| College Bars Updated August 2001 | ||
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 The Tombs has been a hangout for Georgetown students since 1962. (File Photo) |
American University
Catholic University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Howard University
The University of Maryland at College Park
A friendly reminder: If you're under 21, don't sneak into bars. Read our story on options for the under-21 crowd instead. And, as always, if you have any comments or questions, please send us an e-mail.
Nestled in an affluent, residential neighborhood, American University boasts scenic surroundings and few nighttime hot spots within walking distance. Though many students venture downtown to explore the club scene, others enjoy making the mile-long trek to Tenleytown, where the bars offer a more relaxed and casual atmosphere.
The Malt Shop
At the Malt Shop, if it's after 10:30 p.m., it's an AU crowd. Want to sit down? Get there early, because while the atmosphere is jovial, the space is limited. Students crowd around lopsided wooden tables passing the $7 pitchers of domestic beer. The bar is a hang out for those who don't have the energy or funds to hassle with "dressing to impress" at the more fashion- and status-conscious downtown dance clubs. Mixed drinks are available, but don't expect a martini-drinking crowd. These are fraternity brothers on a break from keg duty and beer is de rigeur.
It's open until 3 a.m. on weekends with a late-night happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday is the big night for AU students; and you must be 21 to enter.
Babe's Billiards
With floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out onto Wisconsin Avenue, Babe's is not the typical dark, smoke-filled bar inhabited by students. Pool tables line the main room and patrons come less to mingle and share drunken tales of deviance than they do to indulge in the game, whether competitive or friendly. Babe's features a happy hour every night from 4 to 7, in addition to a variety of pitcher specials throughout the week. After 9:30, though, patrons must be 21 or over. On the positive side, Babe's is open until 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Guapo's
With unlimited tortilla chips and inexpensive strawberry-swirled margaritas (known as the "Matriomonio"), the Tenleytown branch of Guapo's knows how to attract college students. Though there is no official happy hour, the small bar (only a half-dozen stools) serves up a variety of imported beers and glasses and pitchers of the fruity, tequila-soaked margaritas. Although it's definitely more of a restaurant than a bar, Guapo's is a popular early start to an evening. When it's not late enough to go to a club, and your refrigerator boasts only an opened Heineken and a four-month-old fruit cup, indulge in quesadillas and sizzling fajitas before hitting the late-night hot spots.
Recessions
The $10 cover charge at this casual downtown bar includes free, unlimited drinks on Saturdays from 10 p.m. to midnight, making it a natural destination for cash-strapped students. Mixed drinks are sometimes haphazardly prepared, but it's free, so few patrons complain. Several booths and aging tables line the narrow bar, opening at one end onto a dance floor that, with its ceiling-to-floor mirrors lining the wall, is reminiscent of a cheesy wedding reception. But with a few complimentary Long Island Iced Teas in your system, you'll hardly notice that you're dancing to 'N Sync and enjoying it. Though Recessions is in an obscure location -- down a flight of winding stairs and past the pickup window for the bar's restaurant -- it's an unpretentious hangout where students are sure to run into a familiar face. Underage students take note: You only have to be 18 to enter.
There aren't many bars or nightclubs within walking distance of Catholic University's Brookland campus in Northeast Washington, so students are often required to venture elsewhere in search of a good time. For ease of transportation, most of their haunts are on Metro's Red Line, which has a stop next to the university.
Johnny K's
Mention this neighborhood bar to any CU student and you'll get a laugh and nod. Still referred to by upperclassmen as "Kitty's" -- after its former incarnation as Kitty O'Shea's Irish Pub -- Johnny K's is the pride and joy of CU watering holes. Only a five-minute walk from campus, music from the live bands can occasionally be heard drifting through the sleepy Brookland streets. Contests, giveaways and familiar faces make Johnny K's a brassy little joint for a night close to home -- or a rowdy last stop after a night on the town.
Colonel Brooks' Tavern & Island Jim's
Students and faculty alike have enjoyed the Colonel Brooks' Tavern for years. Pictures of early Brookland hang in the tavern, dubbed "Brooks" by CU students. Although this is a traditional restaurant and bar, occasionally Brooks features live bands that cater to a younger crowd and a small cadre of regulars. But the real excitement is next door at Island Jim's Tiki Bar. In this pseudo-tropical paradise, you can hear the soft twang of Jimmy Buffet mingling with shouts for margaritas. A small crowd of 20 to 25 theater students can always be found singing classic songs with local folk singer Jack Selway, who performs every Saturday.
