#10: PS 7's

Chinatown's PS 7's reeled me in with its 4pm-close Monday happy hour and kept me around with its perfectly balanced atmosphere.  Matt and I stopped in after work and were offered a pair of comfy chairs separated by a table in the front of the lounge area.  It was so refreshing to be greeted by a hostess who didn't immediately interrogate us over how much we'd be eating/drinking/spending, but instead seated us in a no-fuss, laid-back way.  The other side of the restaurant had tables for dinner, but we wanted to soak up the happy hour vibe our first time through.

Yelp reviewers warned that it would get crowded, but the Monday crowd was exactly what I would want after work.  We were in an energetic room full of people standing around tall tables and sitting at the bar - no one was pushing past anyone else and we felt no pressure to give up our prime real estate by our waiter or other patrons.  In addition to a cool vibe, it was, simply put, pretty.  PS 7's didn't seem like it was trying too hard with decor, heavy music or barely-there lighting.  It was inviting, comfortable and spacious - a rarity in the DC happy hour world.

(Lifted from http://www.nightclub.com/bar-management/alcohol-free/hold-alcohol-not-flavor)

I always love when happy hours have food discounts that are desirable, as opposed to light, unsatisfying fare.  Monday was half-price burger night, so we dove into those and some spicy salami popcorn that our waiter recommended.  Both were delicious.  I drank one of their punches while Matt got something more complicated from the menu.  We loved all of the visuals behind the bar: huge jars of pickled vegetables and house-infused liquors.  PS 7's drink menu kept Matt interested for quite some time, so I knew it was a good pick.

Overall, PS 7's had a great vibe for a happy hour - soft lighting that wasn't so dim that we couldn't see each other, an energetic crowd that wasn't overwhelming, and music that didn't overpower the room.  Factor in a happy hour that actually discounts its prices?  Sold!

Location: 777 I Street, NW
Closest Metro Stop: Gallery Pl-Chinatown (green/red/yellow), though it's a quick jump to Metro Center (blue/orange/red) also
Cost: $4 burgers, $7 punch, $10 cocktails