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    Dan's Cafe

    3.9 (252 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Closed Closed

    Dan's Cafe Photos

    DAN'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Juke Box
    Loud
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Dan's Cafe

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    Entrance
    J E.

    This place is referred to as a "Dive bar" in social media descriptions and considering it that might be a step up.... We walked in and it was appalling, even on dive bar standards, with sour smells being masked with incense burning throughout and really loud music in such a very small place. We turned around and left.

    Squeeze Bottle Liquor
    Steve A.

    Best dive bar is back. Dan's Cafe has reopened after a remodel. Not to worry. It still looks very divey. The smell is still around too. Everyone comes here for the squirt bottles. It's like a ketchup bottle filled with liquor. This is about $30 to get a few rounds of shots. If you want cheaper stuff you can get some well drinks. They pour drinks into regular glasses too. Avoid the bathrooms. It's just horrible. This is the place to take that one friend who wants to find the diviest bar possible. The bar has a few things going on around it. One cool thing is the pool table. This feels like a basement in a crackhouse but in a kind way.

    people sitting at tables in a restaurant
    Jade J.

    Wow-- what a cool spot. I will definitely be coming back here. This little popular dive bar in the heart of Adams Morgan has so much energy and a college like feel. It's the place to be on a Friday night. The line was a little longer than the other bars and the place was packed. The bouncer was very inviting and charismatic so waiting in line passed by very quickly.

    Squeeze bottle of Absolut Citron & Tropicana grapefruit juice.
    Ruth C.

    Blame it on the dI-i-i-I-i-i-I-i-ive, baby. Nthing the suggestion that early or late arrivals are necessities for grabbing a perch anywhere; this place gets packed to the teeth. Cash only establishment tucked into a nondescript corner along Adams Morgan. Take a breath and hold it, because this smells as much of a dive as it seems. The classy jukebox sent Brian B into throes of ecstasy. Before we even touched a third squirt bottle, Justin C was ready to cozy up to the bachelorette party cruising through. Julia, Hue, and Lia thankfully kept me from raging at the bartender. We worked through our poisons by combining the alcohol and mixers displayed on the shelves before us. I think several times our group was tempted to treat the condiment squeeze-bottles as baby bottles or cans of whipped cream. Drinks start off on the strong side since the bartender empties the single-serving minibar bottles over ice, then splashes in mixer until topped off. The cupholders in the bar aren't leak-proof, so any spills will transfer into laps below. Drinkity drinkity drunk indeed, this is where you can go to get trashed.

    Jayne O.

    Dan's Cafe is your destination if you're either trying to bond with co-workers or get secrets out of old friends. Do not meet a new tinder date at this establishment: judging the facade, he might think that you're trying to kill him or make him bet on a cock fight. Once you are inside, however, the atmosphere is the dive bar of all dive bars - no sign except for chicken scratch in the top lefthand corner of the door, red light only, and wet tables. Behind the bar are rows and rows of mini bottles for their famous vessel: the ketchup bottle. The bartender puts ice and a mini bottle of the alcohol of your choice in the ketchup bottle with a splash of your chosen mixer. Then, he gives you the number of shot glasses you would like. It's $25 total - $20 for the alcohol and $5 for the bottle, which you can get back upon returning it. I would definitely come back to Dan's Cafe, just with more questions to ask my friends after we finish two ketchup bottles.

    20$ pineapple cranberry tequila
    Skye P.

    My girlfriends and I definitely did not expect our night to end here, but it was a pleasant way to wrap things up. we loved that it has a signature go-to that it's known for - the ketchup squirt bottles filled with alcohol of your choice (20$). We opted for pineapple cranbeerry and tequila.. and ended up befriending people at our table to share. Be sure to carry cash on you because they did not take card! Though the space is very limited, you can tell the spot was hot since almost every seat was taken. Would definitely come back when in AdMo. 5 stars for the experience and the people.

    Liquor bottles lining the back of the bar

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    3 months ago

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    11 months ago

    A gem of DC. Just be careful with the ketchup bottles full of liquor. Those can ruin your night if you're not careful

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    2 years ago

    Great atmosphere for a dive bar. This is the diviest of dive bars and you can't come in thinking anything more. Longtime Dan fan

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    4 years ago

    Welcome to Washington, Dan's Cafetown. The first tavern in America, serving up the best squeeze bottles known to man.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Dan's Cafe

    Review Highlights - Dan's Cafe

    There are plenty of other bars in Adams Morgan for the 22-year-olds and I don't think this is one of them.