Irish Times
By far the most popular nightspot among Catholic University students, the Irish Times remains a quintessential Irish bar -- well, on the first floor, at least. The Times appeals to CU's largely Irish-Catholic student body, giving fifth-generation expatriates a satisfying connection to their roots. One of its biggest draws is the high-energy dance floor downstairs, where students can get their groove fix without forsaking their loyalty to the Irish pub scene. It's a short trip for students on Metro's Red Line and a two-minute walk from Union Station -- less time traveling means more time for drinking.
Sullivan's Emerald Isle
Also known to students by its former name "the Tavern," Sullivan's Emerald Isle is an unassuming CU favorite nestled among D.C. bureaucracy. Saturday nights, large swarms of students hit this bar for the $10 all-you-can-drink special and live music. When bands finish, the Tavern has even been known to let a few students get onstage and play a few songs of their own.
My Brother's Place
As an alumni-owned bar and pub, My Brother's Place is a natural hangout for CU students. Located next door to Sullivan's Emerald Isle, My Brother's Place has a convenient Capitol Hill location and a welcoming atmosphere. A hot spot around homecoming and on St. Patrick's Day, it attracts CU students year-round for its specials, which include $1.50 domestic bottled beer on Thursdays and $12 for all-you-can-drink draft beer and rail drinks on Saturdays. In addition to DJs and free giveaways on the weekend, My Brother's Place has a half-price burger special every Monday, ideal for anyone's budget -- not just students.
The Front Page
"The Page" is first on CU's list for Dupont haunts. Whether clinging possessively to the jukebox or bobbing up and down on a quasi-dance floor, CU students are part of the scene from Thursday to Saturday night. Students are particularly enthralled with the Thursday specials: a free taco bar (5 to 7) and $1.50 Coronas, not to mention the renowned quesadillas, which are available anytime. The nearby Metro station, also on the Red Line, is a convenient trip and an affordable cab ride home.
George Mason is a little different than Maryland or Georgetown. With the exception of Brion's Grille and Fat Tuesday's, which are located in the same strip mall, there really aren't many bars within walking (or stumbling) distance of campus. Be thankful, then, for the CUE Bus. It can literally take you to most of the bars in Fairfax. There's a stop at Pickett and Main Street in the heart of Old Town Fairfax (near T.T. Reynolds), one right in front of Bridges, one at the shopping center near Patriot Cafe, and everywhere else, it seems. So be smart and use them. And now, our favorite Fairfax bars.
Brion's Grille
Brion's all-afternoon happy hours and nightly specials make it convenient, and don't forget the beauty of its location (across Braddock Road from campus and next to the University Mall movie theater). There's a large bar area, cheap drinks and framed Mason basketball jerseys on the wall. The bar is large, but it's not the main feature, making this a good place to bring parents and visitors.
Bridges
With a dozen pool tables and a cool, modernist decor (lots of black, lots of shiny metal, barstools with tiny backs, futuristic murals), Bridges is almost too cool to be a college bar. However, there are tables for dining and a large dance floor near a fireplace. Reasons to come here include cheap drafts at the daily happy hour, free wings at Friday happy hour, and every Friday, Bliss -- a deejay night of house, hip-hop, trance and reggae for a 21-and-over crowd (dress fashionable -- no athletic wear, please). Essentially, you could spend an entire night here. Bridges is also running a weekly "Best Body on the Beach" contest -- the finals are Sept. 12.
Fat Tuesday's
On the weekends, Fat Tuesday's is a sensory experience. Peanut shells crunch underfoot as you walk, the air is heavy with the scent of seafood and beer, the dance floor is humid, and the bands (and bar conversations) are loud. Whenever we've been there, this New Orleans-style dive bar -- and we mean that in the best possible way -- has been packed with local professionals and students out to enjoy the dirt-cheap happy hour specials ($1.50 drafts and bottles, and $1.75 rail drinks from 4-7) and tasty Nawlins food. The music ranges from blues and jazz to college rock bands, with DJs on the weekends. But wait, there's more. Located just around the corner from Brion's Grille, this is across the street from George Mason, making the walk home easier for students to deal with.
Firehouse Grill
The Firehouse Grill is the latest pony on the carousel that is University Drive. Now a restaurant and bar, it's been through various incarnations, including the Dharma Coffeehouse and Crossroads, a bar with live local music. The firehouse theme is rather scant: a couple of helmets, a Fairfax firefighter's jacket, a picture or two. (A big pole in the middle of the floor would have been cool.) In any case, this is primarily a restaurant, but half of the front room is taken up with a long wooden bar. There are the usual suspects on draft, a discount at happy hour and a menu that's on the small side.
