Cities that have a thriving gay nightlife always have one bar which is THE BAR. It is the bar where new hook-ups happen and it is the bar where old friends gather together for happy hour drinks, gossip and good times. It is the bar where regulars gravitate to the best spots for getting drinks from flirty bartenders who know them by face, if not by name and it is the bar where travelers are told to go to get started with a night out on the town. JR's is that bar. This Washington D.C. hot spot is a good-for-getting-out kind of place which is located right in the heart of the gay nightlife, making it terrific for bar-hoppers and club-goers as well as for those who just want to get a drink before heading back to their hotels.
JR's draws in a mixed crowd of people, although the clientele is primarily men from their twenties to their forties who are just leaving the office and ready to loosen their ties and get tied up in conversation. For the less chatty types, this video bar features not only televisions to keep conversation to a minimum but also a large projection screen which drops from the ceiling, giving you something to pretend to be watching as you scope out the scene around you.
Because JR's is the place to go, it often gets crowded, especially during happy hour when the drink specials make it worthwhile to wait in line. If you want to get served in a snap, try to get yourself some real estate right up against the bar. This will also give you a perfect view of the bartenders, a set of beautiful boys who know that smiling and flirtation are keys to be used to turn the lock on your wallet. Weekdays at this gay bar all have themes - including Monday night showtunes, weekends always have fun, and on Sundays, you can't go wrong with $2 Skyy Highballs served all day long.
Always a fun happy hour here. Thursdays tend to be best. Was here on a recent Tuesday and that wasn't so bad either. Friendly bartenders - a new hot latin one provides plenty of eye candy. By: Steve73 on January 14, 2011
Comfortable Bar -
JR's has been around so long - it just feels comfortable - like home. Is it an amazing bar with outrageous events, DJs, etc? I wouldn't go that far - it's just a typical neighborhood bar - and I think the location and bartenders make it what it is: almost always busy -and a great place to catch up with friends - it's comfortable. After you go here a few times - it starts to feel like home (provided your with friends - or meet some there). By: Rick on October 16, 2008
Dupont Staple - THE Cheers of Dupont
I hear JRs used to have the reputation of being a stuffy bar with lots of attitude. Not sure if that's true from years back - but it's certainly a great bar now. Sure - there are a few regulars who are a little annoying - but overall it's a great place to meet with friends and catch up over drinks. It tends to get crowded some nights - so much so that walking to the bathroom is a chore... but - how much fun would it be if the place was empty. This is a bar - not a club - so no dancing - even though the retro videos (they even play 80s rock one night of the week) might tempt you. The crowd is fun - tends to be upper 20s and up - not many kids here... easy to meet people and chat others - far from "the attitude" I've heard about in the past. Great drink specials and friendly bartenders too. Other bars are going after the same crowd - and they have their perks - but JRs is a staple - it's kind of like the Cheers of Dupont Circle. By: Matt on February 16, 2008
