Very cool, unpretentious place with a ton of outdoor space, creative cocktails, good food and stellar service. A great addition to Columbia Heights and totally worth checking it even if you don't live close by. Zeba has three different levels, an outdoor patio in the front and a big deck on the third floor. There are three bars, and the second floor is a dance floor. The cocktails, designed by Yuriy (formerly at Masa14), are delicious. We had the pisco sour and the cucumber basil martini, both amazing and very reasonably priced (the martini was on special for $4!). From the food menu, the kabobs were out of this world. This is owner David Jafari's secret recipe, and they're well worth it. We also had the eggplant, which is not babaganoush, but rather a tomato, pepper and eggplant dip - also delicious. Oh, and this place has its own magician! Frank, who was there on Friday night, does all sorts of neat tricks and had quite a crowd. read more

I like "divey" places and this place fits the bill (I'm sure this will probably be an insult to the owners, as I feel like it's trying to be something other than "divey"). What I really like is that this place has a balcony area where you can have a cigarette if you like. It's even decorated with a half-assed string of Xmas lights! The prices here are decent, 5 dollars for a variety of mixed drinks, happy hour food, and unpretentious staff. read more

A few of my friends and I went there, late afternoon on a Sunday so I'm willing to cut a little slack. Otherwise this would have been my first ever 1 start rating. This place just seemed to fail completely all around: we were the only ones in there other than one dude at the bar who was talking to the bartender. The bartender decided to finish his conversation rather than come over to take our order. I'm fine with laid back service when things are slow and I usually don't complain in general about this kind of think but we had to but into his conversation to place the order. Beer selection is limited and just blah. One of my friends ordered wings. Big mistake. They took awhile to come and were the least appealing pieces of chicken I have laid eyes on. they appeared halfway cooked and had no sauce on them. The bartender did bring a side of "Buffalo" sauce though, since they were advertised as Buffalo wings. I hear people saying the nightlife there is good, but I get the feeling from walking past it on 14th at night, that its the type of club-like establishment that would seem more at home in Courthouse or Ballston (not to be a hater, just stating an opinion). As a neighborhood bar, this place sucks. read more

This place is both a nightclub and a locals bar. Really decent beers (Chimay, Allagash, etc.) DJs on the weekends but you can hang downstairs at the bar. Upstairs is an upscale club with a back patio (smokers welcome). Bar in the first floor, bar in the club, bar in the patio. Front patio, too with picnic benches. DJs play downtempo house music on Sundays from 6-10. Thur-Fri is a grab bag of events, check their website. The bar always has an iPod going with loungy dance music, but never loud. Sports events are on at the regular times in the TV, so if you want to watch the game, you can. read more

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For the sake of full disclosure, my visit here was when I DJed last week for the first time in four years (since "retiring"). This means I had a free bar tab and that I was able to control the music first hand. I had two turntables and if I wanted, a microphone. I let my music do the talking though. Nice space, they have a nice bar, and some tables to sit at if you have a small group. My two friends that came along with me to watch me possibly embarrass myself ordered a ton of food, like fries, quesadillas, wings, and pizza. I had some fries and wings and they were much better than your average bar food. The fries were actually some of the better fries I've had in the DC area. I was drinking Allagash White most of the evening, but they had other good quality beers as well. The sound system there was solid and held up even though the place was tiny, and the crowd there was really feeling the funky jazzy tunes I was laying down. The evening I spent there, getting saucy, and playing loud music, well, it was all that I could have asked for. The promoter wants me to come back and play again sometime, and without a doubt I will be doing so. If you go here on the right night, when I'm there, prepared to be funked. read more

Zebar is a place where you are able to let your hair down and have Big Funzzzz. Dave the owner and his (2) two son's a Marvolous Hottess. The food, music, hooka and the vibes are on point. read more

The prices are well worth coming to this place. The hookah during happy hour is $8 and that is from 5-8pm. After 8, the hookah is $16 (still very decent). They have a lot of traditional finger foods on the menu. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, it was okay not great. The teriyaki chicken was better, flavored. The best part was the bartender David. The entire night he had us jamming to smooth reggae. Very attentive and friendly to the folks at the bar. I will definitely be going back. read more

