Marx Cafe
Neighborhood: Columbia Heights
Price: MODERATE
✨ Vibe
A warm, wood-paneled neighborhood staple that effortlessly transitions from a sun-drenched Mediterranean cafe into a vibrant, disco-ball-lit live music hub with an intimate dance floor.
🍸 Best For
Weekly jazz jams, late-night Latin dancing, Mediterranean small plates, and cheering for international soccer matches.
🔥 Highlights
- Eclectic Live Music: From soulful weekly jazz jam sessions on Tuesday nights to high-energy Latin genres like psychedelic cumbia and salsa, the venue is a premier destination for local talent.
- "Revolutionary" Mediterranean Cuisine: The menu features standout small plates like the flaming Cheese Saganaki, handcrafted beef empanadillas, and a diverse selection of craft beers and wines.
- Community Pillar: Beyond its nightlife, the venue is a neighborhood hub that hosts immersive theatrical performances and local initiatives, earning it a reputation as one of the area's most authentic social spaces.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Check their calendar for special events, including the D.C. Jazz Collective performances and political trivia nights.
- Sports enthusiasts can enjoy big-screen viewings of UEFA Soccer, MLB, and NFL games in a lively, casual setting.
🔄 Weekly Events
⚽ Live Sports Viewing
Watch MLB Baseball, NFL, NHL, and UEFA Soccer on one of our big screen TVs.
🎸 Nightly Live Music & DJs
Marx Cafe hosts nightly music events featuring superb live local talent performances and resident DJs.
Live Sports Screenings ⚽
Watch MLB Baseball, NFL, NHL and UEFA Soccer on one of the big screen TVs.
Weekly Live Music with AC Montgomery 🎸
Marx Cafe features resident performers like AC Montgomery for live music sessions every week.
📰 In the News
DC streateries could dwindle as city increases costs, changes regulations
Marx Cafe faces a potential 25% to 30% loss in revenue due to new District regulations and increased fees for outdoor dining "streateries." Owner Daniel Quiroz expressed concern that the higher costs and stricter construction requirements could force the removal of outdoor setups that have become a vital part of the business's income.
DC restaurant launches food bank for neighbors in need
Marx Café in Mt. Pleasant has launched an outdoor community food bank to provide essential groceries to neighbors in need. Spearheaded by co-owner Daniel Quiroz, the initiative invites community members to donate items to the outdoor bins to help combat local food insecurity.
This Comedic Play About Dating in DC Turns Mount Pleasant Street Into a Stage
Marx Cafe hosted a political trivia-themed scene for the immersive play "DC, I Love You: First Dates," a production that turned Mount Pleasant Street into a live stage. The venue served as a key location for the Folger Shakespeare Library project, which utilized the neighborhood's authentic atmosphere to present vignettes about dating in Washington.
From Go-Go Bands to Bike Parties, How to Spend a Night Out in D.C.
Marx Cafe is a Mount Pleasant neighborhood staple that transitions from a chill Mediterranean cafe by day to a vibrant live music hub at night. The wood-paneled venue emphasizes Latin genres such as psychedelic cumbia and salsa, inviting guests to hit the intimate dance floor under a disco ball.
Swing Beat: A Thriving Jazz Subscene in Mount Pleasant
Marx Cafe in Mount Pleasant hosts a popular weekly jazz jam session every Tuesday night, currently led by singer Tibyron Quinn. The neighborhood venue also serves as a key hub for the D.C. Jazz Collective, which holds bimonthly performances as part of a unique musical exchange with the jazz scene in Bangkok.
Recent Reviews from Google
Really good atmosphere, great server, and I don't know how or why, but they lit my cheese on fire, and it was awesome. Recommend something off the small plates menu.
Monday of last week my group got the $19 wine special and made sure to choose a wine that was in that price range. Unfortunately I was overcharged, likely for the full price of the bottle, and I...
Great food and ambiance. They have a large drink menu. I ordered the burger and my friend ordered the trout. The only reason I am not giving this place 4 stars is because my friend’s trout had so many...
Decent food and drinks. Great jazz nights! Would love to see more live music please
Would not return. The food was ok (chicken gyro, farmer veggie burger, grilled chicken lemon pasta), but service was terrible. Server never brought ordered appetizer and brought wrong entree. She left...