United States Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Guide Things To Do Essentials Restaurants Nightlife Where to Stay Neighborhoods Events Getaways All Washington, D.C. Top 7 U Street Nightclubs and Bars: Washington, DC Enjoy Great Live Music Along DC's U Street Corridor Written by Rachel Cooper Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rachel Cooper is a travel writer who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 25 years. She is also the author of several books covering the capital and mid-Atlantic regions. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines Rachel Cooper Updated 07/08/19 Share Pin Email NCinDC/Creative Commons U Street ranks among Washington, DC’s nightlife hot spots and is home to some of the city’s best nightclubs and theaters. Known as the home to jazz legend Duke Ellington, the U Street neighborhood was once the nation’s "Black Broadway" and home to the largest concentration of African American social clubs, religious organizations, theaters, and jazz clubs. In the 1990s, the opening of the U Street Metro station provided better access to the area and the neighborhood has experienced an ongoing revitalization. Here’s an alphabetical guide to the nightclubs along the U Street Corridor. 01 of 07 Howard Theatre Howard Theatre View Map Address 620 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001-5117, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-803-2899 Web Visit website The historic theater that launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, and The Supremes, re-opened in April 2012 after a $29 million renovation. The remodeled theater features a state-of-the-art acoustic system and offers a wide range of live entertainment. 02 of 07 Cafe Saint-Ex Cafe Saint EX View Map Address 1847 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-265-7839 Web Visit website The downstairs area, Gate 54, is described as an art deco inspired hangar-lounge featuring a wide range of DJ music from classic jazz to British-pop, to 70s soul-funk. 03 of 07 JoJo Restaurant and Bar View Map Address 1518 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-319-9350 Web Visit website This small club features live jazz on the weekends and American cuisine in a cozy setting. 04 of 07 Lincoln Theatre USDAgov/Wikimedia Commons View Map Address 1215 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009-4442, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-888-0050 Web Visit website The historic theater opened in 1922 as a movie theater and ballroom catering to DC's Black middle-class community who danced and were entertained by legends such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. The theatre closed after the 1968 race-related riots. In 1994, the Lincoln Theatre was refurbished and its reopening led the way to the revival of DC's U Street Corridor. Continue to 5 of 7 below. 05 of 07 Twins Jazz Twins Jazz View Map Address 1344 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009-7559, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-234-0072 Web Visit website Twins Jazz features live jazz and American, Ethiopian and Caribbean cuisine. Live music on select days of the week and throughout the weekend. 06 of 07 Velvet Lounge View Map Address 915 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001-4019, USA Get directions Phone +1 202-462-3213 This small Washington, DC bar in the U Street neighborhood features a variety of live music ranging from punk rock to alternative-folk. See also, A Guide to U Street Restaurants and Dining and 6 Things to Do in the U Street Corridor 07 of 07 U Street Music Hall View Map Opened in 2010, the live music and dance club is a nice addition to the U Street entertainment district. The nightclub features a state-of-the-art sound systems, a 1200 square foot dance floor, and two fully stocked bars. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit