Atomic Billiards

Great atmosphere, good drinks, space to play on 8’ tables (though you’ll occasionally bump another person’s stick at an adjacent table. Very gay friendly and hosts a gay Stonewall Billiards league on Mondays. Occasional Sunday night tournaments, an APA league on Tuesdays, so if you are a casual shooter, come Wednesday through Sunday.

Had been there before and had no problem. Went there and they kicked out a close friend because they thought his id was fake (it was not). They would not accept that it was real even after other government IDs were shown.

Cool spot but they do not offer any food or snacks. There is good beer and wine though. Clean tables and good vibes.

I loved the bartender gwendy she was so helpful this was my first time really touring dc and for my first date I came here with a friend he’s from here im from Baltimore the drink was amazing and the atmosphere was amazing 😻

Bouncer is severely brain damaged. Accused me of having a fake ID despite being of age. Might need to institute an IQ test for all future employees.

The bartenders, especially the short big brunette, are too focused on their little boy treats and would rather tell paying customers “you can wait” than do their job

I'm very sure although this was my first time at such a place in my city but DC has much better venues. Here it's just a space with billiards and a wall dart thingy. Boring, dingy and unkept. Oh and a bartender that scrolls his eyes and rolls his neck when asked for a service and who makes boiled eggs at the bar right in front of you as you sit and have your drink. Never again!

Fun place to have a beer and play some pool. Pool table prices by the hour are very reasonable. Good music too.

Went here in a Saturday because I wanted to shoot pool. It was fairly easy to find. Small space but nice. It definitely gives pool hall vibes minus the smoke. 6 tables, 2 dart boards and 2 shuffleboard. Signed up for a table and had a short wait, about 30 minutes. While we waited we order drinks and played jenga. The dark and stormy was good. They also have a Touchtunes jukebox so you can play DJ. Overall it was fine, the tab for 2 including ~1.5 hours of pool and 5 drinks (2 dark and stormy and 3 Hennessy) was about $75. Not bad at all! Definitely will go back.

Went here to play some pool. This is a nice pool hall in a great location. They have six pool tables to dartboards and two shuffleboards. Did not try any food there and their bar is fine but limited. For example they only had two Gins to choose from. Still, the place is clean and we had a good time. If you are into pool and in Cleveland Park, check this place out.

Cool place to just play some billiards or just have a drink. They charge you per player rather than per table. The place does seem a bit cramped. Overall, it's not bad but I'm sure you can find better.

Great spot. Came on a Wednesday night and played for 3 hours. Drank 4 beers. Service is super friendly and customers are respectful. I loved the decor.. hard to describe but it has an awesome ambiance. Beer selection was great - I had probably the most tasty cider I've ever had (orangecicle) and a delicious Sierra Nevada IPA. Most important part - the tables are all in excellent condition with good felt and cushions. All 9 footers and there are a good amount of them.. I think 6. Spacing is more than adequate - I'm not sure I've played in a hall with spacing this good in a long time so you don't have any interaction with the surrounding tables. Finally, pricing was good.. for the 3 hours and 4 drinks, I paid about little over $50.. not bad for a major metropolitan area. This is an excellent source to get your pool fix in D.C. and will be back when in town.. totally hit the spot. A+.. easy 5 star.

It is a great bar if you are a glutton for punishment and you like what I think is the most obnoxious, unfriendly and downright nasty bartender who works there on Monday and Wednesday. I recommend you spend your money elsewhere.

Atomic is a great neighborhood place to hang out at. As a pool hall they are on the upper edge of average. A bit crammed. They upgraded the table tops with need felt. What they really stand out at is the atmosphere and their bar staff. One of the best environment to play with friends and chat. I see myself a regular there.

Our night was great until the last 5 mins. The bartender was great all night and our family had so much fun. Very good service. However, I was trying to record the young adults in our group taking a shot and stepped too far behind the bar. The security guy grabbed my sweater (arm) and tried pulling me out. I had one drink at the beginning of the night and that was it because I was the DD. I am completely sober and wasn't causing any trouble. That security guard had no right to put his hands on me. I didn't escalate the situation because I worried about my son and brother getting into an altercation with him. He needs to learn to respect women. I recommend investing in training for him so he knows how to appropriately handle situations. He's lucky I didn't call the cops and press charges.

