Nothing beats the thrill of a rapidly approaching Friday evening, the first night of an unencumbered few days intended for both adventure and relaxation.
The moment daylight turns to dusk, the working week energy shifts, neighborhood barbecue aromas waft, and weekend celebrations commence. The city comes alive on Friday nights.
Get to know the D.c. Bar scene
For five days out of the week our schedules are characterized by routine…work meetings, meals, bedtimes. By five in the afternoon, our brains are craving something new and exciting.
And there is no better way to experience a neighborhood, garner an eclectic mix of food and drink, and leave a bit of mystery up to the beverage gods than to embark on a bar crawl.
The leisurely adventure is unmatched, and you’ll walk—or stumble—away with an extra bundle of memories.
Find the best D.C. Happy Hours
Columbia Heights
St. Vincent Wine
- Address: 3212 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC
Gardens aren’t just for beer. Start this Columbia Heights brew trek at St. Vincent Wine, where just inside, you’ll see the wine shop’s neon lights to the left and a mysterious hallway that leads to a massive pebble patio garden where all the drinking and eating festivities take place.
A sky-high bar serves rooftop cocktails that overlook the garden and plastic paint buckets filled. With chilled bottles of white wine and stunning charcuterie plates present as casually elegant and playful on ground level.
NOTE: St. Vincent Wine is ready to welcome musical performances to their backyard wine garden!
More wine Bars in D.C.
The Midlands Beer Garden
- Address: 3333 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC
Walk less than a block north to admire The Midlands devotion to good beer, daily happy hours, and Premier League Football (Soccer).
A mix of Belgian, German, and American pints accompany succulent beer braised brats and ‘Giant 10 ounce Soft Pretzels’. Local and German beer flights, hot mulled cider, and tamarind margaritas push the average beer garden limits.
Hook Hall
- Address: 3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC
This boozy adult-approved playground features a massive industrial warehouse space with a full bar and indoor private group seating. The parallel outdoor garden houses picnic tables and reservable ‘oasis cabanas’.
Brightly colored textiles, lanterns and string lights compliment lush greenery and family-friendly lawn games.
NoMa
Wunder Garten
- Address: 1101 First St NE, Washington, DC
Echoing music turns to electric tunes when you enter Wunder Garten’s festive garden patio. The covered Bier Pavilion, sky exposed picnic tables, and intimate bordering cabanas are all first-come, first-serve for thirsty garden-goers.
Make sure to spot the glowing One NoMa Station tower to the far north end to place this beer destination.
NOTE: Happy hour is Monday-Wednesday from 4-6pm.
Red Bear Brewing Co.
- Address: 209 M St NE, Washington, DC
Head brewer Simon Bee takes special pride in his brewing process. Determined to bring a bit of Seattle Washington’s brewing reconnaissance to the Nation’s Capital, Bee opened Red Bear Brewing in the growing NoMa neighborhood to boost the blueprint of independent craft brews and foster a community of beer loving Washingtonians.
A tall wall of board games pose for easily accessible drinking entertainment.
Cotton & Reed
- Address: 1330 5th St NE, Washington, DC
Rum cocktails have no better home in the entire District than at Cotton and Reed—Washington DC’s first ever rum distillery. Staying true to Union Market’s industrial roots, the indoor rum bar seats diners in an airy warehouse while the party continues outside on a curbside patio.
Order a cocktail (or a few) and then be sure to grab a bottle of rum on your way out for the home bar.
Last Call Bar
- Address: 1301-A, 4th St NE, Washington, DC
The last call doesn’t roll around until 3am on Friday and Saturdays at Last Call Bar. Until then, cocktails, draft beers, and jell-o shots will charm late-night party animals. To satisfy inevitable munchies, grab a bag of ZAPP’S chips to sample homemade dips or order a ciabatta sandwich.
Barracks Row/Eastern Market
The Brig
- Address: 1007 8th St SE, Washington, DC
German beer-forward and dog friendly, The Brig draws Capitol Hill crowds for post ball game celebration or debriefs. Keep an eye out for occasional live music performances.
