DC9 Nightclub

Came out to DC9 for the Ha Vay concert and overall had a decent time, though the venue definitely had some ups and downs. We arrived right when doors were scheduled to open, only to be shuffled up to the rooftop bar due to technical difficulties downstairs. We didn’t actually get into the venue until closer to 8 PM, which was a bit frustrating since doors were supposed to be at 7. That said, the rooftop staff and bartenders were incredibly friendly and clearly doing their best to keep things running smoothly. If I were one of the patrons up there just trying to enjoy my dinner, though, I probably wouldn’t have been thrilled. There were a ton of concertgoers awkwardly queuing around tables for a solid 30+ minutes. The rooftop itself is nice! Plenty of fans, so even in hot weather it wasn’t too uncomfortable. Staff at the door checking IDs were also super chill and welcoming. DC9 itself is really cool. It’s a multi-level space with several bars, lots of character, and what looks like a pretty solid food menu. However, I will say: if the show is sold out, expect it to feel cramped. Whether it was this particular crowd or just the venue at capacity, it felt really stuffy. Concert etiquette was kind of out the window—lots of pushing, no personal space, and very little room to move around. Honestly, I think they could’ve sold 25–30 fewer tickets and still had a packed, but much more comfortable, experience. The sound quality also left a bit to be desired, some mic squeaking and audio weirdness here and there throughout the show, so I suspect those early “technical difficulties” never fully got resolved. On the plus side, they have screens around the venue so even if you’re further back, you can still watch the performance, which is a nice touch. All in all, we were thrilled to see some of our favorite artists in such an intimate space, but the experience as a whole felt a little chaotic. With some tweaks to crowd control and sound, DC9 could be a killer venue. For now, I’d say it’s worth going—but maybe not for a fully sold-out show.

Good sound. Small intimate venue. Saw a sold out show.

Amazing venue to catch smaller acts on the come up! And the food was damn good for your typical bar fare. Service great, all the staff are friendly and helpful if you need anything.

Really cool club/ music venue! Love that there are 3 floors to enjoy. The bartenders and staff were very friendly. The rooftop bar was a perfect place to enjoy an appetizer before the show I was there for. The bar on the first floor is cute and clean with plenty of seating. The 2nd floor, though, was where the action was. Thought the barn door was a unique touch- wouldn't have known anything was there if I didn't see someone going in/ out before the event started! The sound during the show was better than expected for a small club! Really interesting and intimate venue to catch live music in.

Just left the Audrey Nuna concert and I'm still levitating. That was easily the BEST concert I've been to in DC and I've lived here for about 3 years. Its a VERY tiny stage so be sure to get as close to the front as you can. Super intimate, Audrey was right in my face, close enough for any of us to touch (we didn't though because we respect our queen). I can't speak on the food/drinks as I didn't purchase anything but the vibes and the sound system were phenomenal. Definitely check this place out for live music!

My first visit!! Marvin was the sweetest bar tender!!! He totally made it a great time. Drinks were amazing! Told us all about the floors! Def worth the visit!

It was alright, came to a Talk event about Space & such but I ended up leaving early when one of the hosts started singing campy space themed songs. Definitely quaint- but I sing semi-professionally and although I feel bad saying this, I honestly couldn't much stand her singing, plus seeing a bunch of folks laugh and giggle under their breath with their friends made it harder to watch seeing how hard she was trying to entertain folks. I didn't get anything to eat or drink, but it seemed standard for what a bar offers. A bit crowded, small space but decent atmosphere. Nothing extreme to note of the staff, everyone seemed chill, front entrance lady let me finish my donut at a table despite a no outside food rule which I wasn't aware of, but appreciated her kindness.

Great intimate show space to see smaller up and coming bands ... only hold about 150 people - so sold out shows are tight. Staff is super friendly. Beer is cold. Sound is good. What more could a music fan ask for Check set times though. Sometime shows are early with dance parties afterwards ...

