During your first week back on campus, you won’t just get reacquainted with the classroom.
As you move through your college years, the places you tend to party change. Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a senior, everyone needs a refresher on which bars and clubs are most appropriate for your age.
With our guide to going out by grade, you can let loose at each class’ party spot.
Freshmen
If you’re a freshman excited to go to a club for the first time, you may be deciding between a list of Google results for “D.C. Nightclubs” ahead of your night out.
To meet fellow freshmen, check out the 18+ clubs that are some of the few places freshmen can frequent. Clubs often waive cover charges at the beginning of the semester, so you can dance all night without emptying your wallet. For the best deals, check out ULTRABAR.
ULTRABAR, located at 911 F St. NW in Chinatown, offers passes on its website for discounted or free entry. ULTRA hosts “LIT Fridays” where 18+ visitors get in free with a printed pass. Every Saturday night, ULTRA’s “Ladies’ Night” lets women inside with reduced admission before 11 p.m.
Sophomores
Freshman year likely had you attending your fair share of fraternity parties, so now you will be ready to update to a more upscale venue.
At Eden Lounge, located just off campus at 1716 I St. NW, you’ll likely find a GW crowd. Though you still have a year until you can drink, Eden’s rooftop offers live music and dancing with friends as the low-key club presents local DJs to keep the party rolling.
The 18+ events won’t break the bank. Women can skip a cover charge before 11 p.m. and entry is only $10 before midnight.
Juniors
While some students may have turned 21, others may be getting turned away at the door. To keep the friend group copacetic, try a close and hip Foggy Bottom bar. Hive Bar is right on campus at 2224 F St. NW, and has a rooftop bar so you can see the cityscape from a campus vantage point.
This swanky rooftop lounge offers mature cocktails that you can finally order yourself. Enjoy a Spiced Old Fashioned ($10) for a twist on a classic. Or if you want something a little more fruity, Hive Bar’s Paloma ($10) mixes grapefruit, jalapeno and lime for a refreshing summer drink.
Best of all, with Hive Bar’s proximity to &pizza and campus, you don’t have to stumble far as you walk back home with a pizza box in hand.
Seniors
Now that your friends are all 21, you might want to spend your weekends at a more adult bar. If you are over the scene on campus, head out to Red Derby at 3718 14th St. NW for a chill bar with a slightly older crowd.
With more than 70 beer brands on the menu and a wide array of cocktails and wine, Red Derby is the quintessential pseudo-dive bar. To manage your tipsiness, Red Derby’s kitchen serves traditional American bites like buffalo wings and fried shrimp baskets. While you eat, drink and be merry, you can enjoy a board game right in the bar or take it to the rooftop for another bar and table seating.
To make the most of your night on the town, grab some friends for one of Red Derby’s weekly specials. Wednesday nights are reserved for wings and Mario Kart, where customers can compete in the racing game and enjoy discounted drinks and wings. If you don’t want to shell out money for food, Red Derby offers all night happy hour on Thursdays with $1 off every drink until close.
