The food: Spanish tapas and paella make up the menu, with a few salads and other dishes. Paellas arrive loaded with vegetables or seafood and chicken. More than 30 tapas range from rabbit cooked in red wine to tuna ceviche to sautéed spinach with pine nuts and apples. Tapas range from $5 to $16.

The scene: After dark, when the restaurant turns into a bar and lounge, is prime time. On weekends, the largest dining room turns into a VIP section with bottle service. Outside, a sunken patio with tables contributes to the dining space. Mealtimes draw customers from nearby hotels, but the late-night crowd is an international mix of locals and visitors. Rich red walls and curtains match the Victorian-style lounge chairs. DJs often spin a tunes as diverse as the patrons, and tables are sometimes cleared to make room for late-night dancing.

What’s nearby: Agua Ardiente is a short walk or cab ride from both Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle. George Washington University is close, as are hotels including the Fairmont, Westin, and Embassy Suites.

Insider tips: Both tapas and paella are meant to be shared. Order more than one tapa per person and pass them around the table; paellas serve two or more. A three-course lunch special is $15.