Remingtons

warning: remington’s is no longer a country western bar. i’m not sure what it is, except it certainly looked like a sad place to have a drink.

If I can give Remingtons negative stars I would! WARNING: Recent reviews are correct, GONE GONE GONE is the Remington’s of the past. This is NOT a gay country bar anymore. It’s a supposedly gay bar turned whatever having an identity crisis. I wish for Remington’s to go to rehab ASAP. The last time I was here was around 2006 – 2007 before moving out of DC and moving back, I expected to enter and see the cowboys dancing on the first floor but nope… there was a bouncer and the music was just blah beats with the first floor closed for some private event that was at that time only 3 – 5 people? We got pushed to the upstairs where I remember it as the karoake lounge with pool tables and sadly the upstairs is the last vestiges of old Remington’s that has stayed intact… BUT it’s in such disrepair and the STENCH of old carpet and mold up in there made me feel like I was about to get Legionella. Remington’s is drying a cruel slow death and is fading away from the gay bar scene. It’s also sad cause this is quite frankly the only gay bar in this part of the neighborhood and it was sometimes a nice escape from Dupont/​Logan/​U. Even Fireplace down on the West End is still surviving so I don’t really know what’s going on with Remington’s.
So there you have it… be forewarned! Looks like there’s not much to do anymore in the Eastern Market and will stick with my NW ‘hood.

I love Remington’s! It’s the type of bar where you can come as you are. Drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is so fun. Friendly staff, awesome karaōke, and great cocktails every time! The only thing that is disappointing is the up keep of the bar. Last time I was there the roof was leaking, and I’m worried that the half wall near the staircase is close to collapsing! But other than some repairs needed, this place is awesome!

I’ve never had a bad time in Remington’s. True, it’s dark and a bit sketchy-​looking upon the first impression, but the staff here is very nice and welcoming, and drinks are very reasonably priced. Karaōke nights are especially fun, with the added bonus that most of the patrons who get up and sing actually sound pretty good. The crowd here is extremely diverse, yet fun and interesting; makes for some good people watching! Definitely stop by for an after dinner drink on a weekend night.

Was dragged here for a Halloween weekend outing not long ago, and the Remingtons I knew from years ago was long gone. I was never one for a country music bar anyway, but this establishment has fallen on very hard times. For starters, the posted daily schedule indicates a schizophrenic club with no true identity. The music was mediocre, the bar needed some serious cleaning, the drinks were as pleasant as drinking dishwater, and the general atmosphere was, shall we say, both lifeless and lacking in polish.
Bottom line: On a party-​centric holiday like Halloween, I actually wished I had stayed home. Guys, an extreme makeover and an intervention is needed. STAT!

out to dinner on a thursday night with my boyfriend, as we are finishing up:
him: it’s still early
me: yeah, you want to go get a drink?
him: let’s go see some strippers!
me: okay!
him: you know i mean boys, right?
me: of course
him: you know i mean GAY boys, RIGHT?
me: OF COURSE
him: that’s why i love you
me: i love you too
*smooch*
yeah…the love of my life happens to be a gay man. it works, though. so, after dinner we merrily head over to remington’s hand-​in-​hand. i’ve no idea about this place, even though i’ve passed it a million times. i didn’t know if it was a restaurant, a bar, a store, or something else. at the door BF tells me that it’s a gay, mostly white, western/​country/​cowboy dive bar complete with line dancing and sometimes even karaōke. WHAT! now i’m looking at him sideways and he’s tugging at my arm laughing and saying, «but it’s different on thursday nights! come ON! you’ll see.» after a nice exchange with the very friendly doorman, we are inside and it is very dark.
while my eyes adjust to the super dim lighting i follow the mic’d voice of the DJ bellowing from the back and there on a makeshift very low (i’m talking 1 or 2 stair steps height up from the floor) is an incredibly fit, nearly naked man GIVING LIFE to a prince song. he was GORGEOUS and moved his body very, very well. i’m not just talking magic mike here, i’m talking cirque du freaking soleil! i think i may have drooled a little bit. BF tugged on my arm again. this time, not b/​c i was protesting, but b/​c i was transfixed.
we grabbed drinks at the bar (super cheap), then seats right in front of the stage. by now i’m taking it all in and wondering how on earth this is a white/​country western/​cowboy spot? i mean, 80+% of the patrons were black men w/​thuggish dress [complete with cornrows and such], 5% were straight women, and the other 10−15% were a mixed bag. the music was all R&B, soul, and hip hop. not a cowboy in sight nor a single country song heard. as if to read my mind, BF just smiles at me and says, «told ya it’s different on thursdays.» i nod and keep sipping and watching. we saw a couple more performers and they were good. then, the star came out. ANACONDA. gracious, this man was a sight to behold. i’m sure he must get women and men falling out over him all the time. and it is NO GUESS how he got his name. i’ll keep it clean and leave it at that.
as other reviewers have said, it’s a friendly place. we didn’t go upstairs, but the main floor was a good mix of people milling about and sitting at the tables/​bars (there are 2 bars). there were performers working the floor too, not just the stage, so be prepared to possibly get some up close and personal views even if you don’t have a seat at the front. the bouncers, the bartenders, the performers, etc — they were all equally friendly [and often, flirty] with the patrons whether gay or straight, male or female, and anything/​everything between. i definitely loved that. it’s definitely low-​key and a littley dive-​y, but if you go in knowing/​expecting that and not a lush lounge or club, then you will have a good time. at least i did.
of course, i had a belly full of good food, was downing sweet & cheap drinks, and enjoying an evening with my beloved. so, take that into consideration and also remember, it was THURSDAY. i know nothing of the «regular» remington nights.

