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Columbia Station
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Restaurants American (New) Jazz & Blues, American (New) [Edit]
2325 18th St NW(between N Kalorama Sq & N Belmont Rd)
Washington, DC 20009
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
(202) 462-6040
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 2 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 3 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for Columbia Station
Review Highlights
"No cover, live jazz, clean interior, DELICIOUS chocolate..."
(in 9 reviews)
"...it's one of the very best for live music in the city."
(in 8 reviews)
"The musicians were all very solid, but not big names."
(in 9 reviews)
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Kat M.
Norwalk, CA
12/26/2011
Stopped by on a weekday evening with my aunt and cousin before heading back to L.A. the next day. We sat outside in the patio area right next to the window.I had two delicious Charlie Parker martinis. We also ordered a pizza which was surprisingly tasty after not expecting much from the reviews. The three of us loved the pizza and drinks.
Our waiter was this young guy that was very attentive. My 63 year old. aunt thought it was very nice of the jazz musicians to acknowledge us through the window. One of the older musicians smiled at us and thanked us for listening. Very sweet gesture.
Great music, service, pizza, and drinks! Very chill and relaxing evening. However, do NOT order the nachos. I may be biased since I've had some of the best nachos in SoCal, but they were so bland. -
Review from Wesley L.
Bowie, MD
1/1/2012
My girlfriend and I paid $105 to eat and be entertained on New Years Eve.
Management was a complete disaster, as they obviously overbooked the already small venue. Employees were mouthing off to disgruntled customers who had all right to be upset at not being fed in 2 hours, and then receiving cold food after the wait. Strangers walked in and took seats from unsuspecting paying customers, and management did nothing about it when I notified them, as it affected when we would ultimately be seated.
We arrived there around 10pm and didn't get seated at a table until 12:30am. The food was incredibly underwhelming, especially the "chicken strips", the mashed potatoes, and the "filet mignon". The desserts available were cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate cake and apple pie. By the time they got to our dessert order, all that was left was carrot cake. Disappointing.
The only bright spots of the venue were the bar/bartender and the band. Great entertainment, but the actual restaurant experience ruined it for us.
IF I were to ever go back, I *refuse* to eat anything, and I definitely am not paying for tickets. -
Review from L S.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/8/2012
I had the same experience of Wesley L. on New Year's Eve, except I was at the 8:00 pm dinner.
The food was cold, service was poor, the restaurant was cold because the heater was broken, and I only got to enjoy about 15 minutes of music before being asked to go next door.
I've reached out to Columbia station via email and by phone, but have yet to receive a response. -
Review from Ashley L.
Washington, DC
12/9/2011
If it wasn't for the food I would give this place 5 stars.
I love this bar. It's an almost hidden jewel among the raging frat party that is Adams Morgan. If it wasn't for the melodious sounds of live jazz oozing through the windows, I might have missed it altogether in the chaos of the late night crowd, but I'm so glad I didn't. Now I'm a regular :-)
The owner also owns the much frattier Heaven and Hell next door, but you can tell that CS is his baby, even though it probably doesn't make him nearly as much money. The place never gets really crowded, and that adds to its intimate feel. During jam sessions on Sundays, the artists will even let you sing with them, if you have the courage!
If you're looking for a venue for great live jazz surrounded by interesting, chill people and friendly bartenders, this is your spot. Come for the music and you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Trevor M.
Brass on the wall.
1st day of Spring,
Hendrick's dirty martini dances on the blue notes
of the setting sun.
Caught between Heaven & Hell
Brick draws mortar to the soul
A cool, cool breeze fills my lungs
Creaking of the floorboards add to the tempo
An older man stands at the bar waiting
His silhouette, a gentle call to the marching of the saints
History bound to the canopy of wood and metal
A heartbeat is but one step found on the journey here
The bass digs deep
Drums set the tone for the afternoon
Piano flies over the rooftops looking for a reason
Guitar gently sings
Steak is greedily eaten
There's more than one kind of music
A young bartender, Max makes his way
earning his craft and still wanting more
He wears his bow tie with confidence
I find happiness with the martini
And the mosaic that is Adams Morgan rings true and clear at Columbia Station.
Hand me another martini
I want to earn my place among the saints
one note and brick at a time. -
Review from Jenipher C.
