Ladies And Gentlemen. The Ambiance Of This Establishment Is Simply... Incredible. My Granddaughters Friends Are In Chicken Costumes, And We Are On The Hunt. Consider Us Apex Hunters. Sadly, The Chickens Are Not Here. Onto The Next Bar... Received The Next Riddle. Steve, You Are Incredible. Beautiful Vodka Water, Will Visit When We Aren't Hunting Chickens. read more

Solly's Tavern - Vodka Water... Splash Of Sour. - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was there for my second time, Parts of the place was a bit smelly, and the Bartender turned-out to be unclassy casually yellowing over the Bar looking over the Video Slot machine i was attending too. For someone who is working, he shouldn't be over-looking my shoulders watching the Video Slots machine, paying attention to what's not his business. Shallow person, and unclean atmosphere. Service & Atmosphere: D - read more

I was looking for a great app lace to watch the Ohio State Bucks vs Texas and so I checked out a Yelp review- and it was amazing and so much fun. I was visiting from Columbus for a Wedding and I felt like I never left Ohio. Great Atmosphere and very well priced. Food was solid and Service was Top Notch. Thank you Freeman for your fun service. Place is a home run. Go Bucks. read more

See all

Lively, but not overwhelming after 11pm on a weekday. A lot of people seemed to know each other. Some TV screens. Outdoor and indoor seating. The barkeep was extra generous with his whiskey pours and thus, I blame him for my hangover. read more

Quintessential dive bar, in the best way possible. Love the vibe here, but miss seeing live bands. Pre-Covid the live music on the weekends was a blast, and it would always pack the house. Hopefully one day they'll bring that back! read more

Solly's has been around for a while! I didn't start going until the last year or so. The main draw? Karaoke Thursdays!!! Even if you don't already know about it happening, there's a sign outside that reads "Kostume Karaoke"... yes, anyone who hits the stage must don a costume, even if it's just a hat or a puppet! When you enter the bar, the first level is chill and while I haven't hung out down there for any extended time yet, the music has always sounded great and they appear to be having a wonderful time. You can easily spot stairs that lead to the second level, where the karaoke happens. There is a small bar area, and then a slightly higher level with a bunch of close tables with about 4 stools each. The far wall has the stage with 2 mics, and a rack on the side with a bunch of costumes and props to pick from. I have only had a drink every now and then, but I mainly focus on water to keep my singing voice up. Pro tip: show up early. The queue gets long REALLY early. Though, if it's your first song, you tend to get bumped up significantly. I have waited over an hour to sing on occasion after my first song. I need to experience Solly's outside of karaoke. One thing I've noticed is that the water pitchers are positioned on the far end of the bar upstairs, but folks are usually sitting right in front of them, so getting water can be a pain sometimes. And if you're not already sitting at the bar, getting there from the upper level can be tricky once it gets crowded... and it does get crowded easily, especially for karaoke! The first level seems like a jam though, maybe I'll try it next time. Also, shout out to Antoine the bartender! read more

I performed at an open mic on a Friday night. Great crowd, decent wine, fun night! I will be back. read more

Solly's Tavern - On stage at Solly's! - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

kostume karaoke is my favorite activity in all of DC. The drinks are cheap and the kazoos are aplenty.

Best bar in DC!!!! Best staff especially Steve on weekend days. Highly recommend the rail vodka. Only downside is no merch

Sam was a weird guy. His eyes would have popped in a blue shirt but he chose to wear a controversial red. He refused to sing along to my karaoke choices. This felt personal. Vibes were controversial. Restrooms were vile. Man is from philly though, so what do i expect? read more

Solly's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A dc treasure! Have been here about 200 times. Friendly staff and everybody knows your name.

