Washingtonians take pride in their mobility and adaptability. It seems as if most people here are from somewhere else, brought to the nation's capital by jobs in the government, one of the related industries or in the military. Maybe that's why it's so easy to get to know people in this company town.

There's brass at the Pentagon, but it's the buff young marines who run laps near the Navy Yard barracks (in tight, very brief shorts) you'll want to polish. Perhaps you'll find one of them in the dark corners at the Eagle, or amid the crush of shirtless hunks at the Green Lantern. You can ask, but don't tell!

 

Neighborhoods

Washington is an easy city to navigate, divided into Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest quadrants. The Capitol building is at the center, and streets spread out in a grid pattern. Avenues named for the states cut through at angles.

The main gay center of gravity is the Dupont Circle neighborhood. One of the country's most pleasant gay districts, Dupont Circle is full of sidewalk cafes, bars, clubs, shops, and lots of interesting people.

Within easy walking distance. P Street Beach is a green oasis alongside Rock Creek, perfect for daytime tanning and nighttime liaisons (police do patrol here, so be careful). Rock Creek Park runs through much of the city, on either side of the winding eponymous stream and parkway running through the woodlands.

 

Getting here

Washington has two airports, plus another that's conveniently close, near Baltimore, Maryland. The Ronald Reagan National Airport (simply 'National' to locals) is small but ideally situated across the Potomac in Arlington, Virginia. From here the Metro connects you directly to downtown.
Washington Dulles International, 26 miles west of downtown, has Washington Flyer Coaches leaving every 30 minutes for Metro's West Falls Church station. Baltimore/Washington International (aka the Thurgood Marshall) has easy rail and bus connections to both cities.

 

Getting around

Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave NE) the arrival point for Amtrak trains, is also a destination in itself. It's filled with shops and restaurants. From here, Metrorail takes you most anywhere else in the city.

Rather than dealing with heavy traffic and difficult parking, leave your car in your hotel's garage. DC's Metro will comfortably get you where you're going with six MetroRail lines and over 90 stations across the District, Maryland and Virginia. Dupont Circle has a station on the Red Line. Metro also has bus service with 1,500 vehicles on 325 routes, and 11,500 area bus stops. For rail-to-bus or bus-to-rail discounts or free bus-to-bus transfers you'll need to use their SmarTrip rechargeable farecard.

Bicycles are permitted on Metrorail (two per car) on weekdays except during rush hours 7-10am and 4-7pm and all day Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays. Capital Bikeshare has 2500 bicycles at over 300 stations in the District, suburban Maryland and Virginia, including many Metrorail stations. Taxis are convenient, especially late at night after the Metro has closed (stations are open roughly 5am-midnight weekdays, and 7am-3am on weekends).

 

Media and resources
Two Washington gay papers can be found free at most gay businesses. Metro Weekly covers the nightlife scene, with good photos and useful website. The Washington Blade, is one of the best and most influential LGBT weekly newspapers in America, with news, features, columns, reviews, plus arts and entertainment listings. Outrage is another online site with gay nightlife and events listings.

The Washington Post is the daily newspaper of record for the local DC Capital Region and the world, with news, reviews, arts and entertainment and events, in print and on line. City Paper is a weekly alternative paper with general listings, a&e, and restaurant reviews.

Where the Girls Go has the District’s queer female scene online, for nightlife, fashion, and culture, with stories, photos, and events updates.

Centaur MC sponsors the January Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend with the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest, and a bi-annual recreational Labor Day Weekend event in the woods, among their other activities. Also see the DC Boys of Leather and MTTA websites.

Prime Timers DC does cocktail socials, dinners and annual summer getaways to Rehoboth Beach for older gay men. 

Brightest Young Things is a good arts and entertainment website with lots of photos, and a gay tab on the header bar.

Destination DC has online tourism information about Washington, and Capital Region website covers things to do and see in the District, and surrounding Maryland and Virginia.

The DC Center is Washington's LGBT community center for programs, services, activist organizations, and online information.

For locations and website links to businesses listed below, and more, see our gay Washington DC map & listings pages.