A lot smaller than I anticipated but it was not over crowded at all. The pool sticks were well kept, the tables were smooth and we got in quite a few good games! Wanted to stick around for some darts but had to head home. Overall, a chill place!

Very unwelcoming atmosphere and difficult bartender. It was very obvious we were not wanted there.

Dive bar with games and cheap drinks. This is a great place for a group of less than about 8 people. It's a place to play pool or grab some cheap beers in a fun atmosphere. They have some sort of membership program that gets you free pool and 10 percent off your bill? I haven't checked it out since I've only been there I think 5 times over the past decade. I like to come here with friends before heading out to dinner in the area.

Prices are fair, and there is plenty to do here rather than just drink. Lots of fun for you and your friends or co-workers or if you have to drag your family somewhere.... Definitely play your heart out with the darts before the night's drinks have gone for too long or too many rounds (don't poke anyone's eye/eyes out), giant 2x4-fashioned Jenga (it's harder than it looks), shuffleboard (darned wax!) and if you have the skill - pool. Yes, I know the name has "billiards" in it, but... some people have more patience and skill than others. The point is that if you are looking for fun and a chill evening out without presumptuous people trying to impress or pretend, this is a good choice. The location is easy and low-key to access, so, you don't even have to worry too much about dealing with a lot of uncomfortable this or that as you walk from the Metro (super close - 1/2 a block away!), out of a cab or from your bike/ car. The only good or bad is the food thing - yes, there is no food for purchase. It makes sense though, with all the games. Too much to worry about! Super chill. Loved it. Will be back.

This is a basement dive bar I walked by 100s of times before going in, always curious what was transpiring below. As it turns out, not much. The crowds are generally very chill, and the bartenders are kind and laid back as well. I dont believe they serve food, but I did see some people eating takeout from surrounding restaurants: very nice. Once you order your drink, you have plenty of entertainment options. Darts are one dollar, and it's unlimited, so go crazy for however long you can still aim straight. For me, sadly, that didn't take too long. After darts we moved on to giant jenga. No fee to play this one, and it's every bit as fun as I imagined. Prepare for the bar to erupt in a ohhhhhhhhhh once this beast topples because it is sure to make a crash. We ended our festivities there, but there were others enjoying shuffleboard, pool, and even board games that they have stacked up to high heaven. Many bonus points for Sunday happy hour. Funday indeed.

Dark, divey, and perfect for cheap drinks and playing games with friends. Pool tables, shuffleboard, oversized Jenga, and tons of board games. In DC, you really can't beat $3-$5 for a beer during happy hour. My husband and I have walked past Atomic Billiards at least a dozen times during evenings in Cleveland Park and decided to stop in for a couple beers and a game of shuffleboard last night. It wasn't overly crowded, and service at the bar was fast. Very laid back vibe.

I moved out of Cleveland Park recently, and the thing I miss most about the neighborhood is Atomic Billiards. It was the go-to hang out for myself and friends when we wanted something very local (within walking distance). On the weekends it may be a bit difficult to get a pool or shuffleboard table, but you're guaranteed a great time no matter the day of the week. The bartenders were always pleasant and speedy, and the jukebox was great. I'll always cherish the long fun nights spent at Atomic!

When I was in college, Atomic Billiards was my go-to for a quick game of pool during happy hour or a warm up for a night on the town with friends. The decor (old arcade games, iridescent colors) feels very nostalgic and it's quite cozy. During peak hours it can take awhile to get a table, but there are other games to occupy yourself with and the staff are very adamant about keeping wait order so you don't have to worry about missing your slot.

I had been in Cleveland Park about a zillion times before noticing this place. Atomic is right across the street from the Uptown, and it's located in a basement with only a modest-sized sign to mark it. Atomic is a pretty sweet lounge-type pool hall. This would be a great place to take someone on a casual, weeknight date. It's close to the red line and is laid back with a good selection of games and beers. Atomic's 1950s/science-fiction decorations remind me of that really bad movie with Brenden Fraser and Alicia Silverstone (when he's locked in a bomb shelter for 35 years or something). I would love to spend more time here, because it's just really relaxed. As far as I've seen, no creepy guys/girls trying to hook up, no dancing on bars, no one trying to do a body shot off people's chests. As far as food goes, I would suggest eating before you come here, unless you enjoy having potato chips for dinner.

