Bar Rouge
1315 16th St NW, Hotel Rouge, Washington, DC 20036 202-232-8000

Description: DOWNTOWN. Bar Rouge occupies a long, narrow space and is dotted with armchairs and comfortable seats upholstered in leather and mohair. The modern atmosphere, along with upbeat acid jazz and international music, provides a pleasant atmosphere for sampling the establishment's many cocktails and small-plate offerings (which are great for sharing with friends). The lack of both a cover charge and a dress code make Bar Rouge perfect for impromptu gatherings.
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Brickskeller Saloon
1523 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 202-293-1885

Description: 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
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Buffalo Billiards
1330 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-331-7665

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. A hip young crowd co-mingles with upscale professionals and rowdy groups at this always-hopping pool hall. If you have skills with a cue stick, this is your place: 30 pool tables give you plenty of room to show your prowess. If you don't play pool, you'll enjoy the airy outdoor patio, the huge selection of drinks, the well-stocked cigar humidor, or perhaps a game of snooker on one of the few snooker tables in the city. The rustic Western decor, friendly staff, and tasty dining options make this an all-around winner for a night of relaxation or revelry.
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Café Saint-Ex & Gate 54
1847 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-265-7839

Description: 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
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Columbia Station
2325 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-462-6040

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. Columbia Station sponsors live jazz concerts every night of the week. If you expect to get a good seat, though, you have to show up early. While you wait, look over the unusual artwork on the walls. Around 10pm, the show begins, and the room floods with local jazz music. Terrific performances! Dress is casual to business casual but nothing too fancy. METRO: Woodley Park/Zoo or Dupont Circle
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Guards
2915 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-965-2350

Description: GEORGETOWN. The Guards' usual crowd is a mix of college students and young professionals, but it has been known to attract more notable guests, including actor Chris O'Donnell. The place is welcoming and comfortable; depending on the season, you can hang out at the fireplace or mill around in the atrium. Tables at the front offer views of passers-by, and the upholstered furniture attracts regulars. The big, curved bar easily accommodates a passel of drinkers who don't want to be too far from the action. Food is available, and bachelor parties and other functions are welcomed. METRO: Foggy Bottom
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Helix Lounge
1430 Rhode Island Ave, Hotel Helix, Washington, DC 20006 202-462-9001

Description: LOGAN CIRCLE. Step into the Helix Lounge and you'll immediately sense the allure of the white leather couches and colored lights. Cushy sitting areas and private booths provide solace from the crowd and opportunities for quiet conversation. Savor a top-notch cocktail such as the Pajama Party (Stoli raz, Sprite, lime juice and champagne), Electric Lemonade, or Strawberry Cheesecake while enjoying the DJ's mix of tunes. Satisfying any craving, the menu offers a mix of snack and meal items from the Potato Martinis and calamari to burgers and grilled chicken salads. METRO: McPherson Sq
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IndeBleu
707 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 202-333-2538

Description: 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
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Local 16
1602 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-265-2828

Description: U STREET. This classy neighborhood restaurant offers not only an elegant dining atmosphere, but a soothing haven from the city in the late night hours. From its crimson dining room to its candlelit bar, Local 16 creates an atmosphere that makes anyone feel welcome. Head upstairs to select one of their lush cocktails made with freshly squeezed fruit, veg on the comfy couches, or gaze on the street below from the rooftop deck. METRO: U St-Cardoza
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Madam's Organ
2461 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-667-5370

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. Madam's Organ will definitely provide you with an interesting night out! All patrons attempt to squeeze onto the tiny dance floor and enjoy the blues, R&B and bluegrass music you will find here. There are pool tables, too, if you are up for some competition. One fair warning: this party can get kind of wild for, as the motto goes, this is where the "beautiful people come to get ugly." If you dare, check out Madam's 2nd floor bar, Big Daddy's Love Lounge and Pick-up Joint. METRO: Woodley Park/Zoo
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MCCXXIII
1223 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-822-1800

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. One of the more seductive nightspots in the Dupont district, Twelve-Twenty-Three is a modern temple to all things beautiful and opulent. The discriminating door policy and inflated prices (yes, those are Roman numerals on the menu) ensure a certain caliber of clientele. On the first level is a soapstone bar flanked by velvet couches and a small dance floor; the second-floor lounge capitalizes on great views of Connecticut Avenue. Seeking a more exclusive brand of cool, high-rollers reserve a table or bed on the chic VIP level, called Spank, where the crowd tends to be model-quality and the staff at the white onyx bar serves up premium mixed drinks. METRO: Dupont Circle
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Mendocino Grille & Wine Bar
2917 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-333-2912