Every single time I go to Solly's I am treated so rudely by the staff. To the point I won't go back now. They really need to be more respectful to paying customers. read more

Hands down my all time favorite dive-bar in DC, and I say that with tons of love and respect. There is no pretension here, and all are welcome, you won't go broke drinking, you can bring your to-go food, and there's always something fun to do! Aside from their massive, excellent cover patio that lets you watch all the fun of U St, there are also two bars inside. Downstairs is where all the regulars begin and end their night, where the owners are just as likely to be behind the bar as the employees. Upstairs they hold events almost every night of the week - from comedy, to trivia, to bands, to plays. And of course Kostume Karaoke every Thursday, which is a crazy night of doing shots with the KJs on your birthday, and meeting crazy strangers wearing tiaras or judo gis (provided by the karaoke hosts) to sing! The walls tell the history of the bar, especially behind the bar and in the bathrooms. But the bartenders and regulars will tell you just as easily themselves - and what a long crazy history it's been! Ask them about when the car crashed through the window, or the Caps won the Cup, or the neighbors almost sent it all crashing down during an ill-fated renovation. This is no a fancy dress up joint - although no one thinks twice if you walk in looking your best. You come here to be comfortable, to have well poured, affordable drinks, to have the bartenders become your besties, to meet your new best friends just chilling at the bar. read more

See all

I came in for a comedy show. I wasn't aware they had an upstairs or how to get there so I walked up to the bar to ask the bartender. He was texting on his phone and ignored me after I said hi. There was no one in front of me and I was directly in front of him. He kept texting on his phone, after a min or two he looked up (annoyed) and I finally asked how to get upstairs, he motioned towards a door that I thought was a door to go outside, and continued texting. It's clear he needs a new job. The bar and comedy show upstairs were fun but the extremely rude bartender downstairs spoiled the bar for me. read more

My husband's co-worker emceed a comedy routine here last night, so we bought tickets, and ventured down to U Street on Metro (a rare thing for my husband to do). We easily found the location, although were a bit mystified by the front entrance, which is quite narrow, if quaint. We were directed up the creaky stairs, and greeted by a friendly host, who promptly informed us that there was no food to be ordered. This is contrary to the statements of the website. They suggested that we find food nearby and return, which we did. We came back from pizza slices at Italian Kitchen, to find that the show had already begun, and that there was a dearth of seating available. The talent was uniformly at an expert comic level and of professional caliber. I thought that any of the performers could have warranted a spot on late night. I enjoyed the comedy, with the proviso that it was all extremely offensive. Lots of misogynism and uses of the N word. This show was not for the faint of heart. I did appreciate that the sound system did not blast my ear drums. As another reviewer has noted, the restroom that I used had no mirror. However, it was clean, and its location was relatively well-marked. In addition, the staff we encountered were friendly, counter to other reviews I have read. The 3 stars, hence, is for the inaccuracy of the website, and for the lack of forewarning about the nature of the show, which made both my husband and myself uncomfortable. read more

As an update: seems to be Sloppy Mamas isn't part of the establishment anymore but I recently ordered their hot wings and their old bay wings and they were both delicious! The old bay seemed to have a sweetness to it like brown sugar and both flavors had a great crisp and crunch to them. I just moved to the area and my friend told me about this great bar that turns into an Ohio State bar during game days. I went during the Xichigan VS Ohio State game and the bar was packed with Buckeye faithful. Decently priced drinks for the DC area and quite good food for a bar. I will be back. read more

Ultimate dive bar. Stiff drinks. Beer and a bump combos. Tons of classic beer merchandise. I'd come back again and again if I wasn't a tourist. read more

Solly's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Classic neighborhood bar with good vibes and a great selection. Mostly young people. Lots of mostly good entertainment.