I love Atomic. I only recently found it a few weeks ago with some co-workers. After a long night of waiting tables in Friendship Heights, a bunch of us like to wind down by playing pool and having a few drinks here. It's a cool little place - very chill, has a funky sci-fi feel and if you're not too into pool, they also have board games for you to play. Drunk boggle is pretty awesome, I have to say. No food...well, bags of chips, if that counts. Friendly bartenders :-) Update: They now have shuffleboard!!

Good peeps meet here. It's a cozy, friendly joint. Good place to meet friends and have a low-key outing. Kinda "Cheers" like vibe at times. Lots of regulars and a mixed age crowd, and that's what's cool. It can get busy with AU students on some nights. I think the drink prices are a little high. There's no food served, except potato chips. They're very open to your bringing in outside food. In fact, they have menus from local restaurants making ordering takeout easy. If you frequent it regularly, get a membership and it'll save you some loot. Sadly, it's not known for its wine selections, but you can enjoy plenty helpings of Fireball and Jaegermeister, and standard cocktails. Barkeeps keep changing and some are friendlier that others. It's always great when they are friendly and recognize their regulars. More of that is good. There's billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and a couple video games. There's also many board games to check out. A good jukebox too! Good pool. Good music. Good times.

I've been to going to Atomic for about 3 years and It really is a great place with good service. The jukebox is the best I've seen in DC and the crowd on weeknights is usually local and friendly. As for weekends, I will never go here again. The vibe is entirely different and it brings in aggressive billiard people who treat the entire space as their personal rec room. And I'm not talking about professional or pro-am players... I'm talking about drunks doing trick shots, moving furniture, and pushing people out of the way so they can get a better angle at the table. And really, they always seem to miss the shot anyway.. no matter how belligerent they are in setting it up. The experience at Atomic suffers from its size and that it tries to be both a billiards room and a bar. Talking with friends here is a challenge because you have players constantly putting sticks in your face, but at the same time I empathize that playing "a serious game" of pool here would be a challenge with the current layout.

So I tried to give this place a chance, but I can't. I've just tried to come in for a beer, but every time I'm not a regular and feel unwelcome. Tonight I got carded and the gentleman bartender threw my 26 id on the ground. That's cool but not if you want to keep a business going.

Love this place! Great staff! Great patrons! I'm indulging in their delivery service during COVID.

Cool ambiance, reasonably priced drinks, plenty of games and friendly patrons. Atomic is a refreshing oasis in a DC plagued with bars that are overpriced and basic AF.

Only been this place One time for a Office happy hour there's plenty to do there board games shuffleboard billiards darts video games TVs for watching sports Great jukebox with music The bartenders are very friendly

Decent happy hour and beer prices. I feel like I'm in a 80's arcade with a bar. Cool divey vibes. Will return for a nice cold one or two or three.

Down, down, down the stairs To the cozy billiards lair Shelves of beer, so many kinds Not like Galaxy, but the price is fine And what's that tune? Some indie-pop? Pixies and Shins on ye 'ol Jukebox! If you need a drink and have time to kill Atomic Billiards should fit your bill p.s. Ben T. won't save girls from creepers at a bar

( I lived in this neighborhood and often frequented this establishment from April 2008 to April 2010. I've been here countless times.) Hey, look at me. I'm a fake dive bar in a fake neighborhood. I don't sell beers at dive prices, but you can come here and smell pee and pretend like you're in some trendy neighborhood in a big city. What's that, tourist? Do you feel like you're experiencing something? Maybe this reminds you of a rock & roll bar that you've seen in a motion picture show. Maybe you feel like you can come here and do coke off the bar & rent hookers. Maybe you think that coke is South America's greatest contribution to the universe and you just want to sniff those jewels until you get enough courage to drive a flaming minivan across a playground filled with soulless adolescents. Maybe you think that you're edgy because this is your bar of choice in Cleveland Park. You're too hip for Cleveland Park Bar & Grill, but you're too scared to move out of your white enclave. You've seen guns in magazines but you can't imagine owning one. It's tough to be you, I understand. That's why you've developed this coke habit and that's why you need to come to pee-filled bars in Cleveland Park. I don't judge, really, but I've been meaning to have this talk with you for some time now. Bottom line: It's not the worst place ever, but I'm pretty confident that nothing cool has ever happened here and I know that nothing cool ever will. Spend your money clone, spend it good.

