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Here Are 15 Great Patios for Drinking Beer in D.C.

Beer plus sun equals fun

by Travis Mitchell
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Denizens
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by Travis Mitchell

Spending a sunny afternoon or a mild evening lingering over some beers is always a welcome idea. Bars and restaurants with outdoor seating are everywhere in the city, but rooftops are often too crowded to move, and other spaces can lack the casual environment that beer drinkers crave. Not to mention that it's never fun to snag a prime seat only to discover that the draft selections are five varieties of mass-produced lager.

Luckily, D.C. is actually pretty well-endowed with patios well suited for beer lovers. From German beer gardens to hipster hangouts and craft-beer hubs, there are plenty of options in and around the beltway.

Here are fifteen patios that combine the benefits of an outdoor location with notable beer lists to match.

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American Ice Company

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This buzzing hangout has a barbecue-inspired menu and serves its modest selection of draft beer in mason jars. The outdoor patio features a number of picnic tables that can fill up fast during peak hours.

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 758-3562
(202) 758-3562
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Bardo Brewpub

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If it's possible to have an outdoor dive bar, then Bardo might just be it. The sprawling and casual space features house-brewed beers along with space for hanging out or for games like corn hole.

1200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(762) 233-7070
(762) 233-7070

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Biergarten Haus

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The Bavarian atmosphere is strong at this H Street beer garden. There are multiple levels of outdoor seating, and the bar serves beer by the half and full liter along with traditional German food. The large projection screens make it a solid game time destination.

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 388-4053
(202) 388-4053
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Bluejacket Brewery

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Enjoy the fruits of one of the city's most prolific breweries outside in the sun. The bar makes for great Navy Yard outdoor beer drinking, especially for those interested in creative brews.

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 524-4862
(202) 524-4862
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Brasserie Beck

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Chef Robert Wiedmaier's Belgian cafe overlook's K Street, and its patio is a prime spot for people watching. The beer selection includes draft options from Belgian breweries like Chimay and De Dolle, in addition to a lengthy bottle list.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
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Brookland Pint

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Brookland Pint has a laid back, neighborhood atmosphere and a sizable patio that's ideal for lingering over the restaurant's rotating selection of 24 draft beers.

716 Monroe St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017
(202) 758-2757
(202) 758-2757
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Chef Geoff's

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Located along a quiet Northwest D.C. street, Chef Geoff's patio begs guests to settle in with a pint or a 33-ounce "supermug." The respectable beer list features the bar's signature IPA, produced by Virginia's Starr Hill brewery.

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20016
(202) 237-7800
(202) 237-7800
Chef Geoff's/Yelp

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Courthaus Social

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Arlington residents flock to Courthaus Social for the large outdoor bar and its accompanying draft list.

2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-4900
(703) 243-4900
Facebook

Dacha Beer Garden

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This Shaw bar gets plenty of traffic, with crowds drawn to its communal tables and atmosphere. Beer offerings here have a German tilt, but there are plenty of American craft brews, including a handful of local choices.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 524-8790
(202) 524-8790
Official

Also featured in:

DC Reynolds

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The relaxed DC Reynolds has a spacious back patio full of communal tables for throwing back a few beers with friends. The bar slings a couple good bargain beer-and-a-shot combos, too.

3628 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 506-7178
(202) 506-7178
Brian B./Yelp

Denizens Brewing Co.

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The huge, dog-friendly patio at this Silver Spring brewery has 200 seats. It's decked out with picnic tables and umbrellas for sunny D.C. weather, and the tap list rotates to reflect the brewery's freshest offerings.

1115 E West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 557-9818
(301) 557-9818
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Garden District

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Elbow room comes at a premium at this beer garden, which serves up German and U.S. craft beer alongside a barbecue-inspired kitchen menu.

1801 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
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Jack Rose Dining Saloon

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The rooftop for Jack Rose isn't just a haven for tiki drinkers. Head upstairs to experience what their beer list has to offer in an outside setting.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-7388
(202) 588-7388
Official

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Sixth Engine

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Don't overlook this outdoor sipping spot in NoMa. The restaurant has rotating draft beer from many local breweries like Union, Jailbreak, and 3 Stars.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-2455
(202) 506-2455
Bruno B./Yelp

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The Big Hunt

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The Big Hunt has always been one of the divey choices for beer fans, and a good place to experience their list is on the back patio. Choose from a well-curated and frequently-changing list of tap beers here.