Solly's is a horrible dive bar that some DC residents seem to have a fond memory of due to blacking out and not recalling how bad this bar truly is. I will say the upstairs bathroom was nicer than anticipated. read more

Came into this establishment tonight around 1 AM to get a beer with some friends, and when I entered the establishment there were three empty seats at the bar. My friends and I sat at the bar and the male bartender mentioned to us that some others had been sitting in those seats, however general bar etiquette doesn't restrict these seats from being taken, so we sat down anyway. About 20 minutes later we are approached by other customers who had claimed the seats as their own and essentially interrogated us as to why we would not return the seats. Since we were not finished with our beers, I told them I would not be leaving until I finish my beer. The customers went on to inform me that they had a special relationship with the owner and the bartender; which then lead to the bartender and security staff having us removed from the bar. The security guard with locs threatened that I leave or he would get the police involved and he also mentioned that I was "broke" because I ordered beers. I hope that sollys takes more of a priority in professionalism when it comes to the hiring of their staff. Tonight I was disrespected by staff and consumers as a fellow paying customer and that is very offputting. I did not approach anybody with any disrespect I simply advocated for myself, and due to this experience I do not plan to frequent this bar again. read more

We're from Orlando and stopped by to check this place out on a Wednesday night. Solly's is just the kinda bar we like. No bullshit dive bar with strong drinks, good prices and chill vibes. . The owner/bartender is a super cool dude! Will def be back next time we're in town. read more

Brought my friend from abroad for karaoke and the bartender would not accept his ID. He tried to explain why his ID was valid and tried to combine it with several other IDs he had but it would still not be accepted. We understood, however, the bartender was really loud and rude about it. My friend left to get his passport and I stayed behind; the bartender continued to rant loudly to everyone who would listen about what "the jackass" that would not give him a valid state ID even after he left. We ended up getting drinks somewhere else just to not deal with that guy, came back at 8 just for karaoke later after he picked up the passport. Gotta make sure your people are at least trained in customer service: with at least some empathy, apologetic when enforcing rules, and not just outright cause a scene. It was just not nice at all. read more

Great place to have a few too many drinks! Love the beer and shot deal, and their 2 floors plus outdoor seating area makes this the local spot to bring a group of friends! read more

I would have given Solly's a 3 star rating based on my experience at trivia night. It's a laid back spot with a down to earth crowd and PBR galore. Their small, outdoor dining area out front if probably a pretty chill place to grab a drink in the summer as well. I remember thinking that my drinks would be cheaper than they actually were for such a dive place, but they were not. I dropped by there again last Thursday night to sit, sip and putz around on my laptop but was unable to make it happen. Although the main level had a few people hanging out, there was no where that I could really set up my laptop. I asked the bartender if the upstairs was open and he told me yes. When I got upstairs, there were a few guys standing around the bar area (they may have worked there) and as soon as I walked up they asked me if I was with the band, that was no where in sight. When I told them I just wanted to sit down for a sec at one of the tables, they told me I couldn't because they were waiting for the band to come and set up. How these things are mutually exclusive, I have no idea but they were not helpful, apologetic or understanding in any way. No huge loss for me because I wasn't in love with Solly's in the first place, but that just turned me off a bit. Can't say I will be back any time in the near future. read more

This is mostly a review for Sloppy Mama's BBQ at Solly's. I'd definitely recommend the poutine, which is a delightful mess of meat, BBQ sauce, cheese and fries. It's perfect bar food but definitely not finger food. You can't really taste the meat under the mound of BBQ sauces so meat snobs might not like it as much but they can have a platter if they need the normal BBQ experience. Enjoy it with a cheap happy hour beer and you're golden. The tangy pickle side is a great compliment to the poutine and sandwiches. The moist brisket isn't as fatty or juicy as Hill Country, which some might prefer that. read more

Solly's Tavern - Brisket sandwich with pickles - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

More hipster than dive but close enough. Solly's is an unpretentious bar in the middle of the U Street bar scene. Staff was easy to deal with, bouncers checking IDs friendly enough, bartenders, make nice drinks and are quick with service. Food choice is usual bar fare, I went with a order of shredded pork tacos, pork was tender and spicy, definitely provided a kick but wasn't overly intimidating. Also sampled an order of fries, decent but not great, wish they were fried a little harder. Chill atmosphere for drinking and socializing but nothing overly special. read more