Walk down the stairs to this basement bar and you'll see a real pool hall with 6 or 7 tables. Not some prissy place for suburban home boys on dates with their college girlfriends, but a noisy, crowded joint with pool hustlers and good players looking for chumps to fleece. There is electricity in the air at this place. A little sweaty and not for the faint of heart, but it's ALIVE with energy. Atomic Billiards is a DIVE BAR of the first order. Turn around and some crazy guy is chatting up your date, so you have to be on your game here. Atomic Billiards definitely has a fun atmosphere and is filled with young, energetic people drinking a lot in a tight space.

Definitely a good place to go if your looking to play pool on a weekend. Despite the small size of the place, it's packed full of tables and they seem to run in a pretty good rotation. You'll get a table without much wait. However, if your looking for a place to just to hang out and chat, it can be tough finding a spot without getting hit with a pool stick. Standing/sitting room seems to be somewhat limited. Other notes: Cheap prices, nice bartenders and a total sausage fest. If you're wondering where all the guys go on a Friday night in Cleveland Park, I've solved the mystery.

I came to Atomic Billiards years ago, and for some reason didn't really like it. Maybe it was that it was a small pool hall and I am terrible at pool. Regardless, I decided to meet some friends here last weekend and have a newly found appreciation for this bar. First off, they now have 2 shuffle board tables, which are far superior to pool. (Although they use the WRONG sand, its not supposed to be actual sand, on the shuffle board tables, making them slow). Second, the bottled beer selection here is great. There were at least 10 beers I hardly see anywhere else and plenty of beers that I do, but enjoy seeing available at a bar. The bartender was friendly, quick and attentive to people along the bar. He put my name on the shuffle board list and I was notified when it was my turn. The prices here are very decent, no crappy $10 rail rum and cokes. Also, they have a stellar jukebox. Being so close, this will definitely turn into a favorite for me.

So I'm writing this review for two reasons: 1) I have been there and I want to tell you about it; 2) I also want to go mano-a-mano with the Wayne Gretsky of Yelp who just posted the previous review, aka Rich L the gorgeous one. I know I am way out of my league here - but give me a chance. There are three pleasures this place brings me: 1) Stepping off the pavement and into the basement. Not a sad sack basement like Chadwick's where you can still see the street, I am talking darkened, neon strip lighting, greasy stairs basement. I'm fast forwarding here, but the corollary to this is when you leave - I honestly think there is no finer feeling when you're on the lash than emerging from a basement, after a few beers, into the cold harsh light of day. Sun is shining, everybody has been working, pushing society forward and I have been on one glorious magnificent multicolored bender ! And it's not over yet ! I can feel the adrenaline surge now just from thinking about it. The other aspect of the basement is that as you descend the stairs your antennae are working a bit harder than normal - what will the place be like? who will be there? is it crowded or empty? The anticipation builds within you and before you know it you are enjoying the sensation - what should be a 5 or 8 second descent down the stairs becomes a full on tactile experience. Maybe you will linger, maybe you will savor it a little bit - or maybe you will just go on in. 2) Pool. Yip this place has pool tables, and it is a fine spot to come- preferably with your pals, and play some pool. 3) Beer. It has good cheap beer, excellent service, and a killer jukebox. Or maybe the jukebox is largley crap and it is just that the people I have been with have had excellent taste. Hmmm. there could be a PhD in that one.

