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Lil Pub
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants, Pubs [Edit]
655 Pennsylvania Ave SE(between S 6th St & S 7th St)
Washington, DC 20003
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast
(202) 543-5526
- Nearest Transit:
-
Eastern Market Metro Station (Blue, Orange)
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
23 reviews for Lil Pub
Review Highlights
"Don't pass up on the $1 jello shots, they are tastee."
(in 3 reviews)
"...but great prices, great pool tables and jukebox in the back..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Super friendly regulars and very inviting."
(in 8 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Paul M.
9/25/2011
Best Dive Bar in DC bar none.
It is a minor miracle that this place still exists in the rapidly-gentrified-and-yuppified Capitol Hill area.
Incredibly friendly people - I had parked my Caddy directly outside and half the bar came out to look at it and tell me that they had one themselves back in the day. That statement tells you everything you need to know about this magnificent Dive Bar.
Go there soon before they turn it into a sushi bar / micro brewery / artisanal pizza place or whatever. -
Review from Kate h.
Washington, DC
11/6/2011
A great place to have a TERRIBLE time
Terrible, Terrible, Terrible.
5 of my friends and I stopped in for a drink, we all ordered and paid. The woman behind the bar wasn't the nicest, but the drinks were semi-cheap and I assumed she was having a bad evening. I asked her for darts and she said I had to give her $5. When I asked if I could give my ID as a deposit she remarked "Your ID ain't worth shit to me". I gave her a five and when I rejoined my friends a drunk man was rambling to them about nonsense. We didn't want to be rude, so we entertained him for awhile. Half way through our first drink my friend joined us and ordered a water (she was taking antibiotics and couldn't have alcohol). The bartender said that she had to pay for something, but we thought she was joking because there was a large group of us drinking. My friend joined us in the back and a few minutes later the bartender came back and got up in her face, demanding that she order something or leave.
It was too much drama, so we all chugged our drinks and proceeded to leave. On our way out the bartender accused my boyfriend of not paying, ironic because she made such a big deal about us paying with cash before she gave us our drinks. She threw a fit and made a huge scene, yelling at us and threatening to call the cops. We walked out the door and will never return. She really hurt her business because we were expecting another group of friends to meet up with us, and were planning on drinking and spending money there for the entire evening.
To top it off, she was doing a huge dip the entire time. -
Review from Matt B.
Washington, DC
7/27/2011
My buddy and I ordered two beers here. "That'll be $7," the bartender says.
"No, I'm sorry, we said TWO beers."
She hadn't misheard us. -
Review from Jeremy Q.
Washington D.C., DC
6/3/2011
This may be one of the last working class watering holes in DC.
I stopped in yesterday for a couple of drinks while waiting for my wife - Sue, the bartender, was really attentive and welcoming. The crowd was diverse in ethnicity, but all working-class.
I love it and will be back. -
Review from Nate H.
Yeah, it's kind of a dive, but great prices, great pool tables and jukebox in the back, and the friendliest drinkers around!
Don't pass up on the $1 jello shots, they are tastee!Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Summer B.
Alexandria, VA
8/5/2011
Customer service flies over the head of whomever the unfriendly lady in the front is. I walked in, it was pretty empty, and ordered a vodka tonic....she asked for my ID, rudely, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt...then, she asked to see my cash. I stared at her blankly, wondering if she was serious, and she asked again, "I don't serve drinks without knowing you can pay, lady." Now, I badly needed that vodka tonic so I showed her my $20. The vodka tonic was actually really good, which is why the place gets two stars. Soon, a group of obnoxious people came in and sat down...she asked for their IDs, then she took their drink orders and served them. She came back my way and I asked her why she didn't need to see their money and she said, "Oh. You didn't look like you could pay. I don't serve free drinks."
Alas, she lost a lot of business...I've told almost everyone I know to steer clear. -
Review from Ronnie C.
Washington, DC
1/24/2010 ROTD 12/2/2010
My girlfriend and I enjoy getting weird. Reviews of Lil' Pub promised that it would be nurturing and safe environment in which to attain weirdness. Sadly, I fear we could never reach the heights of "weird" that many of Lil' Pub's patrons have already achieved. It would be like trying to direct a movie while David Lynch stood looking over your shoulder. You'll never be David Lynch and you should be ashamed for trying.