P.J. Skidoo's
P.J. Skidoo's is a bit far out to be a student bar, but it's still a good one. Happy hour is often packed with local office workers and young professionals who come for the daily specials: $1.95 rails and $1.80 drafts from 4 to 9. On Tuesdays, ladies get drinks for $1 until 9. Wednesday is College Night, with domestic beer pitcher specials and a deejay from 9 to close on the good-size dance floor. The more-upscale-than-most decor and delicious sandwiches are also noteworthy.
Patriots Cafe
Well, it says Patriots Cafe, but this wood-paneled, strip-mall roadhouse is long, narrow, and decidedly a place for locals, with classic rock and country on the jukebox and dartboards and NASCAR posters on the wall. Not much green-and-gold on display. There's karaoke from Wednesday to Saturday, though, and cheap pitcher-draft specials.
T.T. Reynolds
This is the place to be in Fairfax if you want to see live bands -- every night of the week, there's a local group onstage. They range from acoustic acts at happy hour to regional draws like ebo and Boogiehawg, and most seem tailored to appeal to a college audience (convenient, isn't it?). On weekends, or if a good band is playing, T.T.'s can get packed. The daily happy hours (4 to 6:30) are also a draw, with $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts, $1.50 for other drafts and $2.75 rail drinks.
Defining nightlife for George Washington University students can be a little tricky. Washington is on their doorsteps, so GW students cast a wide net, frequenting local bars in Foggy Bottom, the M Street strip in Georgetown, the heart of midtown, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan.
Lindy's Red Lion
For GW students, the Red Lion might be the closest thing to "Cheers." The tavern, located right on campus, is the closest place for a quick afternoon pick-me-up, late-night drink or even a group meeting. This convenience pays off -- managers estimate that 90 percent of its patrons frequent the bar three to four times a week. The camaraderie of the place and the little touches of GW life -- including a calendar counting the days until graduation and a quote board full of customers' sayings -- are what keep students coming back.
Tequila Grill
Located on K and 20th streets, this GW hot spot is only a short walk for students. Perhaps that is why the bar's happy hour specials, which include $1.99 appetizers and $2.50 margaritas from 3:30 to 7:30, are pulling in the crowds. But Tuesday is the biggest night for Tequila Grill, serving free drafts of Miller and Miller Lite from 9 to 11. There's a $7 cover to enter; $5 if you are drinking.
The dance floor is small, and the deejayed mix of pop, hip-hop and some early '90s music keeps it full, even overflowing into the dining area. While the Mexican-themed restaurant stays casual during the week, it's dress-to-impress on Friday and Saturday nights: tight tube tops for women, sleek button-downs for men. Tequila Grill also remains a consistent favorite of GW students because it is one of the few bars that admit students who are not yet able to drink, but old enough to have a good time.
Garrett's
This Georgetown favorite always captures the attention of GW students and their wallets. With three separate bar stations located within this two-story restaurant, students spend more of their weekend smiling and sipping, and less time waiting for a drink. Live music is a special occurrence at Garrett's, but two jukeboxes -- plus a CD player in the third bar -- provide background music as students chill out and try to "meet new people." The $2 beer specials change nightly during the week, but everything is full price on the weekends, so make sure your wallet has more than just your ID in it.
The Madhatter
On Thursday nights, GW students flock to this midtown bar for $1 Sam Adams drafts. Although there are two bars -- one downstairs, and the other up a flight of stairs -- students usually congregate on the first floor. Dining tables and a tiny dance floor leave little room to move. Thursday through Saturday, however, the tables are cleared so patrons can dance to a mix of pop and '80s music. Other than an array of baseball hats adorning the wall above the bar, the Hatter has no particular ambiance. There are the low-hanging ceiling lamps, which always seem to get in the way when dancing on the bench that runs the length of the wall. The crowd at the Hatter tends to be older than at most other bars listed, but there is usually a good number of students.
Students at Georgetown don't have to go far to find some of the best bars in the city. With M Street's nexus of bars a few blocks from campus, GU party-goers have easy access to long nights of bar-hopping at some of the District's finest pubs.