After arriving it was only fifteen minutes or so until we had a table. Somehow I was able to come thiiiiis close to winning a game but two balls held me back. Is this how guys feel? Do they always get in the way and ruin your fun? Hmmmmm...points to ponder. I have no idea what time it was when we showed up but it wasn't packed. Everyone, except Ben Part II, was pretty good about not whacking people in the head with a pool stick. The other patrons seemed pretty chill but as with any place that serves alcohol, a few can get loud. Seriously, if you're going to yell out the name of the person who is singing a song at least get it right. It was AL GREEN not MARVIN GAYE!!! The bartenders were really friendly and easygoing. They definitely add to the already chill vibe of the place and they serve cider, Strongbow in a can, so you know that's a bonus for me. It's right by the metro so I can definitely see coming back.

I find it difficult to write a review of a place I frequent so often and love for no good reason than it is my local watering hole. So I guess I will simply recount the reasons why I love the place: 1. Great jukebox. Good selection of the upbeat funky let's get drunk tunes (i.e. Beck's Midnight Vultures, James Brown) and depressed I want to drink myself into a coma tunes (i.e. I'm generally too depressed to remember). 2. Good beer selection. Sure they have your Bud light, Highlife, and tall boy Tecate specials, but they also have Dale's Pale Ale, Dogfish head, and Bells for the more discerning palate. 3. Shuffleboard... 'nuff said. 4. They let you bring food in. With Vace, Nam Viet, and Indique in short walking distance, a bar that will let you munch while watching the game is key. 5. Rich, one of the the bartenders, is awesome. Sure I've met him around 40 times and he doesn't ever remember my name, but he is a really nice guy, who is quick with a quip and drink. Unlike Bedrock Billiards where the bartenders seem to take it as a personal afront when you want them to get you a beer, the men and women here are always on top of their game. Like Cheers, but with more tattoos and not in Boston (thank god). 6. Connect Four... the drunkard's chess. 7. 2 person sit down table arcade game (I forget what it is, Pac Man? Asteroids? I'll update later when I remember). This is my kinda place. It could be dingier, but the tacky sparkles almost makes up for it.

Okay, I used to live in Korea. A lot of things there I could live without. The smell, the crowds, the beondegi (look it up on wikipedia....I rate it one star). But one thing they had there which blew my mind was the Board Game Bang (pronounced as it would be in english, but the bang is with a long "a"). These were brightly lit rooms crowded with tables where a waiter would take your board game order and show you how to play. Awesome. Add in a few drinks and it was a fun night out before the bars or after the movie. Welcome Atomic Billiards. I've been looking for something like this since I got back to the states a few years back. Its dark and basement-like which totally adds to the convivial atmosphere, you have pool tables a plenty, dart boards, one of the few shuffle board tables in the city (the only other one I remember seeing was in their sister bar, Rocket Bar), and most importantly BOARD GAMES!!!! So many bars are so much the same thing, it's nice to get something different.

I helped coordinate a happy hour here for 40 people and it worked out fabulously. This is the type of place I would also come back just to hang out at on my own. The people who described it as your best friend's basement/rec-room (in a good way) were right on. Firstly, Atomic Billiards is like a cozier version of Rocket Bar. I like bars that recognize what their strengths are and don't try to put out mediocre food. They let you bring anything in, which is great since Cleveland Park has good options. We ordered pizza from Vace (so good) and got wings delivered from Wingos for our event, and everyone loved it. Their party guy was really nice, made sure everything was going well, and helped clean things up. They also have happy hour specials every weeknight until 8pm, and the Friday we went they had $4 rail drinks all night. Finally, there's lots to do. Like everyone has mentioned, there are the pool tables, shuffleboard, darts, and boardgames. I particularly liked this for a big group because everyone found something they liked to do. Everyone's a fan of the jukebox and I like that they play it at levels where you can actually still talk to people. I've passed by here so many times since first coming here a few years ago--pre-smoking ban and it was all smoky inside. I'm glad that I came back and could enjoy it and breath again.

This place holds a special place in my heart as my introduction to the bar scene in DC once I turned 21. The decor is very similar to its sister bar, Rocket Bar, with a space age theme I guess you would call it. They have pool, shuffleboard, darts, board games, and jukebox with a pretty sweet music selection. They don't serve food but they allow you bring in food so that's cool; I would rather grab a couple slices of pizza from Vace and eat those in the bar. They also have a pretty diverse beer selection, which changes every few months. I am not a big fan of being here when its busy, as it really is just a smaller version of Rocket Bar (i.e. stupidly crowded and kinda douchey). That being said, when there it is less crowded, it is a great place to hang out and unwind.

