Adventures in Café-Hopping

Café Saint-Ex and Bar Pilar tout fusion food and cozy cool

French aviator/author Antoine de Saint-Exupery cut a dashing figure. So it doesn't seem surprising that one of Logan Circle's buzziest res­taurants, Cafe Saint-Ex (1847 14th St.) takes its inspiration from the adventurous dude who penned "The Little Prince" and zipped around the world in a biplane.

The worldly spirt of its name­sake pulses through the joint, from the Franco-American bistro food (pea-shoot salad, fried green tomato sandwiches) to the Belgian-brew- heavy beer list. Downstairs, travel signs and old movie theater seats fill the basement-level Gate 54, where the young and fashionable flirt and jam to DJs on weekend nights.

While tables are in high demand during brunch, the spot feels like "Cheers" on weeknights. "I like the friendly atmosphere and the beer on tap," said Arlington's Gary Kennedy, who works nearby. Saint-Ex's popularity led owner Mike Benson to open Bar Pilar (1833 14th St. NW). And yeah, Ernest Hemingway, another sophis­ticated man of letters, inspired this spot, too.

-- Jennifer Barger