Dive into Dan's

© Heath Gordon / RumBum.com

There are not many true dive bars left in Washington, D.C, and Dan's Café is one of them. Located at the beginning of the Adam's Morgan district within walking distance of the U Street Metro, it is very easy to miss if you don't know what you are looking for. I walked past it 3 times before I found it. Why? Because it's front door is plywood, the windows are covered with wire mesh, and its signage is in fading paint.

And the inside isn't much better. If you are a woman, you will get hit on by the bouncer that is sitting on the stool that is far too low. Moving in, your eyes will take a while to adjust because of the lack of notable light, but when they do, you will find yourself in a bar that could easily be in any movie where a man, down on his luck, contemplates life over something brown. There is a pool table, and if the bartender is in a good mood, you can play a game for a dollar.

Better hope you got there early, because there is not much sitting room. Dan's Café can sit maybe 20. The prime seats are near the jukebox, which has not been updated since the mid-nineties. Despite the fact that the establishment is owned by African Americans, you will most likely hear the best pop hits from nearly two decades ago. There are no license plates, no ironic signs, none of the visual noise that seems to be a staple of bars these days. It's just plain wood paneling. If you weren't in the epicenter of DC nightlife, you would fear for your life. In this situation, though, it is comforting to drink without pretension.

Decore aside, what really makes this bar unique is its drink selection. First off, this place is cash only. There is an ATM at the Ben & Jerry's across the street, but plan ahead. You don't order drinks at Dan's Café. You choose the liquor that you want from the wall behind the bar, then you order the mixer that you want. When you have paid, the bartender will give you a couple glasses and a bucket of ice, so it's up to you to create your own drink. They don't sell beer. If you are not a fan of liquor and mixers, this may not be your bar. The best way to deal with this odd system is to have one person at a time buy a round. Use the leftover change to buy your favorite Michael Jackson tune from the jukebox.

Given all this, why should you bother going to Dan's? Because out of all of the bars in DC, it's got the most character. Inside, you are reminded that the city is always changing, that this year's ghetto may be tomorrow's hipster joint.  So, sidle up, buy a bottle and split it with your friends.