM daily; bar: Sun-Thu noon-1:30AM, Fri Sat noon-2:30AM·Sandwiches: $4-6

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-1:30AM·Food: $8-16

Cafe Saint-Ex

The contemporary American Bistro upstairs (with good food but spotty service) is complemented by a very popular bar/lounge downstairs, where DJs spin bossa, downtempo, French lounge, 70s funk, etc. DJs usually spin starting at 10PM Tu-Sa, but check the website for details.

Sun Tue-Thu 11AM-1:30AM, Mon 5PM-1:30AM, Fri Sat 11AM-2:30AM·Mains $12-23

ChurchKey

Birch & Barley

Beer selection is the primary reason to come here, with 50 craft brews on tap and 500 bottles of beer on the wall. It's a really classy, stylish bar, but it's so crowded that you won't be able to sit, much less chat with the friendly and very knowledgeable bartenders (M-W nights are best). Happy hour is busy and a good time to meet people. Downstairs is Birch & Barley, which serves the full beer menu and has excellent contemporary American dinner plates. Since you can reserve a table downstairs, that can be a good bet if you don't want to brave the crowds upstairs.

Mon-Fri 4PM-1:30AM, Sat Sun noon-2:30AM

Fireplace

Black men's gay bar that serves decent brick-oven baked pizzas. Always crowded—to the point of spilling out onto the street—after dark. Upstairs sees dancing on a very dimly lit dance floor.

Mon-Thu 1PM-2AM, Fri Sat 1PM-3AM, Sun 1PM-2AM

Froggy Bottom Pub

Serving the community and the university for several years, Froggy Bottom is a good place to hang out with friends and enjoy a beer, with the food and beer fairly inexpensive. There is patio seating when the weather is warm, and some pool and foosball in the back.

Mon-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat noon-2AM

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