Loungin' around.

You've probably walked right past it without realizing it, perhaps on your way to one of the flashier establishments on that stretch of Connecticut Avenue, like 1223 or Sesto Senso. While the aforementioned certainly have their place and time (like, um, Saturday nights junior year of college, for example), I'll take the unassuming coziness of Eighteenth Street Lounge any day.

Owned by Eric Hilton and Rob Garza (better known as the DC-based production and DJ Duo, Thievery Corporation), Eighteenth Street Lounge (or ESL, as it's known to the DC's cognoscenti) boasts no clue of its existence from the exterior of its three-story townhouse-style building. Look, instead, for the neon blue Mattress Discounters sign, and take the door immediately to its left, which leads you up a creaky, dimly-lit staircase and into this renovated mansion-cum-lounge (Teddy Roosevelt once lived here), which is lushly decorated in warm tones, comfy couches, and working fireplaces. Move toward the front of the lounge, and you'll be hard-pressed to miss the stunning view of Connecticut Ave.

As one might expect, given the lounge's owners, ESL is known for its predilection for some pretty sweet tunes. A heady stream of lounge music wafts from a back room, and most of the time, there's a live DJ spinning beats. You'll also find the occasional jam session going on in the front room.

The actual libations are secondary to the atmosphere at ESL, but last time I went, I had a very good glass (or two, or three) of Pinot Grigio. The warmth of the plush decor and downtempo beats (and, ok, the wine) kept me warm even as Jason and I ventured out into the cold December night in search of Thai food. (Dupont's Thaiphoon post coming soon.)

Good to know:
ESL is located at 1212 18th Street, just off Connecticut Avenue. It is accessible via the South entrance of the Dupont Metro stop on the Red Line. Look for the blue Mattress Discounters sign, and take the door just to the left.

It's generally free before 10 p.m., but after that, you might run into a $10 cover. Things seem casual on weekdays (I showed up in jeans and my work blazer), but apparently a line forms on weekends, so on Friday and Saturday nights, you may want to don your bouncer-pleasing best.

Photo of ESL's interior taken from World's Best Bars website.'