If D.C. does one thing right, it’s dive bars. There are dozens of great dives in D.C. but, at the risk of revealing my go-to spots, here are my recs for the best of the best.
Red Derby (Columbia Heights)
I’m still convinced I’m going to meet the love of my life on Red Derby’s rooftop. Go for the $3.50 shots and 24/7 happy hour — stay for the burgers and board games. Also make sure to tap in for those beer and shot combos.
Perfect for: Meeting the love of your life, games with friends, greasy tater tots.
Raven Grill (Mt. Pleasant)
One of D.C.'s oldest neighborhood bars, the Raven is also one of D.C.'s best (in our professional opinion). Its cozy interior has lumpy booths and warm wood and is an ideal spot for a good conversation with pals. There's a jukebox in the back and old board games you can play. It's cash only, dirt cheap, and just right.
Perfect for: Drinking alone, deep conversations, pre-gaming your movie at Suns Cinema.
Solly’s U Street Tavern (U Street Corridor)
Solly’s feels like you are drinking in someone's living room. The cheap, non-pretentious, come-as-you-are vibe creates a welcoming atmosphere and a reprieve from surrounding U street clubs.
Perfect for: People watching, trivia nights, when you’re too broke/tired to go to the club.
Union Pub (Capitol Hill)
Not my personal favorite, but the list would be incomplete without it. Cheap shots, greasy food, and lots of off-duty Hill staffers give this spot a laid-back “Washington” vibe. They also have a great $7 beer-and-hotdog combo during the shutdown.
Perfect for: Watching the game, happy hour with coworkers, overhearing classified conversations.
Looking Glass Lounge (Park View)
The Alice in Wonderland decor in this place truly makes you feel like you stepped through the looking glass but I usually head for the patio out back (I’m too vain to be drinking around all those mirrors). Think the Wonderland Ballroom meets your friend's backyard.
Perfect for: Group hangouts, dancing, running into your ex (don't ask).
Upstairs at Dew Drop Inn. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Snappy’s Small Bar (Petworth)
This bite size bar on Georgia Ave. doesn’t take anything too seriously, and that's why I love it. $4 pint specials only when it’s raining? Sure! Dino nuggets? You got it! They also have quality $10 cocktails and a weekly honkey tonk night that’s not to be missed. The bartenders treat you like a regular, shouting “see you tomorrow!” when you leave.
Perfect for: Eating peanuts under the light of a neon moon, getting cozy with strangers, feeling like a regular.
Dew Drop Inn (Edgewood)
The booze at Dew Drop is good, the vibes are great, and the pizza at the adjacent Lazy Bones Pizza is spectacular. They host some of the best parties in the city with live music and themed nights like “witchy wednesday,” “cuntry western” night, and a monthly queer film club.
Perfect for: Witches, babes, queer nights out, really good pizza.
Grand Duchess (Adams Morgan)
My home dive, you can find me here at least once a week. Stained glass lamps, a really good $8 old fashioned, and niche vibey playlists make this one of the best stops on 18th street. It’s also one of the only dives in D.C. you can get an actually good mocktail.
Perfect for: Reading Camus in the corner, banging playlists, first dates.
Trusty’s (Hill East)
This Hill East institution feels intimate but is surprisingly big. In addition to the main level, there's a bar upstairs (in a literal school bus!) and a patio out back. You're even allowed to bring dogs into the main floor, where there are water bowls. Not to be confused with the hot dogs on their menu.
Perfect for: Glizzys, drinking with dogs, dress up karaoke, people over 30.
