Washington DC · Nightlife

At 815 V Street NW near the U Street/Cardozo Metro, the city's central mid-size rock room, covering indie, electronic and hip-hop as well as touring rock acts. Doors are usually between 6 and 7pm, some nights carry early and late shows, and most gigs are all-ages unless the listing says 16+ or 21+.

A larger hall at 901 Wharf Street SW on the waterfront, run by I.M.P., the same independent promoter behind the 9:30 Club. It reconfigures between standing and seated, so the calendar runs from rock and hip-hop through comedy and orchestral nights, and there is a bar off the lobby.

At 1811 14th Street NW, three blocks from the U Street/Cardozo Metro, booking local, national and international independent and alternative music since 1993. Two spaces: the main concert room and the Red Room Bar, so you can turn up for the bar without a ticket.

Founded in 1965 in an eighteenth-century brick carriage house at 1073 Rear Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown, and billed as the country's oldest continuing jazz supper club; Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan both played it. Open seven nights with Creole cooking, steaks and seafood alongside the sets.

Open-air beer garden with German, Belgian and American craft beer plus Bavarian-leaning food, dog and family friendly. The original is at 1600 7th Street NW in Shaw, open 4–10.30pm Monday to Thursday, noon to midnight Friday, 11am to midnight Saturday and 11am–10.30pm Sunday; the second is at 79 Potomac Avenue SE in Navy Yard.