Play Around: 8 Bars With Games in Washington D.C.
Sometimes the perfect night out requires more than a good drink and a hot date — and you can’t always count on finding a TV playing the big game. From a movie theater with bar service to bocce ball courts and indoor mini golf, the plethora of barside entertainment at these D.C. bars guarantees you’ll have a memorable night out.
Vinoteca: With a European-style outdoor courtyard and bocce court, this U Street wine bar plays host to DC Bocce League on Monday and Tuesday evenings, but is fair game the rest of the week. Organizing a group game? The plaza’s two communal tables can be reserved for group events (1940 11th St. NW; 202-332-9463).
Thomas Foolery: With more than 40 bottled beers, snacks such as ring pops and candy necklaces, and games including Mario Kart Wii, Etch-a-Sketch and Mini Skeeball, this DUpont bar channels childhood and adds a shot of booze (2029 P St. NW; 202-822-6200).
Arlington Cinema & Draft House: Catch a flick for just $6.50 from the comfort of a big easy chair and with the convenience of tableside service and a full restaurant and bar menu. The Draft House also features live stand-up comedy and music acts — all proven more entertaining with a cold brew in hand (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703-486-2345).
Black Jack: Play a round of bocce with up to four friends at this 14th Street bar’s indoor court, which also includes 19 stadium-style seats from which to cheer on your team and enjoy one of the bar’s beloved cocktails, such as the ginger-spiked Maple Derby(1612 14th St. NW; 202-986-5225).
H Street Country Club: There aren’t many places where you can hold a frozen guava margarita in one hand in a golf club in the other, but then again we’ve never seen a mini-golf course depicting Marion Barry, either. A round of golf at this game-centric H Street bar requires no reservations and is just $7, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when it’s free with dinner (1335 H St. NE; 202-399-4722).
Lucky Strike: Grab a lane and some well-priced drinks between 4 PM and 8 PM Monday through Friday, when Miller Lite drafts are $3.50, happy hour food items are $4, and house wine and well drinks are just $5 (701 7th St. NW; 202-347-1021).
Rocket Bar: With multiple pool tables, skee-ball machines, shuffle boards and dart boards, this Chinatown billiards joint guarantees a good time while you imbibe, which can be done thriftily during the daily happy hour featuring $4 rail drinks, wine, and the draft beer of the month between 4 PM and 7 PM (714 7th St. NW; 202-628-7665).
Board Room: A game bar boasting 20 draft brews, this Dupont bar will force you to make some tough choices, such as whether to start with Dogfish Head or DC Brau, or which of your favorite childhood games (Hungry Hungry Hippos? Jenga?) — rentable for a fee between $2 and $5 — will kick off the evening (1737 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-518-7666).