1345 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 785-2333
(202) 785-2333
Official

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American Ice Company

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

This buzzing hangout has a barbecue-inspired menu and serves its modest selection of draft beer in mason jars. The outdoor patio features a number of picnic tables that can fill up fast during peak hours.

917 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 758-3562
(202) 758-3562
Facebook

Bardo Brewpub

1200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

If it's possible to have an outdoor dive bar, then Bardo might just be it. The sprawling and casual space features house-brewed beers along with space for hanging out or for games like corn hole.

1200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(762) 233-7070
(762) 233-7070

Biergarten Haus

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The Bavarian atmosphere is strong at this H Street beer garden. There are multiple levels of outdoor seating, and the bar serves beer by the half and full liter along with traditional German food. The large projection screens make it a solid game time destination.

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 388-4053
(202) 388-4053
Facebook

Bluejacket Brewery

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Enjoy the fruits of one of the city's most prolific breweries outside in the sun. The bar makes for great Navy Yard outdoor beer drinking, especially for those interested in creative brews.

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 524-4862
(202) 524-4862
Facebook

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Chef Robert Wiedmaier's Belgian cafe overlook's K Street, and its patio is a prime spot for people watching. The beer selection includes draft options from Belgian breweries like Chimay and De Dolle, in addition to a lengthy bottle list.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
Facebook

Brookland Pint

716 Monroe St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

Brookland Pint has a laid back, neighborhood atmosphere and a sizable patio that's ideal for lingering over the restaurant's rotating selection of 24 draft beers.

716 Monroe St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017
(202) 758-2757
(202) 758-2757
Facebook

Chef Geoff's

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Located along a quiet Northwest D.C. street, Chef Geoff's patio begs guests to settle in with a pint or a 33-ounce "supermug." The respectable beer list features the bar's signature IPA, produced by Virginia's Starr Hill brewery.

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20016
(202) 237-7800
(202) 237-7800
Chef Geoff's/Yelp

Courthaus Social

2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Arlington residents flock to Courthaus Social for the large outdoor bar and its accompanying draft list.

2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-4900
(703) 243-4900
Facebook

Dacha Beer Garden

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

This Shaw bar gets plenty of traffic, with crowds drawn to its communal tables and atmosphere. Beer offerings here have a German tilt, but there are plenty of American craft brews, including a handful of local choices.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 524-8790
(202) 524-8790
Official

DC Reynolds

3628 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

The relaxed DC Reynolds has a spacious back patio full of communal tables for throwing back a few beers with friends. The bar slings a couple good bargain beer-and-a-shot combos, too.

3628 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 506-7178
(202) 506-7178
Brian B./Yelp

Denizens Brewing Co.

1115 E West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910

The huge, dog-friendly patio at this Silver Spring brewery has 200 seats. It's decked out with picnic tables and umbrellas for sunny D.C. weather, and the tap list rotates to reflect the brewery's freshest offerings.

1115 E West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 557-9818
(301) 557-9818
Facebook

Garden District

1801 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Elbow room comes at a premium at this beer garden, which serves up German and U.S. craft beer alongside a barbecue-inspired kitchen menu.

1801 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
Facebook

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The rooftop for Jack Rose isn't just a haven for tiki drinkers. Head upstairs to experience what their beer list has to offer in an outside setting.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-7388
(202) 588-7388
Official

Sixth Engine

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Don't overlook this outdoor sipping spot in NoMa. The restaurant has rotating draft beer from many local breweries like Union, Jailbreak, and 3 Stars.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-2455
(202) 506-2455
Bruno B./Yelp

The Big Hunt

1345 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The Big Hunt has always been one of the divey choices for beer fans, and a good place to experience their list is on the back patio. Choose from a well-curated and frequently-changing list of tap beers here.

1345 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 785-2333
(202) 785-2333
Official

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