I don't really go "clubbing" much but DC9 was a lot of fun. We attended two performances. The club is not far from metro. The rooftop bar is not as exciting as I hoped but it is a fun place to grab a drink or have a snack. The bar food is reasonable (average items $3-$10, & up). Happy hour drinks were $3-$6 on average. There are lots of stairs. I am not excited about stairs. There is a bar on the lower level. Guests can grab a bite and a drink and never deal with stairs. If you attend a concert or a show, you will go up a flight of stairs to enter (two flights for the rooftop bar). The schedule is laid back. When a flyer says, "Doors open at 7:00pm," they mean 7:00pm-ish." The stage area is small. There are only a handful of tables. The metal stools are not extremely comfortable. But after you pay the cover charge (varies $15-$20 the night we visited) there isn't a minimum amount of food/drinks. There are complimentary water pitchers. The place is a fun dive. I would enjoy date night without seeing a show. The space is limited but people enjoyed dancing. Independent artists perform and sell merchandise at the counter. Be alert at night. I would have people with me if I were visiting in the evening.

I am hesitant to attend shows at DC9 because of their poor public health practices. By not offering refunds for shows even for people with documented COVID-19 infections or other illnesses, they create a financial incentive for people who are sick to attend anyways and risk exposing other patrons. This is compounded by the crowded, poorly ventilated space. I urge them to modernize their cancellation policies to make their venue inclusive of immunocompromised and otherwise disease-cautious individuals.

We came to DC9 Nightclub for the Eurovision 2023 watch party and had a blast. Although we started our Eurovision party at another place, DC9 saved the day since DC9 did not have any technical issues broadcasting the contest. First off, I will say that Diane, the doorperson, was super nice and very welcoming. While checking out IDs, she gave us an overview of all of the club's offerings and events for the day/night Although the bottom and top floor were somewhat packed for Eurovision, there was a little bit of room for us to watch the contest on the 1st floor. While limited, the DC9 did have a decent selection of beers, and the prices were pretty on par with other bars in the area. Our bartender Nix was very efficient with managing the massive amount of drink orders. I was quite impressed with how well she maintained her composure as the only bartending in the lower level of the club. The clientele overall seemed pretty relaxed and friendly. I'm not sure if the general attitude of the clientele depends on type of event being held at DC9. All that said, I definitely will visit again for a easy-breezy, no frills excursion involving adult beverages.

Review is for the food/service/bar ambiance only. Stopped in recently while in the area to finally try the burgers - easy to walk in early-ish on a friday, we sat at the bar. Ordered a burger and split a chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich was decent, the chicken had nice texture although the batter didn't have all that much flavor, and the size of the chicken was drowned by the large bun. Overall decent in a pitch but wouldn't be my full order. The burger menu has some unusual options, but not much to add in terms of toppings. I went with a burger and added pimiento and bacon (they're served with lettuce and tomato on the side). Overall a decent burger, it was cooked properly to temp (mine mid-rare), patty had decent flavor but could use a kick of salt, similar issue with the chicken that there was a bit too much bun for my taste. Pimiento was a nice addition, bacon was ok. Fries were good, ask for a side of the garlic aioli. I'd say it's a great spot to grab a bite if you're nearby or seeing a show upstairs, but wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for it given how many places have solid burgers around.

I want to support this place again and again as a music venue. I went for a concert and my friend said the food is great, we should get dinner there. We both ordered the chicken sandwich. It was offensive, the buns were totally burnt, the chicken was overcooked, and had gristle, making some parts inedible. The fry portion was very small. I can't believe the server had the audacity to put the sandwiches in front of us. I would never recommend eating here.

I went for a concert and was treated wonderfully. I use a walker, and I was well taken care of. The fries are unique and delicious. I highly recommend the burger. The fried pickles are great as well. I was taken up early for the concert since I use a walker and given a stool to sit on. ADA compliance is excellent here. The ambiance is remarkable all throughout the club. From the moment I walked in, I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

This place honestly deserves zero stars, the bartender working the night we went was absolutely rude!!! Yelled at my specific group of people at least 3 times when others were doing the exact same thing(blocking the stairs, putting their heads down etc.) I ended up closing my tab before the show even started because the service there is horrible, specifically the down stairs bartender. He was loud, had horrible customer service skills, made horrible drinks, and let other people do the same thing we got yelled at for doing. Find another place to go, it was my first experience here and I will not be back!!

