Best Alternative Bars In Washington Near Me

Shana Bayton: Amazing place to hang out and vibe, great drinks, fun bartenders, lots of seating. Especially enjoyed the rooftop area, very nice!

M: This place was recommended by my “ friend “ as a nice gathering and welcoming place for all , and it is really nice and welcoming for all ( I am a trans), There is a negative “lesbian “ attitude here , the way they act around “men “, and transgenders , one girl she asked me when did I start being a “ gay “ , I looked at her , I’m not a gay , I’m a trans women , you know that “ T “ in LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈,,, show some respect .

Day Graham: Overall good place to be and nice decent music, some people are a little touchy but it’s not that big of a deal. The only negative experience I had (not personally) but my friend gave the bartender her card to pay for 2 drinks and 2 shots. One was $35 and I believe the shots where $8. The bartender decided to give himself a tip out her card without her authorization and gave himself a $52 tip. Lucky my friend was able to call her bank and dispute the charge. If you go to this bar do NOT USE CARD! Cause the bartender will over charge your card purposely.

Braxton Mann: My friends and I had a really great time the other night. The staff was incredible. Patrick made us feel so welcomed. The drinks were strong, and delicious. And great safety precautions were taken by the staff for COVID.

Samy Azzam: On Jan 9, 2022 the bartender downstairs took a $58 Tip on a $17 tab without my authorization. My bank confirmed it was unauthorized, and I will be reporting them to the Better Business Bereau.

Saif Areikat: I’ve been there multiple times this summer. This place is very lively especially on Fridays and Saturdays. The staff is always making sure everyone is well and very courteous. A plate of goldfish on the house! Totally recommend 10/10

Clint Davis: It was heartbreaking to see how far JR’s has gone downhill over the past few years. I was there recently with friends and it was filthy and lifeless compared to the many years that it was my “gay Cheers” bar. Someone needs to take over management (or ownership) and breathe some life into what should be a shining jewel of festiveness on 17th Street. Perhaps the owners or management of Annie’s should take over.

Daniel L: Love this spot so much it’s hard to know where to start. Haven’t tried the food but have seen plenty of other people happily eating. Love Thirst Trap Thursdays, the drag show, where the spacious dance floor becomes a runway. Make sure to check out their social media for any upcoming events; FB: “Pitchers DC”, IG: “PitchersDC”. There are so many levels to this place that when thinking about it I honestly have to mentally walk around each floor/section. It’s not too big where it’s confusing but just big enough that there’s always variety and another opportunity to mix it up in a different area. There are video games in League Of Her Own, the connected lesbian bar, and in a few other spots around pitchers. Drinks are reasonably priced given the fact that it is in a busier area of DC. The reality is though I could think of a few other bars that cater to the same clientele with similar qualities but the biggest attraction here is the attitude of the bars patrons and employees. When you first walk in it’s obvious how great of a time everyone’s having (whether they are chilling or dancing away) because of peoples smiles and warm personalities. If you’ve checked out other LGBTQ bars you’ve probably stumbled upon one of those bars that feels like model homeland and anyone who doesn’t look a certain way doesn’t feel accepted. In addition, the homeland for some reason only hires and trains their bartenders to have an attitude and to look you up and down after taking your order as if to judge whether your worth their time. I only bring up bars like that because it’s the complete opposite here, to the point that I’ve caught myself wanting to tip plenty of pitchers bartenders the price of the drink (essentially doubling my out of pocket expense) because of their sweet smile and welcoming demeanor. Plus I don’t know who’s hiring the staff but great job to the HR department for scoring some veryyyy attractive ladies and gentlemen to run the door, manage the bars, and do all the other jobs. Bottom line, I know plenty of us grew up wishing/hoping/praying for a space where we could feel accepted while just being ourselves and the reality is that this is that place. Whether your just visiting DC for a hot second, a DMV resident looking for a fun time, or someone who’s not sure if the bar scene if for them, I challenge you to check out this spot because I couldn’t imagine a single person being disappointed. Simply put it’s a lovable DC destination for all.

Darnell T.: Good energy. Even on a slow night, crowd seemed to be in good spirits.

Geovanni: Went on a Saturday night, crowded night crowd means the place is doing something good. I will say it was hard to get around and the narrow bar didn’t allow for much dancing or movement at peak time. The drinks were strong and friendly bartenders, would go back!

Christopher Yuen: I was in town for a business meeting and I took a few friends out to this bar on a whim and we had a blast! The bartenders were friendly and the drinks were unique and delicious! I had so much fun I ended up leaving my blazer at the bar. I called the manager Graham a few days later and he mailed it back to me all the way to Connecticut. He’s awesome and this place is too!!!!!

Damien: Stopped in for a quick drink before dinner. The bartender was really nice and was helpful with drink suggestions.

Samantha Horn: Love this place! It’s definitely my go-to for a drink with friends my neighborhood. I love sitting on the patio area and upstairs on the patio to have conversations and a chill vibe. Then the inside for a loud club-type atmosphere. Best of both worlds!

Alison Scott: Loved the live music, bartender was so friendly! Amazing vibes - so glad we stopped in here. One of my favorite stops while visiting DC

David Clark: Fabulous doormen John & Kadeem! Super friendly & respectful - make you feel safe & secure in today’s crazy world.

Stacey Brooks: Little but intimate. TTNG played twice here and it was a laid back experience. Bar on every level, food always smells great, bands perform on the second level without it being over crowded! Great place to rock!

Robert Cardoni: Mid size music venue hosting indie and punk acts. Space is long and narrow - so sight lines and sound can be off near the back but it’s still a great space. They recently downsized from 2 levels to one. Kind of sad but at least they weren’t forced out of the neighborhood due to gentrification. Bring cash. No credit cards accepted They no longer have food :(

Rachel Lipton: The space was thoughtfully designed with a great bar but the drinks were a bit of a letdown - certainly not bad but I was expecting something a touch more exciting (I know they rotate monthly so I’ll be back to try some new ones soon) The vibe was also a touch quiet/empty which was a bit of a bummer since we were celebrating but perhaps it would have been better if we were there earlier or later

Paul Terry Services Lawn Care & Landscaping: Christina and her staff are - in a word - AMAZING. Kind, caring and beyond gracious. Special requests are a not a problem for this crew. For the most unique and special celebration, look no further. Grateful for this staff.

Rebecca Carmeli-Peslak: worth every penny. such a cool classy experience. the staff is all amazing and goes out of their way to help you pick the perfect drinks for your celebration. we really enjoyed the fruit jell-o shots project apollo champagne espresso martinis and french martini. my party and i will definitely be returning soon! bonus they have a giant gumball machine