Last Saturday, I cried to my girlfriend that we should remove our encrusted pajama pants, put on something even less fancy and investigate the Lil' Pub. Many times had I walked by the Lil' Pub and wondered what sort of romance I could have with it, if only I would lower my standards and give it a chance. Then again, you have to lower your standards pretty far already when going out in Capitol Hill, since the most popular establishment there is Hawk-n-Dove (aka: Club Hawk / Hawk-n-Dance).
The Lil' Pub is refreshing devoid of all the things I hate, like... people. There are about a dozen bar stools, and even they weren't full on a Saturday night. The pub is about the size of a hallway, but you'll never notice. It also clears out pretty early. There were no more than six people in the entire establishment after 1:30. Ahhh, but the people who stay are simply delightful.
Our introduction to one patron involved us overhearing a gentleman at the other end of the bar screaming to the bartender, "Fuck a cat! I went to this girl's house - she had snacks sitting out on the table and the cat was eatin' out the bowls and then she gonna offer those same snacks to me! I got up and left and didn't ever come back. There was cat hair all over the sink and the couch - I had on these nice silk slacks, you know? I ain't trying to sit down on all that. I NEVER went back."
Then he told us a story about when he DID go back and the cat was licking the steaks being prepared for dinner guests. We all agreed that you can't fault the cat for that, but I was assured that it's a simple fact of nature that black people don't have "indoor cats." Then he pointed out that "black people don't care about animals." I conceded that I had seldom seen any non-caucasian put a sweater on an animal. At that moment, we locked eyes and he knew that I understood his soul fully.
The bar has nothing on tap, and some of the bottled beer tastes funny, but don't be prissy - that doesn't matter. There's plenty of rail alcohol and Jell-O Shots! For a dollar! For a single dollar you can get a small cup of Jell-O, and if it's not completely full, the bartender won't charge you for it. Or maybe he just liked us... or hated us. Your experience may vary based on your charisma. So, for two dollars we got two shots a piece. The only downside is that the cups are coated in an unidentifiable species of grease, making them difficult to operate. It's far easier to just accidentally crush them and have to scoop the innards out with your tongue, like a hyena. As we are usually covered in grease too, we didn't inquire further, but the shots were palatable and effective. Maybe?
The back room, which one reviewer promised was a good place to "get weird with friends," was actually disappointingly well-lit and loud, thanks to a jukebox that has not been updated in a couple of decades. That'd be fine, but most of what I heard coming from that box was Phil Collins, Styx and Debbie Gibson. The ability to get weird was also hampered (or enhanced, we couldn't tell) by a video monitor behind the bar that allows the bartender to tell what's going on back there. Would he care if you were selling live narwhals behind the pool table? Probably not, but I don't want him trying to get a cut of my narwhal profits. I'd hire him as my accountant, but the poor guy has trouble doing the math for two $4.25 drinks. Also, I ordered a drink with a twist of lemon and got an orange. I like any place that, like me, doesn't know the first thing about fruit.
If I don't accept the "fuck a cat" guy's invitation to hang out with him at the American Legion bar a couple of blocks away, I'm sure I'll return often to Lil' Pub for its heady blend of eccentric regulars and life affirming atmosphere. Next time, we won't even have to show ID, because now our fates are forever intertwined with that of Lil Pub. This is the best and worst thing I can imagine. -
Review from Erin G.
Washington, DC
2/28/2011
I have never been treated so poorly. Three of us walked in just intending to check this place out, as one of our friends hangs out here regularly. We walked in, and nobody was behind the bar, but Indiana Jones music was playing, so we waited for a little while loving the jams.
After a few minutes, still no service, so I made my way to the bathroom, when a lady yelled at me "Can i see some ID?". As I was not ordering a drink at that specific moment, and had already been sitting at the bar. I was confused, and asked if she was talking to me.
Lady: "Yeah- is anyone else standing over there?"
