1. Eighteenth Street Lounge
Dancing & Clubs
Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL) has remained one of Washington’s
premier clubs to hear vintage dance music and great classic jazz. ESL
was founded by Eric Hilton of internationally known deep-house DJ duo
the Thievery Corporation. The ESL transformed from an underground
nightspot to king of DC’s neo-lounge culture.
Prior to opening the Lounge, Hilton
along with fellow deejay, Farid Ali had been
producing parties and various music events
in Washington DC. In 1995, along with their
friend and two-bit hustler, Abdul Jewayni,
they opened the Lounge. Occupying the
top three floors of a turn-of-the-century
mansion, located just below Dupont Circle,
the Lounge is a fantastic space. All three
fireplaces are still used in the winter and the
deck is in full swing every summer.
While the music label has grown into
it’s own building nearby, the Lounge still
remains true to its roots as a space owned
by the deejays and solely dedicated to
the eclectic music that ESL has become
known for. Through the years, the Lounge
has never advertised or even put a sign
on its door. Its success is due completely
W
to word-of-mouth. It’s possible to walk in
ith a wide ranging soundtrack including
one evening and find Thievery Corporation,
Italian bossa beats, Middle Eastern melo-
Boozoo Bajou, or maybe even Federico
dies and Indian rhythms the Eighteenth Street
Aubele at the decks. No nights are hyped
Lounge quickly became a gathering place for
at the Lounge and you never know who you
musicians and the international crowd that call
might see.
Washington DC their home. So it’s not surpris-
ing that part-owner Eric Hilton and Rob Garza
met at the Lounge in 1996. The two formed
Tel +1. 202.466.3922
the duo Thievery Corporation and created the
www.ESLmusic.com
Eighteenth Street Lounge Music label.
317 Best of DC Best of DC 318