This place is aggressively ableist. I understand as an old building with stairs they can't be fully ADA compliant, but they lean into it. I went to a show there that my wife would also have enjoyed, but I had to go alone because there is no seating on the second level, where the shows happen. Not even stools at the bar. On their website, they say this is because "we really like to encourage standing, rocking, and dancing for the shows..." Well, my wife would enjoy standing, rocking and dancing too, but she physically cannot. She could climb the stairs, but due to a medical condition, she cannot stand for more than a few minutes. Nor can she sit on the floor, as a good number of people did around hour two of the show I attended. What about offering a folding chair at the stage for people who aren't able to stand for three hours? Some padded benches along the walls? This would be a ridiculously easy problem to solve, but DC9 is apparently not interested in even trying. I won't be back.

I love DC9. I come here to see friends and bigger artists alike. I find that the bathrooms are generally clean (big thing for me at music venues). The drinks are poured well, and there's plenty of space for everyone to hangout between the 2 floors and rooftop (which is also where you can smoke). I recommend arriving early for shows if you want to be in the very front, as there may still be a crowd for the opener. However, if you arrive late, most shows generally have plenty of space to hangout near the back/bar and still see the stage.

It's your standard DC music nightclub for drinks and live shows. This means stairs, dimmed lights, a rooftop, and a bar on each floor. The live music shows are where it's at. The bands are either local favorites, old timers who didn't quite make it big, or something heavy and loud. We caught the Mystic Braves here who have a psychedelic 60's vibe. My friend spilled the beans about them so I joined him on a Friday night to catch them and I'm glad I did. Shows happen on the 2nd floor, 3rd floor is the rooftop where there's a bar and areas to mingle and view the city. I suggest cozying to the bartender, you'll get a free water with your alcohol purchase. Not to mention there is some nice eye candy for all peoples to see. Don't know when my next show will be here. But it's a given I'll be returning.

Went with a group of friends and it was a blast because they were playing mainly 2000s hits which we all enjoy listening to. Most songs were easy to bop and dance to. The first floor was more bar style and the second floor was the club/dance floor. I liked that they had water pitchers available by the bar (on both floors) so we could easily and conveniently grab cups of water! There weren't many people when we went which was fine with us. Overall a good time with decent music!

Don't go here if you want a drink. the bartenders scream at you if you ask for more than one drink. enjoy sharing one bathroom. the third floor rooftop is the one good thing about this place. but you'll have to sit up there sober since they throw a tantrum when you ask for a drink.

Came here with my friends for the rodeo rave night. The atmosphere and staff were friendly and it was the safest I have ever felt in a club like that. Definitely recommend for the girlies.

I have traveled the world and will never find a complete bar. Great bar food check, juke box check, rooftop check, great staff triple check, great sound check, great bands check, boozy slushy check. Come for a show, 930 pregame, dinner, drinks, or party you're gonna have a good time if want too. Note: during the show order beers or seltzers something quick there's only one bar on the second floor and no one wants to wait on your mixed drink when the bands ripping

I haven't been to a show here but I love DC9 for beers and good food, especially up on the rooftop! The roof is open air (aka safer in covid times) but covered for when it rains, the bartenders are great, and the food is solid. As a vegetarian, I love that they have veggie burgers (my preference) or impossible burgers. DC9, I have one request - please bring back the Greek burger you had that came with feta and other yummy toppings! It was so good and I miss it!

I went here for a sold-out show and had a great experience! Most concert venues have overpriced, average food, but DC9 had great food! My friend and I got there around 6:30pm on Friday evening. Happy Hour runs from 4-8pm on Fridays, so all burgers were half off. We split the Plain Jane (with lettuce and tomato), but substituted a veggie patty for the beef and added white cheddar. The patty was filled with vegetables (unlike a lot of veggie burgers which are grain-heavy) and was so delicious. The burger also came with garlic fries which were amazing. Happy Hour also included $4 rails, which we took full advantage of. The staff were all super friendly and down to earth. Overall, a great venue!

