Alright, alright - You're unpretentious - I get it already!! But isn't it a bit pretentious to make this calculated statement about your lack of pretension? The bartenders are friendly enough, but one actually made a point of commenting on the fact that I was wearing a tie - like I'd walked in wearing Assless Chaps without jeans or something. This is NW. Some of us wear ties. You don't like it head down to H St. & sucks Pabst out of a can with the rest of the Poseurs. read more

Sollys is like an ex-bf that you dated years ago (and hopefully learned from). He shows up once in a while, and on weekdays he can be chill and well behaved, but on Saturday he's a raging alcoholic and you remember why you broke up. Normally I'm a huge advocate of Sollys, but I had a extremely bad (i.e. fratastic) experience during my last few visits. Weekday happy hours are chill, but the weekend can get swamped with d-bagness (all polo shirts? WT* are we in VIRGINIA? And who wears a Yale hat inside on a Saturday night?). Also, it should not take 45 minutes to get a round of drinks because everyone cuts in front of you and the bartender just keeps starting from the end again (one bartender for a packed hour upstairs?). Not sure if this is a DC law, cranky neighbors,or just liability protection, but why do they clear out the patio on nice nights? HAPPY HOUR M-F until 8pm $4 house rails $5 Jack & DC Brau $3 PBR, Miller, bud read more

Dropped by to use their restroom last night. They were playing "Don't Stop Believin'" as I walked in. People were singing along and waving cans of PBR. Need I say more? read more

Let's see... we start out with a baseline of 3 stars. Add one star for no cover (or ID check?). Minus one star for no draft beers. Minus another star for limited selection of bottled beers (Guinness, Sierra Nevada, Stella, PBR, Yuengling & Chesterfield). Add one star for cool crowd. Minus one star for limited menu selection. Minus one star for running out of menu items by 8:30pm on a Wednesday. Add one star for the frag-gi-le leg lamp. Add another star for the National Bohemian bar sign. Minus one star for not actually carrying Natty Boh. Add one star for good trivia, with great prizes. Minus one star for wobbly, beer-spilling tables. Add one star for good U-street location. For those who are better at english than math, this all adds up to 3 stars. And that's a good description of this place. Some things good, some things bad, an all-around average place to grab a beer. read more

Ya know, there's some things in life I will just never get. Like hunting. What's the point of that? Or climbing mountains. Really. Why? "Because it's there"? Did the mountain say, "I'm here! Please come climb me...because I'm here. :)" No. So why do people bother? PBR and Miller High Life are more great examples. I just don't get it. Solly's dished them out for $3.50 post happy hour (which ends at 8. Brill!), which I'm assuming is a good deal considering the number of people sucking them down during trivia. And since that's all I saw people sucking down, it was a dry night for me. :( Ambiance-wise, Solly's is a standard tavern/unpretentious bar, but doesn't quiiiite have the ne je sais quoi that I like. I'm not sure what the usual crowd is like, but the trivia crowd wasn't very diverse, and it's definitely a beer bar rather than a liquor bar. Trivia was okay (Although some of the questions were wiggitywiggitywack, yo! "List the current top 10 singles"???? My team and I prided the fact that we did not know. Yay for music snobbery!), but I loved that they used the night to promote and take donations for Grameen America. What a great cause, and a great idea! Now I know the key to fundraising: Trap people in a bar, get 'em hopped up on cheap booze, then they're all kinds of generous! Brilliant! Anyhoo, I'm down for trivia at Solly's again, but it's not really the kind of place I'd like to hang out. read more

I like the upstairs of Solly's. Upstairs is where one of the coolest bartenders in D.C. works. I don't remember his name (I am always drunk when I ask) but he is great on many levels and has put up with a lot of shenanigans from me and my friends. There is also a terrific jukebox upstairs, which lets you download from the Internet -- and for $1 more you can bump all the Journey songs the guy in front of you purchased. Also, (and I really don't want to mention this lest more people take advantage of it) lazy people will rejoice if able to sit at the table to the right of the bar. You don't even have to get out of your seat for drinks, the bartender will just pass them to you over the railing. Le sigh. read more

