Museums, restaurants, monuments — Washington, D.C., has them all, and millions of tourists flock to the city each year to take advantage of the sights. But what do locals know that tourists may not? That the D.C. concert scene is one of the hottest on the East Coast … and possibly the most criminally underrated.
Just about every musical act, big and small, underground or mainstream, makes a stop here; it’s the nation’s capital, after all. And the sheer diversity of venues means there’s literally something for everyone.
With so many fabulous places to see music in D.C., you may want to make a pilgrimage just for music alone. Here are just six can’t-miss places to get you started. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
9:30 Club
Named the best venue in the nation by Rolling Stone, the 9:30 Club is everything you want a club to be — not too big, super cool, and acoustically phenomenal. Who’s played the 9:30? REM, Beastie Boys, Adele … seriously, it would be easier to list who hasn’t. Bill Clinton even hosted his staffers here.
Bands love to play the 9:30, and that means you’ll see acts that can instantly sell out much larger arenas. The club celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2016 with a secret Foo Fighters show (it was awesome). Want in on the cool? All you need are tickets.
Pro tip: Go up the staircase in the lobby and take a right at the top for some truly great (boozy or not) coffee drinks.
Blues Alley
Tucked away on a side street in Georgetown you’ll find Blues Alley, the oldest continuing jazz supper club in the country. The brick-walled interior harkens back to the Jazz Era. This is how jazz is meant to be experienced — in an small, cozy setting where you can really listen to the music.
Blues Alley is so quintessential that musicians like Winton Marsalis and Dizzy Gillespie have recorded “Live at Blues Alley” albums. So sit back, enjoy the menu of Creole-style cuisine, and lose yourself in the groove.
Pro tip: There’s no official dress code, but D.C. jazz aficionados tend to dress to impress.
Black Cat
Located in one of D.C.’s coolest neighborhoods, this is the kind of “hole-in-the-wall” club you might see in a movie. The Black Cat, in the U Street Corridor neighborhood, was started by music investors in the early 90s (including D.C.-area local Dave Grohl).
It showcases indie rock, punk, metal, alternative, and more. Check out the 700-person-capacity Mainstage upstairs, a big square room with a checkerboard floor and great sightlines, sound, and a bar that runs almost the length of the room.
There’s even a place to sit down in the back, in case you feel the need to kick back for a few (you won’t).
Pro tip: Get there early on weekends and head to the Red Room Bar before the show for old-school fun like pinball and darts.
The Hamilton
Upstairs at The Hamilton is a massive restaurant and bar in a glamorous, city-block-long building. The interior is lush, with extremely high ceilings, marble, and stately woodwork. Downstairs is a beautiful, state-of-the-art music venue that feels like a big-but-intimate nightclub of the past.
Behind the dance floor, which wraps around the stage, you can sit back and enjoy full table service of delicious food (like sushi and gourmet pizza), drinks, and a great beer selection.
Pro tip: Tables are often reserved, so get your ticket early if you want to be sure you can sit. If not, no worries; take a seat at the main bar or watch the show from “the Loft.”
The Howard Theatre
On the National Register of Historic Places, The Howard Theatre opened in 1910 and became an institution for African American performers: Think Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Sara Vaughan, and James Brown. BB King’s guitar, Lucille, has even been displayed in the lobby.
The theater fell into disrepair after the 1969 riots and closed in 1970. It reopened in 2012 after a $30 million renovation, and this stunning theater is once again filled with music.
Pro tip: Locals know the restaurant scene in the Shaw neighborhood (home of Howard University) is one of the best in the District. Try Unconventional Diner for some truly luxe twists on diner classics.
The Anthem
Last, but far from the least, on our list is The Anthem, which may just be one of the best music venues you’ve ever experienced. The group behind 9:30 club asked themselves, “If a music venue were perfect, what would it look like?” The answer: a huge, comfortable room with exquisite sound, fabulous sight lines all the way to the top, plenty of bars and restrooms, and a soaring lobby with balcony access and a view into a glass-bottom pool on the roof. Even better, its waterfront location is filled with restaurants, bars, and even a giant fire pit.
Pro tip: The venue is cashless — bring a card.
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