Washington, D.C. Nightlife
1811 14th Street N.W.
Washington , D.C.
20009
Tel: 202 667 4490
www.blackcatdc.com
The Black Cat is hipster ground zero in D.C. The music venue has an impressive pedigree: Foo Fighter Dave Grohl is an investor, and it has played host to a veritable who's who of musicians from Pavement to Modest Mouse to the White Stripes. Downstairs in the Red Room bar, the vintage-clad masses sip Pabst and play pinball, while the upstairs venue alternates between indie rock shows and the occasional dance night. Try to catch Mousetrap, the club's legendary Brit-pop party, held the second Saturday of each month. Popular bands tend to sell out, so be sure to check the club's Web site to get tickets in advance.
Open Mondays through Thursdays 8 pm to 2 am, Fridays and Saturdays 7 pm to 3 am, and Sundays 8 pm to midnight.
2321 18th Street N.W.
Washington , D.C.
20009
Tel: 202 332 0800
www.bourbondc.com
Adams Morgan on the weekends can vacillate between a rowdy bar crawl and a frat party gone too far. But if you're willing to brave the crowds stumbling down 18th Street, you'll find solace in Bourbon, a laid-back but chic bar that caters to a (slightly) better-behaved crowd. In the summer the back garden is a hidden oasis, and in the winter you can warm yourself with the more than 100 whiskeys on offer.
Open Mondays through Thursdays 6 pm to 2 am, Fridays 5 pm to 3 am, Saturdays 11 to 3 am, and Sundays 11 to 2 am.
1847 14th Street N.W.
Washington , D.C.
20009
Tel: 202 265 7839
www.saint-ex.com
Café Saint-Ex started as the ultimate neighborhood spot when it opened in 2003, serving the then gentrifying U Street neighborhood as a combination bistro, bar, dance spot, and sidewalk café. But the Parisian vintage decor, the cozy vibe, and edgy DJs turned it into a destination for people citywide. Now young Hill staffers mingle with the Converse-and-skinny-jean crowd over Chimay and Delirium Tremens beers. On weekends, the tiny downstairs dance floor gets packed with the young and intoxicated grinding to Top 40 and hip hop. Weeknights tend to attract an artier set with indie rock, Brit pop, and occasional surprise DJ sets by rockers dropping by after shows at the nearby Black Cat.
Open Mondays 5:30 pm to 1:30 am, Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays 11 am to 1:30 am, and Fridays and Saturdays 11 am to 2:30 am.
1212 18th Street N.W.
Washington , D.C.
20036
Tel: 202 466 3922
www.eighteenthstreetlounge.com
The unmarked entrance, long lines, and strict door policy (women: channel your inner Sienna Miller; men: come with those women) scream exclusivity, but inside, 18th Street Lounge is a pretension-free zone. Make yourself at home on shabby-chic couches lit by roaring fireplaces and ornate candelabra, catch the sunset on the back deck, or chat over a jazz combo in the upstairs lounge. Because it's home base for local DJ act Thievery Corporation, you can expect a mix of trip-hop, acid jazz, and Brazilian beats as well as a good-looking mixed crowd (the bouncer is there for a reason).
Open Tuesdays through Thursdays 5:30 pm to 2 am, Fridays 5:30 pm to 3 am, Saturdays 9:30 pm to 3 am, and Sundays 10 pm to 2 am. Closed Mondays.
1401 K Street N.W.
Washington , D.C.
20005
Tel: 202 789 2800
www.limarestaurant.com
K Street, the golden province of expense-account lobbying firms, was once an after-hours dead zone. But nightlife purveyors have finally gotten hip to all those deep pockets, and each month seems to bring the opening of a new bottle-service club. One of the best is Lima, a triple threat restaurant-bar-lounge with Latin-infused international cuisine upstairs, caipirinhas in the cocktail lounge, and a full-on party on the dance floor. Organic touches like water reservoirs and hewn-rock floors soften the clean, modern lines of the leather banquettes. But what you'll notice most are members of the stiletto set who artfully drape themselves on the furniture.
Open Mondays through Thursdays 5 pm to 2 am, Fridays and Saturdays 5 pm to 3 am. Closed Sundays.