Washington D.C., DC
6/18/2011
The one-liner: This place is ONLY GOOD FOR A JAZZ-AND-A-DRINK NIGHT, the food is expensive and mediocre.
The reason why I gave it two stars: The first time I went it was just ok and the second time was a terrible experience.
The terrible experience: Ended up at the joint with six other friends and ordered some dinner plus drinks. My dinner basically did not come because as I was informed, once everyone got their food, that "the oven broke so the pizza did not finish cooking". I ordered something else, this ravioli dish. That one ALSO never came, everyone was done eating what they rated as mediocre food (except for the mac and cheese and the crab cake, which were rated as "good") and I was still waiting. Eventually, the chef apologized and brought me the dish, but sadly the ravioli was severely under cooked, leaving my dinner to be a mushy mess of dough and tomato sauce with diced vegetables. I ate it anyway cause I was starving, SIGH.
The conclusion: this place is OVERRATED and all the rave it gets is purely for the jazz. I'd put money on the fact that if they didn't play jazz, they'd go out of business. Seriously, if you must go to this place because IT IS the only one that has jazz in the area, then at least save yourself the trouble of possible disappointing food. Or at least... if you get dragged to this place and MUST eat something, order the mac and cheese only!! stay away from pizzas, or maybe ask them if they got a new oven. -
Review from Mike S.
6/15/2011 ROTD 7/17/2011
I am actually shocked and appalled Columbia Station isn't more popular. It's a cool, relaxed place (that does not need a decor change despite the ramblings of a drunk woman who insisted on calling me "the all-knowing jellyfish"). I am pretty sure its lack of business is due to being overshadowed by Town Tavern right next door. It's a shame because it has free live jazz/blues EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK. If the performers were anything like the guys we heard last night, I will absolutely be returning. Yeah it's a little bizarre that a Yuengling costs the same as a whiskey ginger but hey whatever. I can overlook that for some awesome music all night.
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Review from Melissa R.
Lithia Springs, GA
9/14/2011
Enjoyed the live music and the drinks(particularly the Ella). Please don't go hungry. The food leaves much to be desired. It's not even on the quality of say an Applebee's or a Chilli's. At least at those places, I can find something on the menu to eat. If I were to rate this place on music and drinks alone, the review would be much higher. So, if that's all you're going for, this is a great venue for that.
-
Review from Johnny T.
9/7/2010
I came here for a Heaven & Hell Party (as stated by the chalk sign outside). They were 1/2 right.
Hot. Terrible music. Worse mash-ups. I was shocked (and am in disbelief) that the majority of the sparse crowd was of legal age to get in. I would have left immediately, but two members of my Brosse (why did I say that?) were swooped up by the braces-wearing, Twillight-reading, Hanna Montana-ites who populated this cold and lonely section of Adams Morgan that fateful night.
It's interesting to read other reviews about how grown-up the crowd usually is, how good the music is (jazz? live performances? what? I was 'treated' to Nickelback. A club version of Nickelback.), etc. I am fairly certain that I was punked. The above in NO way sounds like the place I went. It goes to show that a first impression may not be correct but it's certainly lasting. And, yes, I realize Club Heaven & Hell is next door. No, that is not where I went. There was no upstairs. The DJ was set up in the front window. We were at CS. Trust. I made a point to ask the bartender the name of the joint and look at the sign as we left. If my phone wasn't so ghetto, I would have taken a picture. I knew I would have to tell the world of my experience.Listed in: Steppin' Out, Secretary of Awesome
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Review from Steph M.
Long Island, NY
7/14/2010
Ah, Adams Morgan...quite possibly the liveliest part of DC at night. Home to an array of ethnic restaurants, hookah, dive bars, pizza joints and inebriated, rowdy 20 and 30 somethings. Hooray.
Columbia station is the "all grown up" version of your typical adams morgan bar. Like a good cigar, It's tasteful and sophisticated. On most nights, you'll hear calming and melodic live jazz streaming out it's doors like a refreshing cool breeze. All of the performers I've seen here are indeed talented. On the inside, Columbia station is dim, with dark wooden floors and creatively decorated brass french(?) horns on the wall. While slightly minimalistic, I found it comfortable.
