Music is and always will be a huge nightlife component, so get out and enjoy it!

Headliners

9:30 Club

Consistently drawing in big-name acts but also some more obscure performers and groups, the 9:30 Club is a top-notch club venue. It has been host to Adele, Matt and Kim and Death Cab for Cutie in the past year, just to name few. Attending a concert here, you get the idea you are at huge name event in a venue that is not too overwhelming. There are bars on either side of the main floor, one upstairs, and one in the basement all of which have a full-service menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Shows are usually standing room only, so wear your comfiest shoes. All ages, 21 to drink.

877-435-9849 | 815 V St. NW
Metro: U Street

Dinner & Late-Night

Busboys and Poets

Anyone with a flair for music will also appreciate an ambiance of intellectualism and openness. That is precisely what Busboys and Poets intended to provide as a community gathering place free of racial and cultural restrictions when it was created in 2005. Whether you’re looking for dinner, late-night eats or a snack anytime during the day, Busboys and Poets is an establishment that is well worth a visit.
Recurring events include open-mic poetry readings, film series and discussions, and monthly talks on race and the Middle East. There is almost always an art exhibit to marvel at, and always a welcoming and interesting crowd. There is even a bookstore.

Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to midnight, Friday 8 to 2 a.m., Saturday 9 to 2 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to midnight

202-387-7638 | 2021 14th St., NW
Metro: U Street

Black Cat

The Black Cat is more of a jack-of-all-trades, offering a venue mainly for the performance of rock and indie bands. The black and white checkered main stage is where larger concerts and monthly club-style DJ events are held, while the Backstage has a smaller capacity of 200 and is home to smaller, more intimate concerts and other events like movies. There is a separate bar venue within the club, called the Red Room Bar, which is open 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. If you get hungry or want a smaller room to take a breather, there’s the adjacent Food for Thought Café open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Ages 18 and up welcome, 21 to drink. Cash only.

202-667-7960 | 1811 14th St.
Metro: U Street