Highlights: The Jukebox: One of the best in town, hands down. It's cheap, or at least it costs what a jukebox should cost, and there is plenty of genre and era diversity without trying to be everything to everyone. It is impossible to go on a two-song run of bad music here. If you don't like something, wait a minute and something good is bound to pop up. Unlike those TouchTunes abominations, where you can hear bad music for hours at a time. Games: Billiards rule the day, all of the 8-foot variety, which is good considering it's a small bar and many of the players here don't know how to hold a cue stick properly. But there is also shuffleboard, which is one of the most addictive bar games there is, and darts of course. And for people who prefer their drunken competitions sitting down, there are board games galore (Connect Four and Candyland come to mind) and an old cocktail style Ms. Pac-Man video game. Very cool. Décor: It's neat in a 50s era quasi-futurisic way. They have Elroy Jetson on the boys bathroom, and Judy Jetson on the ladies. Drinks: A nice selection of beers for a small bar. Your old reliables like Millers and Yuenglings, but also fancier ones with more descriptive names, like Dogfish Head Pale Ale. I had mixed drinks here once, (only because I was continuing from a previous bar) and really liked them. Lowlights: Size: Its just too small for the amount of people in there on the weekends. If you are actually trying to play pool, you'll have to wait on nearly every shot for someone to stumble in and out of your way. Also, the bathrooms are located behind the darts, so you have to go through a firing line to take a piss. Not ideal. Prices: The price for drinks is totally reasonable. But pool is just way too expensive. Not out of the ordinary for DC prices, but still, pool should not cost nearly that much. I think it is much cheaper during the week than it is on weekends. So basically, Atomic Billiards is really cool anytime, if you just want a place to play a casual bar game and get a few drinks on the weekend. But if you take your bar games seriously and/or want more for your money, I suggest you hit up on off nights.

You might miss this location, but it has a doorway right on Connecticut. Giant Jenga-- Free Happy hour specials every day of the week, but they change each day of the week. Cute decor with billiard themes. Dart section is small but fun! (For $1) Sundays is ladies night (free pool for ladies ;) )

I've visited this place several times this year. Nice tables. Friendly crowd. Free board games available behind the bar. And they let you bring in food from outside. On the downside, it is a little depressing because it is underground and dark, and pool itself is expensive. * Pros: Location, Cool people and atmosphere, Inexpensive drinks * Cons: Pool itself is expensive, Venue is small, Underground and dark

I'm one of the worst pool players that has ever lived and therefore I don't spend a lot of time in pool halls and while I don't like pool and will more than likely never be good at it, I do know what I like and I like Atomic Billiards. Small little dungeon spot, kind of hard to see from the street but the sign will draw you in. Once you get past the eccentric bouncer, you're good to go. Staff was very friendly, they pour strong drinks and are generally cheerful. Prices are good, pool and drinks are both affordable, free jukebox is a plus, especially because the song selection is top notch. If you don't like pool, there are also darts and various board game you can play as well. While I don't like pool and probably never will, I'd still enjoy a return visit to Atomic anytime.

After a few late nights at this joint, I must say, I have grown to like it a little bit. Dark, musty, basement-like, slight smell of smoke, classic rock on the jukebox, some dart boards, maybe two shuffle boards, and about four pool tables. Not a bad place. It seemed to have some pretty good weekly pool deals too. Not bad and with a full bar, hey, it serves its purpose.

Great neighborhood bar in Cleveland Park. Love the jukebox and the specials -- but honestly, the pool prices are a little expensive. I like the Sunday incentives for ladies, but how about some deals mid-week? I loved popping in here on a random Tuesday night to drink some beers and to shoot some pool, but sometimes I would end up playing darts rather than pool because of the hourly prices. Anyway, it's still a great place. Wish this kind of bar was in every neighborhood!

Hidden away and downstairs. Great spot to chill and hangout with some friends. Plenty of TVs, darts and pool tables. Beers are priced well and there are daily specials as well as happy hour. You can rent pool tables by the minute which is pretty fair.

