I’ve been exploring this whole happy hour concept a lot lately so I figured I should start reviewing some of the places I’ve been to. And if anybody wants to join me some time for some investigative happy hour journalism, please let me know. For you D.C-residing, anti-Arlington ultra-urbanites out there, I apologize if I’m offending your sensibilities by starting out with the Clarendon scene, but truth be told, I’m afraid of driving into D.C. But maybe when I get braver I will start exploring D.C bars as well.
First of all, let me start by saying that happy hour truly is the happiest hour. While a normal cocktail may cost you $12 at any given D.C/Arlington bar, a happy hour cocktail is only like $4 or $5! This whole concept is new to me. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I left the U.S when I was 22 and didn’t move back permanently until I was 27, so I wasn’t happy-houring much. And in Colombia there are only two kinds of bars: The kind that plays vallenato, ranchera or 80s rock where the only respectable thing to order is a $1 beer and the Zona T/Usaquen/Zona G bars that make “American” style cocktails but also charge American-style prices. And as far as I know, there’s not much in the way of happy hour deals, at least in Bogotá.
But anyway, back to America. I would describe the Arlington bar/club scene as a place where former frat guys, sorority girls and current yuppies come together for good times. People are fit, good-looking, young (mostly under 32, I’d say) relatively well-educated and appear to work mostly in the contracting and financial sector. If you are a tortured artists or hardcore creative type, you may not be happy here. But if you’re just looking for a place to enjoy a few drinks with friends, it’s as good as anywhere else. Last Friday I met my friends Cecile (coolest married person I know) and H.J at Fuego. I liked this place because the bar is huge and spacious and the restaurant is open and airy. It makes me feel like I’m at a fancy beach bar in Cartagena or something. It just has a happy vibe to it. You get free salsa and chips with your drink and you can’t go wrong with their (strong) margaritas ($5). I had the frozen lime margarita and it was pretty good. And I hate tequila. If you don’t like sweet drinks there are wine and beer options too. We didn’t order food here, but I believe you can order two tacos for $7, which isn’t too bad.
Waiting for macaroni wedges at Hard Times Cafe.
However, I have to admit that I feel a little more at home at Cava because I’ve been there more often and really like their appetizers. They have decent drink deals ($4-$5, pretty large glasses of wine), plus great happy hour appetizer deals…crazy feta with pita, $3 (and so delicious) and fries with yogurt sauce for $3 (also delicious) among others. You can see a full happy hour menu here. Cava feels a little dark and cramped and the bar is pretty small, but there is a large outdoor patio as well as more spacious indoor seating if you are planning to order non-happy hour food.
I think we were all feeling pretty happy at this point and we should have stopped there. I mean, we’d already had French fries, lots of crazy feta and a couple of drinks. But we didn’t. Instead, we decided it would be a brilliant idea to head over to Hard Times Cafe and order macaroni wedges (macaroni and cheese, breaded and fried – it’s as delicious as it sounds) and fully loaded nachos. All in all, a great night, though it’s probably a good thing we went hiking the next day.
If anyone has any Arlington/D.C happy hour suggestions, please let me know!
Categories: Arlington Nightlife, Reviews, The Urban Anthropologist Files, Trying New Things
My (Former) Nomad Life 
buena bebida, buena comida, buenos amigos,
qué más se puede pedir?
… hasta me dieron ganas de visitar “Cava”!
Jaja. Con $20 comes y tomas!
20 dollars? Con ese dinero generalmente sólo tomo! jajaja
Creo que empiezo a alistar mis maletas…
Driving into DC. HA. Testimonial 🙂
I think you’d love Dupont/Chinatown (very vibrant young scene).
Some suggestions:
Vapiano (either in Chinatown or at Farragut North/Dupont) – they swipe cards for each person, so people can get food and drinks on their own little card and no need to worry about splitting tabs or any confusion. Tables are big and the set up is good.
– Zengo – great happy hour tapas and drink selection.
– Laughing Man
– Redline & Iron Horse
Thanks for the suggestion Sharon. Perhaps you can try them out with me? I promise to take a picture of where I park my car. So if you are too old for happy hour does that mean I am too? And I was just starting to have fun…
You’re welcome. I’d be honored to be your happy hour partner in crime. In terms of age – the bar scene changes over time. In my early 20s we did super cheap dive bars. The college scene turned into the after work entry-job regular bars. Now in my late 20s/early 30s it has become more dinner AND drinks at fancier places (rooftop decks, less beer and wine, more cocktails). Different locations, same scene 🙂
your car ❤ how about a bus or metro? 🙂
Haha, yeah, I think I’m better off taking the metro. I hope I’m going to the right places…I don’t want to be the old grandma in the bar and everyone is staring…
You have to venture out to DC! There are great places to explore – I love Churchkey and Sticky rice. But there is a plethora of bars that even you “old lady” will be accepted at (totally kidding!). Barcode is fun and they have dancing!
Thanks Rashers. Maybe we can check some of these places out during the summer! I still have two years right?
I agree with Rasha! Churchkey is supposed to be really nice. I would so swank and dive with you 🙂 Let me know when you ladies want to do this!
I’m free for this every Friday! I’m a little lazy to drive into the city during the week…
Fridays it is!