Hi All,

Myself and 3 (or 4) friends want to spend a weekend in DC. (We all live in New York City and want to get-away for a bit.) After sightseeing during the day, we'd like to find some really cool bars/lounges/clubs to go to at night. We assumed the Georgetown area would be the place to go because of Georgetown U. However, I read some other articles and Dupont Cirlce sounds, well reads, like the "in" area? Can you help us? Oh, we also need ideas about moderately priced hotels - like 3 star type places. We've thought about these hotels so far: Holiday Inn Georgetown, State Plaza Hotel, Washington Suites Hotel, Latham Suites, JW Marriot and Georgetown Suites.

Thanks,
L

PS: Sorry for the all the questions but we've never been and want a nice hotel close to cool places to go...

Although not in your age-range myself, I can tell you that we (family with teenagers) just returned from DC and stayed at Washington Suites Georgetown. It might suit your purposes - we got a 2 room suite (bedroom with 2 queen beds, plus we got a roll-away) plus LR with sofa bed. Full kitchen and also got continental breakfast. Our rate was $109 on washingtondchotels.com. While this hotel is called "georgetown" it is actually between Foggy Bottom Metro and Georgetown - making it accessible to Metro and walking distance to Georgetown.

While in Georgetown for dinner, we noticed most people in restaurants and on street were in 21-28 age range - seemed like there might be a lot going on for you and friends, although I hope other posters will have more info for you on that aspect than I can offer. Have a good trip.

Skip Georgetown, too crowded with tourist, no parking, never really liked it. And not metro accessible. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to explore the city during the day.

Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are the places to go, Dupont Circle is on the Metro Line and Adams Morgan is walkable from there, and since you from NY, I'm sure you are used to city walking, so it shouldn't be an issue. Save the cab fare for the trip back.

Adams Morgan has something for everyone, loads of ethnic restaurants, and dance clubs to grungy pool halls to smokey jazz clubs, all withing a few blocks. Great people watching, the streets are alive.

The U street corridor also has some nightlife.

If I were you, I would look into Dupont Circle for a hotel. And, FYI-the business district and the area around the mall can be pretty dead at night.

Hey,
my friend goes to NYU, weird.....anyways, I'm right in your age group and I hope these suggestions will help. First, what are you looking for? for clubs I say take a cab to "DREAM" off NY avenue and get ready to pay $20 cover but it's worth it inside. For a more rave scene, check out "BUZZ" on Fridays in Southwest. For some chill bars, head to Georgetown Station right on M street, Third Edition on Wisconsin, or Irish Times.
As far as lounges, I like Dragonfly on Connecticut, and 1223 on Connecticut. All cater to upper class twenty and thirty somethings.

Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are fun. Go to the Pharmacy Bar.

Badlands is a MUST for all young college students!

don't listen to xxx, Badlands is a gay bar.

But it's a GREAT gay bar!
Jason, you're a party pooper.

I'm just trying to save them the cover charge. heheh.

Georgetown sucks. Adams Morgan is where you want to be and it's walking distance to Dupont. I'd stay in Dupont, probably at the Sofitel, Westin, Hilton or perhaps the Radison on P Street. From Dupont you can walk to the Mall. Here are the places to go: Toledo Lounge, Bedrock Billiards, Big Hunt, 18th Street Lounge, Brickskellar, Chief Ike's Mambo Room. Also, down by the MCI Center, Jaleo and Cafe Atlantico both have cool bars and great food.

I'm right in your age range, and to start off the night I would definitely make a trip down to the Georgetown waterfront (Sequoia, Harbor Club, etc) on Friday or Saturday early (7-10) and then head out up to Adams Morgan or Midtown. If you are looking for lounges I would definitely hit up Chi-Cha lounge, cities, or the blue room. Chi-cha is my personal fave. If you are looking for an outdoor deck or a really laid back scene definitely hit up Reef, which in my opinon is the best bar in A.M.
For clubs I would go to VIP Club (though I feel it is overrated), or Dream. Dream is in a pretty sketchy area of town so I would strongly recommend taking a car. Check out Club Red late nite after 2 or 3.
If you are looking for something more upscale, go to the 18th and Conn. intersection for 1223, Dragonfly, 18th St. Lounge and 5. 1223 is definitely on the downturn of its existence but it can still be fun.
I would definitely stay in Dupont Circle if you can find a place as it is central to most of the above and an easy cab ride. Check out Hotel Rouge, I hear its pretty nice and it has a nice new bar inside.
Stay away from Polyesthers, and most of the bars in G'town as they are primarily tourist traps and have no individual flavor.

