Nellie’s Sports Bar

When Nellie’s first opened in 2007 at the corner of 9^th & U Street, NW, some wondered if a gay bar could thrive in a location so far removed from the center of Washington’s gay nightlife scene. But, as the city’s gay community has moved east, Nellie’s (named for the owner’s grandmothers—yes, multiple grandmothers) now the most popular gay bar in all of D.C. Though it’s billed as a sports bar—and serious sports fans definitely come here to catch a game—the TVs rarely factor in on DJ nights when crowds pack Nellie’s rooftop bar.