 

Accommodations Dupont Circle & NW

Carlyle Suites (1735 New Hampshire NW; 202-234-3200) Large suites with kitchens, near bars, restaurants, shops.

Doubletree (1515 Rhode Island Ave NW; 202-232-7000) large boutique hotel, off Scott Circle; 15 RIA American restaurant, fitness and business centers.

Residence Inn (2120 P St NW; 202-466- 6800), kitchenette studios, breakfast, fitness center, WiFi access; close to Dupont Circle gay venues.

Savoy Suites (2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Glover Park; 202-337-9700) near Georgetown, great views, all amenities.

Swann House (1808 New Hampshire Ave NW; 202-265-4414) lovely B&B, rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, swimming pool.

Willian Lewis House B&B (1309 R St NW; 202- 462-7574) Edwardian-style B&B, near tourist sights and gay bars, special Sunday breakfast.
 

 

Bars & Clubs Capitol Hill & SE

Bachelor's Mill (1104 8th St SE), neighborhood institution, karaoke, pool tournaments, weekend dance parties, roof patio bars, 7 nights of entertainment; Miss Star Black America pageants.

Banana Cafe and Piano Bar (500 8th St SE), piano bar above Cuban/Puerto Rican/Tex-Mex restaurant; live entertainment, vibrant colors, cool drinks, Caribbean art.

Phase 1 (525 8th St SE), nation's oldest lesbian bar, dancing, queer indie/punk to hip-hop, drag-king shows, live music, karaoke, Jello wrestling, pool games.

Remingtons (639 Pennsylvania Ave SE) - CLOSED April 2014 - locals' gay bar, mostly men, occasional strippers, drag shows, pool games.

 

Bars & Clubs Dupont Circle & Adams Morgan, Logan Circle & McPherson Square

Annie's (1609 17th St NW), "Annie's Paramount Steakhouse," a local favorite for 60 years, popular gay Upstairs Lounge.

Cobalt (1639 R St NW) three-floor dance club above Level One restaurant, with 30 Degrees lounge, karaoke, mostly men in their 20s and 30s; 18+ Hot Body Contests, Bearracuda dances and Rumba Latina nights.

DIK Bar at DuPont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St NW), mixed crowd bar above pasta/seafood and sandwiches restaurant with Saturday/Sunday brunch; laid-back and comfortable vibe.

Duplex Diner (2004 18th St NW) 50s style diner with busy Thursday nights drinks, conversation, and the company of many of DC's most interesting people; nightly from 6pm.

Fab Lounge (1805 Connecticut Ave NW) neighborhood lounge on second floor, diverse mix, a favorite of women.

Fireplace (2161 P St NW) two-level video bar, comfortable and cruisy, games, busy afternoon and evening, mostly men.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct, behind 1335 L St NW), two levels, always cruisy, tightly packed, especially on "shirtless men drink free" Thursdays, Bear and otter events, and underwear nights.

J.R.'s Bar and Grill (1519 17th St NW) video bar, chinos and button-down crowd, mostly guys, showtune sing-alongs.

MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St, NW), slick cocktail lounge reopened at new two-level location, DJs, no cover.

Number Nine (1435 P St NW), stylish cocktail lounge on two floors, fruity drinks, mostly male crowd, former Mova location.

 

Bars & Clubs Southwest

For many years Southeast was known for the cluster of gay stripper bars, bathhouse and adult books. The area was bulldozed a few years ago, to make way for the new stadium. One of those classic clubs reopened recently, just across South Capitol Street from its old location - now in the Southwest quad.

Secrets/Ziegfeld's (1824 Half St SW), totally nude male strippers Wednesdays through Sundays from 9pm, plus amateur strip contest nights; flamboyant Friday and Saturday night drag shows.

 

Bars & ClubsU Street corridor

Cafe Saint-Ex/Gate 54 (1847 14th St NW) basement dance club below restaurant, mixed gay/straight crowd, eclectic music.

Nellie's Sports Bar (900 U St NW) big- screen TV patio bar near Howard University; basic, hearty food, games, karaoke, Sunday drag brunch.

