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The Anti Patio Map: Bars Where The Sun Don't Shine

by Ross Perkins Aug 15, 2014, 7:15am EDT

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by Ross Perkins Aug 15, 2014, 7:15am EDT

1 comment / new

Rooftops, decks, patios, courtyards and backyards are great when the weather is perfect: not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, not too sunny. But let's remember that this is D.C., people. Though it's been an unusually nice summer so far, sometimes the bugs are out, the sweat is dripping down people's backs and it's just not a great day to force the al fresco thing. Plus, the sun-hating vampires among us need a place to drink, too, right?

Enter this map. These are subterranean bars ideal for the patio-phobic, those who want to enjoy a drink without wearing shades. Choose from dives ideal for interns, a secret whiskey-centric speakeasy, a cocktail destination off of 14th Street and some of the usual suspects.

Have another favorite basement bar? Share in the comments.

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2 Birds 1 Stone

2 Birds 1 Stone is the definition of a basement bar, reachable from a barely marked staircase on the side of sister restaurant Doi Moi. The front door could be mistaken for the front door of an English basement apartment, but behind the door awaits a treasure trove of carefully crafted cocktails from mixologist wizard Adam Bernbach. Right now, the theme there is tiki.

1800 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

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Also featured in:

B Too

Yeah, upstairs there is a bar, but downstairs there is another bar. Well, more of a lounge. But in the subterranean space is a collection of Belgian beers and B Too's famous pots of mussels. With plenty of elbow room, it's a great space for groups without being mobbed.

1324 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

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Also featured in:

Bier Baron Tavern

How many beers is too many beers? With 600 beers on its menu, the former legendary Brickseller is trying to find out.

1523 22nd St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

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Also featured in:

The Black Squirrel

The Adams Morgan bar crawl on 18th Street isn't without the requisite lower-level bar, an addition to the original. Find the bar's impressive beer selection on either level.

2427 18th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

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Also featured in:

Bottom Line

Farragut West's Bottom Line bar isn't going to hit anyone's bottom line with its $3.50 rail drinks and baskets of tater tots during its Thursday happy hours.

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1716 I St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

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Breadsoda

From Jack Rose's owner Bill Thomas, the Glover Park basement bar has both the beer and billiards on hand. And if drinkers don't want to play pool, there are darts, shuffleboard and Wii. On Tuesday nights, have several pints and play some ping pong.

Open in Google Maps

2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

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Buffalo Billiards

Walk south of Dupont Circle and look right on 19th Street. And then look down. This popular watering hole and happy hour hot spot attracts visitors and neighbors alike for rounds of pool and beer. Just be sure to know where to look. It's down.

1330 19th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20036

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Also featured in:

Cafe Saint-Ex

There's the bar upstairs and then there's the one downstairs where all the memories (and regrets) happen. One of the earlier Logan Circle joints on ever more crowded 14th Street, Saint-Ex continues to draw the masses like a moth to a lamp. Whatever the reason, the night may begin upstairs, but it really gets going once patrons go down below.

1847 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Codmother

The signs along U Street are hard to miss. Sometimes with expletives but always creative, The Codmother keeps it real at its basement bar. The place encourages patrons to "eat, drink and be merry."

1334 U St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

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Also featured in:

Dino's Grotto

Dino's Grotto decamped from Cleveland Park to its new home in Shaw. The restaurant has a main level upstairs but downstairs is where the bar action is serious. Grab a spot at the counter for a craft cocktail and the famous wild boar 'cinghiale'. There's also a late-night menu for night owls.

1914 9th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dram and Grain

This speakeasy is in a basement lair in the back of Jack Rose. It's not easy to get to and certainly requires a reservation to get seated in this well-hidden whiskey haven. The cocktails are always the center of attention as mixologists Trevor Frye and Nick Lowe craft each one by hand. And no one should leave here without the visually-impressive and smoky Ode to Omaha.

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

Also featured in:

Iron Horse Tap Room

With an ever changing selection of drafts, beer is one reason to come here. The other is space. Located in Chinatown, the bar may look small from the onset, but it's downstairs where there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the many brews on draft.

Open in Google Maps

507 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Ivy and Coney

Close to Dacha and home to many of Dacha's bootlegged boots, Ivy and Coney is a Chicago-influenced bar in Shaw from the minds behind Columbia Heights' Kangaroo Boxing Club. To get inside the bar, look for the oddly-painted door.

1523 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Meridian Pint

There's the upstairs (aka the first floor), the patio and the large downstairs. Below ground, there are booths with taps at the table ready to roll. It's great for watching a sports game or seeing friends, but not so good for catching the sunset.

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Off the Record

Go through the Hay Adams Hotel (across from the White House) or use the side entrance to find this gem, one of the city's classy institutions, and a favorite of journalists. Because of its premier location, drinkers never know if a VIP or mover-and-shaker is also having a cold one at the bar.

800 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Pizzeria Paradiso

In Georgetown, Pizzeria Paradiso has a spot downstairs ideal for noshing and drinking. With 16 beers on tap and many, many more bottled, there should be no reason to stop after one. The basement bar was a pioneer in the city's early craft beer scene.

3282 M St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Quarry House Tavern

In Silver Spring, not everything is new and shiny. Down stone stairs (hence, quarry) awaits a bar where the website calls food "grub" and has a "whiskey & whatnot" menu. And you know a bar is divey when Yelp pics feature the bar's legendary bathroom graffiti.

8401 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

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Also featured in:

Recessions

With a name like "Recessions", no one should expect a glamorous rooftop or a beautiful patio. It's a pretty basic space to fulfill basic needs: get a bite to eat, have a beer and make bad decisions. Karaoke gets crazy.