I came to Solly's for their biweekly trivia night which is held in the bar upstairs. It's always sponsored by a different charity or non-profit organization which I think is a great idea. The trivia is 8 rounds total, but it goes by really fast. You wager on scores and have the option of doubling your entire score for a certain round, but you can only do that once. I like the wagering trivias a lot since it's easy for the lead to fluctuate. Overall, a very solid trivia that I'll definitely be coming back to. As far as the bar itself, the atmosphere is cool and laidback, but maybe too much so. The bartender consistently seemed to be put-out when I'm come to order drinks. He spent the entire night talking to some girl at the bar and seemed unable to tear himself away from the conversation when somebody came to order something. Their signature item seems to be the daily $3 PBR which may or may not be a good deal, depending on who you talk to. I was fine with sticking with those for the night. I'm not sure what Solly's is like on non-trivia nights, but I enjoyed my time here and wouldn't hesitate in returning. I just hope that some of the bartenders will actually pay attention to the customers and not just the girl at the bar. read more

Dear Sollys, Please pick up your establishment, move it to Alexandria, and then kick out about half of your patrons. Then I will marry you. Love, Cap I walked in to an Ohio State flag on the ceiling. B-E-A-utiful. I then noticed the Great Lakes Brewing Company on the tap. Not one of their beers, almost all of them. Then there were the soccer jerseys/pictures/scarves on the walls. Then the Rugby on the TV. Upon going upstairs I saw what could only be characterized as an iconic piece of Christmas culture. Yes, it was the fishnet stocking leg lamp from the Christmas Story. Not the real one I hope, that should be in a hall of fame somewhere, but as a kid who grew up in Cleveland (that's where the movie was filmed for those that don't know) this was like finding the Holy Grail of gawdy bar decorations. Here are the problems: 1. Way too damned crowded. Upstairs was an asbolute nightmare. Mind you, its in the U Street neighborhood, which can get a little nuts, so I wasn't exactly expecting a wine and cheese party, but this was too crowded for my blood. 2. The single unisex bathroom downstairs with the rag for a hangdryer was probably in the top 10 most disgusting bathrooms I've ever seen. Seriously dudes. Take your profits from one hour of beer sales and invest in either a blower or some paper towels. Get me a little more drunk and I probably wouldn't have cared about either, but unfortunately I was not completely trashed and had a Danny Glover "I'm too old for this shit" moment. read more

I have truly fond memories of this place. When Polly's used to exist (R.I.P. my favorite dive bar on U Street), I loved confusing friends: Me-- Let's meet at Solly's. Friend-- Polly's? Me-- Yes, Polly's. Friend-- No, you trickster! Solly's! In all seriousness, this place is pretty rad. I started off a Bachelorette Party here because the bride and I loved this place. The drinks are affordable; they have fake hunting video simulations; I have witnessed and experienced impromptu dance parties; and there is a bar upstairs AND downstairs. I always associate nights at Solly's with lots of PBR, talking with friends and little to no drama or hassle. Check this place out if you want a hassle-free and fun night. read more

Pro tip, you customers can hear you talk, "out of season". When your fat and setting in 70° bar - dark, German beer is always in season. read more

I love this bar. I come here for the laid back atmosphere and the table upstairs that reaches directly over the bar so I don't have to move. I'm a lazy drinker. Plus, the tables are pretty big, so if you get here early enough, you, and all your friends have a place to sit. If you need anything more than this, you're already too picky to be here. read more

