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The happy-hour culture here is vibrant, as government employees, lawyers, influence peddlers, and other locals network, or simply unwind, over discounted beers, cocktails, and pub grub.

The trend is especially pronounced on Capitol Hill, where staffers and their powerful bosses can hop from a desk to a barstool in a matter of minutes. But every neighborhood in D.C. has its popular after-work haunts.

For Politicos

A few blocks behind the Capitol, the Pour House (319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE | 202/546–0779), 18th Amendment (613 Pennsylvania Ave., SE | 202/543–3622), and Tune Inn (331 Pennsylvania Ave. SE | 202/543–2725) all offer lively happy hours frequented by the hoards of congressional staffers streaming home from work. Nearby, the Capitol Lounge (231 Pennsylvania Ave. SE | 202/547–2098) barely even pretends to cater to those outside the Hill. A popular draw is “Politics and Pints Trivia” night. Just a stone’s throw from Union Station, the Union Pub (201 Massachussetts Ave. NE | 202/546–7200) boasts a large front patio where similar crowds gather to sip suds and watch passersby. Two neighboring Irish pubs—the Dubliner and Kelly’s Irish Times (14 F St. NW | 202/543–5433)—come furnished with all the Gaelic trimmings, including fish-and-chips and Guinness on tap.

For Sophisticates

Penn Quarter’s Proof, a pioneer of D.C.’s wine-bar scene, is a posh and popular spot to impress a date. Casual newcomer Cork (1720 14th St. NW | 202/265–2675), which offers 50 wines by the glass near U Street, was an instant hit—and has the crowds to prove it. And the long, sleek bar at Cleveland Park’s Bardeo (3311 Connecticut Ave. NW | 202/244–6550) is the perfect perch from which to sample their extensive selection of wine “flights.”

For the beer lover, Granville Moore’s Brickyard is a crowd favorite in the emerging Atlas District. The bustling bar features an evolving roster of Belgian brews—the perfect accompaniment to their delicious mussels. At Brasserie Beck, Downtown, the sommelier will happily walk you through the extensive list of Belgian beer options, as are the friendly bartenders at Dupont Circle’s spacious Bistrot du Coin.

For Insomniacs

Missed happy hour? No worries. There are a number of bars in town offering specials for night owls. Clyde’s (707 7th St. NW | 202/349–3700) in Chinatown and the Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House are two. Both feature half-price raw-bar specials after 11 pm on most weekdays. Agora (1527 17th St. NW | 202/332–6767) goes a step further, featuring $3 beers and $4 cocktails to accompany their post-11 pm food specials. Also, don’t miss Hank’s Oyster Bar near Dupont Circle, which offers $1 late-night oysters.

A Bit of the Outdoors

A number of bars in town lure patrons to happy hour with a more universally appealing feature: the roof deck. Around U Street, Local 16, Marvin, and Nellie’s all jump during happy hour, as young locals returning from work stop off to take the edge off. The Reef (2446 18th St. NW | 202/518–3800) in Adams Morgan also offers a bustling open-air rooftop bar, while the roof deck at the Cleveland Park Bar and Grill (3421 Connecticut Ave. NW | 202/806–8940) in Upper Northwest features TVs for the sports fan.

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