Hospitality Industry: DC Where to smoke outside

DC moves to ban smoking outdoors; Where there’s secondhand smoke, there’s junk science
August 10, 2013
by Steve Milloy
Annoying to many — but not a health risk to any — secondhand smoke is archetypal junk science.
The Washington Post editorializes:
THE DISTRICT is poised to join the growing number of jurisdictions that have banned smoking near parks, recreation centers, public trails and bus stops. Anything that discourages smoking and protects people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke is worthwhile. But the city needs to do more than extend outdoor smoking restrictions if it wants a truly effective and comprehensive tobacco prevention program…
The danger of secondhand smoke is lower outside than inside, but there are still risks, with children particularly susceptible. “Let the smokers move away from recreation areas and parks and bus stops,” said Council Member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) in a rebuke of the argument that people who want to avoid secondhand smoke should just walk away.
For the low-down on secondhand smoke, checkout Steve Milloy’s FoxNews.com column, “Secondhand Smokescreen.”

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MANDATORY SMOKING BAN CONTINUES TO GENERATE NOISE COMPLAINTS AGAINST D.C. NIGHTLIFE VENUES

“Have you been following the effects of the smoking ban? in D.C.? At the bar I most frequent . . . the neighbors? are up in arms because . . . the smokers have been? forced outside, where . . . they might want to talk to? each other. They’ve made all kinds of threats to the? bar, when they should be complaining to the city that? instituted this ridiculous measure. . . . “

?* NOTE: LISTINGS ARE NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL VENUES OFFERING ON-PREMISE OUTDOOR SMOKING AREAS
??? and listings have been excerpted to include only establishments located in the District of Columbia

ARTS & LIVING: BARS AND CLUBS
Where to Sip Outside
By Fritz Hahn
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Monday, May 14, 2007

When the sun is out, there’s no excuse to spend happy hour or a glorious weekend afternoon inside a stuffy, dimly lit pub. To help inspire, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite outdoor destinations. It’s certainly not comprehensive, but it’s a good place to start. I’ve broken it into four categories: Bars that are primarily outdoor destinations; Bars with sidewalk cafes; Bars with off-street patios (less noise, fewer diesel fumes); and Bars with rooftop decks.

* OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS *

Cantina Marina
600 Water St. SW, Washington, DC 20024
202-554-8396

Perched over the Washington Channel on the Southwest Waterfront, Cantina Marina is a laidback dockside bar with good views of the harbor and Haines Point. Friday and Saturday nights bring singers with acoustic guitars. Drinks can be a little pricey — $5 for a can of Modelo Especial, $7 for a house margarita — but the vibe is fun, especially on Wednesdays, when Coronas are discounted from open ’til close.

The Deck
2505 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
202-337-7737

As simple as its name suggests, the Deck is a large wooden patio in Glover Park with a bar, lots of tables and a little bit of shade. Happy hours run all afternoon on weekends, making it a casual place to kick back with friends.

Panda Cafe
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-673-4800

An enormous patio with numerous tables and a mix of sun and shade, the National Zoo’s Panda Cafe serves up domestic and imported beers for $4.50 or less, along with a perfect overhead view of popular cub Tai Shan and his parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Panda Cafe can be crowded with panda-loving kids and stroller-driving parents, and it closes at 5 p.m., but this is one of the most unusual drinking spots in the city — perfect for a weekend afternoon get-together.

* SIDEWALK CAFES AND ON-STREET PATIOS *

Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20001
202-543-7656

The main attraction at this Capitol Hill restaurant’s leafy, umbrella-filled patio is a good selection of German beers on draft, served in proper glassware. The food is a little pricey, but service is relaxed.

Elephant and Castle
1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
202-347-7707

There aren’t many places in the heart of downtown with outdoor seating, which makes this English-style pub’s gated patio a welcome retreat — almost as much as finding Fullers’ London Pride and ESB beers on draft. Note for tourists and tour guides: It’s just a block from Metro Center or Federal Triangle stations.

Fox & Hounds
1537 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-232-6307

The most popular spot for people-watching in Dupont Circle, it often seems like every seat on the patio has been taken before happy hour really begins. If you can snag one, though, you can watch the ebb and flow on 17th Street while enjoying cheap drinks and the wonderfully divey atmosphere.

Soussi
2228 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-299-9314

Just far enough down from 18th Street’s main drag to dodge the hordes that descend on Adams Morgan every weekend, Soussi’s covered porch is one of the largest in the neighborhood. Good thing, because the number of people smoking hookahs outside has increased exponentially since the smoking ban went into effect. Don’t overlook the fine selection of draft Belgian beers.

U nion Pub
201 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002
202-546-7200

Covered by an awning and cooled by fans, the former Red River Grill’s patio is a comfortable sidewalk cafe with lots of seats and some televisions for watching Red Sox games al fresco. (U nion Pub is an “official” Red Sox bar, but it’s also crowded before and after Nationals games.) Space is at a premium at happy hour, when Hill staff and interns clamor for daily specials like $1.50 Bud and Miller Lite bottles (Wednesday) and $14 pitchers of frozen margaritas (Thursday). Dogs are welcome to visit on weekends.

