The Fireplace

Dupont Italian Kitchen gay bar and restaurant serves fresh Italian food in the heart of Washington DC's queer Dupont Circle area. DIK is frequented by a slightly older crowd but friendly bar staff make sure everyone is welcome. DIK is open seven days a week for good food and drinks, and it hosts some of the best karaoke nights in the area. Always lively, always friendly, and with a lovely patio area, DIK is popular with everyone.

A short walk down P Street will bring you to this popular dive bar. The Fireplace is known for its diverse crowd, great drink selection, and of course the fireplace beside the bar. The bar tends to attract regulars who gather and catch up in this cosy space. Upstairs you'll find black lights and DJs, and a space where you can dance until late in perhaps the most unassuming bar in DC.

Right next door to the legendary Pitchers is the equivalent sports bar for lesbians and queer women. It features plenty of room for games as well as two patios where you can sit back and people watch, and in keeping with the surroundings, you can enjoy a sports-themed menu of bar favourites includes stadium dogs, chicken tenders, and burgers. The owners of these neighbouring bars are dedicated to providing safe and friendly, so these bars are understandably popular.

This Shaw neighbourhood bar is central to the gay scene and is especially busy on sunny days when the rooftop can be enjoyed to the fullest. When the deck isn't packed, the top floor is full of music and dancing and a side of jumbo wings. There's karaoke every Monday night that draws a lively crowd, and since Uproar is DC's premier bear bar, there's plenty of hot men to get to know here.

Number Nine is located in the heart of the scene and has been completely renovated to create a space that is at once modern and classic. The venue has two floors, with amazingly plush and comfortable furnishings including marble bars and a fireplace. State of the art sound and lighting means that the downstairs bar is lively at night, while you can enjoy your craft cocktails in the stylish video bar and lounge upstairs.

JR's Bar is a pillar in DC's LGBTQ+ Community, serving amazing cocktails and popcorn since 1986. Great drink specials, campy videos, and friendly bartenders keep JR's packed with fun seven days a week. If you're looking for a casual place for a drink, JR's is the place to go in the heart of Dupont Circle, complete with show tunes and trivia nights among other events. Sundays are especially popular, mainly because of the super cheap vodka!