Along Washington DC’s H Street, The Pug mixes a few classic dive bar amenities (small, cramped, decidedly unfussy décor) with a few attributes less commonly associated with dingy urban bars (brunch on weekends and weekday upscale ramen). Owner Tony Tomelden opened The Pug in 2008 after many years as a bartender, bringing with him an appreciation for straightforward drinking.

As the Washington DC dive bar’s web site proclaims, there are no drink specials and both ‘bomb’ shots and politics are forbidden. Flags hang down from the red painted ceiling, making a small space feel a bit smaller, the pictures that cover every wall creating a similar effect. Green drapes in the window hide a small bar inside with a handful of wooden booths and a menu populated with more than a few dive bar favorites (Hamm’s anyone?). Keep an eye out for the beer can Christmas tree nestled into a corner of the densely packed space.