The Red Room at Black Cat

red room bar dc dive
Image: Flickr/julia.leiby
MONDAY - THURSDAY: 5:30 P.M. - 2 A.M. | FRIDAY: 5:30 P.M. - 3 A.M. | SATURDAY: 7 P.M. - 3 A.M. | SUNDAY 7 P.M. - 2 A.M.
202.667.4490 | WEBSITE

You go to Red Room for the music at Black Cat. It’s a bar to take a break from the show upstairs, or wait for it to start. But it’s a bar, with its lo-fi table games, stellar jukebox and eclectic décor, that still deserves a visit on its own. The bartenders have just the right amount of swagger (sometimes musicians themselves) and the beer is priced right.

Known For
  • games
  • live music
  • jukebox
  • cheap date
What to drink
Whiskey on the rocks, or a cheap beer.
Neighborhood
U Street
ProTip
Keep an eye out. Often, national and local musicians playing upstairs will be hanging out between sets—from Ryan Adams playing pinball to Ian Mackaye watching a band in the back room.