Me: "well, yes, i'm surrounded by people"
Lady: "Yeah- they've all been here. I'm talking to you"
So I walked back to my friends, gave the lady my id, told them that I changed my mind, and I didn't want a beer anymore, then i went to the bathroom. While I was gone she proceeded to scold my friends about how they should ask before they let their girlfriend use the bathroom. When i came back, she was gone- and had not served my friends the beers they ordered, instead, she went outside to smoke.
Seriously? This is a terrible business model. I think next time you have customers enter your establishment, you should probably serve them. wtf.
I will never step foot in there again, and neither should you. -
Review from alexis g.
Falls Church, VA
9/25/2006
If you live or work in this area (SE Capitol Hill), you've probably passed Lil Pub a zillion times without actually considering going inside. It is "lil," indeed, and marked with an outdated, rather frazzled-looking sign.
Yet this is the type of place I always assume has its "regulars," -- the local barflies of the neighborhood. When I popped in here, it was filled with quite a large crowd of older men and women. This dive bar also has the usual props as well, including a pool table and bar top electronic games.
If they still have this deal, it's happy hour all day and night on Sunday. This could come in handy if you are an alcoholic and it's a three-day weekend. Or not even a three-day weekend. Daily, the happy hour is 3-8 p.m. and includes $2 beer, $2.75 liquor specials.Listed in: My favorite dive bars
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Review from Pam Z.
4/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars Lil Pub is one of those divey neighborhood bars where if I'm bought a drink, I'm not instantly suspicious of a person's motives. It's a solid neighborhood bar, where usually Suzanne (a sweet but sharp older lady bartender) will take good care of you. $1 jello shots, cheap rails, and bottled beer.
Good for early to later evening on a work night. $2 bottle domestics, $2.75 rails, 3-8pm MTWThFSat
It is a pretty small bar in the front, which ironically prevents it from being overcrowded. Two pool tables and darts in the back. Gay friendly, but not exclusive. Sometimes it can be an odd cast of regulars but they're friendly and interesting.
Cheap food (nothing hot served here last I remember), cheap drinks, and location keep me swinging by here once in a while. The local regulars (alcoholics?) are a very laid back and welcoming bunch, so sit down at the counter and drown your sorrows/share your story with a fellow patron. -
Review from Bee F.
Washington, DC
5/24/2011 8 Check-ins Here
It's like Cheers, but on the 'Hill! My type of bar, friendly people and cheap drinks! Let's not mention, I've been practically going here since I was a kid (not drinking though...lol) My grandma use to take me here when they served lunch. Those lunches were good too. One might think this place is a lil sketchy, it's not. It's YOU. If you like friendly people, cheap GOOD drinks, and trash talking --- this is your spot.
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Review from Laura D.
Gaithersburg, MD
5/15/2011
Tons of fun. If you write down the correct answer during Final Jeopardy, you get a free beer. If you write down the wrong answer during Final Jeopardy, you get a free beer. Who doesn't love those rules? Super friendly regulars and very inviting.
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Review from Chuq Y.
5/10/2008 3 Check-ins Here
The Lil Pub is a bunch of local regulars. There is a pool league (APA) there on Monday and Thursday nights, and there are usually some pool shooters there.
Not quite sure what night Casey A. went there. The jukebox is loud, and it's a dive.
The people that hang out there are all pretty nice, but make sure you bring your ID if you go. You will probably not get served if you don't, and you might get some attitude if you cop and attitude about your id.
The regulars all know each other so you might feel outta place for the first like 10 times you go there. -
Review from Jose M.
Washington, DC
1/12/2010
Divey, divey diveness.
If you, by chance, run into John Waters and feel like buying him a drink, take him to Lil Pub. He'll feel right at home. The place is full of general misfits, the homeless, cross-dressers, gays and other general GLBTers who don't fit in with the Dupont crowd.
The place is solely interested in their local clientel. When newcomers walk in they are generally eyed suspiciously and the barkeep will immediately demand to see some ID.
You will not speak to anyone in this bar whose vocal chords don't crustily demonstrate the ravages of smoke damage. That said, I almost always find the crowd to be pretty amiable. I've gotten involved in a few games of pool with strangers and always had a good time. Used to be that they watched Jeopardy every afternoon and gave out free drinks to anyone who got final jeopardy right. Not sure if they still do that...