    Mentioned in 31 reviews

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    Neptune Room - Canned drink menu and snacks

    Neptune Room

    4.8(5 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    This is a super, vibey lil' neighborhood bar…read more From the live DJ playing a little funky set that was prime for a two-step to the eclectic murals and lights, it was very easy to settle in here. Although the space is on the smaller side, there was plenty of bar seating, an ample number of booths and the drink prices were a good deal. If I lived a little closer, I could see myself dropping by much more frequently. T he only downside that felt apparent to everyone I came here with, was the strong smell of fried fish. I personally wasn't too phased, assuming it as part of their menu. But the longer we settled in we realized it was coming in from an adjacent business which is incredible hard to control. With that being said, we smelled like fried fish when we got into my friends car and the smell followed us everywhere for the rest of the night. Like I said, I understand that's a hard thing to control but it may be something to be mindful of if you've got anywhere you need to go after. Overall though, totally in love with the laid back vibes here and would definitely return.

    Great neighborhood spot, really welcoming environment, great music and a nice set of great…read moremotorcycles parked out front at least one night a week.

    Photos
    Neptune Room - Combo drink and on tap menu, not a huge selection but excellent choices for beer. Merry Shrimpmas!

    Combo drink and on tap menu, not a huge selection but excellent choices for beer. Merry Shrimpmas!

    Neptune Room - Walking in the door during their 5th anniversary at 6 PM, really cool interior decoration and a John Waters movie on.

    Walking in the door during their 5th anniversary at 6 PM, really cool interior decoration and a John Waters movie on.

    Neptune Room - Turntable and extensive vinyl collection playing live at the bar

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    Turntable and extensive vinyl collection playing live at the bar

    Last Call Bar - Interior.

    Last Call Bar

    4.1(77 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Union Market has this magical ability to convince you you're fancy. You start the night sipping a…read more$22 cocktail with a garnish that looks like it was harvested by a fairy wearing linen. For a solid hour, you're like, "Wow... I am bougie like they say." Then the bartender calls out "Last call!" And as you take one final dramatic sip of your fancy drink, the lights come on like someone just hit the emergency button and whoa. Wait just one minute, I don't want to go home. That's when the migration begins. In Union Market, there's a place where all the local residents take their talents once the posh restaurants shut down and that place is Last Call Bar, the bar that welcomes you and your rapidly declining standards with open arms. And the food? Oh, the food is a spiritual journey. They kick things off with Jell‑O shots, which already tells you exactly what kind of night you're about to have. But it gets even better. They have food and the menu is full of options only a person who drank 5 cocktails could truly appreciate, the kind of late‑night masterpieces that would horrify you at noon but taste like gourmet brilliance after midnight. I'll take a hot dog please! The vibe is pure "we should've gone home but didn't" energy. The music is loud enough to drown out your responsibilities. The crowd is a mix of restaurant refugees, people who swore they were having an early night, and folks who are definitely lying to themselves about how early they have to wake up. It's a diverse crowd. More on the younger side but a sprinkle of adults that have kids in college or corporate jobs. The bartenders deserve awards for dealing with customers who insist they're "totally fine" while holding onto the bar like it's a support beam. And honestly? That's the magic. The best memories happen during the real happy hours of our days, bedtime hours, when you're either having way too much fun in the sheets or making the kind of decisions you'll laugh about (or regret) the next day. Last Call Bar isn't curated. It isn't polished. It isn't pretending. It's the place where your bougie persona quietly steps aside and you says, "Let's get a hot dog". If you want a place where the night gets a second wind and your dignity takes a short break, welcome home. Let's get into it! Drinks - Perfectly made! Way to go to the bartender! Hot dog- at this late hour it tasted like a filet mignon! Give me another! Eeeek! A watering hole - every one needs a hole that waters! Xo

    When I say this is a dive bar THIS IS A DIVE BAR…read more It's a little hole in the wall located in Union Market and you can easily miss it. I came here for a first date that kept going after the other place we went to nearby was closing up for the night. We ran into her friends she recommended we get these Jell-O shots which already was a plus for me considering that most bars don't do Jell-O shots! And what's even better is there's an option where you can add Pop Rocks into them! Never in my 30 years of life did I ever consider adding Pop Rocks into a Jell-O shot but wow! It was incredible! Service has a bartender or two behind working the counter. The drinks are really cheap which you can't say much for DC area bars. The food menu I wish was a bit more expansive but if you just come here for drinks the menu is solid and price competively

    Photos
    Last Call Bar - Inside

    Inside

    Last Call Bar - Interior

    Interior

    Last Call Bar

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    Ivy & Coney

    Ivy & Coney

    3.9(199 reviews)
    1.3 miShaw
    $

    Cute neighborhood bar with an upstairs area. It was very crowded, but my friend was happy because…read morethe bar is Chicago sports-themed, with Chicago décor throughout. The drinks were good -- I had rosé wine, which came in a can. The people were friendly, and the bar had a cozy atmosphere.

