Where to go out in Arlington: live music at Ireland's Four Courts and Galaxy Hut, comedy at the Arlington Drafthouse, cabaret at Signature and bars open to 2 a.m.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Venue details come from each venue’s own website. We list venues, not individual gigs; check the venue’s calendar before you go. Ages, cover charges and hours change.

Arlington’s nightlife runs along the Metro corridor: pubs and live music in Courthouse and Clarendon, beer halls and games in Ballston, and bars in Crystal City. The Arlington Drafthouse on Columbia Pike is the county’s comedy club. For trouble on a night out, call police non-emergency at 703-558-2222; in an emergency, call 911.

Getting home

  • Metro’s Orange and Silver lines stop at Rosslyn, Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Square and Ballston. Check last trains on wmata.com.
  • Rideshare pickups in Clarendon move to Washington Boulevard on busy nights such as New Year’s Eve. See our New Year’s Eve guide.

At a glance

Venue Neighborhood Address What’s on
Ireland’s Four Courts Courthouse 2051 Wilson Blvd. Live music Fri. and Sat., karaoke Wed., Beer Bingo Mon.
Galaxy Hut Clarendon 2711 Wilson Blvd. Live music some Sundays; 21 and older
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse Columbia Pike 2903 Columbia Pike Live comedy and movies
Signature Theatre Shirlington 4200 Campbell Ave. Musicals, plays and cabaret
Bronson Bierhall Ballston 4100 Fairfax Drive German-American beer hall; to 2 a.m. Fri. and Sat.
Punchbowl Social Ballston 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1180 Karaoke, games, trivia, DJ nights
Highline RxR Crystal City 2010 Crystal Drive Trivia, comedy, karaoke, live music

Courthouse and Clarendon

Ireland’s Four Courts, 2051 Wilson Blvd., 703-525-3600, is an Irish pub near the Court House Metro station. Its entertainment page lists:

  • Live music from local musicians at 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday
  • Beer Bingo every Monday at 7:15 p.m.
  • Karaoke every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
  • Holiday Sunday karaoke at 9 p.m. on Sundays before a holiday Monday

The pub does not usually take reservations; it will add you to the waitlist if you call 20 minutes ahead.

Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd., is a vegetarian restaurant and bar that calls itself Northern Virginia’s first craft beer spot, open since 1990. It is 21 and older. It is open 5 p.m. to about midnight Sunday to Thursday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. It books live music on some Sundays; most shows are listed for 8 p.m., though the bar says most acts start closer to 9.

Ballston

Bronson Bierhall, 4100 Fairfax Drive, 703-528-1110, is a German-American beer hall. It is open 11:30 a.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, and holds seasonal events on its patio.

Punchbowl Social, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1180, 571-297-7640, at Ballston Quarter, mixes food and drink with karaoke, arcade games and darts. Its calendar lists weekly trivia on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., karaoke nights and DJ nights on Saturdays.

Columbia Pike and Shirlington

The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, at the corner of South Walter Reed Drive, describes itself as a casual venue that combines a live comedy club and a movie theater. Shows and age rules are on its calendar.

Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., in the Village at Shirlington, stages musicals and plays, plus cabaret performances. Box office: 703-820-9771. The theater opens 90 minutes before each show, and seating starts about 30 minutes before curtain.

Crystal City

Highline RxR, 2010 Crystal Drive, 703-413-2337, is a bar that hosts trivia, comedy, karaoke, live music and sports watch parties. It is open from 3 p.m. on weekdays. Its monthly “Comedy Karaoke Trivia Funtime Show” mixes three trivia rounds, a stand-up set and a karaoke battle.

Good to know

  • ID: Galaxy Hut is 21 and older; check each venue’s own age rules before you go.
  • Arlington Arts is the county’s cultural affairs office; its Theatre on the Run is at 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive.

Related guides: date night, brunch and getting around Arlington.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I hear live music in Arlington?

Ireland’s Four Courts, 2051 Wilson Blvd., has local bands at 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd., books shows on some Sundays, most listed for 8 p.m., 21 and older.

Where is comedy in Arlington, Virginia?

The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike at South Walter Reed Drive, combines a live comedy club and a movie theater. Highline RxR in Crystal City holds a monthly comedy, trivia and karaoke show.

Which Arlington bars are open until 2 a.m.?

Bronson Bierhall in Ballston is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Galaxy Hut in Clarendon stays open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Where is karaoke in Arlington?

Ireland’s Four Courts has karaoke every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., and Punchbowl Social at Ballston Quarter holds karaoke nights alongside its games.