WASHINGTON — It’s nice to unwind after a long week with good friends and good drinks, but it’s not so nice getting elbowed by strangers while vying for a busy bartender’s attention, just to order an overpriced beverage.

The D.C. area boasts a lot of trendy spots, but sometimes trendy doesn’t cut it. Sometimes, the thought of hitting a new spot and standing in line for half an hour in the cold, just to pay a $10 cover, is more exhausting than exhilarating. And sometimes, your bank account is begging for more jumbo slice and Netflix rather than Rose’s Luxury and a show at Ford’s Theatre.

But there’s a happy medium and that’s where these quirky, inexpensive spots come in. From the promise of ooey-gooey grilled cheeses to local art and music, these bars demand to be experienced at least once.

Seriously, your wallet and your Instagram will thank you.

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