I don't remember if I enjoyed DC 9. I don't remember hardly anything past my first beer. Being new to DC I heard that U street is great. Wish I could say I agree. Unfortunately I don't remember much past my first drink, I was drugged within my first 20 minutes here. Luckily I was with a friend who didn't let me get led off by the wrong people. She went to the bathroom and I mingled a bit. By time she came back I could hardly mumble anything or carry myself properly. I was surrounded by a group of people who I thought were trying to be friend me. The guy who followed me all night, even tried to catch a cab with us was tall and bearded, going by the name of Jessie. Im not quite sure what happened, but the next day I was throwing up, and had muscle spasms. My head ached and I was not in a proper state of mind. I'm certainly never returning to this bar and hope that anyone who does CAREFULLY watches their drink.

I came here for a show in October and enjoyed it very much. The sound quality was very good as was the lighting and the layout. It was great for an intimate show where you could focus on the music. There was plenty of space and the crowd was a bit older aka respectful with no pushing, spilling beer on you, talking over the band, etc. Yes, I'm a little bit #getoffmylawn at shows lol There was still dancing and grooving though, of course. The shows are reasonable priced between $8-$20 in my experience. After the show we had a few beers, the garlic fries, and a burger. All the food was good and decently priced and staff was friendly. I especially liked the roof area! Looking forward to my next visit

We were here to celebrate our friend's birthday. Great place to hang out with friends. After a lot of drinks, I was pretty hungry. Waiter suggested me this fried chicken. It was delicious, very crunchy and juicy. One the best fried chicken I have had. Large portion for an amazing price.

Went here for Jenny O and Faye Webster-AMAZING CONCERT!!! The space was pretty good and the sound was great! The people who worked there were also super friendly. Beers were expensive but not insane. Bonus-I bought five beers and they gave me a six pack to carry them so I wouldn't spill! Stellar!!

We made a reservation and unfortunately had to cancel it 10 minutes later. We called to cancel and the management charged us a missed reservation fee. We will never come here again. I advise you not too either.

My parents, my partner, and I came to DC9 for a show last weekend and my mom fell unexpectedly ill during the show. We were terrified and didn't know what to do, but the DC9 staff were all incredible. They came to the rescue and helped my mom regain consciousness and made sure she got safely home. A particular shout out goes to a person with blue hair (I'm sorry I didn't get your name!) who's calm demeanor made us all feel at ease. Thanks to everyone at DC9 -- we will be back!

DC9 is a favorite of mine, which probably surprises many people, because it's not quite my usual style. I love the low-key, chill-out atmosphere, and rooftop bar. Obviously, I'm not seeing any shows here, but I still enjoy this spot. I've only ever had a gin and tonic to drink, which at times has been stronger than other. I definitely prefer my drinks to be mostly gin with a hint of tonic. However, Chris is a great bartender and I highly recommend. As for the food, I ordered the fried chicken, which comes with hush puppies. While I though the chicken had good flavor, it was slightly overcooked, as were the hush puppies. I prefer a lighter, fluffier hush puppy though. The meal is big enough for two people. However, I loved the garlic fries and recommend those in a heartbeat. No happy hour pricing on food, but mixed drinks are $3, and there are beer specials as well.

This is my first t visit to dc9. I am super excited to see Elliot Moss! However, I get and there are threE levels. 1st level: competent bartender 5/5 2nd level: incompetent bartender 1/5 3rd level: inattentive bartender: 3/5 I'm floored bc the shoWW started 30 mins late and the only good floor is the first. Have fun, but I won't be coming back for the bar scene...only music.

came to hang out with a friend of a friend, on the rooftop. Friday night i think. there was happy hour. the bathroom is on the first floor. 2 co-ed bathrooms. i didnt order food, only had drinks. chill spot.

Small area for sure but good bands. Had a decent BLT sandwich and a beer up on the top deck. Happy hour for well drinks and beer so that's a bonus. There's a small bar on the bottom floor, the venues play on the second floor and the top deck has some tables if you feel like heading over early for a show to eat before. It's super loud if you're going for any type of metal tunes so bring some ear plugs if you don't want to blast your ears out.