I've mostly come for the libations, and Nicole does not disappoint. You'll find her behind the bar with a little voice and a big smile. Tell her what you like and she'll concoct something delicious. If it's not delicious the first time, she'll make something else and crack jokes. I couldn't leave this place without sneaking a hug too, she's too adorable. I haven't eaten much food here, but the menu is by no means "typical bar food". They offer grilled fish, salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches. The smallest late night snacky food I could get was the giant tower of nachos. Seemingly healthy and freshly prepared (no mass processed movie theater cheese here) I dove in and found it delicious. Clearly, ten points as far as nachos go.
When you're hanging out on U, looking for something calmer than the drunken frat party at peyote, and classier than jumbo slice, check out Columbia station. -
Review from Ellie C.
Rego Park, NY
8/21/2011
Great jazz music, friendly atmosphere. The calamari was good and The Ella was a good drink, but too rich.
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Review from Jonathan S.
Washington, DC
9/20/2010
Columbia Station is THE spot for jazz in Adams Morgan. Their Tuesday night weekly is sexy as hell and is the perfect place to lounge and chill with friends over a cocktail. And I say "cocktail" singular (not plural) because the drinks are kind of pricey, but you're paying for the best jazz atmosphere in the neighborhood so if you're looking to stay here, shell it out baby.
Another cool thing to note is that the jazz artists who play here are (for the most part?) all local cats, and sh*t they can THROW DOWN! Very very talented people in a very very hip spot. Go see for yourself, it's one of the very best for live music in the city. -
Review from Grace C.
Paramus, NJ
2/2/2011
5 stars for the jazz ambiance and music. Drinks, not so much. But the adorable gray-haired man rockin the bass, oh sir, you are why I tipped. Keep on rockin!
Overall- a lively place to unwind. -
Review from Gayle G.
Woodbridge, VA
12/1/2006 1 photo
What's this? A jazz spot that isn't on U Street? Why yes..it is!
I would describe Columbia Station as a jazz tavern rather than a jazz club. From the outside, it looks like a train station where you can sometimes see the performers from windows. It has a good amount of space. Inside the candles on the bar and the square lamps on the ceiling give it an intimate vibe. On the light purple walls hang beautifully etched mirrors and cool artwork- sculpted jazz instruments.
For a place with no cover, and it is incredible that the acts are really good! Columbia Station hosts a different act every night, so there is always some kind of jazz going on. The types of acts include a jazz quartet, Brazilian jazz, acoustic swing, Latin jazz and a jazz trio.
If you go, get there early to make sure you get a seat. They serve dinner here. The food runs from comfort (meatloaf, herb chicken) to Cajun. -
Review from Cat P.
Washington, DC
9/9/2009
A friend invited me to go check out some jazz last night at Columbia Station. It was actually very refreshing to be up in Adams Morgan on a weeknight and before midnight! The band was awesome; the tiny lead singer surprised us when she started belting out the tunes with tons of heart.
They have great happy hour specials that last until 9:30; domestic beers were $2! We didn't eat, but they do have seating outside - where you can still hear the music as the entire top half of the main wall opens up.
This may be my new Tuesday spot! -
Review from John G.
Washington, DC
5/28/2008
A hidden gem of a jazz bar in Adams Morgan with live music nightly and no cover charge.
You won't see a variety of big-name acts here, but I've heard solid music every time I've come. It's generally the same groups every week -- the Butch Warren Experience on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, The Primates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and jam sessions on Sundays.
The vibe here is relaxed and friendly, with musicians hanging out on the patio or at the bar between sets and often inviting guest performers to play with them. The barkeep here (I always see the same guy) is friendly, cool, and a little overworked, and the inside has a clean, art-deco-ish decor that makes the place look more classy than dive-y.
One peculiarity of this place is that they don't have any taps for serving beer, they only serve it in bottles. This is a place you come to for the music and the ambience, not the alcohol selection. -
Review from Susie W.
Washington, DC
4/26/2009
I was walking home tonight and heard the tones of jazz coming from these walls and was sucked in completely in grain with my will.
I'm new to DC and I feel like I found a jazz place I can go to regularly and hear solid tunes to bob my head to and celebrate. I love jazz.
Who cares? Bottled beer is good, the staff is definitely overworked and there are some who come in with ice cream, etc, and expect to sit and hear music. Just cause there's no cover doesn't mean you don't have to buy something! It's like paying rent, just do it!
Also, bring bills to tip the musicians. Thank goodness for good, solid art.
I'll try the food at some stage. I'll go back for the jazz anytime. -
Review from alexa c.