Let's get one thing straight first, THIS IS NOT A DIVE BAR! Seriously, if you think Solly's is a dive then god knows you'll be choking on your silver spoon if you ever go to a real dive. So, what is Solly's? It's just a nice, laid back, unpretentious corner pub. In DC, especially along the pretentiously gentrified streets of U and Logan, it is probably seen by many a private school sorority girl as being dirty and divey, but truth be told, most decent metro areas have many such places and they are simply recognized as a comfortable neighborhood bar. Go to Philly, Bmore, Boston, NYC, Chicago, etc... and a place like Solly's is simply part of the landscape and not seem as being soooo "divey." DC needs more places like this. You can always walk in and strike up a conversation with a stranger while sipping on a reasonably priced (for DC) beer. Games are on TVs, but not obnoxiously so, and the music is good. Yes, on weekend nights it becomes just another unbearable obnoxious gathering of the belligerently drunk frat bro and sorority girl set, but thankfully, during the week, it's just a wonderfully normal and laid back place to have a couple of pints with friends and strangers. Happy Hour specials are good and the patio is wonderful people watching and outdoor drinking real estate. read more

Went here for trivia one night and had a fantastic time! It's super-easy to find, about a block off the Metro on a corner. The downstairs is pretty small, but the upstairs is a large room with an interesting set-up. There is a bar both upstairs and downstairs. My friends and I had some chicken fingers and tots, and while nothing spectacular, they were at least hot and tasty. Cans of PBR (oh yes, we're that classy) will set you back only $3, and I thought the guy at the upstairs bar was super-nice and was quick with the refills. The trivia itself was great, and while my friends and I didn't place so well, we had a good time with some good-humored people. I'll definitely come back! read more

Located on the U St corridor, it tucked in a corner. Your typical dive bar basic layout - bar downstairs and upstairs with a small stage. I went there for the first time to watch a friend perform with this band, they had very energy and the music was great! Reasonably priced beer and selection! I didn't stay too long but it had a decent crowd on a weeknight. read more

So we FINALLY rambled into Solly's last night to see our friends, The Gully Jimson Quartet, rock out some psychobilly. The place is built out like a lot of DC bars (small bar on first floor/music and another bar upstairs). When we first got there the downstairs bar was slammed, the bartenders wouldn't acknowledge me... my hair could've been fire and he wouldn't have noticed. Anyway, my friend, Jean, was able to get the owner 's attention and he promptly delivered three cold cans of PBR for $3 a pop. Up we go and the music booming, people are dancing out of their minds and the floor is bouncing so hard I thought it was going to cave. So much fun. The upstairs is also kind of divided by the stage/dance floor and bar, so you can seek solace if need be. the upstairs bartender, a cool girl with a killer shoulder tattoo, was on top of everything and very friendly. The sound in there was great, too. If you have a band, I think they are booking. Needless to say... we closed the place down. read more

I've heard some great things about Solly's and after visiting for trivia I can get a glimpse of how it could be a great hangout. No draft selections (at least not upstairs) but a fun assortment of bottles. The bartender was a hottie, in addition to being quick and nice. Menu selection was limited... um, very limited, but with the plethora of great eating options in the neighborhood, I wasn't too upset. Trivia seemed pretty unorganized, but that could have been due to the folks that were running it that week. It's normally run by a rugby club but they had allowed a non-profit to come in and run things and try to raise some money. I really liked this concept, but wish they hadn't been so pushy about giving money. We were just there for the trivia, not to think about the inadequacies of the DC public school system! Jeez! The upstairs was packed for trivia and I'd recommend getting there early, since it appears that no one actually knows when they open the upstairs or even when trivia actually starts. The crowd was pretty diverse and friendly and I can definitely see myself stopping in here for a beer, but I don't think I'll make it back for trivia any time soon. read more

Solly's is a great place to for a drink after dinner on U Street or before a concert at 9:30 Club or to enjoy a sporting event somewhere more low key that a sports bar. It definitely is a "dive" bar, but that is where most of the charm comes from. One of their best features, other than tall boys of Miller High Life, are all of the random events that take place. They have open mic nights, live music (upstairs), trivia and my personal favorite kostume karaoke every other Wednesday. Downstairs can get pretty crowded, but their patio is awesome and you never have trouble getting service even when it is packed. read more

