Licht Café, D.C.’s Newest Gay Bar, Is a Cozy, Art-Filled U Street Hideaway | Eater DC

"Anchored by classic cocktails and edgy art, this new European coffee house–style bar at 1520 U Street NW opened December 30 and aims to bring a bright, joyous, and unapologetically gay gathering spot to the U Street LGBTQ+ scene. Owner Spencer Hurd—who spent several years in Germany and moved to D.C. for a NASA job in 2014—modeled the 600-square-foot space on his favorite gay café in Mannheim, fitting a sleek 270-degree wraparound bar, restored wood floors, mid-century chandeliers, a long brushed-leather sofa and fuzzy forest‑green chairs, and art on nearly every wall that features framed nude silhouettes, men of varied body types, and cheeky athletic prints. The drinks program focuses on well-known classics—cosmos, gimlets, Manhattans, martinis, and mojitos—alongside several bottled beers, a trio of wines, and bartenders ready to mix off‑menu craft drinks like negronis; Hurd stocks a limited number of each spirit type and leans heavily on vodkas, with plans to rotate batched cocktails on tap. Without room for a full kitchen, the bar offers shareable snacks like olives and mixed spiced nuts and will use a petite oven to make flammkuchen, with a full menu launching next week; Licht opens afternoons and weekends (4 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. weekends) and closes 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday–Saturday, and Hurd plans to host events and live music to encourage patrons to linger, mingle, and make friends." - Evan Caplan