Oakland, CA
8/6/2008
Columbia Station is A ok! It was a certainly a great place to add to what turned out to be quite the D.C. bar crawl for me. I particularly liked the older scene and live music.
I had one cocktail before moving on, the staff and adult beverage was just lovely. -
Review from Corinne M.
Washington, DC
8/6/2010
Love me some Columbia Station. Good food. GREAT service! Love it.
P.S. NO MORE DJ -- bring back the jazz! -
Review from smriti k.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2010
Boooooooooooo!!! A small place which deceived us from outside.We assumed they were playing some good Jazz music....NOT!!
As we sat in the dark corner,the man with the trumpet seemed like he was playing some thing good but soon he started screeching with the trumpet.We walked out as soon as we decided not to hurt our ear drums.
This station needs a better band and some lights.There is a high possibility that you might walk in with someone and walk out with someone else.sheesh.
Goodbye Dark station!! :(
-smriti -
Review from mei w.
Washington, DC
9/9/2009
We always walk past this place but never went in, possibly due to its proximity to Heaven & Hell (and the current influx of horrid Real World-ers and associated hangers-on) but we were very pleasantly surprised!
No cover, live jazz, clean interior, DELICIOUS chocolate cake and coffee. Seriously the chocolate cake is actually some kind of amazing ganache...creamy and perfect!
It's smaller than it looks from the outside, so you get an intimate feel and you're very close to the musicians. Cool artwork on the walls as well. We'll definitely be back! -
Review from Xing X.
Arlington, VA
3/3/2010
Wanted a decent dinner followed by some good music in a relaxed setting.
I didn't really mind that we were the only two people there for the longest time or that the amount of customers hit a high point with the arrival of one other couple.
The food was moderate at best. I never thought that I could not enjoy deep fried seafood, but it really wasn't done well. Fish didn't feel fresh. Also, my date barely touched her food.
With that said, the music was great, even on an off Tuesday night.
My breakdown would be:
1.5 stars for food but will add a star for the live music.
If I do return, definitely not going for any food. -
Review from Carson H.
Silver Spring, MD
1/3/2010
I didn't eat, but my company did. They enjoyed the food. I enjoyed the a late Friday night Jazz. It's very rare to find a jazz joint without a cover! Even more rare to find one that makes you drift away into a trance while hanging.
Not a huge fan of the actual decor or ambiance of the place (even though the blue light on the performers is cool) but I guess it helps you focus more on the music. The waiting staff seems very "mom and pop' ish." They are willing to bend over backward to help you even though their selection is VERY limited.
Not a huge fan of the Manhattan I ordered... a little too watered down and crunchy....
Great 2nd date spot if you are going to or coming from somewhere nice. Also a top pick for lovers who want an excuse to head out and snuggle while enjoying a FREE performance.
Don't forget to tip the artists... Just cus its free doesn't mean you should be cheap! -
Review from KD J.
Suitland, MD
1/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yuck
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Review from Sean C.
Arlington, VA
6/23/2008
We stumbled across this place walking around Adams Morgan one Sunday evening looking for live music and a place to eat. There was no cover and live jazz playing. They had a band with several additional musicians cycling in and out as we hung out at the bar. The musicians were all very solid, but not big names. This place reminded me of Smalls in New York. The atmosphere is a little divey, but it's really about the music.
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Review from joseluis a.
Miami Beach, FL
7/3/2008
this place is awesome. i was here last night and i loved it. just like most other reviews say, theres no cover charge and the musicians are all solid. this place reminded me a little bit of wallys cafe in boston.
i went with another couple and we all shared the bill. it came out to 103$ not including tip. we consumed: a tomato and basil pizza, a burger, a rice/seafood dish (delicious!), two vodka martinis, two glenlivets (12.50$ each - ouch!), two other drinks i cant remember and a glass of wine. so we split the bill in 4. so about 30$ each.
i am definitely going back to columbia station, its a great place for a date, a great place to listen to awesome live music and the food is really good. they loose a star because service could have been a little faster, especially the bar.... -
Review from Alexander L.
Washington, DC
2/25/2010
A real gem in the middle of Adams Morgan.
