Any good bars/after-work hangouts near Tysons Corner? (Arlington, Annandale: construction, live in)

[Darksword]

Can anyone recommend some good hang out spots near the Tyson's Corner area? I have a few weeks until I start work and am looking to check out the social scene a bit. Thanks

[NOVAmtneer82]

I work in Tysons, but live in Arlington so 9 times out of 10 I just head back to Arlington for happy hours, as do many of my co-workers. Tysons Corner is pretty much the epicenter of corporate chain America so there aren't really a lot of just bars so to speak, a lot of nice restaurants though.

As for in the immediate area, Gordon Biersch is a microbrewery in Tysons Corner Center. I really enjoy their beers but they have no happy hour specials which tends to get annoying... It's always packed though after the offices let out. There are other places right in the mall or around it that stay busy, namely Coastal Flats and La Sandia and of course, TGI Fridays. Clydes is a nice place to go for after work dinner and drinks, it is located near the Rt.7 and 123 intersection.

I've also gone out for a few drinks at Maggianos, Daily Grill and Legal Sea Foods bars located across the street at Tysons II.

But yeah, you get the picture though, not a lot of dive bars or sports bars. I guess it just depends on what you are looking for.

[saganista]

The ultimate dive bar in the area is the Vienna Inn on Route 123 in the middle of downtown Vienna. It's quite the opposite of upscale, but you'll find everybody from Supreme Court clerks to road paving crews to just plain folks in there. Check your ego at the door. The chili dogs are a classic, btw. It's also a great place to take a family for dinner. The food is good, the beer is cold, and the prices are cheap. What's not to like. Everybody goes there. There are a couple of sports bars in the Vienna area too. Glory Days is in the Pan Am Shopping Center at Lee Highway and Nutley Street. Neighbors is in the Vienna Park Shopping Center at Park Street and Cedar Lane. Then there's Fast Eddie's in the Fairfax Circle Shopping Center at Lee Highway and Route 50. Probably the best micro brewery hereabouts is the Sweetwater Tavern at Route 50 and Gallows Road. It's mostly a sit down restaurant, but the central bar is definitely a busy place. They usually have five of six of their custom beers on tap...some of them are very good. So that's a few places to try out. This kind of thing depends heavily on personal tastes and preferences, but you might find something you like among those...

[Rick Lee]

I've spent a lot of time and money in Clyde's in Tysons. The bartenders are super there, good pours, very on the ball. If you want to see a bunch of old men trying to pick up Asian women, E-Cities is a hoot. I find traffic so horrendous in Tysons that I tried not to hang there unless I had to with the boss. Rt. 236 in Annandale has some really off-the-wall and undiscovered Korean bars. Never crowded, not too expensive and great food. Vienna has some good bars too, but again, Nutley St./123 is so horrible with traffic and construction, that I try to stay away. What am I saying? I moved away. Haven't been there since March.

[Darksword]

Thanks for all of the suggestions compadres. I'll be sure to check them out.

[NOVAmtneer82]

I forgot about Sweetwater...Nice beer selection. I believe saganista already gave you the address so be sure to check that out as well.