New Piano Bar to Open in Georgetown

Mr. Smith’s used to be the only piano bar in Georgetown. Now the city welcomes the second, Georgetown Piano Bar, which officially opens at 5 p.m. Friday.

Hunter Lang, Georgetown Piano Bar’s pianist and co-owner, used to spend nights leading drunken sing-alongs at Mr. Smith’s, according to the Post. This is where he got the idea to open a new piano bar with some of his friends.

Mr. Smith’s relocated to the former Chadwicks space in early September.

Neither Mr. Smith’s nor Georgetown Piano Bar uses real pianos. According to The Washington Post, many “pianos” in piano bars aren’t real because they’re costly, difficult to mic, and create too much space between the player and customers. That’s why it’s common for bars, including those in Georgetown, to place keyboards inside wooden shells to give the appearance of looking like pianos.

Mr. Smith’s 35-year-old piano shell is a traditional wooden finish and Georgetown Piano Bar’s is newly painted cherry red.

Head to the Post to see how each bar’s “piano” sizes up.

Photo Credit: MrSmiths.com