Image: Eighteenth Street Lounge

Eighteenth Street Lounge

Eighteenth Street Lounge, known as ESL, is a two-level bar and dance club at 1230 9th Street NW in Washington DC's Shaw neighbourhood.

Opened: 1995
Capacity: n/a
Sound: House

Tickets and programme All techno clubs

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At the door 21+ · A 20% gratuity is added to all tabs left open Rules

Eighteenth Street Lounge: quick facts

Checked Oct 2026

Address: 1230 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States Directions
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 21:00 to late, Friday and Saturday 21:00 to 03:00, Sunday 21:00 to 02:00; Monday closed except special events
Opened: 1995 31 years
Rooms: Two levels with a Main room, a Red Room, a bar on each level and a rooftop deck
Age limit: 21+
Tickets: Friday and Saturday DJ nights in September and October 2026 were listed as no cover, 21+; the Tuesday salsa and bachata class was USD 10 and the dance social USD 7.
Payment: A 20% gratuity is added to all tabs left open
Founders: Farid Nouri (owner and executive creative director)

About Eighteenth Street Lounge

Eighteenth Street Lounge, known as ESL, is a two-level bar and dance club at 1230 9th Street NW in Washington DC's Shaw neighbourhood, next to Blagden Alley. Owner and creative director Farid Nouri opened the original lounge in Dupont Circle in 1995, and it ran there for 25 years, becoming a base for DC's house music scene, until it closed in 2020. The same independent ownership reopened ESL in Shaw two years later in a 5,000 square foot space about half the size of the original, with a bar on each level, a rooftop deck and a Main room and a Red Room. Weekends bring house DJs such as Jahsonic, Elements Of House and Luis Cruz with no cover, while weeknights run open decks, an open mic and a salsa and bachata social. Entry is 21+.

Door policy

From the club's own rules

Weekend DJ nights are 21+ with no cover. A 20% gratuity is added to bar tabs left open.

Where to stay near Eighteenth Street Lounge

Hotels on the map

1230 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

Hotel prices come from our booking partner. If you book through the map we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

What people search about Eighteenth Street Lounge

Where is Eighteenth Street Lounge in Washington DC now?

ESL is at 1230 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, in Shaw beside Blagden Alley. It moved there after the original Dupont Circle lounge closed in 2020 following 25 years of operation.

What are the opening hours of Eighteenth Street Lounge?

ESL lists Tuesday to Thursday from 21:00 until late, Friday and Saturday 21:00 to 03:00 and Sunday 21:00 to 02:00. Monday is listed as closed, though some Monday events appear on the schedule.

Is there a cover charge at Eighteenth Street Lounge?

Weekend DJ nights in September and October 2026, such as Jahsonic on 2 Oct, were listed as no cover and 21+. The Tuesday salsa and bachata night charged USD 10 for the class and USD 7 for the dance social.

When did Eighteenth Street Lounge open?

Farid Nouri opened Eighteenth Street Lounge in Dupont Circle in 1995. After it closed in 2020, the original owners reopened it two years later at 1230 9th Street NW in Shaw.

Last checked 1 October 2026 against the club's own programme. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@technoairlines.com.