The Betsy
- Address: back alley, 514 8th St SE, Washington, DC
The Betsy’s rooftop operation may be weather-dependent, but gorgeous days make passionate cocktails and the Belgian-kissed food menu is even more thrilling.
Barrel
- Address: 613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC
Southern fare and whiskey tumblers set this fully-stocked Capitol Hill bar apart from the rest. Warm and rustic adornment sets a pleasant moody tone for a night of whiskey tasting.
Shelter at The Roost
- Address: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC
For those in the know, the namesake at Shelter spotlights two cask engines that dispense real ale and cider. Grab a table at Shelter’s beer garden and use the table QR code to order from any food hall station.
Fight Club
- Address: 623 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC
Coined ‘Punches’ instead of cocktails, Pennsylvania Avenue’s Fight Club concocts fearsome mixed drinks to accompany hearty sandwiches.
The Wharf
Whiskey Charlie
- Address: 975 7th St SW, Washington, DC
Rooftop views meet nautical themed cocktails, beer and wine, and spirits at Whiskey Charlie’s 10th floor perch. Sip the ‘mermaid margarita’ or old scalawag’ while admiring sunset views of Washington DC monuments and a glistening Potomac River.
Pearl Street Warehouse
- Address: 33 Pearl St SW, Washington, DC
Although first and foremost a performance venue, Pearl Street Warehouse is intimate enough for a lovely bar crawl pit-stop. Dine under Pearl Street’s string light canopy on the outdoor patio to eavesdrop on live music shows with ‘beer buckets’, drafts, cocktails, and wine.
Tiki TNT
- Address: 1130 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC
Coined ‘a tropical escape in Washington DC’, Tiki TNT fulfills a waterfront rum need with creative rum cocktails served in cheeky tropical chalices. The second-floor balcony fills up quickly due to stunning sunlit water views, so try to arrive close to opening on weekends for this prime seating location.
Navy Yard
Bluejacket
- Address: 300 Tingey St SE, Washington, DC
Gastropubs take on a. new meaning at Navy Yard’s Bluejacket. Once an old boiler shop, this industrially hip pub blends beer hall and British public house vibes with locally crafted casks, drafts, ales, and lagers.
Order the ‘jumbo everything pretzel’, sweet potato fries, or chicken wings for snacking.
Dacha Navy Yard
- Address: 79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC
Dacha Beer Garden at Navy Yard is located in the unofficial backyard of the Washington Nationals. Dogs are welcome to join the outdoor patio party, so be prepared for cuteness overload to sidetrack initial beer-drinking intentions.
More D.C. Beer Gardens
Bardo Beer
- Address: 25 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC
Riverfront drinking reaches a peak at Bardo Beer with picnic tables aligning the edge of the Potomac. Massive beer fermenters christen Bardo’s beer presence for thirsty Navy Yard pedestrians.
Shaw
Right Proper Shaw Brewpub and Kitchen
- Address: 624 T St NW, Washington, DC
To enjoy one of DC’s most circulated beers straight from the source, ready yourself for gastro pub fare and local drafts at Right Proper’s Shaw Brewpub and Kitchen. Munch-able ‘sharesies’ lend easily to communal eating, but the burgers are easily a solo job.
Ivy and Coney
- Address: 1537 7th St NW, Washington, DC
Shaw’s resident sports bar sticks to stadium classics like deep dish pizza, loaded hot dogs, and wings. But the indoor and rooftop drink line-up beats any ball-park price.
Lost & Found
- Address: 1240 9th St NW, Washington, DC
Lost & Found embraces the magic that is Blagden Alley with an indoor bar embellished with old license plates and an outdoor patio that shares the energy of a bustling metropolitan city. In addition to beer, wine, and cocktails, Lost & Found features an exhaustive menu of whiskey, rye, and Scotch.
Tall Boy Bar
- Address: 1239 9th St NW, Washington, DC
Beer and grilled cheese is the beverage/food combo you never knew you needed—until now. If you’re wondering where the name ‘Tall Boy Bar’ comes from, resident beer cans hold 16 ounces of hoppy greatness.
