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Experience the hottest and coolest places to spend a night along DC's U Street Corridor.
This pioneering gay sports bar, one of the first to open outside of Dupont Circle, hosts all sorts of events, like trivia and drag bingo. Named for the owners' great-grandmother, the bar boasts dozens of TVs in the relaxed downstairs, and an upstairs patio dance floor that goes strong until close.
A subterranean hideaway music venue for underground and big-name acts. Prices are low, crowds are friendly and acoustics are great in a space with no attitude. It’s simply a fantastic place to catch a show and dance.
If you’re looking for delicious bar snacks snacks and creative cocktails at any hour, then head to Service Bar. A rotating list of seasonal cocktails and affordable drinks will keep everyone in your group happy untill the early hours of the morning.
The brightly colored Colada Shop – located just off of U Street – is a photographer’s dream. This Cuban cafe-bar hybrid is packed with pastel hues and good vibes, which extend to the dog-friendly patio and rooftop garden. Reasonably-priced bites bring to life diverse flavors and are best paired with a bold Cuban coffee by day and a cocktail by night. Head to the rooftop on Thursdays for a Caribbean-themed all-night happy hour starring $6 cocktails and $2 empanadas.
Billed as an “adult treehouse,” the turf-adorned El Techo brings the heat with spicy margaritas and the creative Mexican street food you’ve come to expect from the downstairs Rito Loco shop. El Techo also offers Spanish-inspired tapas and a number of cervezas for the perfect warm-weather happy hour.
The corner of U and 14th Streets may be one of the most well-known and crowded intersections in the city, but The Gibson remains inconspicuous, and for good reason. This intimate speakeasy, accessible only through an unmarked door, attracts couples and cocktail lovers alike. Dimly lit tables require reservations, while bar seats and the patio remain walk-in-ready when bespoke drinks are calling your name.
This British pub has become a popular happy hour and late-night locale, situated along the nightlife hub that is U Street. Head upstairs to the roof deck for some memorable views, especially during sunset. And oh yeah, there’s some beverages and bites you’ll want to accompany your relaxation: happy hour means all draughts are $2 off and plenty of food options for under $10.
Be sure to dress up, whether grooving to jazz or getting down to slick beats at a dance party. Howard Theatre has been refurbished to honor its original glory, anchoring the easternmost end of the U Street and Shaw neighborhoods and hosting big-name acts across R&B, pop and other genres.
Concert at DC9 Bar and Club in Shaw - Nightlife in Washington, DC
This bar and music venue is as unapologetically divey as it gets in an ever-evolving neighborhood. Happy hour goes late, but drinks are still quite affordable on any of the three floors. Hang out downstairs in a cozy booth; visit the middle floor for stand-up comedy, live music or ‘90s dance parties; and take a breather on the top-floor patio (which is open year-round and covered in the winter).
In this downstairs space, parties go late – very late, in fact. Themed party nights attract those who aren’t done dancing when it's closing time at other bars. Be warned, it gets warm. The name really does say it all.
This hipster hangout, and its next-door neighbor Dodge City, are narrow, popular and friendly bars, both with back patios. Velvet is a bit more divey, and hosts live music and DJ sets of artists you probably haven’t heard of, but that you won’t be able to stop dancing to.
"Good vibes only" isn't just the motto at 801 Restaurant & Bar, it's also the first thing patrons see (illuminated in white lights) when reaching the top of the stairs at this rooftop bar straddling the U Street and Shaw neighborhoods. If you're with a thirsty group, try the signature 801 Mega Mule – a multi-person Moscow Mule served in a massive copper mug.
No single adjective can describe the U Street scene. This strip of activity changes by the day, making it one of the most dynamic, vibrant, and energetic corridors in the District. For more adventures, you should also check out more things to do on U Street or always-exciting 14th Street.
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