Updated June 23, 2021
The Barred in DC 51 is here. Fifty-one of Barred in DC’s Twitter followers’ favorite DC bars are listed below and at the linked map created by follower and GIS analyst Chelsea Richardson (@ccmakesmaps). Derived through Twitter poll results, including 39 bars from the Barred in DC Bar Madness that took place in March 2020 and more polling in May 2021, this list should be a solid starting place for popular places to check out if you’re new to DC (including those who moved here during the pandemic, several of which inspired me to create this list), particularly if you’re a yuppie/hipster (or both, a “yupster”). I’ve had a drink at all 51 and I agree all of these are worth visiting (though some I definitely wouldn’t count in my favorites). If you find this post worthwhile, feel free to contribute to the Patreon. Not all DC dive bars are listed-you can find the Barred in DC Definitive List here.
Note: This list is not exhaustive or even representative of the DC’s bars and restaurants. Significantly, this list (because the bars were based on popularity from those who follow me on Twitter-undoubtedly mostly White and straight) lacks LGBTQ bars (e.g., Pitchers/ALOHO, TRADE, The Dirty Goose, Uproar), bars that predominately cater to Black patrons (e.g., Stan’s, Georgena’s Player’s Lounge, Park at 14th, Mr. Braxton’s), as well as clubby/loungey spots, and meat markety bars full of people right out of college. There are a ton of great bars in DC so not being included on this list doesn’t mean that a particular bar is not amazing.
The Barred in DC 51
Those spots in bold are particular favorites of Barred in DC and/or top 16 favorite spots of readers. Spots in italics are currently temporarily closed.
| Adams Morgan | ||
| The Blaguard | Divey | #BlagFam neigborhood spot |
| Jack Rose | Classy and/or Trendy | Massive whiskey collection with massive terrace |
| Dan’s Cafe | Divey | Squirt bottles/mix your own drinks. |
| The Green Zone | Classy and/or Trendy | Middle East meets cocktails |
| Shaw | ||
| Ivy and Coney | Divey | Chicago, Detroit, Malort |
| All Souls | Casual | A corner bar. BiDC’s Favorite |
| Lost and Found | Casual | lower Shaw neighborhood spot |
| Columbia Room | Classy and/or Trendy | THE cocktail bar |
| Dacha Beer Garden Shaw | Casual | German beer garden |
| The Passenger | Divey | unpretentious cocktails |
| Right Proper Shaw | Casual | Great located brewery |
| Calico | Classy and/or Trendy | “Urban backyard” and adult juice boxes |
| 14th//U St/Logan Circle | ||
| Churchkey | Classy and/or Trendy | Best beer bar in DC |
| Solly’s | Divey | Mr. Solomon’s place |
| American Ice Co. | Casual | swachos and picklebacks |
| Service Bar | Classy and/or Trendy | cocktails and chill |
| Franklin Hall | Casual | beer hall/sports bar |
| Garden District | Casual | cozy beer garden |
| Kingfisher | Divey | basement, popcorn, and canned beer |
| H Street | ||
| The Pug | Divey | Tony’s joint-Dad/craft beer + whiskey |
| The Queen Vic | Casual | British gastropub |
| Little Miss Whiskey’s | Divey | New Orleans on H with dance parties |
| H St Country Club | Divey | mini-golf, games, tequila |
| Copycat | Classy and/or Trendy | Cocktails and skewers |
| Duffy’s Irish Pub | Divey | cozy Irish pub and sports bar |
| Hill Prince | Classy and/or Trendy | cocktails and good vibes |
| Columbia Heights | ||
| Red Derby | Divey | DC’s original hipster dive |
| Wonderland Ballroom | Divey | 11th Street mainstay w/ dancing |
| Lyman’s Tavern | Divey | Friendly pinball |
| Navy Yard | ||
| Bluejacket | Casual | Bright & airy brewery |
| Walters Sports Bar | Casual | sports bar and pour your own beer |
| Atlas Half Street | Casual | brewery and streetside beer garden |
| Bloomingdale | ||
| Boundary Stone | Casual | Bloomingdale’s neighborhood pub |
| Showtime Lounge | Divey | Cash only, great jukebox, low ceilings |
| The Pub and the People | Casual | Neighborhood bar for Bloomingdale/Eckington |
| Penn Quarter/Downtown | ||
| Old Ebbitt Grill | Classy and/or Trendy | Tourists and industry collide |
| Jackpot | Divey | Basement, popcorn, and draft beer |
| Capitol Hill (including Barracks Row & Eastern Market) | ||
| Tune Inn | Divey | Capitol Hill classic since 1947. open early |
| Trusty’s | Divey | Hill East neighborhood spot w/ a schoolbus |
| The Brig | Casual | DC’s Hidden Beer Garden/Sports Bar |
| Tunnicliff’s Tavern | Divey | Eastern Market’s neighborhood bar |
| Beuchert’s Saloon | Classy and/or Trendy | Currently Fight Club, Buffalo heads watch |
| The Dubliner | Casual | DC’s best Irish pub w/ live music |
| Park View/Petworth | ||
| The Midlands Beer Garden | Casual | Park View Beer Garden |
| Looking Glass Lounge | Divey | neighorhoody, vintagey spot |
| Dupont Circle | ||
| McClellan’s Retreat | Classy and/or Trendy | northern Dupont cocktail bar |
| Bar Charley | Classy and/or Trendy | classic cocktails and tiki |
| Duke’s Grocery Dupont | Casual | lowkey spot with a highkey burger |
| NoMa/Union Market | ||
| Last Call | Divey | lower priced Union Market drinks. |
| Edgewood /Brookland | ||
| Dew Drop Inn | Divey | Throwback spot on the side of the tracks |
| Cleveland Park | ||
| Nanny O’Brien’s | Divey | Cleveland Park neighborhood Irish pub |
Other Spots Mentioned by Followers Multiple Times or of Note : The Big Stick, Georgena’s Players Lounge, The Berliner, Brookland Pint, Jimmy Valentine’s, Pitchers/A League of Her Own, The Sovereign, Brookland’s Finest, TikiTNT, Jackie Lee’s, Breadsoda, Duke’s Grocery Foggy Bottom, The Raven Grill, Reliable Tavern, Free State, Union Trust, Le Bar a Vin, Slash Run, Morris, The Big Board, Across the Pond, Biergarten Haus, Red Bear Brewery, DC9, Pop’s Sea Bar, Fox and Hounds, Cleveland Park Bar & Grill, Madam’s Organ, Bar Pilar, The Roost, Archipelago, Stan’s, The Eastern, Cantina Bambina, Granville Moore’s
