Washington D.C. is well known for its numerous attractions, monuments, museums, and restaurants. But people in D.C like to have fun too! The city has a great selection of clubs, lounges, and bars that cater to various crowds and musical tastes. Whether you prefer lounges to crowded clubs, jazz to hip hop, you’ll find a great late-night spot to keep you happy.
The wonderful thing about nightlife in Washington D.C. is that there are great venues to be found in virtually every neighborhood. Some of the most well-known neighborhoods to head to if you’re looking for a great night on the town are; Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown.
There, you are guaranteed to find at least a few great clubs and lounges to make your night unforgettable and also get a taste of the local culture. You can also find other nightlife spots around D.C. in the downtown area of Metro Center, Penn Quarter, and even in more remote places such as the northeast.
Adams Morgan
If you only have one night to go out in D.C., make sure you visit Adams Morgan. This neighborhood offers a true multi-cultural nightlife experience that you won’t soon forget. It’s a guaranteed good time with its various clubs, lounges, and restaurants stacked one next to the other providing a great variety of musical offerings and genres. You can dance to African music at Ghana smoke hookah and sip mint tea at Soussi, learn how to salsa and merengue dance at Habana Village, and dance the night away to top 40 and rock at Heaven and Hell. More than the clubs, however, it’s the colorful and vibrant atmosphere that makes this place so unique.
K Street
If you want a more upscale nightclub experience, head to K Street where you will find several lounges and dance clubs that cater to the city’s hip young professionals. Be sure to stop in to K Street Lounge which offers Top 40 music and hip hop. It’s not uncommon to run into out-of-town celebrities and Washington Wizards players. It is the place to see and be seen in Washington D.C. If you’re more into Euro-techno and house music, walk a few blocks down the street to Lima Restaurant and Lounge.
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a trendy nightlife spot for politicians and the younger crowd alike. The best thing about Dupont Circle is that it has a wide variety of venues to cater to all tastes and budgets. There are several laid-back; some would even say divey bars such as Townhouse Tavern and the Big Hunt, but also more upscale lounges such as Cosmos Club and Eighteenth Street Lounge which was once the home of Teddy Roosevelt. If you’re in the neighborhood, you will also not regret checking out Apex, Citron, and Firefly.
Georgetown
Georgetown is also a nightlife hub for travelers and Washingtonians alike. There are many bars and restaurants to cater to all crowds. Stop by the Blues Alley, Zenobia Lounge, and Paper Moon for a unique D.C. multicultural experience.
V Street Northwest
If you are ready to get out of the downtown area and really have some fun then you’ll need to grab a cab and head to the 9:30 Club located on V Street Northwest. This venue is one of the best nightclubs in D.C. and often gets rated nationally. There is always a live musical event going on, and many local, national, and international artists come to perform here when they head to DC. Just be sure to arrive very early or put yourself on the guest list, because there is always a large crowd and a long line.
Fur Nightclub
Fur Nightclub located on Patterson Street in Northeast is also a very coveted club in Washington D.C and is huge with 50-foot ceilings. This former warehouse features several dance floors with different music including hip-hop and international music that will have you dancing all night long.