"Our model was a place where we would like to frequent ourselves. Enough energy for a party, but also a place where people are able to socialize in an intimate environment," is what co-owner and original operator Farid (Ali) Nouri felt Washington, DC, needed. After almost two decades of premiere house parties, Farid's dream has created a legacy unmatched by any other venue in the District.
Nestled between the established neighborhood of Dupont Circle and the power corridors of Connecticut Ave and K Street, 1212 Eighteenth Street NW is an unassuming entrance to one of DC's cultural gems: The Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL). ESL opened its doors in April 1995 and unknowingly changed the face of DC's dance culture forever. The Lounge has been independently operated since its inception and does not have any affiliations with any other business in DC or beyond. Farid has been at its helm from the beginning, he holds the longest DJ residency, expanded the original space to what it is today and guided the direction of the establishment by curating ESL’s music bookings and events since 1995.