Washington DC Bar & Pub Guide

Washington DC Bar & Pub Guide - Arlington

Last Updated 8/16/99

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Arlington

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Arlington Bars

Arlington Summary

When the founding fathers first drew up the plans for a capital city, both Maryland (a northern state) and Virginia (a southern state) would each give up a piece of land that would together make up a diamond that straddles the Potomac River. This would be the new capital.

At some point in the process, Virginia decided, hey they kinda liked that swampy land they just gave away. So they took it back. The diamond is still there, but only the eastern side of the river is Washington DC. The western side, is called Arlington.

Today, many DC workers have chosen to live in Arlington. It gives the feel of the city without all the problems of the city. Actually, Arlington has become quite a population center, and with the people come all of the great bars and restaurants (and Arlington has lots!)

Because of it's size, Arlington has a whole slew of Metro stops. The blue, yellow, and orange lines all serve Arlington. The stations that are close to bars include Ballston, Court House, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Pentagon City.

Petitbon's Rossyln Metro Thumbs Up!
Ritchie Petitbon's restarant and bar is one of the best sports bars in the area. They have a few pool tables and dart lanes, and lots of room to handle the crowds. They have a great happy hour, and lots of people show up. If you're hungry, I think their barbeque ribs are the best around. It's right across the Key Bridge from Georgetown. (703)527-7501

Galaxy Hut is a small, homey place off of Wilson Blvd.

Car Pool Ballston Metro Thumbs Up!
Car Pool was built inside an old gas station. On nice days they'll open the garage doors (that used to be the service bays) to an outdoor patio. They charge too much for pool tables and beer, but the place is always packed and the people are really friendly. It's a pretty easy place to meet people. (703) 532-7665

Clarendon Grill Clarendon Metro Thumbs Up!
Clarendon Grill has a great atmosphere with bands almost every night and a really friendly crowd. This is another great place to meet people. Watch out for pretty long lines when they have a popular band. Oh, and their food is very good. (703)527-7501

Bardo Rodeo Court House Metro Thumbs Up!
Bardo's is owned by an artist who finally made the grand realization that he can make more money selling beer than selling art. So he starting Brewing in an old Oldsmobile dealership that had been abandoned. Inside all of the walls are decorated with murals by over 20 different artists. On one wall that is about 50 ft high, they have a screen where they show old movies and sometimes sporting events. They also have lots of pool tables and outside seating. (703) 527 9399

Whitlow's Clarendon Thumbs Up!
Whitlos's has had a good crowd every time I've gone there. They almost always have a live band. The Back room has pool tables and dart boards and there are lots of tables to sit at. Sometimes they charge a cover, but not all the time. (703) 276-9693

Lone Star Tex Mex Grill Rossyln Metro
The Lone Star wasn't very crowded when I was there, but sometimes I see the place just packed. The waitresses were really friendly and they had good chips n' salsa. I think they have live music sometimes.

Ireland's Four Courts Court House Metro
Here's another typical Irish Pub. They always have some sort of live entertainment. When I was there, they had a guy from Guinness showing us how they brew their beer and giving us history of the Guinness company, and giving away tee-shirts and stuff. In general, they seem to have a pretty fun crowd there. 703-525-3600

Bardo's is a Pool Hall / Brew Pub that lives in an old Oldsmobile dealership. They Brew about 10 of their own flavors, and have about 20 other micro brews on tap.

Crystal City Sports Pub Crystal City Metro
CCSP is probably the busiest bar in Crystal City. They have a handful of $1 pool tables, dart lanes and a dance floor upstairs. The heated outside seating is really nice, even late in the season. Although they charge too much for beer, and don't have any happy hour specials. The Honey Mustard sauce for their chicken fingers is great! (703) 521-8215

Galaxy Hut Clarendon Metro
This is a neat little place off of Wilson blvd. It's pretty small, but they still fit live bands in there. The place gets pretty tight when it's crowded. In general, it has some pretty interesting personalities and friendly bartenders. (703) 525-8646

Luna Park Grille Arlington
Luna Park is off on it's own on the back roads of Arlington. You can't get their by Metro, but they're really friendly, have good beer at good prices and good food. I think they have bands sometimes too. (703) 237-5862

Whitlow's always has a live band, and a lively crowd.

Iota Clarendon Metro
The few times I've been to Iota's they always seem to have an aucoustic musician playing mello songs. But I know they have bands there sometimes too. A lot of regulars hang out there. Cool bartenders. (703)522-8340

Rio Grande Ballston Metro
Rio Grande is first and formost an excellent Tex-Mex restaurant. The portions are huge! If you can finish your plate, then you're a bigger man than I. The bar is pretty cool too. Excellent Margaritas, and free chips and salsa! (703) 528-3131

Ruby Tuesday Pentagon City Metro
There really isn't anything spectacular about this place... except... No, definatly nothing spectacular.

Mr. Smiths Tyson's Corner
Mr. Smith's in Tysons has the same name and look as the one in Georgetown, but that's about where the similarity ends. The Tyson's Mr. Smith's bar is pretty quiet in comparison but they have more room and I think they have a few dart boards, and their burgers are just as good.

PK's Blacksburg, Va
Ok, so PK's isn't really in Arlington. Ok, it's not even in the DC area. Actually, it's over four hours away. But we stopped there for Happy Hour when we were on a road trip to New Orleans, and I thought it was worth mentioning it.