Part of the fun in going to a professional sports event is the pregame and postgame experience.

The Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Wizards and Mystics, is surrounded by lively sports bars and restaurants in Penn Quarter and Chinatown. You can spend time there before the game, to watch the game, or to celebrate a Washington victory afterward!

If you don’t have tickets to watch athletes John Wall, Bradley Beal, Sam Dekker, Elena Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver, or Monique Currie in person, then have fun watching the game at one of the places on our list!

And if you decide last minute you want to see the two teams play live in action, then check out our #FrayLife Tip at the end of the article for the best app to grab Washington sports tickets!

Pregame/Postgame

Rocket Bar

714 7th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

Located steps from the Capital One Arena, Rocket Bar is an awesome spot for pregaming or postgaming Wizards and Mystics games. This Chinatown basement bar has a very reasonably priced beer menu for DC, making it an ideal spot to hang before or after a game. The bar also has fun games to play, including pool, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, and darts.

#FrayLifeTip: Make sure you fill up on food before you arrive. No food is served at this bar. Happy hour is Monday to Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Iron Horse Tap Room

507 7th St. NW

Washington, DC 20004

A straight shot from the Capital One Arena is Iron Horse, a craft beer bar with arcade games that has three different levels. With how spacious the levels are, it’s easy to get a drink! Iron Horse has more than 20 drafts and a selection of wine and spirits. Get your game on before the game with Skee-Ball, shuffleboard, Pac-Man Battle Royale, Megatouch, and more!

#FrayLifeTip: The food at Iron Horse is limited, with pizza by the slice and giant warm pretzels as your only options, but they allow you to bring your own food from outside restaurants or get food delivered!

Clyde’s of Gallery Place

707 7th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

If you’re from the DC area, it’s likely you have been to one of the Clyde’s locations. Clyde’s is a DC staple and just so happens to be a good place for pre- and post-basketball drinking and eating. Clyde’s has a wide selection of food and alcohol. If you’re looking for a solid dinner before heading to the game, this is a great place to go.

#FrayLifeTip: After the game, enjoy 50% off all raw bar items 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.!

Where to Watch the Game

Penn Commons

700 6th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001
Located just feet away from the Capital One Arena, Penn Commons is a great place to grab a quick bite and drink before a Washington basketball game. It’s a trendy American tavern that serves food like Korean BBQ pork ribs, poutine, shrimp and grits, sandwiches, and much more. Got postgame munchies? Penn Commons has a late-night menu, and all items on it are $7.

#FrayLifeTip: If you don’t have game tickets, don’t fret. You don’t have to miss any action at Penn Commons, with their 12 large screens!

City Tap House Kitchen & Craft

901 9th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

City Tap House is a spacious bar in Penn Quarter that prides itself on providing a craft experience, from the intricate details of the beer menu and the local ingredients used in their delicious meals to the perfect customer experience. This is a relaxed place with a rustic atmosphere, and they have many flat-screen TVs for you and your friends to watch the game on!

#FrayLifeTip: If you’re also a Caps fan (which you should be), stop in 2 hours before the puck drops to enjoy $4 Victory Home Grown Lager beer.

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern

639 Indiana Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20004
This place has good bar food and 35 TVs to watch your favorite Washington basketball players. What more do you need? Penn Quarter always has a lively atmosphere during a game, perfect for any die-hard sports fan. Grab a beer; order a burger, tacos, sandwich, or whatever you’re in the mood for; and watch the Wizards and Mystics do their thing!

#FrayLifeTip: Watch the game cozied up to one of the 3 TVs on the heated patio!

One last Wizards and Mystics #FrayLife Tip for you: If you’re sitting at a bar watching the game (even after it has started) and decide last minute you want to go, check out the app Gametime for inexpensive last-minute tickets. Just pick which event you’re going to, and the app will immediately show you seat options on a full-stadium view. Once you purchase the tickets, they will be delivered straight to your phone!

View More Articles By Briana Florez