Thank you for your (quick) replies. They are appreciated. I now have some great ideas on places to visit.If I have any more questions, I will post them. Thank you again, L

If you have the time on a Friday night go see Glady Kravitts at Badlands.
If you can do Donna Summer or Gloria Gaynor you are IN!
FYI... I am a straight female in my 30's
Lot's of eye candy for you girls, just NO bathrooms!!!!
I'm going on the 30th and I can't wait!

Great responses! (I'm part of L's party, hoping to have a great time in DC!)
We'll definitely check out the clubs mentioned - one more question though: are any of these clubs diverse, and are there any hip-hop or Top 40 places? I think I'd go insane if ALL the clubs we went to were just techno-ish music.
Thanks!
(And yes, I think the gay clubs are some of the best places to dance!)
Viz

I'm going to chime in on the virtues of going out in Adams Morgan again, if you get tired of the music in one club, move to another!

The clubs there are not all techno-ish. Although I haven't been in a while, Chief Ike's Mambo room is a great place to dance, not overly techno, a good mix of things, plus they have an upstairs bar where you can chill and play a game of pool.

Heaven and Hell used to be more top-40, with weekly "80's" nights.

Madam's Organ has live music.

There is an African bar where you can dance to northern African music, great fun.

Outside of Adams Morgan:

The Brickskellar is not a dance club, but a pub bar/restaurant with hundreds of types of beer, the menu is pages long.

Yep, Viz (hey you!) is a part of my entourage. We have a pretty diverse group of people going (if you could only see) so all of your advice is GREAT!! However, do any of ideas on hotels?
-L

As a previous poster suggested, check out Hotel Rouge, on 16th st. in Dupont, or Topaz Hotel, on N St, also in Dupont. Both owned by the same company, and both are funky and hip with great bars and definitely not the normal cookie-cutter DC hotel that caters to business travelers. I think you can also get great deals at the Radisson Barcelo on P Street, and the Jurys Hotel on New Hampshire Ave - both right in Dupont Circle. My mom just stayed at Jurys last weekend for $79 thru expedia!
The Adams Morgan suggestion is probably your best bet, and I would also highly recommend the U Street area, just east of AM and Dupont. For Viz looking for hip-hop (props, by the way!) Erico on U Street, b/w 13th and 14th, sometimes has good hip-hop nights. My boy Todd Mack spins funk and hip-hop every other Saturday at a little dive bar called Kingpin, on 10th and U. It's a great night. And a lot of the big clubs (Dream, VIP, etc.) have hip-hop nights, or a certain floor spinning hip-hop, but those places aren't really my scene, so i'm not sure what the best ones are. Depending on when you come, you might even catch me spinning hip-hop somewhere.

If any of you all like Britpop, there's a great dance night at the Black Cat once a month called Mousetrap, and several smaller Britpop nights throughout the city. Panic is every Friday at the Metro Cafe. Definitely check out the Black Cat at some point - on 14th and S. Great indie bands and dance nights (Confusion is great, and Bliss is fun too - check the Black Cat schedule to see what's going on when you're here), and a very cool bar (the Red Room) to just hang out in.


Other recs: the Sunday night Sex and the City viewing party at Felix in Adams Morgan; sitting on the rooftop at Wazuri in Adams Morgan, drinking mojitos or rum punch and eating great African food; Blue Room on Sunday night for a cool mellow DJ night called Filler; as recommended earlier, Chi Cha Lounge, Pharmacy Bar and Jaleo.

Have a great trip!

I'm outside your age range, so no entertainment suggestions here, but I will vouch for Radisson Barcelo.

Last spring had reservations at Summerfield Suites by Wyndham, just 1.5 blocks s of Dupont. $129 for 2 bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen, sofa bed in LR. Didn't stay, as friends insisted on Embassy Suite Alexandria, but we stopped by and they regretted forcing Embassy on us. Dupont C is where EVERYONE goes.

Another vote for Dupont and Adams Morgan.

Also try City Lights of China in Dupont for yummy food. Jaleo is fun and good for tapas - I forgot where it is (too drunk).

You must go to Chi-Chas in Adams Morgan. Super cool and relaxing although it gets packed.