The Tombs
What does turning 21 mean to Georgetown students? It means they can go to the Tombs. Along with 1789 and F. Scott's, the Tombs completes a trio of legendary GU establishments just a block away from the university's front gates. Named for its location -- in the basement beneath 1789 -- the Tombs is basically part of Georgetown campus. Students work at the Tombs, eat at the Tombs and drink at the Tombs every night. Traditions like "99 Days," where seniors have a drink there the 99 days before graduation, and '80s Night on Wednesday make this local watering hole the first bar GU students consider for a night of drinking.
Garrett's
However, you can't spend every night at the Tombs. Garrett's, located on the outskirts of the immediate GU social scene, is great for a night away from the usual Georgetown watering holes. Garrett's dual role as a bar for locals and students makes it unique among Georgetown nightspots. During the week, it's usually a good place for drinking comfortably at a table with friends. When the weekend rolls around (and on busy weekdays) a whole new dimension of Garrett's comes out -- the upstairs. When Garrett's opens its second floor bar, a foosball table and open social setting make the second floor perfect for the college crowd.
Rhino Bar and Pumphouse
Rhino is the latest in a slew of popular cheap-drink, packed-house bars that Georgetown students parade to in droves on weekends. A great college bar in the tradition of GeorgeToon's or Chadwick's, Rhino is where students go in masses these days for cheap drinks, sweaty nights and direct exposure to college life. Complete with two floors of bars, dance floor and even a pool table, Rhino's drink specials aren't the only thing that brings GU students down to M Street, but they sure do help.
Third Edition
Third Edition is about as ritzy as the bar scene gets around Georgetown. "Third's," as it is dubbed by students, sits atop a pretty low pedestal as the best of the best around GU. Picked by Playboy as one of the top five college bars in 1999, Third Edition has four bars, multiple dance floors and an outdoor tiki bar. Next door to Champ's, Third's can be the highlight of a nightly cruise down Wisconsin Avenue.
Champions
Champions is every Georgetown student's favorite sports bar. Known as the preferred hot spot for GU athletes, Champ's is the best place to eat, drink and dance while surrounded by sports memorabilia. Georgetown students usually head over to Champ's after a night of partying or for late-night dancing with a room full of fellow students and assorted random bar-goers. Besides the late-night party scene, Champ's is also a great place to spend a Sunday during football season. Proper attire is required, so don't forget that Redskins jersey.
Georgetown Billiards
GU students head to Georgetown Billiards for more than just a night of drinking. A few games of pool or darts and a pitcher or two at Billiards makes for a good time. Underage students can get in to play pool and not drink, as this place is 18 and over. This is a great spot to watch boxing matches and other sporting events. It's the best place around Georgetown to spend a night with a little added entertainment (besides the beer).
In terms of nightlife, Howard University is better positioned than most universities. It sits on the edge of U Street and right near Adams Morgan -- two of Washington's hottest destinations for clubs and bars. While most of those clubs are for students 21 and over, there are some that even Howard's newest residents can check out.
Republic Gardens
At Republic Gardens, the weekend starts a little early for the 21-and-older crowd. The bar and dance club, a favorite with of-age Howard University students, opens its doors on Fridays from 5 to 7 for happy hour. But the party doesn't stop then -- you'll find DJs spinning hip-hop and R&B until the late hours. The cover charge is $5, but that can be waived with an e-mail invitation. Though known for serving some of the best drinks on the U Street corridor, the happy hour also has a reputation for the best complimentary buffet: jerk chicken, Spanish rice, crab cakes and chicken marsala are just a few of the dishes on the menu. On Saturdays the club is open from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m., with a happy hour until 10. The cover charge for Saturdays is $10.
Club 2:K:9
Located just one block from two of Howard University's main dorms, Club 2:K:9 has become one of the hottest dance clubs for students, and with its Global Saturdays party, the club opens its doors at 9 to students 18 and older with a college ID. On Thursdays and Fridays, the club is open to men who are at least 21, but women only have to be 18 to get in. Thursdays is Ladies' Night, complete with male dancers in cages and free admission for ladies until midnight. On Fridays, the club heats up with Beautiful Fridays; the DJs spin hip-hop, R&B and reggae. Cover charges range from $5 to $15, depending on the night.
Bar Nun
Poetry lovers and jazz aficionados flock to Bar Nun on Monday nights for the poetry slam and live music. Since it started four years ago, the open-mike set, which begins at 8:30, has drawn large numbers of Howard students. The cover charge is $5, and the night is open to everyone over 18. Other popular nights for area students include Thursdays, when DJs spin hip-hop, reggae and R&B, and Saturdays, which have a Caribbean flavor; the music of choice is soca, calypso and reggae. Cover for both nights ranges between $5 and $10.