I came here because the wait at Thip Khao was going to be a while. They have a good happy hour menu that goes until 8pm on Saturdays! It's good because its prices are good, I had a mulled wine for $4 but left after one drink. Not a bad place, but definitely a little dingy and run over inside. Lacking in decor and ambiance, but Good with their happy hour specials. I probably would not go out of my way for this place but I could definitely go back if I was in the area for a decently priced happy hour drink. read more

Zeba - Mulled wine - happy hour $4 - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my new favorite bar! Walked in & "Where The Party At" by Jagged Edge was playing (one of my favorite songs: Im a sucker for background bar music).The ambiance was so cool, calm, & casual. It's pretty small & there's a limited number of seats but if you get a good spot, you're bound to have a great experience. The prices are super cheap: $10 for hookah & about $5-6 for appetizers. It's a limited menu but perfect for a chill, link-up with friends after work. My friend & I ordered bbq wings, & a beer, I got a lemonade cocktail (tasty & cute), & my friend got a Henny & Coke (strong but good). We ended it with a round of peach flavored hookah. Our total, altogether was $36 & some change Can't wait to go back! read more

It was ok. The warm pita bread was nice, and the pretty little green garnish thingies on the hummus were also a nice touch. The hookah was....hookah. I wish the place were a little bit warmer, though. Also, I think that it could have been decorated or laid out a little bit better. read more

This place is my favorite bar to go to in DC. They have one of the best happy hours in Columbia Heights. The owners/workers are very friendly and do what they can to make sure you are taken care of. The entrance features an outside area where you can sit/eat/smoke hookah. When you walk inside, the lighting is ambient and really sets the tone for casual but intimate conversations. Rarely does it get so loud that you aren't able to hear the person next to you. On their second floor they have a second bar that primarily serves the dance floor area. DJs of all sorts come through here and offer up a good mix of music. From the back of the second floor is a patio with yet another bar, in a more outside area. They have heated lamps so you can still enjoy some fresh air and stay warm in the winter. The atmosphere is great, but just like all great places it can sometimes get a little too crowded because of it's growing popularity. I've never had a bad experience here, and even though it was frustrating maybe once or twice because I could not find a place to sit, the workers found a way to squeeze me in somewhere so I could get comfortable. People are great, patrons are great, food is priced well and surprisingly delicious (for bar food), hookah is good. I don't see a reason not to check it out! read more

I find it humorous that other reviewers talk about having trouble finding a seat. A friend and I came in for happy hour and the bar was empty. Not the good kind of empty, where you grab one of the stools between a few regulars--the bad kind of empty. Where you open the door and try to sneak out before you're seen but then are forced to go in anyway. They had a lot of bottled beers on happy hour, but only Yuengling on draft. Their french fries are good, but I can't comment on any of the other food. Also, don't know if this is a regular thing, but the bartender and another staff kept wandering off to the side to smoke hookah. Seemed weird to me. It's conveniently located, so I might be back. But I might peek in to make sure I'm not the only person in the bar first. read more

Great little bar! Great happy hour deals and they also have a nice outdoor space with umbrellas which is great when it's not too hot/cold. They also have hookhas which they serve both inside and outside. I didn't have any of the food but it looked like they had fries, chicken wings, pizzas and a few other things. read more

Really nice spot. Pretty chill and relaxed. The set up is nice. The staff is pretty cool too. I like the food a lot. I'm the type that always ends up hungry when I'm out drinking. (Aren't we all though?). So this place is great and doesn't ever really disappoint with the options or food in general. Definitely a place worth visiting if you can. read more

Could be better, could be worse. The drinks are pricier than you'd expected - not hugely expensive by DC standards, generally, but for the sort of "hipster divey" ambiance they try for on the first floor (where seating is limited and the bar tender seemed kind of apathetic.) Cocktails are ok. Dance floor didn't seem to have much going on when I was there either time. It's a decent enough place, but like another reviewer said, it has an identity crisis: cramped hipster bar with decent-ish cocktails? Trendy euro dance club? Narghile lounge? Something else entirely? Tries hard at each, but almost self-consciously so, and generally falls short. Worth visiting if you're just hanging around 14th street and want to pop in somewhere for a drink, but perhaps not worth a special trip (in my experience.) read more

