Washington, D.C.
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Washington, D.C. - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. 9:30 Club
U Street | Live MusicThe inimitable 9:30 Club is consistently ranked as one of the best concert venues in the country—as much a place in which bands aspire to play...
The inimitable 9:30 Club is consistently ranked as one of the best concert venues in the country—as much a place in which bands aspire to play as it is a place that music fans love to patronize. The best indie and up-and-coming performers are the main attractions, though every now and then a bigger act such as Adele, Drake, Ed Sheeran, or Leon Bridges stop by to soak up the vibe of this large but cozy space wrapped by balconies on three sides. Once graced by legends such as Nirvana, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash, the venue is now a great spot for big labels looking for an intimate vibe. For its various music genres from country to pop, this venue has become one of the most attended clubs of its size. There are no bad views here, and the excellent sound system means you can stand anywhere for a great show experience.
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2. Black Cat
U Street | Live MusicWay before its stretch of 14th Street became the trendiest few blocks in town, the Black Cat was a destination for alternative music and quirky...
Way before its stretch of 14th Street became the trendiest few blocks in town, the Black Cat was a destination for alternative music and quirky nostalgic dance parties–-chiefly ever-popular ironic "duels" between pop acts (e.g., "The Cure vs. The Smiths," "Divas Dance Party"). But in addition to D.C.'s most popular bands and indie-rock favorites such as the Dandy Warhols, the Ravonettes, and Ex Hex, the Black Cat also regularly offers edgy burlesque and comedy. The postpunk crowd whiles away the time in the ground floor's Red Room, a side bar with pool tables, an eclectic jukebox, and no cover charge. The club is also home to Food for Thought, a legendary vegetarian café.
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3. Blues Alley
Georgetown | Live MusicHead here for a classy evening in an intimate setting, complete with great blues, jazz, and R&B from well-known performers such as Mose...
Head here for a classy evening in an intimate setting, complete with great blues, jazz, and R&B from well-known performers such as Mose Allison and Wynton Marsalis and outstanding New Orleans–style grub. Expect to pay a cover charge as well as a food or drink minimum. You can come for just the show, but those who enjoy a meal get better seats.
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, near M St., Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA202-337–4141 -
4. Capitol Steps
Downtown | Comedy ClubsPutting the "mock" in democracy, the musical political satire of this group—many of whom are current or former Hill staffers—is presented in...
Putting the "mock" in democracy, the musical political satire of this group—many of whom are current or former Hill staffers—is presented in the amphitheater of the Ronald Reagan Building every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and occasionally at other spots around town. This Washington classic is fun for the whole family, no matter on which side of the aisle you sit. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and online.
Ronald Reagan Bldg. and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004, USA703-683–8330 -
5. Cork Wine Bar
U Street | Wine BarsOn weekends, the crowds can spill onto 14th Street—but one of the best wine bars in D.C. is worth the wait. An outstanding wine list (mainly...
On weekends, the crowds can spill onto 14th Street—but one of the best wine bars in D.C. is worth the wait. An outstanding wine list (mainly French and Italian) is matched with delectable small plates, perfect for sharing.
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6. Flash
Dance ClubsThe decline of megaclubs in D.C. has coincided with a rise in more intimate and inviting venues for those serious about dancing. This photography...
The decline of megaclubs in D.C. has coincided with a rise in more intimate and inviting venues for those serious about dancing. This photography-themed jewel near the Howard Theatre replaced a pawnshop—a telling sign of this changing neighborhood. An operational photo booth is an entry point to the main upstairs dance floor, which envelops you in walls lined with 10,000 LED lights and a best-in-the-business Funktion One sound system. Pioneering underground DJs—Carl Craig, Chus & Ceballos—move their flocks of a couple hundred fans while intermittently flashing them from the rigged 24 parabolic reflectors behind them.
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7. Morris American Bar
Shaw | Bars/PubsFounded by Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn and D.C. nightlife entrepreneur Vinoda Basnayake, this Shaw bar serves spectacular cocktails. You...