State of the Union
Students looking for the right mix of live bands, DJs and good drinks don't need to go farther than the State of the Union. On Thursday nights, DJs and a live Reggae band alternate sets from 8 to 2 for a $5 cover. Fridays and Saturdays find hip-hop and house music spinning in different rooms between 7 and 3, while live bands play from 9 until 11 on both nights. Cover charges range from $7 to $10. All nights at the State of the Union are for the 21-and-older crowd.
Nightlife at the University of Maryland -- at least, the nightlife that doesn't take place in the apartments on Knox Road or the "Graham Cracker" area near frat row -- is usually defined around the intersection of Route 1 and Knox Road. It's here, within walking distance of most campus and student housing, that you'll find College Park's "big three": Santa Fe Cafe, Bentley's and the Cornerstone Grill. If you're driving, beware the parking enforcers. If you're drinking, give someone else the keys. In any case, here's a list of our favorite places in Terrapin country. In the evening, most stipulate that patrons be 21; but you should call ahead to find out what the policy is on a particular night.
94th Aerosquadron
It's named after a famous World War I flying unit, and the exterior has been done up to resemble a French farmhouse, albeit a heavily damaged one. The restaurant is nicely decorated, but the bar is much more popular. Happy hour, with $2 domestic beer and $2.50 rail specials, is mostly local workers and some students. The complimentary buffet during the Friday happy hour features fresh fruit and buffalo wings, which often taste like they've been rolled in pepper. Have a drink outside and watch the planes at the College Park airport take off and land.
R.J. Bentley's
Bentley's, as it's commonly known, is located next to the Cornerstone, and it's the best of the College Park bars if you're looking for a place to take your parents. It has all the requisite sports decorations: autographed basketball jerseys, football helmets -- even the golf bag of PGA pro (and former Maryland coach) Fred Funk.
Don't be fooled by its reputation, though -- Bentley's takes the "restaurant" part of its name seriously. we've been kicked off the patio at 10 p.m. because it's reserved for diners until the kitchen closes at 11. That means that the booths and stools near the main bar fill up quickly. Check the chalkboard sign over the bar for daily specials, which start later than many others around town. Bentley's features deejays (and a non-existent dance floor) Wednesday through Saturday.
The Cornerstone Grill and Loft
With the best happy hour buffet and some of the best bartenders in College Park, the Cornerstone is always a popular destination for students and locals alike. There's always a line to get in on the weekends, as guys put on their whitest baseball caps and ladies wear their tightest black pants. Daily drink and appetizer specials include shooters, mixed drinks and baskets of tasty wings. During sporting events especially Maryland basketball and football the bar is packed.
Upstairs, there's a smaller space called the Loft. Here you'll find another (much smaller) bar, pool tables and space for live music, which is often of the one-guy-and-an-acoustic-guitar variety. And if you're an alumni who fondly remembers the 'Vous (the former, much nastier incarnation of the Cornerstone), you can buy memorabilia here.
Lasick's College Inn
It's a bit of a hike from campus, but this 1940s roadhouse is popular for its Tuesday karaoke, downstairs game room (pinball, pool, etc.) and 75-cent drafts at happy hour. It draws its fair share of locals, but the karaoke and cheap beer keep students coming back.
Santa Fe Cafe
When Maryland students hear "Santa Fe" (or just "Fe"), three words come to mind: Dollar Bud Night. Held on Tuesday nights, this is the busiest midweek event in College Park, and the one that everyone -- athletes, fraternity members and English TAs -- clears his or her social calendar for. With $1 beers from 9 to close, why not? The Fe is also busy during and after sporting events and on weekends, almost as much for its Southwestern food as for the drinks. Heck, the Fe's just plain busy.
Town Hall
No, we're not recommending you drink in the liquor store. We're talking about the small roadhouse bar next door. It has several pinball machines, a foosball table, a pool table, cheap beer and an atmosphere that's the antithesis of Bentley's or the Fe. If you want something besides pounding music and spaghetti straps, this is a good place to start.
Contributing writers:
American University: Chloe Albanesius, managing editor - Lifestyles, the Eagle Newspaper
Catholic University: Tamara Weaver, features editor, the Tower Newspaper
George Washington University: Cindy J. Roth, features editor, the Hatchet Newspaper
Georgetown University: Joe Harten, associate editor, the Hoya Newspaper
Howard University: Jason Smith, editor, the Hilltop Newspaper
University of Maryland/George Mason University: Fritz Hahn, former diversions editor, the Diamondback Newspaper (UMCP)
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