TAKODA
- Address: 715 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC
Beer garden personality takes to the roof at Shaw’s TAKODA. A blue and white tiled floating bar and skylight compliment tasty sliders, French fries, and ‘on-tap’ cocktails.
Dacha Beer Garden
- Address: 1600 7th St NW, Washington, DC
If you’re looking for another crawl destination, Dacha Beer Garden has a second location just off of Q street.
U Street/Cardozo
Franklin Hall DC
- Address: 1348 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC
Franklin Hall is the only place to start a U Street pub crawl. The red brick exterior hints at communal and rustic furnishings inside, including a drawn-out bar and long tables that stretch the length of the historic Manhattan Laundry building.
Twenty-four draft beers, and yes—another giant soft pretzel—tastefully crowd the massive American beer hall tables.
Sudhouse DC
- Address: 1340 U St NW, Washington, DC
Perhaps Washington’s most spirited DC-strong pub, Sudhouse serves American classics and craft brews. A Sunday happy hour from 2pm to 6pm is reason enough to start a pub crawl early.
Garden District
- Address: 1801 14th St NW, Washington, DC
Garden Districts expertly illustrates the true beauty of an urban beer garden. The succinct real estate fills up quickly with passionate 14th Street beer fanatics to sip from impressively sized beer steins and nosh on comforting summer barbecue cuisine.
Service Bar DC
- Address: 926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC
A whimsical elegance and the crispiest of fried chicken distinguishes this American tavern cocktail hub from other local bars. Live DJs appear Friday through Sunday starting at 10pm.
Ivy City
Kick Axe Throwing DC
- Address: 1401 Okie St NE STE 102, Washington, DC
Beer and axe throwing, what could go wrong? If competitive axe throwing is your thing, I would recommend starting off at Kick Axe before the drinks start to accumulate. There is no shortage of alcohol to join a friendly game of kick-axe throwing.
Atlas Brew Works Taproom
- Address: 2052 West Virginia Ave NE #102, Washington, DC
Open Thursday through Sunday with afternoon and evening hours, Atlas Brew Works Taproom features 15 on-tap craft beers meant to be enjoyed outside at Atlas’ Beer Garden.
Tap-room tours are offered every Saturday at 2pm and Atlas devotees can buy beer in bulk with designated beer growlers to take home.
Green Hat Bar & Gin Garden
Address: 1832 Fenwick St NE, Washington, DC
The story behind Green Hat Gin is a heroic tale of a bootlegger, known as ‘The Man in the Green Hat’, that secretly delivered booze to Congress for 10 years during 1920’s prohibition.
Today, one can appreciate the determination of the ‘man in the green hat’ with Green Hat gin cocktails at the Ivy city oasis gin garden, open Saturday and Sunday. Colorful sun-sails and green botanicals echo the earthiness of Green Hat’s award winning gin.
Other Half Brewing
- Address: 1401 Okie St NE, Washington, DC
Sunny days call for an afternoon outside at Other Half Brewing’s large outdoor patio or wood paneled roof deck. Visit any day of the week for onsite brews or pick up beer–to-go.
Republic Restoratives Distillery
- Address: 1369 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC
Warming spirits play perfectly with rustic wood and leather accents at Republic Restoratives warehouse-style bar. A giant garage door keeps patrons entertained while they sip on bourbon, brandy, rye, and vodka cocktails.
Ivy City Smokehouse Tavern
- Address: 1356 Okie St NE, Washington, DC
Ivy City-born cocktails and local beers glisten atop Ivy City Tavern’s rooftop reprieve. Freshly shucked oysters and hard shell crab keeps to the seafood point-of-view.
One Eight Distilling
- Address: 1135 Okie St NE, Washington, DC
One Eight Distilling plays hard to get, open for outdoor and indoor bar service on Saturdays only in The Still Yard. District Made spirits are delivered via cocktails or whiskey flights.