There’s no pleasure in writing this at all.
There’s no more country dancing here at all. This is a … I don’t even know what this is anymore and we don’t go.
Monday and Tuesday, it’s drag bingo.
Wednesday its female strippers, oriented to a female audience
Thursdays its male strippers oriented to a male audience
Fridays its something called «The A List Show»
Saturday is Salsa dancing and male strippers
Sunday is Maxine Blue
Remingtons is dead and gone. The bar that served gay *men*, that survived firebombing and served a devoted gay community for thirty years. It’s gone.

Really low key, maybe too low key.
Stopped by here after a night of bar hopping in Barracks Row, and was expecting full out line-​dancing like a mini version of Nashville.
Instead I saw 2 couples dancing: 1 dancing completely off beat in a style that was more reminiscent of swing than county dancing of an sort.
I know I missed the lesson, but it doesn’t seem like I was missin much.

This bar is alright. Not a bad place, just not my type of place either. I was at the upstairs bar, for some reason they don’t take card, so make sure to bring cash. Bartenders we’re quick and friendly. The place itself seemed a little run down and beaten up, but oh well.

This bar deserves way more credit than it gets. 1) Yes, I love country music so naturally I am going to love a country gay bar 2) Yes, I like watching gay men line dance, it is so entertaining 3) Yes, two-​stepping with my partner is something I find ultra romantic … but said aside my obvious bias, my friends always have a great time when I bring them here. The staff is super friendly, there is a great mix of music that is played, it is entertaining, and always fun. Don’t pass up Remington’s — it’ll be well worth the trip!

This is without a doubt my new favorite bar in DC. While it was mostly gay men, as a lesbian with my two straight friends, we were more than welcome. We did the karaōke upstairs, which was fabulous bc everyone picked awesome songs, and it’s not a place where wanna-​be pop stars go to belt out songs – it’s 100% ok if you have a not so hot voice but just wanna sing! The whole crowd joins in and cheers for you after. There is a cover kind of – but it’s $ 5 and comes with a free drink. Their alcohol selection is decent and def not super pricey. The only draw back is that it’s cash only, but since it was so fun, that wasn’t even annoying. It’s nice to have a true gay bar – not an overcrowded dance club.

Capitol Hill really needs a better gay bar. What the heck is up with a cover charge at the door — and by the most unfriendly woman I have ever met, who has to take a break from reading a book to take my money.
Isn’t the cowboy trend over yet? It definitely doesn’t attrack the Cap Hill crowd — thus ignoring its immediate community. If it wasn’t for Karoake I would never go there. And with the old undependable and lousy technology, I only go when I don’t feel like traveling to Freddies or ANY other karaōke bar.
Please sell this place to someone who cares about making it a fun place to go. I was done with line dancing 15 years ago. It’s SO 1990’s!

A gay Western bar; I guess every city’s gotta have one (but apparently only one, since Sheridan’s, formerly located around the corner on 8^th Street, closed and was replaced by an Irish pub).
Set on two floors, the space is HUGE (and dark). They’ve combined two adjoining storefronts, giving the impression of a huge, rambling interior. Downstairs you have a long wooden bar and large dance floor where they give Country and Western partner and line dance lessons. Off to the right is what was a dining area (they’ve gone back and forth on serving food; I think they’ve finally given up, realizing that’s not why people come here). Upstairs is another bar with pool table, a further dining/​seating area, and more importantly KARAOKE!
Not being 1) gay, 2) into Country or 3) a dancer, aside from the cheap beer ($ 2.50 drafts during happy hour), the karaōke is the real reason I come. Unlike some gay and lesbian places (I’m looking at you Phase I), the staff here is pretty straight friendly. The beer selection is not going to win any awards; a couple of drafts including Bud and Red Hood IPA and a few bottles and cans (think Heineken).

