Basement bar at Big HuntLast Updated: November 1, 2020
Although rooftop bars and outdoor beer gardens are extremely popular in DC, there’s a time and place for good ole fashioned subterranean drinking and partying. This an attempt to comprehensively chronicle all below-sidewalk-grade bars (not restaurants) in DC; you’ll see there’s a good mix of dives, musical venues, regular bars, and clubs. Articles by Washingtonian’s Anna Spiegel and Eater (tho 2015) go into a bit more detail on ones that are great (the sources helped supplement my off-the-top-of-head research, which was in turn supplemented by use of Google Streetview and Yelp). Missing any?-tweet/DM @barredindc or email barredindc@gmail.com
* only part of spot is underground
** the underground space is not really a basement
*** clubby scene, at least late night
Barred in DC choice highlighted (pertaining to subterranean space)
Chinatown/Penn Quarter (Best neighborhood for underground drinking in DC)
Crimson Whiskey Bar
Jackpot
Rocket Bar
Free State
Denson Liquor Bar
The Boardwalk*
Hill Country*
Penn Social*
Downtown
Bravo Bravo***
Stan’s
Living Room***
The Mirror
The Bottom Line
Off the Record
Sidecar at PJ Clarke’s*
Opera Ultra Lounge***
L8***
Astro Beer Hall*
Spin DC
Dupont
Recessions
1831 Bar & Lounge**
Heist***
Urbana**
Bier Baron*
Dito’s Bar (at Floriana)*, **
DIVE Bar**
Mission Dupont*, **
Bar Charley**
U Street/14th Street/Logan Circle
The Saloon**
Pure Lounge*, ***
Café St. Ex (Gate 54)*,***
Kingfisher
Player’s Club
The Crown and Crow
Shaw
The Dabney Cellar**
600T**
Appioo African Bar & Grill**
Adams Morgan
Smoke & Barrel*
La Pop
Bedrock Billiards
Muzette
A League of Her Own**
Club Timehri**,***
The Game Sports Pub**
Columbia Heights/Park View/Petworth
Reliable Tavern*
Zeba Bar*,**
Looking Glass Lounge*
Georgetown/Glover Park
Pizzeria Paradiso (Game Room)**
Georgetown Piano Bar
The Tombs
Breadsoda
Capitol Hill
Barrel*
Kelly’s Irish Times*
H Street
Ocean Lounge**
Cleveland Park
Atomic Billiards
Barred in DC 