As they say..."don't judge a book by its cover..." that's truly the case for this restaurant. My wife & I were looking for a nice rooftop to enjoy a meal and we were a bit skeptical walking in. There was only 1 customer in the entire place and the 2 staff that we interacted with were a little uptight/awkward but I'm sure it was due to the pandemic. The menu was a little limited but perfect for a bar! We were seated on the rooftop with no problem, and we were satisfied with the view. There were quite a bit of rules one of them were it's mandatory that you purchase a food item off of the menu if not, you were charged automatically for a bag of chips ($1.00). With that being said my wife ordered a BLT & I ordered a burger in which both came with these AMAZING garlic fries! My wife loves BLT's she said it was the best one she ever had. The burger I had was cooked medium (to my request) and it was PERFECT! The fries complimented that burger like no other! We were blown away with the quality of the food. It was excellent! I would say...go check this place out!

Nothing but bad experiences at this bar. I like the indie music jukebox and I've been there for some shows, which all have good acoustics, but the staff have always treated me badly. They are very judgmental. Last night I was kicked out for God knows what reason. I was trying to be nice interacting with the staff and apparently what I said was offensive and offensive enough to be kicked out. This was not the first time I've had bad relations with the staff. I am liberal and apparently what I have to say is offensive. I am going to try to avoid this place going forward. They are supposed to be tolerant but apparently they are very intolerant. The staff are very judgmental and stuck up.

Ask for Kiah on the rooftop bar! We came here for Pride weekend and had a blast. They have a rotating frozen drink, Ruby Ruby Ruby - grapefruit and Campari this weekend). The fries were garicky and delicious. Love the staff here!

DC9 rooftop bar is the place I like to meet my first time bumble/tinder/I don't know if I want to spend more than 20 minutes with you dates. So, this review is JUST for the rooftop bar in case you were wondering. Solid 4 stars for the atmosphere, view, strength of drinks to make unattractive people seem more attractive, and the great escapability if you need to "use the bathroom" but really GTFO there instead. -1 star because sometimes there's not a lot of bartenders there and it will take you forever to order even if its not that crowded, and when it IS crowded it is nearly impossible. Great location if you are not one for the fuckboi crowd at Brixton or the other chode packed places along U St. Also really close to Satellite so when you do finally escape your horrible date with halitosis you can drop by for some wings and alcoholic milkshakes.

My partner and I would love to check this place out, especially the drag shows and live music, but it is not wheelchair accessible. The shows take place on the second floor and while they offered to assist us getting up the stairs, that's a huge safety risk for someone who cannot walk. Also, there would be no way for my partner to use the bathroom.

I tried realllyyyyy hard to dance to this music, but it's pretty indie pop rock weird trippy stuff...like I feel like I needed to lick a frog to truly enjoy this place. I did enjoy watching the people who COULD dance to it though! (That was pretty trippy, too) Soooo... -4 for the music. I DO like the space though. There are 3 floors, bottom floor is more chill with bar-type things and pool? I think I saw a pool table. The middle floor is the "dance party", and the top floor is a packed, chill rooftop adventure. +1 for the once-a-month $7 Open Bar deal. If you can down your drinks fast enough, hit DC9 up from 9-10:30 for some DRANK. I should take off one more star for the permanent ink from the stamp that's seeping into my bloodstream via the back of my hand, but its kinda fun to look at.

I attended this venue for the monthly sing along event. The crowd was comprised of folks of various backgrounds, and the song line-up was good. The bartender on the second floor was blatantly annoyed. Her facial expression and attitude was a buzz kill. I definitely recommend 2 bartenders to work the second floor bar to reduce the overwhelming experience our bartender may have experienced. On a brighter note, the drinks were good and I danced the night away.

I'm biased, the bartenders pissed me off enough to kill my buzz without any desire to escape sobriety. It's been years since I've been blown off like that. Music varied from floor to floor, and a lot of the playlist choices weren't my style. As a performance space it gets the job done, though it certainly rescales my conception of how popular Nerd Nite could be. I hope the Liberation Dance Parties are less douchey. Most people were too cool to really dance, with the exception of three folks outside our group.