H Street Corridor
Granville Moore’s
- Address: 1238 H St NE, Washington, DC
For beer, ‘moules frites’, and an intimate European bar setting, reserve a table at Granville Moore’s. The refurbished old doctor’s office means limited bar space, but walk-ins are encouraged to grab an empty stool and order from the chalkboard menu on the back wall.
NOTE: Only open Thursday through Sunday.
The Haymaker Bar
- Address: 1015 H St NE, Washington, DC
The alcoholic beverage menu is nearly two pages long at The Haymaker. The long and spill-proof bar frames an extensive whiskey selection and a TV for DC sports viewings.
Copy Cat Co.
- Address: 1110 H St NE, Washington, DC
A second-floor walk-up readies dumpling fanatics for decadent finger-friendly bites and imaginative cocktails. Magician bartenders are well-equipped to customize cocktails behind the glowing blue and green bar.
Biergarten Haus
- Address: 1355 H St NE, Washington, DC
Another bonafide German beer garden brightens high-energy H street with a spacious patio and roof deck. Schnitzel and sausage platters will warm you up on chilly autumn nights.
Hill Prince
- Address: 1337 H St NE, Washington, DC
Beautiful nooks and crannies of a historic H Street row house were transformed into a swanky late night bar for Capitol Hill and NoMa residents at Hill Prince. The bar glows underneath globe light fixtures and booze bottles shine against an old brick wall.
Head to ‘The Barn’ for a relaxed night of tasty cocktails and a communal celebration atmosphere.
H Street Country Club
- Address: 1335 H St NE, Washington, DC
Join in a round of margaritas, Tex-Mex, and indoor mini golf at H Street Country Club’s multi-level set-up. The roof deck sports a separate bar for outdoor devotees.
Dupont
The Commodore DC
- Address: 1636 17th St NW, Washington, DC
Craft burgers, maritime pub decor, and friendly staff are a recipe for a great night at Dupont’s The Commodore. The ‘Draft and Dram’ feature a draft beer and spirit combo pack.
McClellans Retreat
- Address: 2031 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC
Named after the Civil War Union general George B. McClellan, McClellan’s Retreat brings a bit of witty discourse to Dupont Circle. The menu is long, so a table of contents will help guide patrons to their desired segment.
The Board Room DC
- Address: 1737 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC
Beer and board games are a match made in bar-crawl heaven, especially when IPA pitchers and Scrabble battles are also on the menu.
the Gibson
- Address: 2009 14th St NW, Washington, DC
Craft cocktails take centerstage at The Gibson. A combination rustic, regal and retro bar serves beer, wine, and spirited cocktails to unhurried crowds.
Bar Charley
- Address: 1825 18th St NW, Washington, DC
Cool brick walls, dark-wooden tables, and eclectic mirrors bolster Bar Charley’s gastropub atmosphere. ‘Charley drinks’ are obviously top priority, but should dinner roll around mid bar crawl, take the Bar Charley food plunge…you won’t be disappointed.
Sauf Haus Bier Hall
- Address: 1216 18th St NW, Washington, DC
As Washington DC’s largest German biergarten, the long and limber hall sings of communal celebrations and overflowing beer steins.
Adam’s Morgan
The LINE DC: No Goodbyes at Night
- Address: 2468 Champlain St NW, Washington, DC
No Goodbyes serves day to night, but the nighttime bar menu features ‘togetherness’ cocktails for the masses (serving four people) in addition to beer and wine.
Roofer’s Union
- Address: 2446 18th St NW, Washington, DC
Roofer’s Union is a neighborhood favorite, with three expansive yet cozy dining settings that cater to your mood…the outdoor ‘streetery’, indoor dining room, and rooftop.
Bar service will buy you anything on the food menu and a purposeful draft beer and wine selection.
The Green Zone
- Address: 2226 18th St NW, Washington, DC
Self-determined as ‘DC’s only Middle Eastern cocktail bar’, The Green Zone is thoughtfully named to be a safe space for all diners to enjoy Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails.
The mint lemonade is famous among locals, but the ‘Desert Falcon’, ‘Wandering Arab’ and yes, the ’F**k Trump’, are playful takes on traditional cocktail classics.
