The Malt Shop

Step back in time to Washington's sleepier days with a stop at the Malt Shop. This old-fashioned sports bar located above the Dancing Crab restaurant in Tenleytown will certainly take you back at least a couple of decades, if not more.
About as low-key and laid-back as a bar can possibly be, the Malt Shop's worn Formica tables, low ceilings and wood-paneled walls provide a perfect backdrop for downing some suds, chatting with pals and checking out sports for old and young alike.
On any given night expect to see a wide range of clientele, anyone from groups of American University students to middle-aged and even elderly men. Drinks are very affordable – most beers are $3 and even cheaper during happy hour, which runs Monday through Saturday, 4 to 7 p.m. Although affiliated with the Dancing Crab, the food at the Malt Shop comes off the bar menu and is standard sports bar fare: burgers, fries, sandwiches and daily specials. If you want crabs, head downstairs.

– Dwight Thompson