The great thing about pool halls is that you don’t necessarily have to know how to play pool in order to have a good time. Many pool halls also have DJs, dancing, countless televisions and other forms of entertainment. Throw in a couple of friends and a few beers at one of these locations and you have a fun time just waiting to happen.

Breadsoda
2233 Wisconsin Ave.
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-7445
www.breadsoda.com

Don’t judge a book, or a pool hall, by its cover. Sure, the name of the place is unusual, but the amenities inside are incredible. The 70s-style bar features cozy leather banquettes and groovy-looking artwork. Shoot some pool with a friend for $11 or include a total of four in a game of cutthroat for $16 an hour. There’s also darts, shuffleboard, checkers, ping pong, backgammon and even a Wii. Breadsoda also features a full-service bar and an affordable menu with tasty treats like a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich and breakfast plates. Enjoy happy hour specials, like $5 drafts and free games all night long on Wednesdays.

Atomic Billiards
3427 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 363-7665
www.atomicbilliards.com

For a pool hall that feels like you’re hanging out in your best friend’s basement, check out Atomic Billiards. The cozy bar features five pool tables as well as two shuffleboards, two dartboards, a jukebox and countless games from your early childhood including Battleship, Uno, Connect Four and Risk. The full-service bar houses eight beers on tap and more than 50 bottled beers. Enjoy daily happy hour drink specials. Atomic Billiards also offers memberships, which includes perks like free pool before 6 p.m. and bar tab discounts. Regular rates for pool range from $6 to $20 an hour depending on the number of players and the time of your game.

Related: Best Jukebox Bars In DC

Fast Eddies
14114 Lee Hwy
Centreville, VA 20120
(703) 266-1888
fasteddies.com

Play pool, listen to live music and participate in a bar pong tournament all at the same location. Fast Eddies in Centreville offers something for everybody, including ladies night specials, karaoke, poker tournaments, a mechanical bull and country line dancing. Stop in on Sundays and Wednesdays for $5 all-you-can-play pool. Enjoy daily food and drink specials, including $5 burgers on Mondays and 50 cent boneless wings on Saturdays. Fast Eddies also features 27 flat screen televisions and three 150-inch projection televisions, perfect to catch the game or latest UFC fight.

Buffalo Billiards
1330 19th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 331-7665
dc.buffalobilliards.com

Forget the overcrowded pool hall scene. Buffalo Billiards has more than 14,000 square feet of games and fun. Not only does the bar have 15 pool tables, but also three dart boards, 10 shuffleboard tables, two foosball tables, four ping pong tables, two skeeball machines and video arcade games. Buffalo Billiards also features three full-service bars, traditional American fare, large patio seating, five giant screen televisions and free WiFi. Enjoy daily food and drink specials as well as special events such as dance parties, trivia nights, pool leagues and broadcasted events including UFC fights, football and soccer. Table rates here run between $8 and $22 an hour.

Related: Unique Nights Out In The DC Area

Nottingham’s
8850 Stanford Blvd.
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 290-0077
www.nottinghams.net

For more than 20 years, Nottingham’s has provided pool hall entertainment to Marylanders and their guests. In addition to billiards, Nottingham’s offers live music, comedy nights, darts, shuffleboard, Keno and even Wii on the big screen. Nottingham’s also features two full-service bars, including an outdoor tiki bar, daily food and drink specials, free WiFi and weekly special events. Be sure to swing by the bar on Wednesday nights where there’s a new shot special every hour from 8 p.m. to midnight. Wednesday nights are also men’s night, where ladies enjoy half-priced drinks (looks like someone’s finally learned what “ladies night” actually means).

Susan Diranian is a freelance writer living in Ashburn, VA. She is covering Travel & Outdoors. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.