Archibald's is a fun place to...

Archibald's is a fun place to kill a couple of hours, once your expectations are calibrated. As noted by many others, D.C. strip club rules are very stringent. As a 20-year resident, new club licenses are almost impossible to obtain, and those who do have licenses must operate under very strict rules--no dancer contact, no lap dances, no VIP rooms; you get the drift. My advice is, surrender to the suck and enjoy a club like Archibald's for what it offers: cool, dark surroundings in the middle of a hot D.C. afternoon; attractive nude dancers (most of whom have personalities) who will hang out with you, and decent food and alcohol service. I visited for lunch on Friday. Karen (the bartender) was appealing and friendly. Food--sports bar menu and pricing--was pretty good, actually better than six months ago. There were five dancers on shift, a mix of ages (20-30), ethnicities, and body types, but all were fit and (thankfully) no obvious surgical enhancements. Each danced for three songs or so on a main stage--the smaller back stage was closed--and then circulated for tips after their set. Polite, not pushy, and willing to join you for a drink. A relaxing 90-minute vacation from the Washington grind.

The physical plant hasn't changed in many years: upscale commercial neighborhood near major hotels, a long, narrow club down a flight of stairs, bar along one wall, tables and booths along the other, with the main stage in the center. The club is busier at night, with a younger crowd. The daytime shift is more laid-back, with most patrons (myself included) being older business types escaping from the office. Over the years, I have found the club to deliver a consistent experience. As long as you're not expecting Vegas (or even Baltimore), Archibald's is worth a visit.