I give three stars for Solly's only because of these categories (the rest get no stars): bar layout, cool bartenders and Buck Hunter. It's amazing how many bars have Buck Hunter. That game is absolutely amazing. The rest leaves a lot to be desired: draughts, menu-selection and trivia (I'll address trivia in a minute or two). The downstairs bar area is nice and small, but not in a bad way. I definitely would want to come here after work to grab a few quick drinks with my friends. They have a jukebox that takes credit cards (that's dangerous) and if it's a little slow, the bartender will come out and play a game of Buck Hunter with you. As Libby mentioned in her review, it throws out the Cheers vibe and I have to say I like it. The upstairs area is a lot bigger and it looks like they have live acts occasionally. We were there for trivia so the stage was set up for that. Moreover, they have three bathrooms here! Amazing for such a small place: one downstairs and two upstairs. The bartenders (downstairs and upstairs) were amazing. They were very friendly and they never seemed rushed or flustered by anything you threw at them. Class acts all the way. Moving on, come to Solly's if you're really drunk late at night. They don't have any draft beers whatsoever so you can't spill massive amounts of alcohol all over the place and all they serve is tater tots. Well, that's not all they serve (hot dogs, chicken tenders, etc.) but what comes with them? Tater tots. If you want anything else, you're out of luck. I give trivia a little more slack as they had a non-profit organization running their trivia during the week we were there. It's usually run by "the rugby guys". From what I understand, they do love their rugby and that's what the non-profit people told us. Trivia was way disorganized and the announcer was getting a bit drunk so when we thought we had actually won something, it was robbed from us because he was illiterate. The game itself was about five rounds of seven questions each round. You could bet points on how confident your answers were in each round. Not a bad style. It just lacked execution. read more

if you can get past the permeating smell of urinal cake, this is a pretty chill spot to soak in that laid back, semi-dive feel. Bouncers were nice, downstairs bartenders were relatively easy to flag down after the first round. I can see the upstairs area being an equally intimate staging for Kostume Karaoke as LMW, replete with mini-platform. Head bop to the background tunes and enjoy the vibe and tellies-- small but fair mix of beer options to satisfy a spectrum of drinkers. read more

Hey! This is where I used to see my friend's hardcore band play. It was a restaurant downstairs and upstairs was a bar and just enough space for a bar and a band and a ruckus. So I haven't been to this space in a while... I like this Solly's Tavern, here... When we were there in April we sat upstairs at the little bar, drank Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgeralds and Irish whiskey shots. It was divey, and comfortable, and strung with twinkly strings of Christmas lights. Great music was playing on the jukebox and our wonderful bearded bartender did buy-backs. My kinda place. read more

For a $5 cover, you can drink $3 PBRs til your heart's content and listen to local musicians, all in a very laid back and friendly bar. I'm gonna file this one under "Fuck yeah". read more

Did you ever go into a bar, walk out of the bar, and think: "If this place can stay in business, why don't I open a bar?" That's kind of how I felt after spending election night in this seedy dive bar. Of course, dive bars are my thing - I like crappy tables, so long as there are tables and people are sitting at them. I like cheap beers, and if they come in 16 oz. cans, that's all the better - even if it IS High Life (you know you're drunk when you take that first sip of High Life and say, "ah...delicious") The bartenders are no bullshit - they're not there to be your friend, they are there to get you a can of something, pour you a drink, and close the place down, and that's just fine. Friendly bartenders are great for happy hour spots, but who the hell cares when you're just going there to drink with friends - you spend maybe 5 minutes at the actual bar all night. No place in "Real DC" reminds me more of the old Malt Shoppe in Tenleytown (my college hangout - and I mean the old one - the one upstairs w/ a floor covered in peanuts. Not the one now that looks like a picnic park), and I had a lot of fun there. I wouldn't say that it's the place I want to go every weekend, but I've certainly been to far worse establishments. read more

A perfect dive bar. Cheapest beer & shot combos I've seen in DC, dimly lit, nothing fancy, and our bartender was very nice.