I've been here a number of times on Sundays/during the week when it's not so busy to play pool and have a few drinks. Props to Atomic for running a special where women play free on Sundays (with purchase of a drink). Great drink selection, decent quality pool tables, funky decor (check out the TV sitting in the back circa 1957), nice bartenders. Bonus points for providing baby powder to pool players. Tables are somewhat close together, but I've never had an issue getting anyone to move or waiting my turn if someone is in the middle of a shot at the next table. TVs are on behind the bar if you want to tune into a sports game. They also have darts, shuffleboard, arcade games, and board games, but this review is limited to the pool tables/bar. This is definitely a go-to spot for me when I feel like playing pool.

I came here for drinks because we moved to the neighbourhood recently and wanted to check it out. I'm usually ok with divey places, but this one was uninviting and kinda gross. The crowd was odd and I wasn't a fan of my cocktail. Maybe if I were wasted and played pool it would be ok.

Atomic does the job in a pinch if you are looking to play pool. It's fun, kitschy, and small, and they have a decent bar (no food, though). I've had a good time here, and it's great for low-key pool games. I believe all of the pool tables are 8-footers. If you want 9-footers you'll have to go to Bedrock or Buffalo. But sometimes you just want to play and hang with your buds, and you can most certainly do that here.

This is definitely a billiards bar. If you're not playing, make sure you stay out of the way of people who are. I was there one night when it was pretty crowded, and there were a lot of people around. There was one woman playing by herself and apparently needed A LOT of room and kept getting angry with people who weren't even that close to her. The beer is pretty cheap though, and the service is okay. Be warned though, one day I was there and there were only a few other people at the bar...and it was silent. Yup, no music. Apparently if no one is paying to use the jukebox, the bar is just....silent. We asked to have something turned on, and they told us we'd have to pay for the jukebox or basically just sit in silence.

I could imagine Atomic Billiards in Adams Morgan. But then it would be a Dive Bar plus some dirty change filled with drunken meat heads trashing the place and getting into fist fights over Connect Four. And they'd fill the jukebox with some BAAAAD music. And then, well, it just would NOT be the same four star worthy kitschy rec room. I like it just the way it is, in Cleveland Park. I think the fact it's a neighborhood bar in upper northwest (I call it 'mini Georgetown') helps keep its charm.

This place is the bomb. Conveniently located so I often stop on the way home from work. Cheap (get a membership, pays for itself quickly), great staff, good vibes. Average nights it's about a third regulars, but mostly folks I've never seen before. Five pool tables, and wait time is typically short if not zero, though more of a toss up Fridays and Saturdays. Pretty relaxed on the pool front, a lot of folks go to practice alone, but are usually happy to play a few games if you ask. There's also shuffleboard and darts if that's your shtick.

Atomic is my favorite pool hall in the city! It is small and discreet which, to me, puts it above the massive places like Buffalo Billiards where you can barely hear yourself think, much less hear your friends talk. People are often put off by the fact that it is a basement pool hall, thinking from the outside that it will be sketchy or weird. This is a complete misconception: the place is clean, the clientele is typically yuppie, and the bartenders are usually very friendly. They also have shuffleboard, darts, games, a good beer selection, and a very good jukebox. The only draw backs are that they do not serve food and sometimes you have to wait for a table. But considering these are probably a result of the aforementioned small venue I like, I think these are easily forgivable.

Come to think of it, this place might have the best beer selection in Cleveland Park...if not the best certainly a very close second place. There's drafts and also a huge selection of bottles to look at behind the bar. I like the bartenders here...considering how packed it is they are quick. They also will make eye contact/acknowledge your presence to reassure you they'll get to you in just a minute...which they do! I also enjoy that they've busted my balls a couple times for my ordering habits (I'll alternate between ordering a nice craft beer and PBR) because it shows they remember you throughout the night. There's not a lot of room in here because of the pool tables and dart boards and what not...I'm not deducting points for that because complaining that pool tables in a pool hall take up space is like complaining a sauna has steam. Don't go if you don't like it. That said, my friends and I have played some of the board games the bar has without being disturbed, though we were a bit scrunched into the corner.