Washington has a thriving and varied bar scene. But just when you think you know all the hot spots, a spate of new ones pop up. Travel the triangle formed by the intersections of Connecticut Avenue, 18th Street, and M Street, in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, and you'll find the latest bunch. (The triangle is also a nightclub mecca -- see the write-ups for the Eighteenth Street Lounge and 5.)

If you're in the mood for a sophisticated setting, seek out a bar in one of the nicer hotels, like the Jefferson, the Willard, the Sofitel Lafayette Square, or the St. Regis. If you want a convivial atmosphere and decent grub, try establishments that are equal parts restaurant and bar.

Finally, if you appreciate strikingly whimsical decor in an intimately lounge-like setting, where drinks bear names like Sin on the Rocks, or Blue Nirvana, and the menu offers exquisitely prepared "small plates" of fine food, then you are right in step with Washington's latest trend. Check out Bar Rouge, the Topaz Bar, and Toka Café.

Cheap Eats: Happy Hours to Write Home About--Even the diviest of bars puts out some free nibbles to complement your drink -- peanuts or pretzels at the very least. And good-value promotions are increasingly popular at area bars and nightclubs, such as Whitlow's on Wilson in Arlington, where you can chow down on a half-price burger every Monday night. A step above these are certain fine restaurants and hotels around town that set out gourmet food during happy hour, either for free or an astonishingly low price. Here are three that even Washingtonians may not know about:

In the bar area only, McCormick & Schmick's, 1652 K St. NW, at the corner of 17th Street NW (tel. 202/861-2233), offers a choice of giant burger, fried calamari, quesadillas, fish tacos, and more, for only $1.95 each. The offer is good Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6:30pm and 10:30pm to midnight. Friendly bartenders make you feel at home as they concoct mixed drinks with juice they squeeze right at the bar (the drinks, alas, are not discounted).

Teaism Penn Quarter, 400 8th St. NW (tel. 202/638-6010), which is near the MCI Center, the FBI Building, the National Gallery, and nightspots, features happy hour Thursday and Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm, with free hors d'oeuvres like Thai chicken and Indian curries, Asian noodle salads, sticky white rice, green salad -- make a meal of it! Drinks are not discounted, but they are unusual: sakes, Asian beers, gingery margaritas, and the like.

The clubby, mahogany-paneled Town and Country Lounge, in the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/347-3000), is the setting weeknights from 5:30 to 7:30pm for complimentary cocktail-hour hors d'oeuvres that change from night to night: slices of roast beef on toasts, chicken/beef fajitas, pastas, and so on. Here, you also have the pleasure of watching the personable bartender Sambonn Lek at work, whether mixing drinks, performing magic tricks, or matchmaking. Drinks are regular price.

Arlington Row--As unlikely as it seems, one of the hottest spots for Washington nightlife is a stretch of suburban street in Arlington, Virginia. I'm talking about a section of Wilson Boulevard in the Clarendon neighborhood, roughly between Highland and Danville streets. For years, people referred to this area as "Little Vietnam," for the many Vietnamese cafes and grocery stores that have flourished here. Now some are calling it "the new Adams-Morgan," as some pretty good nightclubs and several well-reviewed restaurants have joined the still-strong Vietnamese presence.

Let's get one thing straight: It isn't Adams-Morgan. Adams-Morgan is urban, ethnic, and edgy, full of the requisite black clothes, body piercings, colorful hair, tattoos, and bad attitudes. Arlington Row is a lot tamer, attracting, so far anyway, a crowd of all ages, usually dressed for comfort. You don't feel like your presence has to make a statement. Certainly, the clubs are more accessible: Metro stops are nearby, parking is easier, streets are safer, and clubs front the streets with picture windows and aren't as exclusive.

But I wouldn't recommend that you visit Arlington Row if it weren't for one key element: the music. It's live, it's good (most of the time), and it's here almost nightly. So take the Metro to the Clarendon stop and walk down Wilson, or drive up Wilson from Key Bridge, turn left on Edgewood Road or another side street, and park on the street. Then walk to these spots, all of which serve food:

The smallest of the bunch, Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd. (tel. 703/525-8646; www.galaxyhut.com), is a comfortable bar with far-out art on the walls and a patio in the alley. Look for live alternative rock most nights. No cover.

At IOTA, 2832 Wilson Blvd. (tel. 703/522-8340; iotaclubandcafe.com), up-and-coming local bands take the stage nightly in a setting with minimal decor (cement floor, exposed brick walls, and a wood-beamed ceiling); there's a patio in back. There's live music nightly. If there's a cover, it's usually $8 to $15.

Whitlow's on Wilson, 2854 Wilson Blvd. (tel. 703/276-9693; www.whitlows.com), is the biggest spot on the block, spreading throughout four rooms, the first showcasing the music (usually blues, with anything from surfer music to rock thrown in). The place has the appearance of a diner, from Formica table-booths to a soda fountain, and serves retro diner food. (Mon half-price burger nights are a good deal.) The other rooms hold coin-operated pool tables, dartboards, and air hockey. Cover is usually $3-$5 Thursday through Saturday after 9pm.

Clarendon Grill, 1101 N. Highland St. (tel. 703/524-7455; www.cgrill.com), wins a best decor award for its construction theme: murals of construction workers, building materials displayed under the glass-covered bar, and so forth. Music is a mix of modern rock, jazz, and reggae. Cover is $3 to $5 Wednesday through Saturday.

Now, get in your car, hop the Metro, or get out your rambling shoes to visit one other place, about a mile south of this stretch of Wilson:

Rhodeside Grill, 1836 Wilson Blvd. (tel. 703/243-0145; www.rhodesidegrill.com), 3 blocks from the Courthouse Metro stop, is a well-liked American restaurant on its first floor. The rec-room-like bar downstairs features excellent live bands playing roots rock, jazz funk, Latin percussion, country rock, reggae -- you name it. Cover averages $5 or more Thursday through Saturday starting at 9:30pm.