This place gets a decent review from me because I like an unpretentious saloon (I also, occasionally, like a pretentious saloon, like, say, The Saloon). It's clear that Solly's has no greater ambition than to be a pleasant watering hole and gathering place. I appreciate that humility. That said, it's a little expensive for what it is and, due to it's small size, the downstairs can get a little too crowded. The food is laughably unimaginative (jalapeno poppers! chicken fingers!) but the portions are large. Still, it's never been hard for me to get a beer, and they have Jerry Jeff Walker on the juke box. If only THAT were as common as unpretentious watering holes. Nothing quite makes me feel like another PBR like "Pissin' in the Wind." An extra half-star for being a five minute walk from my house. read more

My enjoyment at Solly's typically depends on the time I show up there. If it's a weekday happy hour, I find Solly's to be a great place to get some cheap drinks, standard clog-your-heart bar food, and people watch in their outdoor patio. But if it's a late Friday/Saturday night, I find Solly's can be a bit too rowdy for me. So really, depending on your mood and what you're looking for, Solly's has the ability to meet your drinking whims. I will say though, on occasion, there have been some great little open mics and stand-up shows held in their upstairs stage area. And the few times I've been around for that, it's always been a great experience...some entertainment and cheap beer to make that entertainment even better. read more

This place is a solid dive bar and I've been tons of time. The crowd and bartenders can be a bit hit or miss, but the drinks are really cheap ($5.50 for vodka sodas at night) and they have a menu. We've had a few things off the menu, but the chicken strips are delicious and are obviously hand battered and made fresh, which is a nice change from most bars. The poutine (fries with gravy and cheese) are also really tasty and a tad salty, but I loved them. It can get super crowded, but overall it's a great place to pregame and grab a quick bite! read more

So you should stay away from this place on the weekends. Lines. Not enough bathrooms. Gotcha. But on a Tuesday night, this place is a classy dive. The beer is cheap, the bartenders are funny and the ambiance is, well, dingy but cool. The only reason that this place did not get 5 stars: the open-mic performers. It was some of the worst comedy I have heard. Ever. I don't blame Solly's but I think that everyone who does open-mic comedy there should look in the mirror and ask themselves, "Am I really funny? To people other than my mom?" If the answer is no, stick to your day job. read more

I was at Solly's last night at the recommendation of a friend who thought I should see these bands. They had performed the night before at Galaxy Hut. It was my first time there and I loved how laid back and friendly the atmosphere was. The place is simple and at times looks a bit run down but everyone there is friendly and easy-going. Here are the bands' names, just in case: Local Natives, The Union Hall, and Voxhaul Broadcast read more

A dive-y type bar on U Street near the metro with cheap drinks and an outdoor space, located very close to the over hyped Ben's Chilli bowl. Drinks are the standard price for most bars of this category, but they are not very strongly poured. There is only one shared restroom downstairs and the bar smells weird. the customers are laid back and chilled out drinking cheap PBR's. There are not many corporate suit types but i suspect a lot of the younger people are interns. read more

Been coming to this place for sometime now and always have a good time. A couple years ago when i started coming, it never got too crowded. I guess its become more popular now. I actually had to wait in line *GASP* a few times ago. One thing this place offers besides the Miller High Life pounder cans and PBR cans is the juke box AND the Big Buck Hunting Arcade game. PBR and shooting animals with a giant fake gun. Does it get better than that? I think not. (the real version of buck hunter). Great place for the weekend, and much better when they open the top floor (which some people don't even know exists). read more

Sollys Tavern is a landmark pub in DC for many reasons. First, there is outdoor seating where you can smoke if you want to. This patio area is spacious and has ample seating with a great view of the street corner. There is always something ridiculous happening to watch while enjoying a cold one. Second, there are no mirrors in the (unisex) bathrooms. This is awesome because it cuts down on the long ass lines that result from bar bathroom narcissism. Instead of mirrors there is an incredible assortment of scratching and tags left my so many drunk people attempting to be philosophical, really unintentionally funny stuff in there. The third reason Sollys is amazing is because every staff member I have come across has been friendly, kind, fast and just plain damn good at their jobs. This is a great pub with lots of events and festivities to enjoy no matter what night of the week. read more