DC9 is one of the best spots in town for up and coming bands (local and touring). They also host a couple of dance parties, one being the very popular "Taint." Taint is a queer-oriented electro-indie-rock-dance party with some prominent guest DJ's. They host it about once a month, but their schedule seems to vary. Get on their mailing list at http://www.taintdc.com for more info. I've never heard a band sound bad at DC9 unless it's truly their intention; for example, guitar players feeling the need to be as loud as possible. I don't know his name, but the sound guy with the cool dreads is top notch. If you play there and he gives you advice, take it. He can hear you as the crowd hears you. You cannot. This is the place to see bands and five years down the road say, "I remember seeing them play here back in the day...."

The best burger I had in a long time, the food was amazing. My sister and I went here on a Saturday night around 9 for a few drinks and something to eat after I visited my love at work. I wasn't expecting the food to be amazing since it's a little hole in the wall place. You can seat yourself but you have to order at the bar for your food, they will bring it out to your table. I loved the energy at this place, the drinks are pretty pricey but you're in DC. They have a dance floor upstairs I believe. Next time I will check it out. Overall I had a nice time! -I say get wasted before coming here to cut down on the cost of drinks :)

What a cool venue to check out an up and coming indie-band. I was lucky enough to catch my new favorite band here the other night, and while they have no difficulty filling bigger venues, DC9 was incredibly close and intimate. So intimate in fact the lead singer called me out on knowing all the words to their trademark song! Aside from being a small venue, with very reasonable ticket prices, their beer selection is phenomenal. Not only do they have Magic Hat 9 (a +3 stars in my book) but they ALSO have Bells Oberon! Granted the upstairs (where the shows are held) was out of Bells, and I had to go downstairs to procure one, but there was no hassle in bringing it back up to watch the show. Something to keep in mind-- the owner of Cap Lounge and many of the bars on H Street owns this place as well. Also, I wouldn't recommend parking too far from the actual venue.

I love this joint. Do try the burgers. Joseph is a great bartender. They have a great jukebox. There is dancing upstairs .

Had to take a group of teens to see x ambassadors a few weeks ago. It was an awesome atmosphere and an awesome staff. It was a nightclub but actually kid friendly!

The worst place I've ever entered. I've never encountered ruder staff in my life. I recommend getting your act together because I came with a group of paying customers, and were yelled at by employees so badly that we walked right out. NEVER have I walked right in and right out of ANY establishment. So I hope that conveys how truly terrible the experience was

I like this place! It has a cool dingy vibe and it seems like a fun crowd hangs out here. We went for their anniversary (or something) and they had a $8 open bar, so you can't really argue with that. It also happened to be something called the Liberation Dance Party, which was all good music until some weird band dressed like a combination of Mardi Gras and Soviet Russia came on and started screaming into the mic until everyone left. All in all, fun place to go.

Amazing small club with great new sound system. Food surpasses expectations. If the bartenders weren't nice to you, it means you were probably an asshole ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cool spot - but seriously, get a new sound/lighting guy. A$$hat turned the lights to the Tattooine setting and left them there for the entire main act of the show. I can only assume that his intent was to cook the band to a nice medium rare before their set ended. After flipping the lights to excruciating, he proceeded to play with his phone (presumably swiping left on people undoubtedly way out of his weeble-wobble, hula hoop waistline league) and didn't not even look in the band's direction the entire time. Zero f**ks were given about the band, the ambiance or the audience. Even if the band pisses you off somehow, its no reason to maliciously make an effort to ruin the night for all in attendance - Be a professional FFS. If there was no malice and this was merely ineptitude, please see sentence one. 15 song set and these guys were so much sweat and anger that I couldn't blame them for fleeing for the green room promptly upon stroking the last note. Anyone standing close to the stage needed sunglasses so their retinas didn't sustain permanent damage from 35 lights beaming down the wrath of the pathetic baby sound god's fury. /rant off

DC9 Has gotten better and cleaner throughout the last year and this is why I am posting this review. I have been to countless shows there in any day of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and even Sunday. The ambience at the roof top is pretty cool, I really like that place and often bands hang out with the crowd there after playing. Food is is eatible, I never had anything too exciting, maybe garlic fries or whatever is faster and easier. Drinks are decent but same thing, don't expect gourmet drinks or anything like that. Service is friendlier than before and the whole place but particularly the bathooms seem cleaner even downstairs. Call me crazy but I also love the fact that you can open a tab and get your card back. The chances of forgetting the card there get largely reduced!

