About Busboys and Poets Anacostia

We opened our doors on March 12, 2019, and have been welcomed with open arms by this thriving community. The private event space in Busboys Anacostia is named after Southeast-celebrated "Mayor for Life" Marion Barry Jr. and is called The Barry Room. You can now book The Barry Room for private and public events.

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2004 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AVE SE,
WASHINGTON, DC 20020

HOURS:
SUNDAY - THURSDAY 9AM - 9PM
FRIDAY 9AM - 10PM
SATURDAY 9AM - 10PM
NEW YEAR'S EVE 9AM - 12:30AM

Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, bar, bookstore and community gathering place. First established in 2005, Busboys and Poets was founded by owner Andy Shallal (@andyshallal), an artist, activist, and restaurateur. After opening the flagship location at 14th and V Streets, NW DC, the neighboring residents, and the progressive community embraced Busboys and Poets, particularly activists opposed to the Iraq War.  Busboys and Poets is now located in nine distinctive neighborhoods in the Washington D.C Metropolitan and Baltimore areas.   Busboys and Poets is a cultural hub for artists, activists, writers, thinkers, and dreamers.

Why the name?
The name Busboys and Poets refers to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet.