Our 6 Fave Nightlife Spots in D.C.

D.C. residents, this post is for you. We’ve gathered our favorite spots to venture to in the D.C. metro area for a good cocktail, good ambiance and good food. Whether you’re going out with friends or a new date, there’s a ton of places to go, but we’ve carefully selected these 6 locations with a variety of indulgences. Liquor and comedy, craft beer, of course, locally sourced food, a traditional beer garden along with Asian cuisine matched with old-fashioned cocktails, there’s pretty much something for everyone.

The Wonderland Ballroom is the perfect spot for those that like to do rather than talk. If you’re on the shy side, now you can enjoy your cocktail without worrying about small talk thanks to Wonderland’s many activities including Monday Night Trivia Fight, Sometimes Pop-Up Comedy and Improv Show, Live Local Music with Ian & Friends and “Summer Camp” Comedy Show. A Columbia Heights staple since 2004, Wonderland likes to think of themselves as a meeting place, dating service (they’ve hosted 9 Wonderlove Weddings and counting!), comedy shop and live music venue. An all-around eclectic spot for those who like things a little different.

ChurchKey DC is your ideal spot if you’re all about the science and art of craft beer. Beer enthusiasts can choose from over 50 drafts and 500 bottles of beer. Safe to say you’ll find one you’ll like. Right smack in the middle of D.C., you can also enjoy their menu full of goodies like house-made tater tots, pork belly flatbread and ChurchKey burger with secret sauce. Satisfying food and good beer…really, what more can you ask for?

If you like classic cocktails Mad Men style, then perhaps you should make your way over to The Gibson DC. Their small but lively cocktail menu features shaken, stirred and highballs drinks with enough character that you don’t even need to bring your friends. Of course, we don’t recommend that. You’ll want your friends to be able to get in on the fun with saucy drinks like Dupont on Sunday Morning, Casino Royal, and Mt. Pleasant Playboy.

Have a family and a dog and want to be able to enjoy a beer and cocktail with both? Well, you can at Dacha Beer Garden in the Shaw neighborhood of D.C. Yup, you can bring your kids and your pup! Their outdoor beer garden offers beer of course, plus ciders and cocktails with all the fixings. And if you get hungry, enjoy some top-notch seasonal traditional Bavarian food. That’s not all. Dacha offers a gorgeous loft space for private events, plus you can dig into a bagel sandwich at their Dacha Cafe right next door.

Moody industrial ambiance is all the rage at American Ice Co. located a block off the U Street corridor metro. If you like to eat and drink late into the night, say 2 or 3 in the morning, well this is your spot. A classy joint with plenty of yummy locally sourced food and a wide selection of craft and artisanal beer and whiskey, a good time is more than likely to be had.

Copycat Co. offers pot stickers, skewers and Sober Soup along with old-fashioned cocktails. Sounds like a perfect combination to us. If you love the traditional Asian cuisine but want a classic drink to go with it, this is the spot to be. Enjoy daiquiris and gimlets, smashes, manhattans, martinis, sours, fizzes, collins and of course, mules with a side of steaming hot potstickers for 5 bucks. Yum.