Goth Guide to the Washington D.C. Metro Area

Finally here is a Goth club guide to Washington DC. I hate trying to find some place to go out too on the weekend. It is even harder if you want to find an awesome Goth party or bar. You spend half the night figuring out the details of the bar or club only to arrive an hour before last call. This guide will solve that problem by mapping out all the latest Goth events and clubs in the Washington D.C. metro area. Below is a listing of all the Goth, industrial, off the beaten path freak locations in the DC metro area. If you're looking for something dark in DC then this is your guide. I cover both standing nightly locations and moving weekly to monthly venues. Happy Gothing!

Parking in DC is awful, but there is a guide to parking here. http://washingtondc.bestparking.com/index.php

I have also included suggestions below, but please note that if there is an event in town or you're just unlucky you might not find parking. Please plan ahead. Please also check metro distance because closest metro doesn't always mean it is close.

Bar/Clubs

BlackCat (18+)

Location - 1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009

Closest Metro - U Street/ African American Civil War Memorial/ Cardoza (Yellow/Green)

Doors Open - Sunday-Thursday 8pm-2am, Friday-Saturday 7pm-3am

Last Call - 1:30am Sunday-Thursday and 2:30am on Friday-Saturday

Cover Charge - Ranges from free to 20$, varies by performer. Buy tickets in advance at Ticket Alternative.

Parking - Street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods, but you'll have to search.

Currency - Cash Only

Closest ATM - Two inside

Best Place to Smoke - Out front of the club

Food - Food For Thought Cafe is open seven days a week from 8pm to 2am Sunday-Thursday and 7pm-3am Friday-Saturday. The Cafe specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, but also serves bar standards like burgers and nachos.

Other - Indie/goth check ahead to see what is going on that night. Open to all ages with parental permission, but DC has a curfew law. Weekdays @ 11pm and weekends @ 12pm. You'll have to clear out by then unless you're with your parents. Shows usually start a half an hour later than posted.

Black Cat's Red Room (21+)

Location - Same as BlackCat

Closest Metro - U Street/ African American Civil War Memorial/ Cardoza (Yellow/Green)

Doors Open - Weekday 8 pm to 2 am, weekends 7 pm to 3 am.

Last Call - 1:30 Sunday thru Thursday and 2:30 on Friday and Saturday

Cover Charge - No Cover

Parking - Street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods, but you'll have to search

Currency - Cash

Closest ATM - Two inside

Best Place to Smoke - Out front of the club

Food - Food For Thought Cafe is open seven days a week from 8pm to 2am Sunday-Thursday and 7pm-3am Friday-Saturday. The Cafe specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, but also serves bar standards like burgers and nachos.

Other - Pool table, pinball, jukebox, and Happy Hour Friday-Saturday 7 pm to 9 pm.

The Argonaut (21+)

Location - 1433 H Street, NE (or 1430 Maryland Avenue, NE)

Closest Metro - New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Station (Red)

Doors Open - Monday-Thursday 5pm - 2am
Friday 4pm - 3am
Saturday 10am-3am
Sunday 10am - 2am

Last Call - 1:30am Sunday-Thursday and 2:30am Friday-Saturday

Cover Charge - No

Parking - Limited in the surrounding area

Currency - Cash/credit

Closest ATM - Inside

Best Place to Smoke - Out front in patio area

Food - Yes with a pretty good selection, the garlic fries are amazing.

Other - They always call themselves a dive bar/restaurant with really great food. And everybody is always welcome at The Argonaut - their patrons reflect the very diverse neighborhood in which we reside. Not a "Goth Bar," but still strange enough to have a look. H Street is undergoing some heavy construction - we encourage you to take public transportation (or walk) as parking can sometimes be limited.
FREE H Street Shuttle Schedule

Palace of Wonders (21+)

Location - 1210 H St. NE Washington, DC 20002

Closest Metro - New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Station (Red)

Doors Open - Varies by date/event

Last Call - Varies by date/event

Cover Charge - Ranges from free to 10$

Parking - Street parking within a few blocks in all directions

Currency - Cash only @ door, credit card varies inside depending on event

Closest ATM - Full-screenHospitality Community Federal Credit Union (Up one block)

Best Place to Smoke - Heated Patio

Food - No, but you can bring your own.

Other -Heated patio for smokers, free wireless internet, HAPPY HOUR - Every Monday-Friday from 6:00-8:00 PM. $3.00 domestic beers & rail drinks! Vixen Variety show is amazing.

Midnight (21+)

Location - 1707 L Street NW Washington DC

Closest Metro - Farragut North (Red)

Doors Open - 9 pm to 3 am

Last Call - 2:30 am

Cover Charge - 5$

Parking - PMI Parking on 19 Street NW till 3:30 am, cost 9$

Currency - Cash, credit cards

Closest ATM - Right outside Spellbound @ Recessions (See below)

Best Place to Smoke - Outside

Food - Late night sandwich menu, plus free cake...not joking

Other - First 12 guests get in free Saturday night, 2 for 1 drinks before 10 pm. Weekly giveaways.

