It’s Friday and you get a message from a friend – “Happy hour at the museum tonight?” Normally, that would garner a response like, “Is the name of the bar Museum?” or “Girlfriend's already drunk!”. Well, if you have been to the Rubin Museum, then you’ll know that a happy hour at a museum is possible!

The Rubin Museum of Art is a small place that focuses uniquely on Tibetan/Himalayan art. Every Friday night, part of the museum turns into a lounge where a DJ plays worldly eclectic beats and a mixologist serves up fun cocktails like a Watermelon Mojito or Pomegranate Margarita. There’s even a small food menu comprised of fusion South Asian tapas like naan pizza and coriander shrimp.

When I first visited this place, my friends and I were so engrossed in the eating and drinking part of the experience that by the time we were ready to check out the museum, it was closed! It was kind of shameful. Recently when I went back, I made sure not to make the same mistake again. Once we had a drink in hand, our group proceeded to walk around and check out the exhibits. The one we saw, which is still ongoing, is called Hero, Villain, Yeti: Tibet in Comics. It was definitely interesting!

Funky cocktail drinks at the Rubin Museum

DC has its fair share of museum happy hours too, like those at the national Smithsonian museums and at private galleries. Phillips After Five is a happy hour held on the first Thursday of every month at the Phillips Musuem. The gallery organizes an enjoyable and interactive happy hour with live music and tours, making it easy for people to meet and appreciate modern art! There was something so bourgeois, yet fun, about sipping a glass of wine and discussing a Picasso painting with friends that I can’t wait until my next visit!

So if you’re the type of person who typically finds museums too educational or feel the need to add some culture in your life while still socializing, a happy hour at a museum might just do the trick. It’s certainly different from the usual weekend routine!

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