Busboys and Poets - Shirlington

Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, bar, bookstore, and community gathering place founded in 2005 by artist, activist, and restaurateur Andy Shallal. The Shirlington location, in Arlington, Virginia, carries forward that mission as a space for art, culture, and politics to intentionally collide, hosting weekly open mic nights and other community programming alongside its full-service restaurant and bookstore. For private events, the location offers two dedicated spaces, the Robeson Room and Paul's Den, each equipped with a projection screen and sound system for readings, performances, meetings, and celebrations. Guests can also arrange a full facility buyout of the entire restaurant through the venue's events team.