1823 L St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20036

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Also featured in:

Sidecar

This isn't really about P.J. Clarke's, but about its underground bar called Sidecar. It's an intimate space downstairs from P.J. Clarke's main solarium. These guys accept reservations so it's easy to plan ahead.

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1600 K St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

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Stan's Restaurant & Lounge

Located downtown, this classic old school haunt has been operating for nearly 40 years. Just follow the stairs down to a DC classic.

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1029 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

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The Tombs

Check out the late-night menu at this appropriately-named underground Georgetown spot (featured in St. Elmo's Fire). There are plenty of bar-friendly foods (tater tots) starting at 10 p.m. this is an affordable place to eat in the neighborhood. And the happy hour is not to be missed because The Tombs does $3 Tomb Ale from Williamsburg, Virginia. Warning: expect college kids.

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1226 36th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

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2 Birds 1 Stone

1800 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

2 Birds 1 Stone is the definition of a basement bar, reachable from a barely marked staircase on the side of sister restaurant Doi Moi. The front door could be mistaken for the front door of an English basement apartment, but behind the door awaits a treasure trove of carefully crafted cocktails from mixologist wizard Adam Bernbach. Right now, the theme there is tiki.

1800 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

B Too

1324 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

Yeah, upstairs there is a bar, but downstairs there is another bar. Well, more of a lounge. But in the subterranean space is a collection of Belgian beers and B Too's famous pots of mussels. With plenty of elbow room, it's a great space for groups without being mobbed.

1324 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Bier Baron Tavern

1523 22nd St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

How many beers is too many beers? With 600 beers on its menu, the former legendary Brickseller is trying to find out.

1523 22nd St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

Visit Website

The Black Squirrel

2427 18th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

The Adams Morgan bar crawl on 18th Street isn't without the requisite lower-level bar, an addition to the original. Find the bar's impressive beer selection on either level.

2427 18th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Bottom Line

1716 I St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

Farragut West's Bottom Line bar isn't going to hit anyone's bottom line with its $3.50 rail drinks and baskets of tater tots during its Thursday happy hours.

Open in Google Maps

1716 I St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Breadsoda

2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

From Jack Rose's owner Bill Thomas, the Glover Park basement bar has both the beer and billiards on hand. And if drinkers don't want to play pool, there are darts, shuffleboard and Wii. On Tuesday nights, have several pints and play some ping pong.

Open in Google Maps

2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Buffalo Billiards

1330 19th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20036

Walk south of Dupont Circle and look right on 19th Street. And then look down. This popular watering hole and happy hour hot spot attracts visitors and neighbors alike for rounds of pool and beer. Just be sure to know where to look. It's down.

1330 19th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Cafe Saint-Ex

1847 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

There's the bar upstairs and then there's the one downstairs where all the memories (and regrets) happen. One of the earlier Logan Circle joints on ever more crowded 14th Street, Saint-Ex continues to draw the masses like a moth to a lamp. Whatever the reason, the night may begin upstairs, but it really gets going once patrons go down below.

1847 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

The Codmother

1334 U St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

The signs along U Street are hard to miss. Sometimes with expletives but always creative, The Codmother keeps it real at its basement bar. The place encourages patrons to "eat, drink and be merry."

1334 U St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Dino's Grotto

1914 9th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Dino's Grotto decamped from Cleveland Park to its new home in Shaw. The restaurant has a main level upstairs but downstairs is where the bar action is serious. Grab a spot at the counter for a craft cocktail and the famous wild boar 'cinghiale'. There's also a late-night menu for night owls.

1914 9th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Dram and Grain

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

This speakeasy is in a basement lair in the back of Jack Rose. It's not easy to get to and certainly requires a reservation to get seated in this well-hidden whiskey haven. The cocktails are always the center of attention as mixologists Trevor Frye and Nick Lowe craft each one by hand. And no one should leave here without the visually-impressive and smoky Ode to Omaha.

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

Iron Horse Tap Room

507 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

With an ever changing selection of drafts, beer is one reason to come here. The other is space. Located in Chinatown, the bar may look small from the onset, but it's downstairs where there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the many brews on draft.

Open in Google Maps

507 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Ivy and Coney

1523 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Close to Dacha and home to many of Dacha's bootlegged boots, Ivy and Coney is a Chicago-influenced bar in Shaw from the minds behind Columbia Heights' Kangaroo Boxing Club. To get inside the bar, look for the oddly-painted door.

1523 7th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Meridian Pint

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

There's the upstairs (aka the first floor), the patio and the large downstairs. Below ground, there are booths with taps at the table ready to roll. It's great for watching a sports game or seeing friends, but not so good for catching the sunset.

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Visit Website

Off the Record

800 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

Go through the Hay Adams Hotel (across from the White House) or use the side entrance to find this gem, one of the city's classy institutions, and a favorite of journalists. Because of its premier location, drinkers never know if a VIP or mover-and-shaker is also having a cold one at the bar.

800 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Related Maps

Pizzeria Paradiso

3282 M St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

In Georgetown, Pizzeria Paradiso has a spot downstairs ideal for noshing and drinking. With 16 beers on tap and many, many more bottled, there should be no reason to stop after one. The basement bar was a pioneer in the city's early craft beer scene.

3282 M St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Quarry House Tavern

8401 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

In Silver Spring, not everything is new and shiny. Down stone stairs (hence, quarry) awaits a bar where the website calls food "grub" and has a "whiskey & whatnot" menu. And you know a bar is divey when Yelp pics feature the bar's legendary bathroom graffiti.

8401 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Visit Website