They have nothing on tap, just a few cheap bottled beers and coctails. Every once in awhile they have random food, usually not, though. And yes, the jello shooters legend is true. -
Review from Jess D.
Chicago, IL
4/14/2010
While visiting DC I was told I had to look this place up and it would be just my style. This is very true.
Old man bar full of weirdo regulars, a loud obnoxious bartender, and a good beer selection. The bartender carded my 40-something companion and when he guffawed she said "you're old enough to know you should carry your ID, now show me!" She was a riot.
Only complaint was when I went out to smoke and put a coaster on my drink. This is the universal sign for "I WILL BE RIGHT BACK" and she tossed my more than half full beer away. When I came back and gave her the "WTF" look she promptly bought me a new, more expensive beer.
Needless to say, this bar may have something to do with my love of DC. -
Review from Larry G.
Capitol Heights, MD
5/10/2009
Interesting little pub filled with local and faithful patrons. Everyone there seemed to know each other. However, I can see if it was a busy night that this place could be somewhat claustrophobic.
My friends and I came here just to hang out before going out to another place.
Oh yeah...jello shooters are available! And, Lil Pub makes 'em good! -
Review from Christopher M.
Washington, DC
5/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Awesome dive, Jello shots. What the hell else do I need to say? Went in with some coworkers after work; needless to say, we sat around and drank/did jello shots and cracked dirty jokes. Oh and this place is cheap; 11 people, $150.00 tab. Definitely go if you like a good dive.
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Review from Venu N.
9/15/2009
3.25 stars. A bevy of older regulars patronize this otherwise unremarkable bar located in the heart of Eastern Market. The moniker is a slight misnomer. While the front of the bar might be slightly claustrophobic, the remainder of the bar is actually surprisingly vast. The bar offers $1 shooters served courtesy of an older lady bartender. The beer selection blows, but the bar does have at least have a moderate amount of liquor readily available for those who avoid beer. The service is friendly, and the jukebox might be my new best friend. If you are in the mood for a night of drinking without complications (i.e. you have zero interest in whether other patrons are photogenic), then you will likely enjoy this charming pub. This would be a 4 star experience but for the unfortunate beer selection.
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Review from Stephen N.
Washington, DC
11/20/2009
Those flaunting a full compliment of teeth and recently laundered clothing need not enter.
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Review from Christopher C.
Washington, DC
5/21/2009
I'm not sure if the Li'l Pub is a gay-friendly straight bar or a straight-friendly gay bar. Whichever may be the case, it has a motley collection of friendly (generally older) regulars. Housed in one of the former Little Taverns with the distinguishing green tile rooves that dot DC, it isn't much to look at, and it's certainly a dive, but has a well worn feeling and with the pool area in the back, but it's bigger than it looks from the outside. They used to have cheap drafts, but apparently have discontinued this; maybe it was too much trouble to keep the lines clean. In any event, they have cheap bottles of what you'd expect from a dive, with Yuengling being at the high end, and they do serve comfort food like meatloaf, although I haven't tried the food myself.
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Review from Casey A.
Philadelphia, PA
4/29/2008
Oh Lil Pub, they don't make em like you anymore.
This place is a skeezy dive. When alcoholics have been turned out at other bars, I'm convinced they come here to watch "The Nanny" with the sound off at the bar. So what's so good about this place?
First, the books. The back room has a bunch of bookcases stocked with old, tacky romance novels, science textbooks, bad mysteries and some scattered self help books. It's great.
Second, they've got two pool tables and they're rarely in use.
Third, in the back room of Lil Pub, there is no law! Seriously, you're just in another room, but you could run a back alley abortion business there and I'm sure the bartender up front wouldn't notice. A good place to get weird with friends. Check it out. -
Review from Jim C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/28/2010
No false advertising here... It's definitely l'il, and it's most certainly a pub in all of its divey goodness.
Unassuming atmosphere, friendly people (I'm looking at you, Mr. Man with the collection of St. Patty's day hats and the camera), and they even serve booze! How about that! -
Review from Brian B.
Washington, DC
10/8/2009
Cool and friendly place. I rarely go though because it's cash only. Who carries cash anymore? :0)