Description: GEORGETOWN. This renovated grill and wine bar has gained added charm with buffed hardwood floors and upholstered furniture. Its primary draw is wine tastings, which happen each Thursday from 6pm to 7:30pm. Aficionados gather to sample intriguing vintages and to dine well. Ingredients are all organic and fresh, including field-raised meats, naturally grown produce, and wild, not farmed, fish. A California sensibility accents the inherent flavors of these fresh goods. Try broiled bluepoint oyster appetizers, white fish, wine-braised octopus, or vegetable ragout.
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Mr. Smith's
3104 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-333-3104

Description: GEORGETOWN. In winter, you're warmed by three fireplaces; in spring and summer, you reap the benefits of a beautiful, sheltered garden. This cozy establishment offers patrons two bars and immeasurable fun. They serve a range of drinks, including a number of frosty frozen concoctions. If you're hungry, try the filling pub grub; it's homemade and delicious. In the evenings, the place transforms into a piano bar, and patrons sing along from 9pm until 1am. Local bands play nightly.
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Old Ebbitt Grill
675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 202-347-4800

Description: DOWNTOWN. Since 1856, this landmark bar and restaurant has served DC's power class. Rich with furnishings, including Teddy Roosevelt's hunt trophies, the place never fails to satisfy. It's a great place to get that perfect martini and enjoy the raw oyster bar, which carries more then seven types of oysters. Four bar areas help accommodate crowds of patrons: one, the Corner Bar is intimate, with private booths, while another one, the Old Bar is more open and conducive to mingling. All are constantly crowded, but don't be intimidated. Order up a drink and give your conversational skills a workout. Late night dining available. METRO: Metro Center
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Rumba Café
2443 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-588-5501

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. Need to add a little kick to your evening? A mojito or a caipirhina (a Brazilian cocktail made from sugar cane), coupled with a Latin band playing in your ear ­ that may do the trick. Once the spontaneity hits, leap up from the table with a partner in hand and tango, salsa or cha-cha to the tunes of the night. Just watch your step: There's no dance floor and space is tight! If Latin motion whets your appetite, the kitchen offers tasty tapas such as fried green plantains with steak, peppers, onion and tomatoes and filling main dishes like churasco a la cubana and pollo al cilantro. METRO: Dupont Circle
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Sky Terrace
515 15th St NW, Hotel Washington, Washington, DC 20004 202-638-5900

Description: 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
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Toledo Lounge
2435 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-986-5416

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. This bar is decked out in a 1940s and 1950s theme, with memorabilia and photos from that era adorning the walls. Play your favorite song on the jukebox and order one of their famous martinis or margaritas. There is also a wide selection of food, just in case you come hungry. Be prepared to make new friends because the Toledo Lounge is a very social place. METRO: Woodley Park/Zoo
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Topaz Bar
1733 N St NW, Topaz Hotel, Washington, DC 20036 202-393-3000

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. This chic restaurant-lounge makes a perfect stop for after-work drinks and tasty New American fare with an Asian twist. Interior lighting subtly changes colors and highlights the room's decor beautifully. An interesting mix of cocktails also proves appealing, as demonstrated by the Blue Nirvana, a house specialty.
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Trio's Fox and Hounds
1537 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-232-6307

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. The apex of one of DC's most diverse areas, this laid-back gathering place is always filled with a varied group. What the crowd has in common is an appreciation for Trio's ­ "The Fox" in local parlance ­ and its plentiful outdoor seating, great drink selection, and relaxed vibe. There's nothing pretentious or fussy about the minimal decor, but the jukebox is considered one of the best in DC, and they also claim to have "the strongest drinks in town." A lengthy menu of tasty food is also available. Look closely and you just might catch a celebrity roaming around.
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Tryst
2459 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-232-5500

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. Tryst bills itself as coffeehouse, bar, and lounge. It's a trendy sort of place that attracts a diverse crowd. Enjoy a steaming cup of coffee, a light meal, or a favorite cocktail from the bar. Espresso drinks, coffees, and teas abound, and the bar offers a great mix of coffee cocktails, martinis, specialty cocktails, and wines. A great gathering spot for folks looking to relax and unwind after a stressful day. METRO: Woodley Park/Zoo
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