Washington DC is the hub of America and home to the White House, Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetary, and several other patriotic tourist locations. But touring the monuments and museums is not the only good time you’ll find in DC. The nightlife scene is thriving, so we looked at several venues and factors to determine the 11 best clubs in DC in 2022.
How We Determined the 11 Best Clubs in DC in 2022
To determine the best clubs in DC, we looked at serval factors, including hours of operation, live entertainment, environment, quality of drinks, and theme originality. We also considered special events and quality of service. With all these elements in mind, here are our picks for the 11 best clubs in DC in 2022.
- Cloak & Dagger
- 9:30 Club
- Rosebar Lounge
- UltraBar
- Decades DC
- Club Timehri
- Madhatter
- The Park at 14th
- The Mayflower Club
- Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
- Flash
Cloak & Dagger
1. Cloak & Dagger
Website: www.cloakonu.com
Address: 1359 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (703) 231-8221
Hours:
- Thursday 9 PM – 2 AM
- Friday 9 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday 9 PM – 3 AM
Cloak & Dagger opened its doors in 2015 and has made delicious noise ever since. The club was founded by Sonny “Ghost” Tran, the breakdancing genius who created the group Lionz of Zion. Ghost has toured with artists like Busta Rhymes and Black Eyed Peas — the group, not the legume. Cloak & Dagger has a roster of superstar bartenders and staff maintaining the same spirit.
The open staircase and loft-feel of the upper floor give the place a considerable impression, along with the giant crystal chandelier hanging at the center of it all. It has been named one of the best Hip-Hop venues in America, with a diverse crowd ready to dance the night away. The dress code is upscale, so forget the sneakers and hats. The reviews say it all; it’s the place to go to feel VIP from the moment you walk in the door.
930 Club2. 9:30 Club
Website: www.930.com
Address: 815 V St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 265-0930
Hours: Opens at Noon, but doors open for concerts at different times.
Formally known as Nightclub 9:30, 9:30 Club is a concert venue and one of the hottest nightspots for DC. Rolling Stone named it one of America’s 10 Best Live Music Venues. In 2019, VenuesNow called it the Venue of the Decade. In addition, 9:30 has been mentioned in several pop culture references, including the television shows Gilmore Girls and Designated Survivor.
The club used to open its doors at 9:30, but nowadays, it depends on which concert you will see. 9:30 is an all-ages venue unless a specific show says differently. However, if you are over 21, there are four full bars, so bring your ID. It’s best to purchase tickets in advance.
The Box Office opens at noon to buy tickets every day, while the website provides a great lineup of upcoming artists to see. When going to show, plan on coming hungry and hitting the food stand for tacos.
Rosebar Lounge3. Rosebar Lounge
Website: www.rosebarlounge.com
Address: 1215 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 955-5525
Hours: Open seven days a week, 10 PM – 2 AM
Looking for the best bottle service in DC, look no further. Rose Bar Lounge is the number one open club seven days a week and one of the best in DC in 2022. Every night has something to offer like I Hate Mondays, Remix Tuesdays, Lush Wednesdays, and then the weekend fun starts on Thursdays and runs through Sundays.
There are two clubs under one roof. More specifically, the outdoor patio is covered and heated for dancing all year long, while the inside plays the hottest Hip-Hop and Top 40. There is a classy casual dress code to get in, so be sure to change out of those work boots, sneakers, or flip-flops and grab some nice dancing shoes.
Ultrabar4. UltraBar
Website: www.ultrabardc.com
Address: 911 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 519-8557
Hours:
- Thursday 10 PM – 2 AM
- Friday 10 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday 9:30 PM – 3 AM
Ultrabar is rated DC’s number one party venue and longest-running club. Five floors of entertainment will have you moving all night long. Each floor offers something special: six bars, twelve HD televisions, four DJs, and bottle service, all under one roof. It’s a swanky atmosphere with lavish surroundings and outstanding historical architecture, making it an upscale choice to spend your evening.
It’s a great space if you’re looking to have a party. Ultrabar has space for private functions to accommodate 50 guests up to a thousand. If you have a smaller group, you can book VIP service with a complete list of bottle services.
Decades DC5. Decades DC
Website: decadesdc.com
Address: 1219 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 519-4607
Hours:
- Thursday 10 PM – 2 AM
- Friday 9:30 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday 9:30 PM – 3 AM
- Sunday 4 PM – 2 AM
Decades is a place that can transport patrons to another time with all the best of what today has to offer—created by the owner, Antonis Karagounis, who has a successful history of top-rated clubs. He decided to compile all past club adventures into one fantastic club. The retro venue has five DJs, eight bars, and six floors to experience.
The calendar holds special events, including summertime Beach Club on Thursday, Flashback Fridays, and It Was All A Dream Saturdays. Now open to get food at Rewind by Decades, which serves a great menu of comfort foods throughout the decades. The best part is the diner is open late, too.