We've never really hung out in Columbia Heights much. I read reviews about the happy hour and the music. I love that they have happy hour until 8 on Friday! Drink specials were really good and the service, with just one bartender, was stellar. The background tunes were on point (old school hip-hop and r&b) and the crowd was definitely our scene. The size of the place is the only detriment. It's tiny in there, but the decor is fitting and nice. read more

Zeba just opened for brunch and it was delicious! We were so happy to have a new spot to hit up on 14th st. We tried the noodle dish and the pizza. Both were amazing! The Michelada and strawbellini were just what the doctor ordered. read more

Best happy hour in Columbia Heights! Just a nice place to relax. Great staff and inexpensive but tasty food read more

Best neighborhood bar in Columbia heights. I drive from MD just to hang out at Zeba because everyone is so welcoming. They also have a kick ass Wednesday night party. read more

Wow was misinformed I was told this place had $5 long islands and $4 vodka cranberry at this hour (10:59pm). Wrong!!! EVERYTHING is full priced except bottles of wine. It sucks cuz this seems to be the ONLY open spot to get a drink after getting off on a Sunday night read more

I've been here twice now - both times for "private" events being hosted on the top floor. Both times - I left feeling great. The bartenders know how to make good drinks - and know what a "a splash of soda" means :0 I like the set up and overall space - both having an outdoor area and also a small stage on the inside. I haven't tasted the food ... and someone did complain about the chicken wings being too salty to eat ... so will only rate it a 3 for my night time experiences. Koral read more

This would have been 5 stars... but the bartender was an asshole!!! The drinks were great... I recommend the Strawberry Lemonade. I really enjoyed the wings. My friend was there to celebrate her birthday and had about 30-40 people with her but the bartender was not very friendly and had an attitude. I would come back for the drinks and food!! read more

Their Wednesday night is a raw dance spot. Best neighborhood dance spot anywhere in the city. Hookah is good. Drinks are fairly priced. read more

GREAT MUSIC and awesome happy hour specials on food, drinks, and hookah! Will def go back soon!

My friends came from Annapolis and I took them here and it was my first time. It was Wednesday and honestly, the first reason I decided to come bc they have hookah! We arrived here at the right time, of course it was HAPPY HOUR :D This is one of the best happy hour and hookah places I've ever been! For hookah, I tried peach mint and watermelon mint. The bartenders were good, I had White Russian that mixed with vodka, coffee liquor and heavy cream. Another workers were also nice and friendly :) I would definitely come back here again read more

Zeba - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great bar. Lousy kitchen. Great drinks. Lousy food. Great table outside. Lousy service outside. The food sucks! Great bar. Expect nothing more. read more

Went here on a Friday night. I had a great time, dancing, ordering affordable drinks and hookah for our table. Everyone there was supper friendly. It was a mixed crowd, little bit of every culture vibe'ing to good music. There was two DJ's at the same time switching on and off between Latin music and hip hop. They definitely had the crowd at all time, from the oldies 2000's sing along to the newer stuff like Carrie B. I will definitely go back here for another memorable night. read more

There is no better place to be in Columbia Heights on a warm fall night than the rooftop of Zeba. They are really friendly, service is good, and the drink specials are unbeatable. They are also really great at accommodating large parties last minute. I have been there a lot since August and I have never gone and not met cool people. The Downstairs bar is chill and the dance floor is always fun, so no matter which level you are on, you know you are going to have a great time. read more

Zeba is an okay chill spot if you are in the mood for drinks and hookah. It's small and the staff weren't the friendliest but they have pretty good prices. The hookah was nice and smooth. They have a a good amount of flavors. You have to pay $1 for more coal and they have an option that you can buy a disposable hose. The food wasn't bad either. I would return when it's a chill night and nothing fancy. read more

Great drinks. Friendly bartenders. Amazing hookah and an overall chill vibe. I'm definitely coming back again soon.

