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1. IndeBleu

707 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 · 202-333-2538

User Rating:  Rating: 3 / 5   (Rate It)

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Music: World
Dress: BC, TBC: Business Casual
T: Trendy
Food Served:

DOWNTOWN. Posh IndeBlue wins high marks from scenesters for the bold Franco-Indian fare served in its restaurant. Downstairs is a suave lounge where the well-heeled clientele settle into sexy furniture and enjoy Beluga caviar and foie gras along with their glass of pinot or an expertly-mixed cocktail. Wednesday through Saturday nights, the lounge also hosts some of the capital city's top DJs, who add to the cosmopolitan atmosphere with their hand-picked selections of world beats. Neat to note: IndeBlue's cocktail menu is designed to resemble a Metro map. METRO: Gallery Place/Chinatown

2. Blue Gin

1206 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 · 202-965-5555

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Cover Charge: $$1 - $15
Music: '80s
Disco
Euro
Hip-Hop
House
R&B
Top 40
Dress: BC, TBC: Business Casual
T: Trendy
Food Served:

GEORGETOWN. A modern bar with evocative design elements and a rep for potent elixirs made with fresh fruit purees, Blue Gin is one of those hotspots only the beautiful frequent – of course, the well-hidden entrance and discriminating door policy make its cool factor legendary. A minimalist, Euro-suave decor dominates the lounge with brown leather sofas, bold red walls and contemporary lighting. Meanwhile, the equally stylish dance floor pulsates from urban and house mixes. Blue Gin maintains a 25-and-up policy, ensuring that the place maintains its more mature vibe long into the night. METRO: Foggy Bottom

3. Café Saint-Ex & Gate 54

1847 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 · 202-265-7839

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Music: Disco
Euro
Hip-Hop
Jazz
R&B
Rock
Dress: BC, TBC: Business Casual
T: Trendy
Food Served:

U STREET. Everybody's welcome at this cozy 14th Street bistro-bar, where folks gather at the close of the work day to enjoy each other's company, the European-style atmosphere and terrific prices on everything from a glass of Stella Artois to a bottle of 2003 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz. Another feather in Saint-Ex's cap is its menu, which features striped bass with lemon pesto and a BLT made with fried green tomatoes. Downstairs is Gate 54, a hangar-inspired lounge that's a comfortable place for listening to DJ-spun tunes and conversing with the lovely clientele. METRO: U Street

4. Halo

1435 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005 · 202-797-9730

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

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Music: Varies
Dress: BC, TBC: Business Casual
T: Trendy
Food Served:

LOGAN CIRCLE. The creative brain trust behind this stylish watering hole, which occupies a former auto glass store, was intent on giving DC's gay community a trendy-yet-comfortable hangout – a gathering place designed along the lines of the fashionable lounges found in boutique hotels. Halo's clean white walls, low-key attitude and no-smoking policy make it a heavenly place to relax with friends over a mojito or chocolate-strawberry martini, prompting critics and regulars to offer up a collective "Kudos!" METRO: U Street

5. Wonderland Ballroom

1101 Kenyon St NW, Washington, DC 20010 · 202-232-5263

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Music: Blues
Disco
Funk
Hip-Hop
House
Jazz
R&B
Varies
World
Dress: CC: Casual
Food Served:

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. While Columbia Heights can't really compete with Georgetown or Adams-Morgan as one of DC's cooler districts to hang out in after the sun goes down, it does boast a few noteworthy oases. Leading the way is this friendly corner bar, where the young and fashionable from all over the city stop by to mingle with the neighborhood crowd, enjoy a tasty brat or kielbasa, listen to live music and drink a Yuengling or two. The bar's eclectic decor includes a table-top version of Ms. Pac-Man and walls decorated with vintage record sleeves. METRO: Columbia Heights

6. Brickskeller Saloon

1523 22nd St NW, Marifex Hotel, Washington, DC 20037 · 202-293-1885

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DUPONT CIRCLE. Brickskeller is most famous for its collection of different beers. With more than 1000 different brands, you can expand your tastes, trying out beers from all over the world. From lightest ale to boldest lager, they have something to suit every taste. The ambience is fun and relaxed, attracting a slightly older crowd. Good snacks and sandwiches are available as well. METRO: Dupont Circle

7. Sky Terrace

515 15th St NW, Hotel Washington, Washington, DC 20004 · 202-638-5900

User Rating:  Rating: 3 / 5   (Rate It)

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Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
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DOWNTOWN. This bar has an amazing view from the outside terrace. While you sip on a favorite cocktail, watch the sun set over the Washington Monument, the Executive Office Building and the White House. Dessert and light fare are served if you're in the mood for a bite. If you happen to be here on July 4th, it's the best spot in the city to watch fireworks – but remember, you can't make reservations for the event until exactly two weeks beforehand. METRO: Metro Center

8. Hawk 'n Dove

329 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003 · 202-543-3300

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Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Food Served:

CAPITOL HILL. The Hawk 'n Dove is packed with political memorabilia; campaign materials, photos and clippings adorn the interior. The bar tends to attract an older, well-dressed Capitol Hill crowd, and the pool table and fireplace encourage casual conversation. Of course, you don't want to miss happy hour, when the place is packed with Capitol Hill staffers feasting on a buffet of free food. METRO: Capitol South/Eastern Market

9. The Red and Black Bar

1212 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002 · 202-399-3201

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Music: '80s
Alternative Rock
Disco
House
Punk
Rock
Techno
Top 40
Urban
Dress: CC: Casual
Food Served:

CAPITOL HILL. Distressed wood floors, a red pressed-tin ceiling, walls covered with black doors and framed vintage photographs adorn the interior of this New Orleans-themed watering hole. A limited menu offers Cajun country essentials – gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. Live bands entertain several nights a week.

10. Bullfeathers

410 1st St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · 202-543-5005

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Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
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CAPITOL HILL. Bullfeathers gets its name from Teddy Roosevelt's favorite expression and is a polite version of that other "bull" expletive. During the day, you'll find politicians from Capitol Hill flocking to this bar, where they down juicy burgers and watch news programs on the overhead TVs. In the evenings, a younger crowd gathers for hours of rowdy socializing. Pop music plays in the background, happy hour offers good prices on beer, and Mondays feature half-price burgers. METRO: Capitol South

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About 10Best's recommendations for Washington's Best Bars:



10Best searched far and wide before ranking these bars as the best in Washington. How'd they earn their way on the list? Beer selection, specialty cocktails, cool aesthetics, great jukeboxes, hip crowds – we consider it all before deciding which ones belong on a list of Washington's Best Bars.

 

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