Remingtons is a gay dive bar with karaōke nights.
As a heterosexual female, and former fruit fly in LA, I was so glad to finally find a local gay bar in Remingtons! (Nellys is just too far…) Super ally friendly, and not skeezy at all (WeHo bars, while a lot nicer in décor, were way more sketch in terms of ppl groping each other in public… or doing things in the bathroom).
My roommate and I came here for their karaōke (her friend who does Ann Coulter is awesome and a wonderfully friendly hostess) and a birthday and had a fabulous time. Diverse crowd, and not overcrowded either (yay locals). Doorman and the upstairs bartender were extremely courteous and attentive so props on customer service. Next time, I’ll try out the pool table. And just pay the cover… you get a drink ticket anyway :)
Cash only dolls. ATM downstairs. Glad I get fees reimbursed. eep.
Personal note: I’m sorry to read other reviews that other straight women have not been so well behaved here (gay bars are not freak shows, and just because gay guys are men doesn’t mean they can’t get unwanted assaults on their person). Bill D, shall we expand the etiquette rule to not liking sloppy drunks who grope and gawk at ppl in general, not just the ones with XXs?
UPDATE: happy hour specials abound here! 4−8pm M-​F
$ 4.50 Imports
$ 3.00 Rail Drinks
$ 2.75 Domestic Beer
$ 2.00 Draft Bud & Bud Light
$ 1.00 Reduction off all top shelf

Affordable gay cowboy kareoke bar in Washington DC. I was brought here for a friend’s birthday and had a blast. I’m not a kareoke expert, but I loved their setup which allows you to roam the bar with a wireless mic. The dancing was fun as well.

The first true gay BAR I’ve been to in the city. Not a gay lounge, not a gay club, but an actual BAR. You know, where you can wear jeans and actually talk to people. Maybe even do wee bit of line dancing if you feel so inclined.
I liked the vibe of this place. Totally come-​as-​you-​are, especially if you’re currently in tight Wranglers and a plaid shirt. People seemed to be having a genuinely good time here; what with the choreographed dancing, drinks served out of mugs (yeah, even your mixed drinks), and non-​stuffy (cough cough HALO cough) crowd.
It’s cash only so be sure to stop at an ATM on your way. Oh, and bring your dancing shoes: these folks are serious about their two-​step.

I really almost wish I could fit in here.
It’s a great space. There are a lot of seemingly low-​key guys who didn’t come off as elitist or judgmental. Folks here just looked… normal (in a not-​meth addict, not-​gym rat, not-​drama queen sort of way)! And really, it’s pretty refreshing, having been more frequently around the jaded, bitter, stuck-​up Dupont scene.
Alas, this stuffy ex-​con Asian boy from the Midwest has no hips, can’t dance, isn’t covered in a pelt, and doesn’t own a cowboy hat. But I can watch!
Although the DC Cowboys fundraiser show was unexpectedly brief (I’m not sure if this is the norm, but last night’s was a single dance), it was full of energy, smiles, and great physiques. The crowd was into it, and everyone seemed to have a great time.
I don’t know that I’d go out of my way to come here on an off night to hang out, but I’m all about supporting friends, seeing a show, and contributing to charities.
If you’ve never seen the DC Cowboys perform, come on down, grab a drink, meet some cute country boys, and enjoy the sounds of the south!

I brought a straight boy to watch the DC Cowboys perform, and we both had an absolutely fantastic time. I highly recommend going on a Friday to see the cowboys and hang with the cool crowd that comes out to watch them. It’s a great mix of astonishingly attractively gay men and normal (male and female) fans.
Drinks are cheap and nothing special. A little weak. But the bartender was adorable.
The dance floor is conspicuous from every part of the bar, so if you can’t two-​step, you might benefit from a little practice in the comfort of your home before jumping on the floor with the cowboys and their groupies. People dancing mostly know what they’re doing; the rest enjoy watching.

Whooo-​hoooo! C’mon over and check out the hot gay cowboys!
It’s just a cute little country gay bar in Eastern Market. The dance floor is small but not everyone there goes to dance. I like to go there and watch them dance around the floor. It’s so very different from the Texas country bars.
However, if you do get on the dance floor… be aware of the 2 poles. You don’t want to embarrass yourself or your dancing partner by running into them.
Upstairs, there are some pool tables that you can play. You can also do some karoke there.
Drinks are kinda cheap… compared to the other DC gay bars.

Gay Cowboy Bar… Very interesting!
Best karaōke in D.C.
And, good line dancing downstairs.
Eclectic crowd.
No Shiner Boks or Lonestar beer.