Town (2009 8th St NW) high-energy weekend dance club by Howard University, Fridays, Saturdays, dancing, go-go boys and cabaret drag shows; after hours until 4am. Fridays 18+ upstairs.

 

Bars & Clubs Outlying

D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd NE / Anacostia Freeway), the long-time, no-attitude leather/bear cruise bar at New York Ave NW moving to newly renovated 3-level building, opening soon (winter 2014?) on east side of Anacostia River near Minnesota Ave Metro station. Restaurant, dance/ entertainment club, Levi/leather and bear cruise bar, roof garden bar.

Freddie's Beach Bar (555 23rd St S, Arlington) locals' restaurant and bar favorite with a diverse crowd, live entertainment and drag shows, beyond the Potomac in N Virginia.

PW's Place (9855 N Washington Blvd, Laurel) gay sports bar with food and internet on Route One, in Maryland, midway between Washington and Baltimore.

 

Special Events

Periodic events include: Bruxxsel, party mix of Europop, retro, indie rock, Nordic pop, French new wave, and World music;  The Crucible, members-only alternative/fetish club nights; Mixtape DC, a queer dance party at various venues around town; and Rich Morel's Hot Sauce parties in DC and Baltimore. Check websites for dates and locations.

 

Restaurants
Areas around Dupont Circle, especially along 17th Street from P to R Streets and throughout the Adams Morgan area of 18th Street and Columbia Road NW offer many restaurant and cafe options of international cuisines and price range. A cluster of Asian restaurants can be found in Chinatown (Metro: Gallery Place). Below see a few of interest, gay and otherwise; and for another three dozen options see our map and listings/restaurants pages.

Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St NW, U Street corridor) restaurant, bookstore, internet cafe; political, arts, and literary gatherings, weekend brunch to 3pm.

Cafe Saint-Ex (1847 14th St NW), lunch/brunch and daily dinner with three-course prix fixe options from frequently changing menu. Attached to Gate 54 art deco hangar-like DJ-music lounge.

Duplex Diner (2004 18th St NW, Adams Morgan) gay-fave happy-hour bar and kitchy diner restaurant with American food of burgers, mac & cheese, open daily.

Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St NW) indoor or sidewalk seating on busy Dupont area restaurant strip; pasta, salads, seafood, chicken and sandwiches downstairs, mixed-crowd DIK Bar above.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe (1517 Connecticut Ave NW) Dupont Circle landmark bookstore and cafe, breakfast and morning papers from 7:30am, lunch, dinner, busy 'til after midnight day and night, seven days; indoor and sidewalk seating, live entertainment, full-service bar.

Lafayette Room (One Lafayette Square) elegant Hay-Adams Hotel dining room across from the White House; elaborate Sunday buffet brunch.

Level One (1639 R St NW), casual chic, classic American dining below Cobalt gay nightclub; music, outdoor seating, popular brunch.

Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th St NW) breakfast and lunch with the power elite from 7:30am weekdays, or weekend brunch; richly furnished, great food selection, excellent service.

Perry's (18 11 Columbia Rd) American Contemporary cuisine with Asian touch in Adams Morgan, also with Sunday brunch and drag shows.

Soho Tea and Coffee (2150 P St NW) Dupont area Internet cafe, sandwiches, deserts; all-ages gay hangout, especially on weekends.

 

Saunas

Crew Club (1321 14th Street NW), 24-hour cruising for 18+ men; steam and sauna, TV lounges, gym, tanning.

Glorious Health Club (2120 W Virginia Ave NE), men's club formerly in SE displaced by the stadium; steam, showers, gym, snack bar, take-out food deliveries. Open 24 hours just off New York Avenue.

 

Shopping

Bite the Fruit (1723 Connecticut Ave NW, Dupont Circle), former Adam & Eve/Leather Rack, fine tailored leather clothing, accessories, toys, adult magazines and videos.

Capitol Video Sales (1729 Connecticut Ave NW, Dupont Circle) adult video DVDs, magazines, oils and toys.

Universal Gear (1529-B 14th St NW) packed with the latest fashions.