Solly's Tavern - Shredded pork taco - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If I lived in the U Street Hood, then this would be my choice of where to hang out. Yes, as Alex S. said, it is a bit of a dive bar. Upon entering, Solly's has that Cheers kinda vibe. I did not linger long downstairs as I had a date with trivia upstairs. Man, were we packed in there like sardines! I did not really like that, but it is the company that makes the too close for comfort factor a little more easy to bear! The bartender upstairs was great. He was very accommodating to our ordering of beers from over the railing above him. Hey, like I said, we were packed in there like sardines! PBRs for $3 is great. My mom and dad drank those back in the day...sweet childhood memories! Don't plan on eating here though, unless you like tator tots (They are actually really good!). Solly's is not your comfy/cozy come in from the cold kind of place. It is a place to catch up with friends or play a game of trivia if you are not claustrophobic. read more

Wasn't there really long, simply went to check out this indie band, New Retro. Pretty easy to spot on the corner of U street. Small lower bar, bartenders were nice, upstairs is where I saw the band, decent sized space, cheap drinks. I don't know if I would classify this as a dive though. I'd go back. read more

Solly's just lost a star because one of the bartenders upstairs was sort of a douche. He was pretty set on watching his team finish out a game when they were up 5 runs at the bottom of the 9th. It's done man, they won. Also he's way impatient with people trying to figure out their tabs and stuff. I'm sure it's annoying when you're a bartender and people are being incompetent or trying to be polite and arguing over the bill but if you can't deal with it find another line of work that doesn't depend on tips. It's cool if you wanna be a prick in a job that isn't service related but you knew what you were getting into when you started bartending so deal with it. Maybe he just had a bad day. read more

I don't like bars like this, but if I did, this would be my favorite. It's loud (but not as loud as others), it's full of weird guys artlessly trying to pick up my friends (but who trend toward the pathetic or amusing rather than the creepy or scary) and the drinks are . . . fine. But they have a solid crowd of quite low-key folks, they have a lot of tables outside (until the unfortunately early hour when they have to close their patio), they're not expensive, and they're steps away from my apartment. This is where I try to convince my friends to meet me for a drink. read more

It's a-ok for what it is. It's dive-y and small. The beer comes in cans from a cooler. There's no food. Most beers are $4-$6. The downstairs bar is small and narrow. The upstairs bar is only open at certain times / for certain events (karaoke, trivia, etc.). Upstairs is more spacious than downstairs, but still small. The patio area is a nice spot for sitting with a beer on a warm evening. I wound up here because of Kostume Karaoke. It's definitely a significant draw here and seating fills up fast. If you want to get a decent spot, be sure to arrive early. The crowd is lots of regulars. The bartenders handle the crowd well and deliver your drinks quickly. Otherwise, not much else to report. The DC murals upstairs are fun. Typical dive-y bathrooms, seating, decor, and atmosphere. Can't say I would ever go out of my way to come here, but if I lived in the area, I could see myself being a regular. read more

Where do I begin? Well let me tell you I was ready to set it off last night. I've been a paying customer at this establishment for years. Every time I've been here it was cool not the best but good enough for quick drinks. Last night was the final draw for me. First it smelled really bad in there. It was drinks spilled and wet for no reason. The bathrooms was gross but that's not even the bad part. What made me want to get locked up on a Saturday night was the a$$hole bartender. Listen, I was cool with his subpar mixing habits. It was 1:50am so I just wanted a couple drinks before closing. This tattooed dingy looking bartender tells me he's not making my complicated drink. Side note: I was a bartender for 6 Years not once did I tell a paying customer their drink is too complicated to make. Okay now let's get back to it Mr. Dingy he tells me that a Blue Hawaiian is ancient and he's not making that sh*t. Well I asked can he make me something else and he goes into his 26 Years of bartending. Dude idgaf just go mix something up. I tell him that his customer service skills are terrible. He asks me where did I bartend because I didn't know sh*t. Not to mention this guy was drunk and giving away free shots. I don't know if he's the owner or just one of the rude bartenders that people are mentioning below. Just know I went off and was ready to throw hands. I had to go back into my classy mode and collect myself. In conclusion, after visiting this place close to 100 times I'll NEVER come back. I used to tell people about this bar because the drinks were reasonable and good starting point on U street. But never again and if the owner reads this review please get ahold of your staff. Nobody wants to spend money when the bartender is drunk plus rude on top of that. Okay thanks for reading my essay lol. Hope this helps someone from making the same mistake. read more