This place is small but it's urban touch brings it life and the dance floor upstairs allows you to have the best of both worlds! downstairs is a hookah and bar where you can sit down have some munchie food bites, btw the fries are so good! everything is very affordable for a great time. definitely recommend coming back! read more

The management staff is very unprofessional. They came in last night and started having a dispute with the bartender. They all started counting money and running the reports right in the middle of the bartender serving drinks. Instantly turning a very enjoyable night into an uncomfortable situation. Then proceeded to say they were only taking cash. So we went somewhere else. read more

Hip hop beats, shisha and 3$ heinekens - gimme some! Then head upstairs if you're ready for a few aggressive dance moves... bring friends and grab a table early and you'll def enjoy this local spot. read more

I've worked in Columbia Heights for several years and I have never heard of this hidden gem. Last week was my first time coming here and let me say I am about to become a usual. The happy hour prices are great!! food prices range from $3.50-$5 and drinks are about $4 to $5 and they have daily specials. The music is old school hip-hop and the crowd is very chill; this spot has a lot of usual patrons and I am about to become one!! read more

Zeba is a rarity north of Columbia Heights with its great back patio and a sizable dance floor. I've been here twice- once just for drinks and another time for the Glitther dance party. I can't speak to the food or hookah, but if you're looking for a nice dark place to dance without a large cover, this is it. The one downside- and it's a big one- is that some of the staff can be rude and unprofessional- particularly the bouncers. I hope Zeba doesn't miss the opportunity to grow their business because of the unfriendliness of their staff. read more

Went here on April 18th to hear a friend's friend DJ. The music was pretty good but the service was horrible. Our server downstairs (Tracy) was more into flirting and dancing than actually working the bar, and it wasn't all that crowded. Also, $18 for one Yuengling and one Fat Tire??? I know it's Columbia Heights, but c'mon! Won't be back. read more

Great restaurant and bar. Very cozy and friendly staff. The lentil soup is to die for! Try the rooftop and you'll feel like you're in your childhood treehouse with adult beverages and romantic lights. read more

I don't get out to DC very often but worlds came together last weekend and met at Zeba so I was there. Nice little sweat box dance floor when the place is packed. Bartenders were cool and drinks were not astronomical for DC. Patrons were all there for the same reason: to rock out the Lover's Ball thrown by the 88 Crew and hosting the world famous Eddie C along with some great local DC DJ's that I finally got to hear. No worries. My only drawback has to do with DC patrons. Why don't y'all take your empties back to the bar? Trash the bottles or take the glasses back to the bar but don't line the club with empties for an overworked bar staff to tend to. Respect you bar, folks. read more

I went on a Thursday night. Fantastic middle eastern music, great dance floor (I ended up learning a Lebanese dance), and yummy but pricey cocktails. Try the drinks with Arak liquor. read more

I went to Zeba on a Friday for happy hour. We sat in the upstairs outdoor area at a table. When we arrived around 6:15pm, there was another table of about 5 people and about 5 others hanging around the bar. At first, the service was a bit slow, but nothing unreasonable - it was a lazy Friday happy hour, anyway. Plus, happy hour goes til 8pm - excellent! They had lots of interesting drinks (including cucumber basil margaritas and mojitos!) for $4. The cucumber basil margarita was delicious. Pizzas were half price for happy hour. We ordered 3 pizzas at the same time. Two arrived and they were nothing special, but at half price, they served their purpose. After finishing the first two, the third still hadn't arrived. We had to ask about it and it came about 10 minutes later. We also ordered eggplant dip. It was described as being served with veggies and pita bread but it only came with pita bread. I didn't have any but everyone said it was fine. I ordered a burger. I waited at least a half an hour and it didn't come. I asked the bartender and she told me the kitchen was backed up but it was coming. Another 10 minutes passed and I went up the cancel the order. At that point, she offered to go check on it but after waiting for so long, I was ravenous and needed to eat immediately, so I ran over to CVS for dinner instead. At least it was cheaper. We also ordered wings and they took an hour to arrive. When they did arrive, skin was missing from half the circumference of every wing and some of the wings were missing large chunks of meat. We joked that it looked like someone had started eating them, except it wasn't funny because they really did look that way. We sent them back. No one came around to clear empty glasses, bottles or plates from our table until we were ready to leave. One of the server was extra helpful and brought us another table and some chairs from downstairs when more people in our group arrived, but that was the high point of the evening. The place was understaffed, but service wasn't very good even at the beginning of the night when staffing levels were adequate. The drinks were good and the mixed drinks were priced well for happy hour. However, the food was mediocre and the service was horrible. I had a very different experience than the other reviewers so maybe I just hit Zeba on an off night, but I won't find out because I'm not going back nor would I recommend this place to others. read more