Want to hear local musicians while enjoying a craft cocktail, bar munchies or even a three-course dinner? Look no further than these Arlington-area restaurants and watering holes, all of which host live tunes. Whether you’re in the mood for a chill acoustic set, a raucous dueling piano night or a boisterous cover band, you’ve got options.
Ballston Local
In addition to its monthly open mic night and weekly Singo (musical bingo), Ballston Local hosts double-header shows on Saturdays. Order a burger with skinny fries or a New York-style pizza and find your jam with acts ranging from D.C. cover band Two Car Living Room to the Arlington dad band Manther. You can keep tabs on happenings through the restaurant’s website. 900 N. Glebe Road (Ballston)
Bronson Bierhall
The bar may be German-style, but the performances here run the musical gamut. Check the calendar to see who’s taking the stage on any given night. Upcoming musicians include Mackenzie Ryan, an acoustic artist who covers rock, pop and country songs, and Howling at the Earth, a three-piece alternative/indie rock band with Midwest emo influences. Fridays bring a special treat—Shake Rattle & Roll, an all-requests dueling piano performance. All of the lineups pair well with a blue crab pretzel or sausage and Brussels sprouts pizza and a crisp lager. 4100 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
The Celtic House
Stop by this friendly pub on the Pike for live music on Friday and Saturday nights, plus traditional Irish session music on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. All the happenings are listed on the bar’s website, which also lists a menu of Irish eats, such as corned beef and cabbage and shepherd’s pie. Who says these things are just for St. Paddy’s Day? 2500 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
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Clare and Don’s Beach Shack
Known for its fish tacos, orange crushes, fried gator and shrimp baskets, David and Rebecca Tax’s tropical bar gives summer vibes all year long. The ever-evolving music lineup includes everything from blues outfits and mellow acoustic sets to cover bands. Check the website to see who’s up next on the colorful cantina’s indoor and outdoor stages. 130 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Dogwood Tavern
This Little City pub has live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, plus the first Tuesday of each month, when Tyler Goldstein performs as part of Dogwood’s Rockin’ Raw Bar. Find your groove with an order of oysters, the French Onion Burger or Virginia Ham Mac & Cheese. Stay current on the lineup on their website. 132 W. Broad St., Falls Church
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Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant
Freddie Lutz’s glittering cabaret is many things, but rarely is it quiet. The “gay, straight-friendly” bar on Crystal City’s 23rd Street Restaurant Row is known for karaoke and kitsch, but it also hosts plenty of other music-centric events each week, including drag shows, Saturday Dance Night and a jazz brunch. Check the Facebook page for details. 555 23rd St. S., Arlington (Crystal City)
JV’s
Their motto is “ageless charm without yuppie bastardization.” That about sums up the vibe of this longtime (75+ years) establishment on Route 50 near Seven Corners. Feed your appetite with homey options like pork chops, meatloaf and strawberry-rhubarb pie while jammin’ to live blues, country and rock and roll. Keep an eye on the music calendar on their website for the latest. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Neutral Ground
Chef David Guas introduced this bewitching McLean restaurant as a neighborhood place to gather and relax, and quickly added a Sunday Jazz Brunch in support of that goal. Les Quatre Boulevardiers keeps the mood classy while guests dig into pecan sticky buns and chicken-fried steak and sip strawberry-mint spritzers on Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Open Road
Visit the Merrifield location of this friendly tavern to catch acoustic performances by singer-guitarist Spike Burton (Aug. 2) and other DMV artists. The wide-ranging menu includes all manner of bar munchies (including a dozen kinds of wings), entrees (filet tips pasta, anyone?) and salads, plus proper cocktails, beer and wine. 8100 Lee Highway, Falls Church
Ragtime
You may hear a bit of actual ragtime at this New Orleans-style barroom, but you can also catch plenty of other genres, including Americana and blues. Bookmark the calendar to check out who’s on deck, as the schedule is packed four or five days a week. A sister restaurant of music-centric Dogwood Tavern, William Jeffrey’s Tavern and Rhodeside Grill, Ragtime also hosts a Bourbon Street brunch on weekends. 1345 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington (Courthouse)
The Renegade
For proof that this come-as-you-are bar is into music, look no further than its built-in 20-foot stage, which welcomes cover bands and original artists from the DMV and beyond on weekends and select weeknights. See who’s up next on their website, and save your appetite for globally inspired bar snacks ranging from Filipino-inspired lumpia to Jamaican jerk chicken. 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub
The menu’s got Irish classics, but the entertainers bring a range of musical of genres to this Shirlington pub. Put your listening ears on for guitarist Rocky Guttmann and the bluesy Lenny Burridge. Find out who’s playing each month on their website. And if you work up an appetite, order the shepherd’s pie empanadas or ribeye meatloaf. 2800 S. Randolph St., Suite 110, Arlington (Shirlington)
Settle Down Easy
This Merrifield microbrewery offers plenty of tasty suds, including the Sweet Scoville Sting, a honey jalapeño ale, and the signature Dry Hopped Kölsch. It’s also home to a weekly open mic night and other fun events, such as Music Bingo on Fridays. Follow the brewery’s Facebook page for details on upcoming shows. 2822 Fallfax Drive, Falls Church
Westover Market & Beer Garden
The musical guests are as eclectic as the beer in this intimate outdoor performance space adorned with picnic tables and twinkling lights. Grab a pint of whatever is on tap (you’ll find 10 options inside and another six in the garden proper), pair it with one of 11 sandwiches and rock out or chill out. For the latest lineup, check their website. 5863 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover)