Badlands
 |
|
1415
22nd St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 2960505
|
|
|
|
|
| One
of the best things about the gay club Badlands is that
it's open on weeknights when other clubs are closed. Men
will find a definite meat-market vibe here, but with less
attitude than you'll find at larger nightclubs. |
|
Chelsea's
|
|
1055
Thomas Jefferson St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 2988222
|
|
|
|
|
| At
this elegant Georgetown club near the C&O Canal, the
DJs trot the globe. Depending on the night, the club
pulses to the rhythms of Arabic, Latin, or Iranian music.
Call ahead to find out each night's theme. |
|
Habana
Village
|
|
1834
Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 4626310
|
|
|
|
|
| No
matter what the temperature outside, it's always balmy
inside Habana Village. The tiny dance floor is packed
nightly with couples moving to the latest salsa and
merengue tunes. When it's time to cool down, you can head
to one of several lounges in this converted four-story
town house and relax in a wicker chair surrounded by
potted palms. Be sure to order a mojito, the house special
made of white rum, sugar, and fresh crushed mint leaves. |
|
Habana
Village
|
|
1834
Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 4626310
|
|
|
|
|
| No
matter what the temperature outside, it's always balmy
inside Habana Village. The tiny dance floor is packed
nightly with couples moving to the latest salsa and
merengue tunes. When it's time to cool down, you can head
to one of several lounges in this converted four-story
town house and relax in a wicker chair surrounded by
potted palms. Be sure to order a mojito, the house special
made of white rum, sugar, and fresh crushed mint leaves. |
|
Platinum
|
|
915
F St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 3933555
|
|
|
|
|
| Known
for years as the Bank, this upscale dance venue always
keeps up with the trends. Now the multi-level club with
three dance floors and a VIP lounge bills itself as a
sushi bar. The DJs play techno, house, and Latin music. |
|
Polly
Esther's
|
|
605
12th St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 7371970
|
|
|
|
|
| Polly
Esther's is the Hard Rock Cafe of dance clubs,
with outlets in New York and Miami. Focusing on
popular '70s and '80s tunes and catering to a
crowd barely old enough to remember the tail end
of the disco era, the club provides an
unpretentious good time, especially for groups.
You can sing out loud to your favorite Bee Gees
song while striking a John Travolta pose, and no
one will look twice. |
|
Republic
Gardens
|
|
1355
U St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 2322710
|
|
|
|
|
| On
any given night, scores of young black
professionals flock to Republic Gardens to meet,
drink, network, and dance. Party people love the
club's beautiful interior, delicious
Caribbean-influenced nouvelle cuisine, and mix of
hip-hop and classic soul tunes. But even
wallflowers can appreciate the pool tables and
big-screen TVs showing sports events. It's best to
dress up and leave the tennis shoes at home. |
|
State
of the Union
|
|
1357
U St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 5888926
|
|
|
|
|
| State
draws a young, eclectic crowd dressed in the
requisite wide-leg jeans of today's casually hip.
Patrons here tend to be serious music fans who
come to dance or hold down a spot at the bar while
the city's best DJs spin a mix of house music,
hip-hop, drum and bass, and classic R&B
sounds. |
|
The
Spot
|
|
919
E St. NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 2620321
|
|
|
|
|
| This
downtown nightclub near the FBI building seems to
change its name every few months but consistently
draws a crowd of young professionals and
partygoers. The club has five separate rooms, with
DJs spinning a different type of
music---everything from Top 40 to Latin pop to
'70s disco to house music---in each. It's best to
dress up if you plan to come here. The club is
open Wednesday and Friday--Sunday. |
|
Zei
|
|
1415
Zei Alley NW
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 8422445
|
|
|
|
|
Pronounced
"zee," this New York--style dance club
in a former electric-power substation draws an
international crowd that includes everything from
dark-suited "hiplomats" to affluent
exchange students. The relentless thump of
high-energy Euro-pop complements a design that
includes a wall of television sets that peer down
on the proceedings. (Tennis shoes aren't
considered appropriate here.).
|
|
Ziegfeld's
|
|
1345
Half St. SE
Washington, DC
|
Phone
202 - 5545141
|
|
|
|
|
| This
club tries to offer something for everyone and has
a mixed clientele (mostly gay men and straight
women). Half the club is dedicated to drag shows,
male strippers, and go-go boys; on the other side
of the club, patrons dance to the latest house
tracks. |
|
|
|