This place is a great find. They have lots of fun random events (group karaoke, drunk science classes, etc). It can get very busy on the weekends but on the weekdays there's usually plenty of standing room for the events. I've eaten here once or twice and have always been satisfied with the food. It's not life changing but for a hip/dive style bar like this, the food is superb and definitely worth having before an event.

Low key spot for cheap-ish drinks and dancing. Gets the job done. I come here all the time to down a few natty bohs before heading out. The rooftop is really popular when the weather is warm, so be prepared for crowds. Downstairs is pretty chill, easy to grab a table and have a conversation with your friends. Bouncers are friendly, bartenders usually are too - and they're quick! I've come here for shows before and it's too loud for that tiny room. I also find it impossible to see anything because the stage is basically the same level as the floor. The plus side to this is you can get super close to the performer and occasionally make awkward eye contact with them! But in all seriousness, it's intimate and it's great. I've also come here for a free dance party they used to have on Friday. Don't show up before midnight. Even after midnight. It's so empty and weird.

DC9 is probably my favorite DC venue for the following reasons: 1. Cheap/Reasonably priced drinks 2. Bar food tastes great 3. Great outdoor patio, even with chilly fall weather 4. Intimate live music scene The music crowd tends to be pretty respectful of the performers and it's overall a chill, fun vibe. And! It's metro accessible (off the green/yellow line). :)

DC9 is an unpretentious, inexpensive, three-level bar with a space for dance parties or smaller or up-and-coming bands (think Black Cat Backstage -- Warpaint and Priests have played here) and one of the best bars in the city for a few reasons: 1) Setting: three levels, different vibes. The ground floor has a dive bar vibe, good for conversation, catching a sports game on TV, or a small meal with friends. The second floor is a good place to see a show or dance -- they recently installed video monitors at the bar so you can see the stage from the bar during concerts (say you got there late or are vertically challenged). Head to the roof for some fresh air or if you are feeling crowded -- in the winter, it's heated. 2) Events: There have always been a good variety of interesting events here that change from year to year -- Nerd Nite: short, science-y talks from experts; Peach Pit: a gay dance party; Indie Rock Karaoke; Discnothèque: house music and a phone-free dance floor and roof deck, and Liberation Dance Party, a contemporary indie hits dance party with music videos. And again, arguably the best small concert venue in town. 3) People: The staff are chill, and offer great service. Bartenders are friendly, and roving bouncers seem pretty vigilant and make the place feel safe. Not that I have ever noticed a safety issue, though -- over the past few years, I have always found the crowd here to be generally responsible, and jerk-free. Overall, this place is very welcoming, never snobbish, and definitely queer friendly. 4) Prices: Great happy hour deals, pretty good normal prices, and the cover charges and ticket prices are nominal. Your dollar goes a long way here. 5) Food: Good burgers, sandwiches, and the best garlic fries you will have in your life. They change up the menu here every now and then, which I think is a good sign of a kitchen interested in variety and keeping things fresh. I'm not vegetarian, but they strike me as decently veg. friendly.

Cheap booze, great bar food (i.e. not diet friendly), friendly crowd, and a divey atmosphere make this a solid spot to spend an evening. Don't come looking for craft cocktails, but enjoy how much drunker you can get here for a fraction of the typical DC cost. Soak up the alcohol with a tasty burger, fried pickles, or what're essentially upgraded chicken nuggets, and life is friggin great. Even better if there's a live show in the mix. Heads up that stilettos on the rooftop will get stuck between the floorboards. Just to remind you that stilettos are really not necessary here.