Drinking With Politicians

When SwiftCity.com sent me to Washington D.C. for a roundup on restaurants, hotels, bars and attractions, I welcomed the assignment as a chance to reacquaint myself with our nation's capital. I admired the White House and the Washington Monument, toured the museums on the National Mall and visited all (okay some) of the memorials. I wandered through the city's distinct neighborhoods and ate my way through each of them. And of course, I had to have a drink - or five - in the name of research. Here are some of the bars and clubs I stumbled upon, starting with my favorite. Visit SwiftCity.com for the full city guide.

HR-57

1610 14th Street NW, U Street

202 667 3700

Whether you're a jazz fan or not, this club screams cool. HR-57 doubles as a jazz club and the "Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues". It's named for a House Resolution passed by congress in 1987 that designated jazz a "rare and valuable national American treasure." Catch a performance here and you'll see why. Food is served, but there is no menu; $6 buys you a plate of collard greens, red beans, rice and fried chicken. Beer and wine are available, but most people bring their own bottle for a $3 corkage fee. Evening shows are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8pm to 12pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm to 1am. The average cover charge is $8 to $15. We think it's a bargain, but don't tell them that.

Stetson's Famous Bar & Grill
1610 U Street NW, Adams Morgan

202 667 6295

Warning: you may feel displaced upon setting foot in this U-Street bar. There is country music in the jukebox, longhorns on the wall and Shiner beer - from you guessed it, Texas - on tap. If it weren't for the occasional politician sighting, you'd hardly know you were in the nation's capital. Once a famous speak-easy, Stetson's now functions as half bar, half game room. Upstairs there's a pool table, Foosball table and dart board, but we like to play Ms. Pac Man downstairs. The menu lists typical bar food with a Tex-Mex twist, a la Fish Tacos. Stetson's is big on sports, so there's likely to be a game of some sort on. Weekends are most crowded, but it's hard to resist 25-cent wings on Wednesday.

Chi-Cha Lounge
1624 U Street NW, U Street

202 234 8400

Just about everything at the Chi-Cha Lounge is Latin, from the drink the bar is named after, the chicha (made from fermented corn), to the "Nuevo Latino" tapas served nightly from 5.30pm. The owner based the design Chi-Cha on his grandparents' Ecuadorian hacienda, filling it with plush red couches and candlelight. There is one exception to this theme - the Middle Eastern hookah pipes that serve as centerpieces on Chi-Cha's tables. Attractive patrons come to this relaxing spot to toke on flavored tobacco (there are a dozen varieties), listen to live Latin music and sip on moderately priced cocktails.

Madam's Organ
2461 18th Street NW, Adams Morgan

202 667 5370

Talk to the regulars at this 18th Street hangout and they get nostalgic. Madam's Organ reminds them of what the neighborhood once was, "before it got too trendy." The three-level jazz/blues bar and soul food restaurant offers live music seven nights a week and a low-maintenance atmosphere (it's hard to feel pretentious when there are bison heads and bicycles hanging on the walls). Madam's has daily food specials and two-for-one drinks Monday through Wednesday. Shows start at 10pm, so get there early to avoid a cover. Can't find the place? Look up for the huge mural of a very well-endowed madam.

Capitol Lounge
229 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Capitol Hill

202 547 2098

After being damaged in a fire, Capitol Lounge reopened in January 2006, much to the delight of the Capitol Hill staffers and sports fans that frequent the bar. This place is a political shrine - you'll find Richard Nixon and George Bush on the walls and a red, white and blue outdoor patio overlooked by George Washington. Like many "Hill" haunts it has a grungy feel to it, with rough-around-the-edges waitresses serving $3 bottles of Bud Light. It's the cheap drinks that keep those interns coming back. The kitchen dishes out burgers, pizzas and appetisers, with brunch available on Sundays.

Eighteenth Street Lounge
1212 18th Street NW, Dupont Circle

202 466 3922

Walk up the stairs into Eighteenth Street Lounge and you'll think you've entered a house party - which technically, you have. The venue is an old residence that was once home to Teddy Roosevelt. It's been transformed into a stylish club, with multiple rooms, beautiful young professionals and a DJ spinning acid jazz, hip-hop and electronica. ESL, as it's known to locals, was recently owned by music group Thievery Corporation. You could pay up to a $20 cover, depending on the night. But first you have to get past the bouncer, who's known to turn away those who don't blend with the fashionable surroundings.