|
Nestled between Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, this little hipster paradise is home to some pretty sweet bars (and it's a great place to live!)
For more information on Mt. Pleasant (Mt. P), visit the neighborhood's Web site.
To the bars...
The Raven
3125 Mount Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
202.466.3475
[like a good dive bar, the Raven does not have a website...but here's Edgar Allan Poe's poem]
The Raven is my favorite bar in Mt. P. It's dark, dingy, the wall paper is peeling, the juke box is amazing, and the people are great. Come here for a laid back night out or a great way to start a wild evening.
A few pointers:
- The bar is cash only, but there's a Bank of America ATM just feet away.
- The Raven does not serve food - for that, you can go to Dos Gringos across the street.
- Arrive early (9.30ish) if you want to get a booth on a Saturday night.
- It can get VERY LOUD. And the speakers are blown from Johnny Cash singing those Folsom Prison Blues, but that's part of the Raven's charm.
3155 Mount Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
202.986.7661
Tonic website
I've heard tonic described as a hipster sports bar. Oxymoron? Perhaps. True? Yes.
Tonic is a restaurant upstairs and a bar downstairs. It feels like a hipster Cheers (but maybe that's because I used to work here...). The beers are good, the food is tasty, and you'll find an amusing cast of characters perched on those bar stools. Come here for a fun night or a chill evening, a good meal, or a good game (name your sport).
A few pointers:
- It's hit or miss here. One weekend it'll be packed, and the next weekend it will be empty.
- There's a great happy hour: 1/2 price beers and 1/2 price burgers (veggie burgers included).
- There's table service so you don't need to go up to the bar if you want to sit.
- If you want to use the juke box, tell the bartender or your server before putting your money in the machine - they have to switch the sound system to juke box mode (or something like that).
- If you want to check out Tonic during the day, come for weekend brunch. They have huge mimosas and Bloody Marys. [You can get bacon in your Bloody Mary - the only bar in Mt. Pleasant or Columbia Heights that offers this unique treat.]
Marx Cafe
3203 Mount Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
202.518.7600
[you'd think this place would have a website...so here's some info on Karl Marx]
Marx Cafe is a mix between Tonic and the Raven, but it probably "nicer" than it's bretheren. DJ nights are regular occurances here, and the wood paneled bar also serves food. The menu is friendly toward meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
I must say, they do have an excellent beer selection and a great wine list. For a quasi-sophisticated night out, go here.
Some pointers:
- This place gets packed very quickly, so if you want to guarantee a seat at a table or booth, get here at around 9.30, especially if you have a large party.
- If you want to check Marx Cafe out during the day, come for weekend brunch.
| 
