La’ Shukran is its own self-contained world, a place to go when you want to forget you’re in DC and lose yourself in a Levantine salon with exceptional small plates, and the feeling that at any moment a dance party could break out and not end until dawn. Plates of hummus with beef tongue or escargot dot most tables, and an entire menu of cocktails made with arak are churned out from behind the bar.

Sushi by Bou is where omakase meets disco—a combination as unexpected as a parking spot near the National Mall, but way more fun. Once you make it up to the rooftop of the CitizenM Hotel at L’Enfant Plaza, the elevator doors slide open to reveal a stunning Capitol view and a blast of ’70s nostalgia, complete with orange zebra pillows, disco ball lights, and stools that look like they belong in a high-end roller rink. The omakase is only $65 (before drinks), and you get 12 pieces of nigiri.

Izakaya means “stay-drink-place,” and that’s exactly what you’ll want to do at this small plates Japanese restaurant. Unlike other spots on this list, don’t expect live entertainment, but do expect a surprisingly awesome ‘80s world disco soundtrack, fantastic hibiscus-mandarin drinks, and immaculate small plates like smokily charred chicken wing skewers and homestyle wagyu curry.

Friday nights at Akeno Sushi Bar and Thai are the epitome of a good time. Grab your group of friends for a round of drinks from the restaurant's tiki-bar-esque cocktail menu and momentarily escape the looming threat of political unrest that hovers over the city like a dark cloud. The setting is an ideal backdrop for spending mindless hours sipping on matcha sours and lavender gin fizz while downing impeccably crafted soft shell crab tempura.

Dining at The Bazaar feels like a José Andrés meets Willy Wonka fever dream. Lush cathedral arches and grand crystal chandeliers illuminate cherry blossom trees in full bloom—indoors—at the Spanish restaurant inside the Waldorf Hotel. Drinks displayed in clouds of dry ice are delivered to guests wearing dark wash jeans and $30,000 watches. Creative, quirky tapas like the cotton candy foie gras (great) and dragon fruit ceviche (not so great) float to each table.

El Presidente is a show-stopping Mexican restaurant in Union Market bursting with animated sharks, crustaceans, and peculiar one-eyed creatures set against red and blue walls. Needless to say, it’s quite over the top. Brought to us by the owners of Le Dip, it’s the perfect place to have a fun night out with friends, or impress a few out-of-town guests. Whoever you’re with, start by sharing the spicy blue-crab guacamole and the savory tuna tostada—actually, you might want to order a few of those.

DC isn’t Miami, but at Royal Sands, you can get a bit of that South Beach swag. Stop by the pool bar when you first come in to check out the premade cocktails and some pretty good sushi rolls. On weekends, expect the pool—and nearby umbrella tables—to be full, as a DJ spins from the lifeguard booth. Things move a bit slower at the upstairs bar, where a dusky Miami sun never sets, and friends laugh over drinks around a cabana-style bar.

Some dinners require you to bring the entertainment, but at Pineapple & Pearls dinner is the entertainment. The Capitol Hill American restaurant offers a $350 tasting menu tailor-made for the high rollers in your life. The four-course choose-your-own-adventure menu comes with a bunch of surprises. We won’t ruin it, but one thing Pineapple & Pearls does is give you an experience. The food is great, but it’s really about the party that the staff is throwing.

The Park at 14th has four floors where you’ll find people day drinking endless mimosas on Saturday afternoon or swinging through to watch the night's big fight. Either way, the downtown clubstaurant is shoulder-to-shoulder with folks jockeying for bar space while listening to the most popular rap and R&B music from the last three decades. If you want to sit, make a reservation in advance, but if there’s a special event going on, know that your table time will be limited.

Despite its name, Toki Underground isn’t actually underground. But this H Street ramen shop is far from ordinary. Inside, there’s a bar decked out in comics and walls covered in street art—picture a 16-year-old’s dream bedroom. The grungy decor, long lines, and tiny space make dining here feel like DC’s hottest event. With room for just 20 people, everyone is packed in tight. And while most are coming for the ramen, the noodle dishes and dumplings are just as good.

Dining at Omakase at Barracks Row isn’t just about enjoying top-notch sushi (though that’s really great too). It’s about the entire experience: You and 13 guests will be cozied up at the bar, sharing the journey as the staff and chef guide you through each dish. You’ll find yourself mingling with neighbors, toasting to birthdays and anniversaries—all with plenty of specialty sake to go around.

Bohemian Rhapsody and lo mein go together real good at Wok and Roll, where you can belt out karaoke hits while chomping down on Chinese and Japanese favorites like beef and broccoli, and sushi (hence the name). The restaurant is small, with a bar and some wooden tables, but there are also private rooms at the Chinatown spot where you can sing your heart out for $40 an hour. They run a lot of karaoke specials during the week, like BOGO hours Monday and Tuesday, so check those out before you go.