Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington, DC (Part 2).

The second part of the Washington bar tour began in the Foggy Bottom section of the District, only a few blocks away from where part 1 ended.  It was another fun night and further confirmation that bar hopping in Washington is getting close to rivaling a pub crawl in NYC.

6:55pm – Elephant & Castle – Located at the northwest corner of 19^th and I streets, this is the second D.C. location of the English style pub chain.  A lively bar scene, along with a spacious eating area, it is a good happy hour spot for the K Street crowd and the nearby law firms.  With 18 beers on tap and some quality bar food, Elephant & Castle is a key starting point for bar hopping in Foggy Bottom.

7:30PM – 19^th – Across the street from Elephant & Castle, on the southwest corner of the same intersection, this bar looks good from the outside, but doesn’t quite fit the space in which it resides.  Floor to ceiling windows and the corner location appear very promising.  The place holds a crowd that is a mix of nearby GWU students and some young K Street professionals.  On the weekends, it appears that the venue changes into a clubby atmosphere by clearing out a section of tables and chairs in exchange for a dance floor and DJ.

8:05pm – Froggy Bottom Pub – Ahh, memories of a good old-fashioned college dive bar!  A bi-level establishment, with the main bar on the basement level, this bar is known for its nightly cheap drink specials.  A pool table in the middle of the main bar area, Froggy Bottom serves a food menu of burgers, pizza and subs.

8:45pm – McFadden’s – At the District’s location of this regional Irish pub chain, a bi-level pub, most of the action takes place on the basement level.  The bar has 12 taps, including some hard-to-find beers.  It is a known hangout for D.C. kickball.  The non-kickball crowd is mainly a mix of GW students and recent college graduates.

9:30pm – 51^st State – This is a New York hangout on the border of Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.  The establishment boasts four New York beers on tap (out of 16 total taps), including Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn Brown Ale!  Yankees stickers and Yankees pennants abound, this spot can definitely make a transplant from the Tri-state area feel right at home!

10:15pm – Marshall’s – This place is two doors west of 51^st State.  According to our guide, it’s a late night spot that is a service industry hangout.  Like other spots in Foggy Bottom, Marshall’s is bi-level, with the bar on the second floor and a restaurant (of sorts) on the first floor.

After leaving Marshall’s, our guide previewed pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s bar tour of Georgetown to take place during the next visit to Washington, DC.  How did you like part 2 of the Washington tour?  Please feel free to comment.  Looking forward to hearing your feedback.

A visit to Washington, DC is always a good time.  Specifically for bars, there is probably not another city in the U.S. other than New York that, over the past decade, has seen more new bars (and neighborhoods) become open for bar hopping.  On a per capita basis, Washington DC is fast becoming a rival for pub crawls vs. NYC pub crawls.  What follows is part one of two nights.  This night involves some old-time Washington establishments in the downtown section of the District, centered around the White House.  Out on the town with an expert of the Washington, DC bar scene, here’s what transpired:

7:35pm – Off the Record.  A bar in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Park from the North entrance of the White House, Off the Record is a must visit for all.  An octagonal shaped bar fills the center of a loungey area that is filled with political art (mostly cartoons and caricatures).   This place is frequented by Journalists and Staffers.

8:10pm – Le Bar. A hotel bar on the first floor of the Sofitel at the northwest corner of H and 15^th street.  The half-oval bar and a mostly loungey feel to this spot make it another must stop after touring the area around the White House.  The floor to ceiling windows provide the venue with a lot of natural light during the day.  The outdoor seating area in good weather adds a nice touch.

8:45pm – POV (aka, Point of View).  Since this is a rooftop of the W Hotel (fka, the Washington Hotel), in a city like Washington, the name has double meaning.  During this visit, the Arkansas Congressional delegation was having a private reception, so the entire bar was not accessible.  However, the view is arguably the best that Washington bars have to offer.  The foreground includes the Treasury Department Building and the White House.  To the southwest stand the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.  Various sections of Arlington, VA provide the backdrop in the distance.

9:20pm – Laughing Man Tavern – The first venue on our tour that was not a hotel bar, but just a few blocks from POV, this spot is a solid happy hour place with 16 beers on tap.  A semi-sports bar with 2 levels and 10 TVs.

10pm – Black Finn – This is a large, upscale sports bar near 17^th and I streets. It has many Old Washington pictures and some NYC pictures on the walls.  The beer selection includes 12 taps, but nothing too hard to find.  But there are some local bottled craft brews available.  The space has two bar areas and is arguably one of the best sports bars in the District.  On the weekends, the back bar area transforms into a dance floor with a DJ.

10:40pm – The Exchange – This bar near 17^th and G Streets is sort of in a no-man’s land part of the District.  Close enough to the White House to be considered downtown, but just east of George Washington University, so it could also be part of Foggy Bottom, the bar was renovated a few years ago and has a large eating area.  It has 24 beers on tap, several of which are hard to find.

I hope you enjoyed this first of two posts of pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington.  Please share your comments.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Check back soon for part 2.