Three of the best local bars known for supplying free tacos, cheap drinks, and VIP happy hours announced last week they’ll be closing, leaving a gaping hole in D.C.’s intern drinking scene. Sign of the Whale, Buffalo Billiards, and the Front Page are all frequented by D.C.’s younger denizens for their excellent happy hours and other deals created to appeal to people partying on a budget—and all will be closed by the end of the summer.
But D.C.’s interns and young professionals shouldn’t fret too much: there’s certainly no shortage of happy hour deals, late night shenanigans, sticky floors, and intern lanyards at these local bars still operating in the District. Here’s what they have to offer … and why one might wish to avoid them:
The Big Hunt
As Washingtonian editor Marisa Kashino and many others lovingly pleaded on Twitter, please just save The Big Hunt, another longtime Dupont haunt. If not for their 50 cent (yes, 50 cent) buffalo wings deal on Tuesdays, then save it for its Underground Comedy shows. Wednesday and Thursday night 8 p.m. shows are completely free and drinks on Thursdays are only $4 from 7 p.m. to close. Beyond the comedy shows, the bar also has a rooftop to kick back on where, according to Instagram, they offer school-night specials.
Why adults might want to avoid it: The dive bar vibe is big here with its dark, loud rooms and beer-soaked smell. If you’re looking for a comedy show to bring a date to, you might spend the show peeking over someone’s shoulder because the basement gets crowded.
BlackFinn Ameripub
Like Sign of the Whale, Farragut Square’s BlackFinn Ameripub offers the chance to win a VIP happy hour which will give you free drinks and your friends extremely discounted drinks late on Friday nights. And, seriously, if you sign-up, you will win. Your friends will also continuously win and it’ll be an endless Friday night cycle. The venue itself has two bars, and a dance floor outfitted with large screens that play music videos.
Why adults might want to avoid it: Unless you want to spend your Friday night shouting over top 40 music that “no, I don’t go to George Washington,” this isn’t the place for you. It’s normally packed to the gills with college kids.
Breadsoda
Breadsoda is known among D.C. college students for its happy hour deals and games. The Glover Park basement bar has billiards, darts, shuffleboard, and more, all of which are free on Wednesday. Happy hour runs regularly until 7 p.m., including weekends, as well as all night on Wednesdays. During happy hour, you’re not likely to spend more than $4 on a drink.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: The place turns into a zoo of college kids during peak happy hour times, especially on Wednesdays, which are colloquially known among American University students as “Breadsoda Wednesdays.”
Recessions
D.C. blogger Barred in DC called L St. NW Recessions a “Young Bro Bar” on Twitter. The bar has been a long-standing haunt for interns and young professionals, and why not? You pay for what you came for: cheap drinks, onion rings and fries, and, of course, karaoke. Happy hour runs until 8 p.m. and includes $3 Miller Lite and $4 rail drinks. Immediately after happy hour, sing some karaoke on Tuesday through Saturday or enjoy Monday night football.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: Sometimes you just don’t need a bunch of drunk youths scream-singing into a microphone. And, as Mike Janssen pointed out on Twitter, it’s carpeted. Enough said.
Tortilla Coast
Hill interns, come to Tortilla Coast for a little slice of history. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan was a server here during his own time as a Hill staffer. This Capitol Hill spot is known for its happy hour every day until 8 p.m. featuring $6 frozen margaritas and $5 “cheap sangria.” A “fancy sangria” is just two dollars more. And while $6-and-under happy hour bites include guacamole, queso and quesadillas, chips and salsa are free for the table.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: The proximity to the Capitol might not be your friend unless you want to listen to Hill staffers and interns talk politics all night. Plus most Yelp reviews laud the low prices, but say the food itself is mediocre.
Punchbowl Social
Located close to Ballston Metro, Punchbowl Social is a massive venue with no shortage of indoor or outdoor seating in one of its many rooms or on its rooftop. If you’re craving a cocktail, you won’t pay more than $8 for one at happy hour. You’ll also never be bored between karaoke, table games, their arcade, and a bowling alley spread across three floors.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: Punchbowl Social is essentially a crowded Dave & Buster’s. Leave the youths to their games.
Wonderland Ballroom
Columbia Heights’ Wonderland Ballroom is good for both summer days and summer nights where you can easily migrate from their outdoor space to dance the night away on their (sweaty and crowded) second-floor dance floor. Happy hour from Monday through Sunday means you can find all drafts and rail drinks $2 off. On top of that, Wonderland regularly hosts local performers.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: As one person on Twitter put it, Wonderland is still offering “good nights and bad mornings.” If you’re looking to leave the hangover from cheap beer and pulsing music behind, Wonderland is not the place for you.
Madhatter
Naturally, Dupont Circle hub Madhatter is known for its hats: They’re large, plastic, and filled to the brim with alcohol and soda. It’s not uncommon to see a group of friends sipping from one through multicolored straws as they dance the night away. Aside from being a popular dance spot on Fridays and Saturdays, Madhatter also has decent deals for young people, including half-off draft beers every Tuesday, University Night every Wednesday where you can get $4 Stoli’s and $2 Coors Light, and Mug Night every Thursday where you can get $1 Miller Lite drafts.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: There’s nothing like sharing your friends’ spit as you all communally sip watered-down sprite and vodka from a large plastic hat…except maybe going somewhere else.
Dan’s Cafe
The Washington Post christened Adams Morgan bar Dan’s Cafe one of the best “true dive bars” in 2017 and that’s absolutely right. For $25 (in cash), you’ll get a squeeze bottle full of the alcohol and mixer of your choosing (you’ll get $5 back when you return the bottle). Dan’s Cafe has no frills, but that’s not stopping people from eagerly squirting their squeeze bottles into their mouths.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: Dark, sticky and crowded, Dan’s Cafe knows exactly what it’s here to do: Get you drunk. It’s not for the squeamish. The response on an apparent Twitter parody account when a patron noticed a baby mouse in the bathroom? “He said he was 21.”
The Codmother
Nestled under the Hawthorne on U Street is basement bar the Codmother, which the GW Hatchet named D.C.’s best dive bar in April. Their beer list includes $3 PBRs and beer cocktails priced at $6 or $7. The later into the night it gets, the more and more drunken dancing happens atop a small, sticky dance floor as the music fluctuates between top 40 music and early 2000 hits. Expect either Shrek, Ghostbusters or another nostalgic movie to be projected on the wall above the bar.
Why everyone else might want to avoid it: According to the Hatchet, the Codmother is “basically the adult version of a fraternity party.”
This story has been updated to clarify the nature of the Dan’s Cafe Twitter account.