Solly's is one of the best after-work bars I've found since moving to DC. The place looks like a tiny hole-in-the-wall when you first walk in the door, with a small bar, and a few seats near the windows facing out toward the street. There's a nice patio on 11th Street, but when I visited the temperature had already turned, so no one was sitting outside. Upstairs you'll find a second bar, and a lot more room to spread out. Happy hour runs until 8pm. For the budget drinker, they serve $3 PRB, for the beer snob, they've got $5 Great Lakes Burning River. Everything is served in can or bottle. There's no kitchen, but they let you bring in food from elsewhere. And with all the great takeout places on U Street, why not? The atmosphere at Solly's is very laid-back. There's good music playing on the sound system, but not so loud that you have to scream to hear the person sitting next to you. I can't comment on weekend experience here. I can imagine it getting crowded and sticky; but if you're more of a weeknight drinker, this isn't a bad place to be. read more

"God?" *throwing hands out and making the OMG GET READY FOR IT face at everyone* "Life is a mystery...." yes yes yes yes yes Automatic 4 stars for not being too cool to play the best sing-along song ever. This was my first time here, but I automatically love Solly's because it's cheap, chill, the people are nice, and the music is good. What more could you want? Oh yea, clean bathrooms that are never occupied? That's it - 5 stars. It's in a great convenient location, there are plenty of seats, a good crowd, and no pretension. We had people running in and out all night and there was always room for more. Most importantly, the bartender had a very healthy pour. Keep it comin Solly's! read more

This place is cool for baseball and football games, especially if you byof and come in a big group. You can order from the pizzeria next door and enjoy about 3 games on the big screens upstairs. Beer selection is normal, but the place gets a big plus for space. The regulars and bartenders are cool as well. When the games are over, the upstairs area turns into a cool lil' dance party, that's never too crowded. There's even a band performing or comedy going on every now and then. You also have the option to just go to the downstairs bar if dancing/entertainment isn't your thing. Nothing super special about the place, but for some reason we end up going back every now and then. read more

Dive Bar. I love it. This place is where drinkers go to drink and chicks kiss each other. The bartenders are cooler than a fan. Rugby players, soccer players, roller derby girls hang out here. Robin Leach is not giving this place 4 stars but I do. This is a drinking mans bar. Do not embarass yourself by asking for a wine list. Or get offended when the local soccer team stares at your boobs. read more

Well I didn't pay so I have no idea what the drinks cost! The vibe was fun! Full of PBR merch and a bunch of busty good natured drunk girls playing Big Buck Hunter Safari Edition! We knocked out some PBR (naturally) and had a lovely time! Just a hint gentlemen, we can see you tinkle from the bar when you don't close the bathroom door all the way so be mindful. read more

My friends and I went there for Kostume Karaoke, which was super fun. It's totally relaxed and unlike other karaoke places (Peyote for example) it won't cost you time or money to hear your request. Plus you get to wear a costume! What could be better? Drinks seem ok, I got a woodchuck hard cider. If you're downstairs, watch out for the hypnotizing PBR ad. That's how they rail in on that awful $3 beer! PBR, never worth it IMO, but my friend who was with me that night disagrees, especially after looking at the sign for more than 30 seconds. read more

Solly's is a great place to catch a small show or post up for a few drinks. It's not too crowded and it's not pretentious. I prefer to be upstairs with my friends, have an unobstructed view of the band, and just hang out. If you don't like dives/taverns it's probably not your thing, but if you like a "no frills" atmosphere it's perfect. read more

very fun bar!!!! neil is a great bartender, can't wait to come back when i'm back in DC! :-)

Dive bar pure and simple. I went on a Saturday night and it had an eclectic crowd and was pretty crowded. The outside is a nice touch for a dive bar, the downstairs is really narrow and difficult to manuever around, and the upstairs was also a bit cramped. It has tables upstairs, but the music is a little too loud to hold a conversation. Sollys, is not a bad bar, but I'd check out other places in the area before going back. read more