This no-frills watering hole, which was founded in 1935, shows its age. But faithful customers keep coming back to the tattered bar for $3 cans of Natty Boh and $1 bags of potato chips. (Despite having “grill” in its name, not a morsel of food is cooked here.) A soul- and country-heavy jukebox sets the soundtrack for dates, catch-up sessions and the occasional conversation with a drifter. The bartenders can be a little rough around the edges, but keep the cash flowing (credit cards are not accepted), and they’ll warm up.
They’re grungy, run-down and even a little stinky. But that’s exactly why we love them. DC’s best dive bars are where folks head when they need to unwind and lose track of time. The following are some of our favorite watering holes (despite the fact that many of them only accept cash). True Washingtonians will agree.