JR.'s Bar & Grill

JR.'s Bar & Grill has been the anchor of Dupont Circle's 17th Street gay scene since 1986. The format — a video bar with multiple screens, reliable happy hour pricing, and a convivial atmosphere that works for after-work drinks as well as late-night socialising — has produced a consistent clientele of DC regulars over nearly 40 years. JR.'s is the gay bar of Washington DC's political class: staffers, lobbyists, nonprofit workers, journalists, and the full range of people who come to the capital to work on policy and politics. The conversations at JR.'s are often as interesting as the drinks. Happy hour on weekday evenings is a genuine institution — the bar fills with people who work within walking distance and who have been coming to JR.'s for years. The video screens run music videos and occasional themed nights. The bar is two floors: the ground-floor bar is the social hub; the upstairs is slightly quieter. During Capital Pride in June, JR.'s becomes the first stop for most visitors arriving to Dupont Circle. The 17th Street location is within walking distance of the full cluster of DC gay bars, making it the natural starting point for any evening on the corridor.