*According to Dan Silverman, 29 year continuous citizen of the District of Columbia based on a VARIETY of reasons to include but not limited to hundreds of beers quaffed over the years, my whims and addled memories. But TRUST.
21. Chevy Chase Lounge (at the Parthenon 5512 Connecticut Ave, NW) – Have you been here? A dive bar in the most sterile way…
20. The Blaguard (2003 18th Street, NW) – I’ll always think of Common Share but the Blaguard is a very worthy successor.
19. Wonderland (1101 Kenyon Street, NW) and cousin 18. Dew Drop Inn (2801 8th Street, NE) – Didn’t want to forget them so typed them as soon as I could. They really need their own categories but they’d top my lists however you define them.
17. Snappy’s (3917 Georgia Ave, NW) Very good but too new for a super high ranking. Much potential for a higher ranking in future years.
16. Lyman’s (3720 14th Street, NW) – Pinball, the food, the people – nearly perfect. So why put them at 16th? Well, “The number 16 symbolizes a powerful combination of transformation, independence, and the attainment of higher knowledge, often signaling a need for personal willpower and the dismantling of old structures to move forward”, naturally.
15. Jimmy Valentine’s (1103 Bladensburg Road, NE) – Very fuzzy memories. My youth!
14. Stan’s (1029 Vermont Ave, NW) – That downstairs walk, oh my…
13. Looking Glass Lounge (3634 Georgia Ave, NW) – My people!
12. Tune Inn (331 Pennsylvania Ave, SE) – Legends. What more can you say?
11. Jackie Lee’s (116 Kennedy Street, NW) – FAR but so fun.
10. Trusty’s (1420 Pennsylvania Ave, SE) – Also FAR but legit.
9. Raven (3125 Mt Pleasant Street, NW) The Raven scares me as all proper dive bars should.
8. Showtime (113 Rhode Island Ave, NW) and cousin 7. Neptune Room (5405 Georgia Ave, NW) – I almost forgot them so that’s how they ended up here. Good people.
6. Ivy and Coney (1537 7th Street, NW) – Their fancy roof deck almost disqualifies them. But hot dogs and I won’t mention that vile liquor… Also some of the best sense of humor in town.
5. Red Derby (3718 14th Street, NW) – Perhaps the nicest proprietors and staff (over the years) of all time. There is something to a surly bartender at a dive but there is also something to genuine good nature and kindness.
4. Solly’s (1942 11th Street, NW) – C’mon now – I was once sitting at the bar when a guy ran in followed by police and not one person at the bar blinked. OK that’s a story for another time…
3. Nanny O’Briens (3319 Connecticut Ave, NW) – My wings, my people!
2. The Pug (1234 H Street, NE) – Oh dear, trust. I went to the Pug the other night after a Nats game and 5 minutes after I sat down a friend walked in who I hadn’t seen for years and we got talking like it was just yesterday and well that’s the sign of a very good dive bar. Also cheeze balls. Also the air conditioning was broken. Also the bathroom…
1. Dan’s Cafe (2315 18th Street, NW) obviously.
Honorable mention to Angles (RIP) my forever first choice whenever I had the chance back in the day. One day I’ll do a list of dearly departed best dive bars.
So it is written, so it is so.
-P.o.P.