Where to Party in the City: A Quick Club Guide

Story by Connect2Mason Reporter Matt Todd. Photo by Brian Lawson.

For many new and transfer students who are from out of town, state, or country, this Washington D.C. nightlife guide (albeit a partial one) is for you. Finding decent hangouts within a 10-mile radius (including Old Town Fairfax) is not difficult at all, but for someone like me who likes the loud party life, this is a list of a few of the many excellent hangouts in D.C., both gay and straight.

#1: Adam’s Morgan. Adam’s Mill Bar & Grill, Asylum , Bossa , Evolve , On the Rox , Saki , and The Blaguard are all the well-reviewed bars and restaurants with good food, cheap beer, and good music. These bars and restaurants are easily accessible up and down 18th St. in Northwest Washington. Those looking to drink and dance, try Club Heaven and Hell for Thursday night’s 80s dance party. Chief Ike’s Mambo Room is a great place for cheap beer and rock music. Habana Village and Latin Jazz Alley are two great places for Latin and salsa dance and music. The Reef has proven one the most popular hangouts with no dress code or cover charge, a large window overlooking Adam’s Morgan, and a large rooftop deck where people can enjoy conversation and a brilliant draft beer selection. For students taking the Metro, take the Orange Line from Vienna to the Metro Center. From the Metro Center, transfer to the Red Line going towards Shady Grove. Then get off at the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adam’s Morgan stop.

#2: Fur Nightclub. Fur Nightclub is located in North Capitol St. in Northeast D.C. Word of warning: DO NOT get lost in Northeast! Aside from that, Fur is a brilliant and spacious nightclub 18 and over. Though underage (keep in mind fake ID’s are very easily detected at this club), you can enjoy the abundant sections of dance floors consisting of hip-hop, dance, and rock music, etc., mingling with a wide-range of people from late-teen to adults, straight, bi, and gay. The cover charge can be steep depending on the time you get there (anywhere from $10-30) and the lines are long (anywhere from a 10 to 45-minute wait). You can go the website for more information on dress code (there is a STRICT dress code), and FYI to the ladies, cleavage and mini-skirts won’t get you in faster or for free or cheap. The club is Metro access (from the Red Line). The site will provide detailed information. Also popular amongst Mason students: Club Love and 9:30 Club .

#3: D.C.’s Gay Scene. For gay men and women, Dupont Circle provides a great deal of bars and clubs catering to the LGBT community. Apex is seemingly the most popular one of all, though not lesbian or trans-friendly. Appealing to the younger 18-22-crowd (mostly male), it’s a roomy one-floor club/bar attracting the younger generation (and the older ones that think they could hook up with them), but it’s only one I’d recommend for younger gays. As for the over-21 crowd, the best venues to go to are Cobalt (30-Degrees)(on R St.) and Omega (on P. St. next to Apex). Friendly bartenders (the sexy and shirtless ones being at Cobalt), excellent service, and a more interactive environment, these bars and clubs feature drag queen shows, underwear contests, karaoke, and so on. Halo (P St. in Northwest Washington) and Phase One (8th St. in Southeast Washington) are very popular amongst the lesbian crowds, with Phase One attracting large crowds of gay women during the weekend. Dupont Circle is Metro accessible; take the Red Line towards Shady Grove after transferring in Metro Center (the stop is Dupont Circle).