Nights/Moving Location

These are the Goth bars/clubs that move locations or only do weekly or monthly events. These are all subject to change so if you like the scene you had better sign up on their myspace/facebook/livejournal to keep informed. These are all locally run and operated so they don't have much publicity except for word of mouth.Spellbound @ Recessions (21+)

When - Every Saturday

Location - 1823 L Street NW, Washington DC

Closest Metro - Farragut North (Red)

Doors Open - 9pm

Last Call - 2 pm

Cover Charge - 7$

Parking - PMI Parking on 19 Street NW till 3:30 am, cost 9$

Currency - Cash, credit cards 10$ minimum

Closest ATM - One inside and outside

Best Place to Smoke - Outside, be sure to get a hand stamp to get back in

Food - Appetizers and bar food until 1 pm

Other - They have fantastic drink specials every week. Using 2 large screen TVs, they feature movies (not music videos) from classic horror, cult classic and film noir collections which are listed on their website. Two films are shown at night with subtitles when available. Unique attire encouraged, but not required.

ALTER EGO @ Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar (21+)

When - First Friday of the month

Location - 1104 H Street NE Wash DC

Closest Metro - Union Station (Red) is the closest actual stop. However, if you metro to Gallery Place (7th street) there is a free shuttle bus to H Street NE (the Atlas District) that runs 7 days a week.

Doors Open - 9pm to 3am

Last Call - 2:30am

Cover Charge - NO COVER

Parking - On the street

Currency - CASH ONLY

Closest ATM - On Site

Best Place to Smoke - Beautiful smoking garden.

Food - No

Other - Great beer list. Featuring Goth Rock, Death Rock, Horror Punk, Gothabilly, Psychobilly and Dark Lounge music.

KISS KISS BANG BANG @ Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar (21+)

When - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month

Location - 1104 H Street NE Wash DC

Closest Metro - Union Station (Red) is the closest actual stop. However, if you metro to Gallery Place (7th street) there is a free shuttle bus to H Street NE (the Atlas District) that runs 7 days a week.

Doors Open - 8pm

Last Call - 1am

Cover Charge - NO COVER

Parking - On the street

Currency - CASH ONLY

Closest ATM - On Site

Best Place to Smoke - Beautiful smoking garden.

Food - No

Other - Great beer list. Featuring New Wave, Post Punk & Dark Wave music. The best Alternative music from '79 thru '86.Dunkelheit @ Asefu Restaurant (18+)

When - First Friday of every month.

Location - 1920 9th Street, NW Washington DC

Closest Metro - U Street/ African American Civil War Memorial/ Cardoza (Yellow/Green)

Doors Open - 9 pm to 3 am

Last Call - 2:30 am

Cover Charge - $5

Parking - Street parking on T St. NW or Westminster ST NW

Currency - Cash only upstairs, credit cards downstairs and sometimes upstairs

Closest ATM - DC 9 (up a few buildings) or a CVS at the Corner of Georgia and T St.

Best Place to Smoke - Upper level smoking deck

Food - Ethiopian (Not kidding)

Other - The use of credit cards varies so please bring cash just in case. Near other local bars incase you feel like hopping.

TRONIK @ Town Danceboutique (18+)

When - Last Thursday of every month.

Location - 2009 8th and U Street NW Washington, DC

Closest Metro - U Street/ African American Civil War Memorial/ Cardoza (Yellow/Green)

Doors Open - 9 pm to 4am

Last Call - 2:45 am

Cover Charge - 5$

Parking - Parking lot left of the front door, parking is 15$

Currency - Visa or Master Card at the door, but cash only bar.

Closest ATM - Inside Club

Best Place to Smoke - Rear of the club, very long lines

Food - Yes

Other - Do not walk out front to smoke you'll have to pay to get back in. They have a coat check, but they charge $3 per item.

Wasteland @ Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club (21+)

When - Last Friday of every month

Location - 1103 Bladensburg Rd. NE Washington, DC 20001

Closest Metro - New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Station (Not very close) (Red)

Doors Open - 10pm to 3am

Last Call - 2:30 am

Cover Charge - None

Parking - Street parking in all directions

Currency - Cash only

Closest ATM - CVS at the corner of Bladensburg Rd and Neal St.

Best Place to Smoke - Outside

Food - Personal pizzas and whatever they have in the fridge, just ask.

Other - Good luck finding this one there isn't a sign just a hidden door with a gate on it. You'll get used to it once you've been a few times. Be sure to add extra time so you can find this place. Photo booth and malt liquor's, but no tap beer.