The Wonderland Ballroom
1101 Kenyon St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-232-5263

The “beer garden” is merely few rows of picnic tables and some standing room, but it can be just as packed as the upstairs dance floor on weekends.
Off-Street Patios

* OFF-STREET PATIOS *

Bourbon (Adams Morgan)
2321 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-332-0800

High walls separate the back patio from the surrounding houses and alleys, so you thankfully miss all the noise from 18th Street. The space itself is just tables, chairs and a short counter for standing room (generally occupied by smokers), but it’s a welcome respite.

Eighteenth Street Lounge
1212 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036
202-466-3922

Once you’ve made it past the Eighteenth Street Lounge’s doorman, you can choose to hang out on a couch with a martini, dance to a DJ’s funky mix (anything from breakbeats to Latin to vintage boogaloo and acid jazz) or listen to the house jazz band. It’s better to rotate between all three, though, and make sure to take breaks on the wooden back patio, where people seem to be more chatty than at the bar or in the Gold Room.

H2O
800 Water St. SW, Washington, DC 20024
202-484-6300

H2O’s expansive outdoor area is the place to catch your breath after some hot-and-heavy dancing inside the Waterfront nightclub, but it’s worth arriving early on Friday and Saturday nights. Cooks from the restaurant grill hot dogs, burgers and wings on the patio from 9 to 11, and there’s no cover for the grub. Paired with the open bar (also 9 to 11), it’s a budget-friendly way to start the night.

Poste
555 Eighth St., Washington, DC 20001
202-783-6060

It’s hard to beat Poste’s outdoor setting: Located in the courtyard of the historic Old General Post Office, the Hotel Monaco has turned the vast, secluded square into what they term “an outdoor lounge,” with cabana-style benches, all-weather couches and chairs, even Persian rugs. This summer, a new satellite bar should speed cocktail service, and the happy hour ($4 beers and wines from 4 to 7) will lure after-work crowds.

Stetson’s Famous Bar and Grill
1610 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-667-6295

The back patio at Stetson’s is one of those Washington secrets that regulars don’t always share with newcomers. It’s not fancy — more of a slab of pavement than a well-appointed destination — but when you need to get away from the happy hour crush at the bar, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Temperance Hall
3634 Georgia Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20010
202-722-7669

No matter how you feel about the smoking ban, it’s doing good things for smokers and non-smokers alike. At Temperance Hall in Petworth, the potential inconvenience to customers kickstarted a plan to build a back patio with tables and chairs so that patrons could have a cigarette along with their drinks, but those who don’t smoke also benefit.

* ROOFTOP DECKS *

Cleveland Park Bar and Grill
3421 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
202-806-8940

When the weather is lovely and you want to watch baseball, soccer or golf, this tented roof deck should be your first choice. The bar has an okay selection of draft beers to go with multiple flat-screen televisions, and the kitchen’s brick-oven pizzas are crowd-pleasers. One caveat: Service can drop off when all the seats are full.

Five
1214-B 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036
202-331-7123

If you want to dance outdoors, Five is your spot. The Caribbean-themed roof deck has its own DJ, usually spinning something that contrasts with the featured acts on the main floor, and room to groove. (Fans of reggae, hip-hop and breaks should check the schedules on www.fivedc.com.) There are also seats along the walls if you need to take a break, and a thatched bar area with frozen drinks and Red Stripe. On Tuesdays, the deck is open for a party with half-price drinks.

Local 16
1604 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-265-2828, 202-483-8500

Local’s attractive second-story patio is the place to see and be seen outdoors on U Street. It’s separated into bar and restaurant areas, and while the latter is more spacious, tables are usually reserved for diners. Still, if you’re more interested in a stylish crowd than dirt-cheap drinks, this is the place to go.

Madam’s Organ
2461 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-667-5370

One of the few spots with two different outdoor areas, Madam’s Organ has a small balcony overlooking 18th Street on its second floor, and a much larger tented tiki bar on its third. Even when it’s warm out, the rooftop bar rarely seems as crowded as the club’s main dance floor.

On the Rox/Roxanne
2319 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-265-6665

Imagine a rowhouse with the roof lifted straight off. That’s On the Rox, the top floor of Roxanne, which has four walls, a couple of holes for windows and a bar, but nothing overhead. There’s a lively singles scene amongst the just-out-of-college crowd, and if rain threatens, you can head through a door into the neighboring (and fully covered) Brass Monkey.

The Reef
2446 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-518-3800

The biggest change at the Reef for 2007 is that the rooftop is now tented, making it an all-weather bar and dining area. (Last summer, the deck was emptied during anything other than a strong drizzle.) Adams Morgan’s biggest rooftop is still slammed on weekends, and bouncers enforce a “one up, one down” policy when the roof reaches capacity, so don’t be surprised if you can’t get up right away. With prime views of 18th Street, great draft beers, solid bartenders and planters full of flowering plants adding color, it’s certainly worth the wait.

Tabaq Bistro
1336 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-265-0965

No matter the weather, U Street restaurant offers a great view of the city, thanks to a retractable glass roof. It’s a bit of work to get there — climb three flights of steep stairs — and the bar can seem crowded to the breaking point, but it’s a great place to start your night. DJs sometimes take over later, so beware of cover charges.

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