Founded by Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn and D.C. nightlife entrepreneur Vinoda Basnayake, this Shaw bar serves spectacular cocktails. You'll feel like you're simultaneously at a 1950s-era diner, sitting on a backyard patio, and in a Wes Anderson film. The happy-hour menu features slightly cheaper cocktail options, wine, and beer, while the full menu offers cleverly crafted cocktails. Both menus change monthly, so make sure you return to see what's new, and if you're unsure of what to order, just ask a bartender. The bar menu includes cheese and charcuterie boards, dips, and salads.
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8. The Brixton
U Street | Bars/PubsAn English pub with an upscale D.C. twist offers three levels of fun in the heart of the U Street bustle. The menu is inspired by the Commonwealth...
An English pub with an upscale D.C. twist offers three levels of fun in the heart of the U Street bustle. The menu is inspired by the Commonwealth's reach, including Indian, some Caribbean spice, and outstanding English, right down to the fish-and-chips. The sprawling roof deck changes pace with two bars, great views, and weekend DJs. In between, the second floor is wide open. Brixton also offers trivia contests and comedians.
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9. All Souls
Shaw | Bars/PubsAll Souls feels like the perfect dive, a great place to meet up with friends and chat away in a booth, fresh drink or craft beer in hand. The...
All Souls feels like the perfect dive, a great place to meet up with friends and chat away in a booth, fresh drink or craft beer in hand. The simple yet refined cocktails are described in loving detail, alongside interesting wines and craft brews, on signs at the bar. You can order snacks, but you can also bring food in or have it delivered, making this feel even more like a friendly, neighborhood hangout.
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10. Anxo Cidery
Shaw | Brewpubs/Beer GardensTake a trip to Spain at Anxo (an-cho) Cidery. Here you can sample a multitude of ciders, a drink tied to the culture of the Basque country,...
Take a trip to Spain at Anxo (an-cho) Cidery. Here you can sample a multitude of ciders, a drink tied to the culture of the Basque country, and explore the unusual combinations produced from apples: from bright or fruit-forward to structured or rustic. Try one of the many flights, a dessert ice cider, and even some obscure, rare ciders. The bar also serves beer, wine, and cocktails for those who want something more familiar, and there's a menu of pintxos (small bites) as well.
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11. Black Jack
Logan Circle | Bars/PubsA red-velvet, almost vaudeville-like interior around the bar offers a saucy experience upstairs from the highly rated Pearl Dive Oyster Palace...
A red-velvet, almost vaudeville-like interior around the bar offers a saucy experience upstairs from the highly rated Pearl Dive Oyster Palace. In the back, you'll find a bocce court surrounded by stadium-style seats so onlookers can recline, imbibe, and cheer simultaneously. Though the most exquisite cocktail confections can be pricey, there's also an impressive beer lineup and a worthwhile menu ranging from mussels to pizza.
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12. Board Room
Dupont Circle | Bars/PubsPut down your smart phone and interact!" is the motto at this pub, with 20-plus beers on tap, a full bar, and many board games to rent—from...
"Put down your smart phone and interact!" is the motto at this pub, with 20-plus beers on tap, a full bar, and many board games to rent—from tried-and-true classics to vintage oddities. To enhance the fun, you can bring in your own food or have it delivered. Just don't bring in booze or other beverages; you are expected to buy them on the premises. Kids are welcome on occasion, but the rule is 21 and older. Reservations are accepted.
1737 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009, USA202-518–7666 -
13. Busboys and Poets
U Street | Bars/PubsPart eatery, part bookstore, and part event space, this popular local hangout draws a diverse crowd and hosts a wide range of entertainment...
Part eatery, part bookstore, and part event space, this popular local hangout draws a diverse crowd and hosts a wide range of entertainment, from poetry open mikes to music to guest authors and activist speakers. The name is an homage to Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy in D.C. before becoming a famous poet. This original location is open until 2 am on weekends—there's another downtown (at 1025 5th Street NW), as well as outposts in Maryland and Virginia.