    How am I so late to discovering Ivy and Coney I'll never know! I wound up going to check out a…read moreLions game with my friends from Detroit only to discover it's also a Chicago sports bar! As a HUGE Bears fan, this was truly a treat for me and I appreciated everything from the decor to the menu. Chicago dogs? Italian beef? MY HEART! This is the perfect dive bar to catch a game and I absolutely love the environment. As a Chicago(land) native, Ivy and Coney hits home in all the right ways. Tucked away in the Shaw neighborhood, this unassuming spot is a Midwest haven in the heart of DC. Let's start with the food: the Detroit-style pizza is phenomenal. Crispy edges, generous portions (you get 8 slices!), and packed with flavor. Perfect to share! Other notable mentions included the cheese curds, smash burger, or legit Chicago-style dogs. The space itself is exactly what a dive bar should be: cozy, casual, a little rowdy when it needs to be, and full of character. The back bar with the retractable roof is a hidden gem for game days. When I visited it was a beautiful evening and having the roof retracted added a special touch! And the staff? Peak Midwest nice (IYKYK). Friendly, quick, and genuinely happy to see you. Catch me here on Mondays, Thursdays, or Sundays (i.e., whenever my team is on the screen!). Whether you're here for sports, snacks, or just the atmosphere, Ivy and Coney delivers every time. It's my new go-to spot for a slice of home, and if you're from the Midwest (or just love great food and chill vibes), it should be yours too.

    Photos
    Ivy & Coney - Speed Castle Pilsner

    Speed Castle Pilsner

    Ivy & Coney - Interior

    Interior

    Ivy & Coney

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    The Bottom Line - Fish & Chips

    The Bottom Line

    3.8(377 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown
    $$

    Friends and I were searching high and low for a bar that was playing John Cenas final…read morematch--finally the day of the match we see an event at this bar we've never heard of. We walk up and go down the steps to the basement pub, which is decorated for Christmas and has an incredibly homey divey vibe (which I am a big fan of). We were there ALL night trying the nachos, funnel cake fries, Caesar, quesadilla, and drinks. The quesadilla and funnel cake fries were my favorites. Everything was phenomenal, they had a great menu selection for food, beer, wine, mules, and cocktails. The cocktails menu tends to lean into whiskey and gin, but you can ask for other drinks like a spritz or espresso martini and they can make them. Service was absolutely fabulous, our waitress was phenomenal. Will be back!

    Bottom Line is one of those rare finds in DC that immediately feels familiar in the best way…read more Tucked away below street level, it has that classic basement bar vibe that reminded me of the great hidden spots in Chicago and Boston. The atmosphere is warm, lively, and just a little bit nostalgic, which makes it an easy place to settle into for a casual night out. Their drink selection leans heavily (and impressively) into mules, offering a fun variety well beyond the standard ginger beer plus vodka formula. Each one I tried was balanced and refreshing, so it is clear that this is a house specialty. The menu mixes semi Mexican dishes with classic American bar food, and while the food is not the main attraction, it is solid, comforting, and pairs perfectly with the drinks. Service was friendly and efficient, which added to the overall welcoming feel. Whether you are stopping in for a quick drink or settling in for an evening with friends, Bottom Line delivers a reliably good time. It is a great bar with personality, solid drinks, and an atmosphere that makes you want to come back.

    Photos
    The Bottom Line
    The Bottom Line - Jerk Chicken w/ fries

    Jerk Chicken w/ fries

    The Bottom Line

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    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    4.3(125 reviews)
    0.9 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    I've been hearing about this place for years but never actually stopped by. They're currently on my…read morelist of weekend happy hour spots, having it all day on Sundays. I made a last minute change to meet a friend here, but much to my surprise... they had a PS5 and Tekken booted up at the bar. I am by zero means a Tekken player. Yes, I'm a huge gamer, but I'm terrible at Tekken. But the mere concept of being able to watch and play it at a bar is incredible. That aside, they got a bunch of board games like Trouble, Uno, Trivial Pursuit... the classics man! Oh right, the bar part. Their drinks are great. The staff are great. The specials are great. And they give you popcorn! And they have a whole little table with all the popcorn fixings if you don't want to eat it plain. You can literally bring in food from anywhere on top of that. I'm not sure if it's a Sunday thing, but the place really doesn't get too busy. It's quite a vibe. If you've never been and you're in the Logan Circle area, go.

    My go to spot once or twice a month. Straight to the point with great aesthetics. Love the wood…read morelook and clean dive bar vibes.. they have a huge variety of beers and kozys to put them in since they don't have draft beer. The bartenders no matter what day it is always execute with divine hospitality!! Oh yeah forgot to mention the popcorn machine free popcorn is a plus, it also has a huge selection of seasoning to get that popcorn right. See you soon!! Say what's sup if you see me there!!

    Photos
    Kingfisher
    Kingfisher
    Kingfisher

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    Dan's Cafe - divebars - Updated May 2026

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