Flying Fish, Alexandria

Across the Potomac and along the brick streets of one of the South's crowning cities, Old Town's Flying Fish restaurant has drawn patrons with its expert sushi and art deco diner décor. This little diner has made no secret about its restauranting entrepreneurship, but underneath the bustling waiters lies a secret: down a flight of stairs lies an undercover, windowless Speak Easy. Unlike the ground floor diner, Flying Fish’s subterranean bar is anonymously outfitted with booths and stools. Behind the bar wait three dapper beer butlers dressed to impress in starched white shirts and black suspenders; and while they do wear bow ties, too, they are not of the Brooks Brothers-persuasion. A tiny dance floor draws a mix of young professionals and raven haired rockers who dance to gay-friendly tunes like David Bowie. After dark, the crowd gets absolutely kinetic, with music-blasting and glass-smashing.