When you're overwhelmed by the crowds of people, cheap beer, and jumbo slice in Adams Morgan, its always a good idea to slip in here and enjoy a little bit of a classier joint. Columbia Station has live jazz every night with a lot of up and coming musicians who are still pretty talented. I really appreciate the lack of cover charge, as sometimes you don't want to stay the whole night. Drinks are moderately inexpensive and range toward the wine/cocktail end. Had a good laugh when a guy next to me ordered a Jaeger bomb and after explaining what it was to the waitress, he got half a rocks glass full of Jaeger, an empty highball glass and a can of Red Bull.
Love the jazz, and the fact that the musicians are very approachable after their sets. Don't forget to tip the musicians! -
Review from Adam M.
New York, NY
7/17/2007
Okay people,
we need to drum up some Yelp love for this place. A great place to grab a drink or to bring a date...while being on the Adams Morgan strip; inside this has a quiet classy feel that removes from the craziness that is Adams Morgan.
There's no cover charge and free live music every night. The Bartender was friendly and the place had a laid back atmosphere. Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Darcee E.
New York, NY
8/26/2009
I just moved to the DC area, but last fall I was visiting my sister and we grabbed dinner in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood. It was an awful dining experience complete with a mad woman who shouted and wouldn't pay her bill. Needless to say, my sister and I were a bit shaken up and were strolling down the sidewalk, hoping to not get too lost on our way to what we thought might be a Metro station, when the sweet sounds of jazz drifted out of a nondescript cafe.
My sister hates jazz, alcohol and nightlife in general, but I managed to drag her inside so I could sit for a few minutes and just listen. A few minutes turned into about an hour, and I enjoyed some delicious vino in the meantime. The atmosphere was so inviting and soothing that she didn't mind staying there. The bartender was very friendly and quick. The patrons were calm and seemed happy and grateful to be listening to such incredible jazz, like me. The musicians were clearly veterans of the scene, and I can't remember what style they played but it was probably close to something like cool jazz (one of my favorite styles). In any case, the experience stands out in my memories of that trip, and more than salvaged what had otherwise been a somewhat miserable evening. -
Review from Debbie S.
Washington, DC
8/30/2009
Went here late one Friday evening after a date that consisted of karaoke, pool, and drinks a plenty. We thought some jazz music at Columbia Station would be a great evening to a fantastic night, but instead we were greeted with LOUD music that made it impossible to hear each other at all and a waitress who couldn't care less about getting us drinks in a timely matter. I'm still searching for my perfect jazz joint....
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Review from Alexandra S.
Alexandria, VA
9/2/2010
Great jazz on Wednesdays (8.30pm - 12.30am) and Saturdays (9.30 - 1.30 am) with amazing musicians including Butch Warren. Highly recommended. No cover and well priced drinks! The combination is unbeatable!!
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Review from Marc E.
Wayne, PA
12/13/2009
Great club, with solid bop-oriented jazz, tasty food, relaxed vibe. Nothing splashy but that's the whole point!
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Review from Spencer V.
Rosslyn, VA
5/6/2009
highly, highly recommend the free weekend jazz sessions. can't say enough good things about them. four hours of jazz played some really talented local musicians, all of whom are nice people as well. there's nothing better (in dc or almost anywhere) than sitting in the patio area taking in the music on a sunny day.
plus, for musicians, they welcome sit-ins. -
Review from Moni F.
Washington, DC
7/11/2009
Quite a charming spot! The music draws you in --unfortunately if you're hungry, the food may run you away. We went on a Sunday afternoon. I tried to play it safe and ordered a pasta dish with chicken, my friend ordered meatloaf with pasta and black bean soup. The soup was basically strained black beans--cold strained black beans. Have you ever heard of meatloaf meatballs?? Yeah--me neither! My friend's meatloaf was actually some tasteless meatballs on top of tasteless pasta. My pasta was really good...well it was really good after I brought it home and added onions, bell peppers, garlic and seasoning, so yeah, i re-cooked it. Bad food aside, the band was great and there's no cover.. I do pan on coming back--after eating somewhere else...
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Review from sean t.
Washington, DC
12/16/2008
so this place stands is such stark contrast to the normal going out scene in AdMo, that it's shocking. a quiet, fun, intimate jazz bar/restaurant that closes relatively early. a fun place - the food isn't spectacular, so don't go super hungry, but the drinks are nice and really the atmosphere is so old school silly just-what-you-think-a-jazz-bar-ought-to-be that if that's what you're looking for - go nuts!
the bar is well stocked, so focus on taking advantage of that.
