Lounge 201

The Scene: Capitol Hill has plenty of bars packed with interns and low-paid staffers seeking cheap beer at happy hour. For something a little more refined, there's Lounge 201, a swanky Senate-side hideaway with fishbowl-sized martinis, pool tables, a sweeping bar and large leather booths. The crowd is, as you might expect, a little older than the folks swilling frozen margaritas around the corner at Union Pub, but it's still a Hill crowd, so expect to see people with laminated badges and briefcases talking politics after work.

In Your Glass: Classic cocktails like the Sidecar or a peachy Bellini share space with funkier concoctions like the Jamaicatini (coconut and citrus with mango puree) and the usual variations on a cosmopolitan. The glasses are huge -- 10 ounces -- and prices reflect this: Expect to pay $12 for a name brand. Bartenders can be inconsistent, though, so that great dry martini might not wow you the second time around.

On Your Plate: Appetizer and small plates dominate the short menu, with flatbread pizzas far outpacing everything else.

Need to Know: Like much of Capitol Hill, 201 takes a break on weekends, closing Saturday and Sunday. Also, the large back room, which has sofas and its own bar, is often closed for private events.

Nice to Know: While there's technically a dress code barring sneakers and t-shirts, but I've gotten in wearing that combo after work.

Price Points: Martinis are in the double digits, so take advantage of happy hours on Monday ($3 beers and half-price flatbread pizzas) and Tuesday (half-off on selected martinis.

-- Fritz Hahn (July 2006)