Bar #46 – Chief Ike’s Mambo Room

Chief Ike’s Mambo Room is by far my favorite dance club in Adams Morgan.  To be fair it is really a cross between a dive-bar and a dance club.  Who can complain? $3 PBRs, rarely a cover and music you can’t help but dance to.

My favorite thing about Chief Ike’s is the clientele.  This particular night included:

• Our crowd – drunks with glow-in-the-dark bracelets (it was my b-day and glow-in-the-dark bracelets were a must)

• A bachelorette party – in standard Adam’s Morgan wear, dresses and heels

• The guy who thinks he can dance – teaching me several new moves that I’m excited to use

• The group of nerdy white boys who know they can’t dance

• And the more general crowd of folks looking to get down in a relaxing environment

We arrived around 10 on a Saturday night and things were just picking up.  Upstairs people were playing pool and a lonely DJ was spinning some beats.  Several shots and drinks later the music downstairs had us grooving.  The music was a mix of top 40 and 90’s and 2000’s hip hop/R&B jams (the DJ will not take requests).

Chief Ike’s is named after President Eisenhower.  The murals throughout the bar portray Ike as an Indian war chief.  This was the first time I really noticed these clever murals.

Side note: It is worth checking out Chief Ike’s during the week.  The bartenders are friendly and you’ll have the opportunity to check out the fish tank behind the bar.