Line dancing, bull riding and booze: Inside D.C.'s new honky tonk bar
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Country Western bar Desert 5 Spot opens by Union Market. Photo: Courtesy Heather Willensky
Grab your cowboy hat — Desert 5 Spot, a country western bar, just opened near Union Market.
Why it matters: D.C. finally has a spot for line dancing, bull riding and live country tunes.
The vibe: Honky-tonk with Hollywood polish. Backed by Ten Five Hospitality — the group behind D5 in NYC and LA — this is their biggest yet:
- Two floors, dual music stages, a rooftop "cactus garden."
- A DJ booth made from a vintage Chevy truck.
- Yes, a mechanical bull.
The music: Pro. Actor/singer Shawn Parsons (from NYC's D5) leads the house band. Scouts are busy booking talent from Nashville-to-Richmond.
- "We're trying to find people who not only are talented musicians, but have a soul and personality," Ten Five's Dan Daley (a Georgetown alum) tells Axios.
The intrigue: Line dancing is having a moment (even in buttoned-up D.C.). Weekly shindigs — which have drawn lines and waitlists at other D5 Spots — start soon.
- "I think that it's very inclusive and fun" says Daley of the trend. "Anyone can jump in, no partner required."
Eat & drink: Jean-Georges alum chef Thomas McKenna dishes up Nashville hot chicken, wood-smoked ribs and skillet cornbread.
- Drinks nod to classic songs, like the mezcal and chili-spiked "Ring of Fire" or tequila-strawberry "Jolene."
What's next: Cowboy Karaoke kicks off every Wednesday (starting Sept. 10).
- Bluegrass Brunch, starring live musicians, takes over weekends, and line dancing — curated by the Buck Wild team from NYC — goes down every Sunday.
If you go: Desert 5 Spot. 400 Morse St. NE.