Club Timehri6. Club Timehri
Website: clubtimehri.com
Address: 2439 18th St NW Ste B, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 518-2626
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday 9 PM – 2 AM
- Friday & Saturday – 9 PM – 3 AM
Get a taste of paradise at the only Caribbean club. Club Timehri delivers something special every night of the week. Whether it’s Sensational Sundays, Spotlight Mondays, Recharge Tuesdays, Wet & Wild Wednesday, Riddim Thursdays, Temptation Fridays, or Sultry Saturdays, there are drink specials until midnight.
The amazing sounds of Reggae fill the club along with nightly DJs bringing you the best Reggae, Calypso, and Soca. If you’re having a group’s night out, contact Club Timehri to get your party on the list to experience a perfect evening getaway.
Madhatter7. Madhatter
Website: www.madhatterdc.com
Address: 1319 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 833-1495
Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday 11:30 AM – 11 PM
- Thursday & Friday 11:30 AM – 2 PM
- Saturday 10:30 AM – 2 PM
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 10 PM
Opened in 1981, Madhatter is DC’s favorite watering hole. And, in the paraphrasing words of Alice in Wonderland, we’re all a little mad. Madhatter serves drinks and food daily while providing entertaining events weekly.
Mondays are for the trivia buffs as one can test their knowledge in trivia. Each Wednesday, Madhatter shows its love for friendship with Wednesday Friendsday, so if you buy a drink for yourself and a friend, you receive $1 off. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is the night for dancing at the Madhatter with a house DJ playing today’s top hits.
8. The Park at 14th
Website: park14.com
Address: 920 14th Street NW Washington DC 20005
Email: info@park14.com
Bottle Service: (202) 262-3939
Phone: (202) 550-0300
Hours:
- Thursday 5 PM – Until
- Friday 5 PM – Until
- Saturday 11:00 AM – Until
- Sunday 11:00 AM – Until
Park14 is reimagining what nightlife is all about in DC as it takes a page from the legendary notebook. It offers four floors of seating so that guests can revive the art of conversations. This classy night out is great for groups or individuals looking to socialize and make new friends. Don’t be mistaken; it’s not a pressurized meet-market. It’s simply how people would enjoy nights out in the past with a twist of modern taste.
Park14 has a fantastic $5 Happy Hour menu on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, including food and specialty drinks. If you don’t know where to begin on their tantalizing drink menu, try the Daily Punch. The Daily Punch is Park’s most famous cocktail and voted #1 in all of DC. Their Lobos Tequila Margaritas aren’t a bad alternative option. Park14 is great because it’s a place where you can come early and stay late.
The Mayflower Club9. The Mayflower Club
Website: www.mayflowerclubdc.com
Address: 1223 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 519-0555
Restaurant Hours:
- Tuesday – Thursday 4:30 PM – Midnight
- Friday 4:30 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday 5:30 PM – 3 AM
- Sunday & Monday Closed
Zebbie’s Garden Hours:
- Sunday – Tuesday Closed
- Wednesday & Thursday 10 PM – 2 AM
- Friday & Saturday 10 PM – 3 AM
From 1920 through 1933, the US Constitution banned liquor in what was known as prohibition. During this dry time, the fourth floor of 1223 Connecticut Ave NW was an illegal speakeasy, slinging drinks to DC’s most predominant society. Today, Mayflower pays homage to its roots, along with Zebbie’s Garden, named after the original speakeasy owner.
Keeping up with the class of original proprietors, Mayflower has a strict glamorous dress code. So, come in your best dressed and enter for free since there is no cover charge.
Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden DollarAlso Read
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10. Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
Website: www.littlemisswhiskeys.com
Address: 1104 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 555-1212
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday 5 PM – 2 AM
- Friday – Saturday 5 PM – 3 AM
Little Miss Whiskeys brings the Louisiana Parish to DC. If NOLA is life and creole is king, this is the place to be. This place airs every New Orleans Saints game and only the Saints games during football season. Keeping up with the WHO DAT lifestyle, Little Miss Whiskeys has special events with whiskey tastings and crawfish boils.
Every Friday and Saturday features a DJ on the second floor, playing the top hits and bringing the French Quarter party to the nation’s capital all year around. The best part is there’s no cover to join the celebration of life and dance the night away.
Flash DC11. Flash
Website: www.flashdc.com
Address: 645 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 827-8791
Hours:
- Monday & Tuesday Closed
- Wednesday & Thursday 8 PM – 2 AM
- Friday & Saturday 8 PM – 4 AM
- Sunday 8 PM – 2 AM
Techno is alive and well at Flash. The doors opened in 2013 to bring DJs and industry vets a home away from home. Legendary DJs bring the best of house and techno every weekend. Other sounds are featured throughout the week, and there’s always a chance to visit the rooftop, also known as the Green Room, for kombucha or frozen cocktails. The vibe is rich in the underground scene with a mainstream experience.
The top-notch sound system will allow visitors to feel the music pulsate through their veins. And if that isn’t impressive enough, the fully stocked bars might just do the trick. These walls welcome any fun night out in a place where rustic meets industrial surroundings.
Wrapping Up the Best Clubs in DC in 2022
Whether it’s live music or dancing to the latest beats provided by one of DC’s hottest DJs, these nightclubs in DC have a lot to offer any patron looking for a good time. So dress up in your best attire and experience DC’s thriving nightlife for yourself.
Related Questions
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