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14. Cafe Citron
Dupont Circle | Bars/PubsOne of the longest-running Latin clubs in D.C., Cafe Citron maintains its relevance with the salsa-dancing set. After 10 pm Monday through Saturday...
One of the longest-running Latin clubs in D.C., Cafe Citron maintains its relevance with the salsa-dancing set. After 10 pm Monday through Saturday, the café becomes a nightclub featuring DJs who play primarily Latin music, spiced with Euro dance and techno. The café also offers daily happy hours until 8 and late-night happy hours after 9 on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed Sunday.) Work up an appetite, and indulge in Latin American snacks such as Bolivian salteñas.
1343 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, USA202-530–8844 -
15. Café Saint-Ex
U Street | Bars/PubsNamed for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French pilot and author of The Little Prince, this bi-level bar has two distinct atmospheres. The upstairs...
Named for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French pilot and author of The Little Prince, this bi-level bar has two distinct atmospheres. The upstairs brasserie has pressed-tin ceilings and a propeller hanging over the polished wooden bar. Downstairs is the Gate 54 nightclub, designed to resemble an airplane hangar, with dropped corrugated-metal ceilings and backlit aerial photographs. The downstairs DJs draw a fairly young crowd, while the upstairs menu attracts a more subdued clientele for dinner.
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16. Calico
Shaw | Bars/PubsTucked away in Blagden Alley in the heart of Shaw, this hipster’s dream offers kitschy decor made modern and an ethereal garden backyard. Take...
Tucked away in Blagden Alley in the heart of Shaw, this hipster’s dream offers kitschy decor made modern and an ethereal garden backyard. Take a boozy adult juice box to the urban backyard, featuring a 3,000-square-foot patio with farmhouse tables, string lights, plants, and a vintage greenhouse. Formerly a boxing gym and art studio, the restaurant offers a menu with elevated takes on cookout classics like crab cakes, short ribs, and hoagies.
50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA202-791–0134 -
17. Chi-Cha Lounge
U Street | Bars/PubsGroups of young professionals relax on sofas and armchairs in this hip hangout modeled after an Ecuadorian hacienda, while Latin jazz mingles...
Groups of young professionals relax on sofas and armchairs in this hip hangout modeled after an Ecuadorian hacienda, while Latin jazz mingles with pop music in the background and old movies run silently behind the bar. The place gets packed on weekends, so come early to get a coveted sofa along the back wall. Down the tasty tapas as you enjoy the namesake drink—think sangria with a bigger kick. Or try a hookah filled with a range of flavored tobaccos, from apple to watermelon. A dress-to-impress dress code is strictly enforced.
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18. Cobalt
Dupont Circle | Dance ClubsPopular among the gay and lesbian crowd, this venue anchors the 17th Street strip with three distinct floors: the bottom floor is the Level...
Popular among the gay and lesbian crowd, this venue anchors the 17th Street strip with three distinct floors: the bottom floor is the Level One restaurant, home to a popular weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. The chic 30 Degrees lounge occupies the second level, and above that is the booming dance club Cobalt. The weekends get wild Friday and Saturday when the club presents popular DJs, both local and national, and drag shows with well-known illusionists.
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19. DC Improv
Downtown | Comedy ClubsThe city's main spot for comedy offers a steady menu of well-known and promising stand-up headliners—recent acts have included Judah Friedlander...
The city's main spot for comedy offers a steady menu of well-known and promising stand-up headliners—recent acts have included Judah Friedlander—as well as a bevy of funny amateurs. Tickets vary depending on the act. Typically, there's a two-item minimum from a full food and drink menu.
1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, USA202-296–7008 -
20. DC9
U Street | Live MusicWith live music most days of the week, this small two-story rock club with an upper deck hosts fledgling indie bands and the occasional nationally...
With live music most days of the week, this small two-story rock club with an upper deck hosts fledgling indie bands and the occasional nationally known act. There's a narrow bar on the ground floor, a sizable concert space on the second floor, and an enclosed roof deck on top. DJs take the controls for Friday-night dance parties.
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