JR's Bar
Great drink specials, campy videos, and friendly bartenders keep JR's packed with fun 7 days a week. If you're looking for a casual place for a drink, JR's is the place to go, right in the heart of the primary gay hood. This is the place to play "pin the tail on the closeted Republican Hill staffers."
- 20+
- 30+
- outdoor seating
- video
- happy hour
- mixed LGBTQ+
- after work
- $$
- casual
- good for groups
- locals
- lively
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Reviews
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Center of the 17th Street Snobbery
I have lived in DC for 11 years and avoid this place. It is the best place in town if you like tired old "boies" who flit about admiring themselves in the mirror. It is loud and poorly laid out, so you have to run the gauntlet to get to the bathroom. Go to JRs if you never have been there and/or are visiting. But once will be enough.
Just what you'd expect a Gay Legend to be!
JR's is a DC Institution and deservedly so. All types hang out there. As someone said, it DOES have a lot of "post-twinks" and trust-fund babies (or those who pretend to be one), but all in all a thoroughly nice place. Four other Gay bars within 1.5 blocks and MANY restaurants, all gay friendly. Gotta go to Annie's if you plan to eat before after or before going out. Annie's is a well-beloved gay restaurant in DC, and has been for decades. THE place to see and be seen in the Dupont area.
Reality check
OKay, everyone says JR's is an "S&M" (Stand and Model) bar - as though the guys are devistatingly handsome. Trust me, I've lived here for 9 years and JR's is where the guys who are too old for Nation and too boring for Cobalt hang out. JR's is open all afternoon and in to the evening, so if you are looking for a place to pick up an alcoholic, this is the place to go. It gets WAY crowded by 11 - GOd forbid thereis ever a fire. The patron's hair spray alone would set the place ablaze in seconds. The videos are good and the crowd is friendly enough, but JR should only be one stop on the 17th street bar crawl. Be sure to hit Cobalt and Chaos just a couple blocks up.
First to Review
My favorite place in the world
The first thing you need to know about JR's is that it's tiny and crowded, and this can be a bit intimidating at first. JR's also has a reputation for preppy snobbishness, but I don't think this is fair at all; almost anyone can find some friends at JR's if they give it half a chance. Yes, there's a large contingent of beautiful post-twinks, but in reality, you will find guys of all shapes and sizes (and ages, up to about 45 anyhow) at JR's on any given night. One warning: if you take great offense at guys "accidentally" touching your butt as you push your way through the crowd, JR's may not be for you. On weekends, start out at JR's and then follow the crowd to Cobalt or Apex... and don't miss the showtunes singalong on Monday nights!