Ben R: Real Lao food. Be adventurous, it's worth it. Can't miss: naem khao (crispy rice), any grilled meat (ping), sai oua (sour sausage), than mak hong (Lao papaya salad, funkiness at its best).
banafsheh ghassemi: If you miss that little wine bar in the middle of a neighborhood in Barcelona or Paris, you may have found a close cousin here. Food, cocktails, etc are top notch & they won't break the bank. Love it!
NightScene: This neighborhood, hole in the wall bar, is the oldest operating bar in the District. Cash only bar, and decent prices, its the definition of dive bar. Hipster haters beware