Loved their bbq plate! My only mistake was that I ordered a platter to share with with my husband haha soo good I recommend you don't have to share. The food and drinks are reasonably priced too! The platter had sausage, cornbread and potato salad. Its a super chill vibe.. no need to dress up. They play rock music (at least when I went). read more

Solly's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cheap drinks, nice patio, friendly bartender. Would be nice if they had draft beer, but that's my one minor gripe. Come here if you're a cheap bastard like me and want a place to drink outside. Downstairs is a bit cramped, so I imagine it would be a little packed in when the weather sucks. Then again, I haven't been upstairs, so maybe not... read more

I'm going to agree with Brendan F's last bit in his review! Definitely a smaller bar with a rustic feel, which could make for cramped situations, but that's what you expect when you walk in and see there's only about 10' from the bar to the wall. Best thing about this place, next to the PBR, are the local acts, especially on certain Thursday evenings when Levi Stephens comes to play music from his debut album! read more

Solly's Tavern - Levi Stephens and band. - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cheap beers (in price not quality) + friendly bartenders + laid back vibe = My equation for Solly's. Spent a few hours here over the weekend and this may be my fave hang in this area over Saint-Ex. Just stop in and take a seat with the big, huge windows. Get a Pabst Blue Ribbon..it's only three bucks, any day, any time. Took a peak upstairs where a small crowd was watching the pre-game. The half a dozen flat screen tv's are a nice touch, especially combined with the old tables (probably from Ruff N Ready). Nice neighborhood tavern feel without the pretense. Two mugs up! read more

Solly's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cool little dive bar on U Street where you can go and not have to worry about the lines out the door. Additionally, they have a cool outdoor area where you can sit at a picnic table and people watch. Listen you aren't coming here for their amazing cocktails, but the service is fine and you'll be in a chill bar where there isn't a lot of stress with lines, high prices, and snobby people. read more

fun hangout w friends for drinks. its smaller but had a patio too! the bathroom doesnt have a mirror but a while bunch of signatures && words where people have signed. you will see some funny things written in there read more

3.25 stars. With a name like Solly's, my mind immediately pictures Boston kids in rugby shirts downing Miller Lites and shouting obscenities. Only a token of this stereotype - and a mild one at that - is present at this bar. What I certainly would not have expected is a hip hop show backed by a live band (insert shameless plug for the Crimestoppers here) playing a two hour set while the Yankees were on TV. A bar named Solly's showing the New York Yankees? Well, I guess exceptions can be made for the World Series... While a couple of my friends were less than enthused by the $5 Yeungling prices, I argued that it was market price for DC. That led to the following exchange: Friend (annoyed): "I get these for 50 cents in my hometown!" Me (as sarcastic as possible): "Well I guess this bar is 10 times more awesome because IT IS LOCATED IN DC!" Later in the night, I met a group of friendly lesbians who toyed with the idea of a foursome with one of my friends. As I lost track of him later in the night, I'm hoping against hope that his dream became a reality partially because it would provide me provocative ammunition to shatter his semi-playful nihilistic musings about life. Overall, Solly's provided a low-key night with relatively good music on a Thursday evening. In Washington DC, that qualifies as a plus on any night. read more

Alright, alright - You're unpretentious - I get it already!! But isn't it a bit pretentious to make this calculated statement about your lack of pretension? The bartenders are friendly enough, but one actually made a point of commenting on the fact that I was wearing a tie - like I'd walked in wearing Assless Chaps without jeans or something. This is NW. Some of us wear ties. You don't like it head down to H St. & sucks Pabst out of a can with the rest of the Poseurs. read more