Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Some of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood
Only one block away, this neighborhood gem is worth the wait for a table! Buzzy, French brasserie atmosphere, with a lovely outdoor terrace.
513 locals recommend
Le Diplomate
1601 14th St NWOnly one block away, this neighborhood gem is worth the wait for a table! Buzzy, French brasserie atmosphere, with a lovely outdoor terrace.
Delicious, comforting ramen bowls, along with excellent cocktails and a fun scene!
113 locals recommend
Chaplin's Restaurant
1501 9th Street NorthwestDelicious, comforting ramen bowls, along with excellent cocktails and a fun scene!
Italian. Try the fresh, house-made pastas. Substantial outdoor seating. And great happy hour and daily specials!
22 locals recommend
Sette Osteria
1666 Connecticut Ave NWItalian. Try the fresh, house-made pastas. Substantial outdoor seating. And great happy hour and daily specials!
Convivial
801 O St NWClassic French in a modern atmosphere, from one of DC's best chefs.
The Coffee Bar
1201 S St NWClose by, neighborhood coffee shop with laid-back vibe.
Doi Moi
1800 14th St NWTrendy, modern, spicy Southeast Asian fare.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
1612 14th St NWFun, lively seafood restaurant. Lively happy hour.
Hands down, the best Italian food in the neighborhood. Cozy atmosphere, waitstaff are pros.
80 locals recommend
Lupo Verde
1401 T St NWHands down, the best Italian food in the neighborhood. Cozy atmosphere, waitstaff are pros.
Sun. 8am - 1pm. Browse DC's largest farmer's market for organic vegetables, fruits, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, fresh eggs, honey, cut flowers, and more! Chef demos and tastings, too!
27 locals recommend
FRESHFARM Dupont Circle Market
1600 20th St NWSun. 8am - 1pm. Browse DC's largest farmer's market for organic vegetables, fruits, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, fresh eggs, honey, cut flowers, and more! Chef demos and tastings, too!
Wine bar with Spanish tapas and great happy hour! AMAZING outdoor terrace that operates in 3 seasons due to fireplace and heaters.
322 locals recommend
Barcelona Wine Bar
1622 14th St NWWine bar with Spanish tapas and great happy hour! AMAZING outdoor terrace that operates in 3 seasons due to fireplace and heaters.
Homegrown chain now expanding nationwide. Fast, fresh, delicious salads. Locally sourced ingredients. Healthy fuel for a day of sightseeing (locations all around DC.)
108 locals recommend
sweetgreen
1461 P St NWHomegrown chain now expanding nationwide. Fast, fresh, delicious salads. Locally sourced ingredients. Healthy fuel for a day of sightseeing (locations all around DC.)
Etto
1541 14th St NWWood oven pizza with a nice terrace for dining al fresco.
Mediterranean-leaning menu. Spectacular "secret garden" style dining terrace with an arbor and twinkly lights overhead.
32 locals recommend
Iron Gate Restaurant
1734 N St NWMediterranean-leaning menu. Spectacular "secret garden" style dining terrace with an arbor and twinkly lights overhead.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1925 14th St NWA favorite, friendly neighborhood restaurant. The chef's tasting menu is outstanding and, at $59 for 5-6 substantial courses, an outstanding value as well.
11 locals recommend
Nina May
1337 11th St NWA favorite, friendly neighborhood restaurant. The chef's tasting menu is outstanding and, at $59 for 5-6 substantial courses, an outstanding value as well.
Kid-friendly, comfort food. Breakfast all day. Pastry chef is an alum of Penny's bakery. Try the "cinnamon roll as big as your head" on weekends!
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEKid-friendly, comfort food. Breakfast all day. Pastry chef is an alum of Penny's bakery. Try the "cinnamon roll as big as your head" on weekends!
Essentials
If you're staying in for dinner, you can get everything you need, from basics to specialty ingredients, prepared foods and more at this nearby market. This is our closest grocery - only one block away!
581 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1440 P St NWIf you're staying in for dinner, you can get everything you need, from basics to specialty ingredients, prepared foods and more at this nearby market. This is our closest grocery - only one block away!
Well-stocked supermarket in DC's historic O Street Market. Nice 6-block stroll through the neighborhood.
803 locals recommend
Giant Food
1345 Park Rd NWWell-stocked supermarket in DC's historic O Street Market. Nice 6-block stroll through the neighborhood.
CVS
1418 P St NWOpen 24/7!
If you are a member of the Y at home, check out the fabulous Anthony Bowen YMCA! Spa-like atmosphere, all the latest and greatest in equipment and group exercise.
18 locals recommend
Anthony Bowen Branch YMCA
1325 W St NWIf you are a member of the Y at home, check out the fabulous Anthony Bowen YMCA! Spa-like atmosphere, all the latest and greatest in equipment and group exercise.
Well-stocked, inexpensive supermarket with lots of interesting products and large selection of high-quality packaged meals if you don't want to cook!
342 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1914 14th St NWWell-stocked, inexpensive supermarket with lots of interesting products and large selection of high-quality packaged meals if you don't want to cook!
Shopping
Made in the USA (Detroit) leather goods, watches and bicycles!
13 locals recommend
Shinola Logan Circle Store
1631 14th St NWMade in the USA (Detroit) leather goods, watches and bicycles!
Fun, inexpensive accessories boutique. Organized by color and material!
10 locals recommend
Lou Lou Boutiques
1802 14th St NWFun, inexpensive accessories boutique. Organized by color and material!
Miss Pixie's
1626 14th St NWFunky antiques store full of treasures!
Salt & Sundry
1625 14th St NWPricey, but fun-to-browse housewares and gift boutique.
Everything Else
Regal Gallery Place & 4DX
701 7th St NWCatch a movie in this stadium-seating theater!
U St/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station
1240 U St NWClosest metro station.
Arts & Culture
Highly recommend seeing a Studio Theatre production while you're in town. Factoid: your host Bill designed the new building addition with the beautiful atrium space!
109 locals recommend
Studio Theatre
1501 14th St NWHighly recommend seeing a Studio Theatre production while you're in town. Factoid: your host Bill designed the new building addition with the beautiful atrium space!
Black Cat
1811 14th St NWIndie/rock/alternative live-music venue and bar.
Legendary, intimate concert space Top-name rock, punk, hip-hop and country acts nightly.
455 locals recommend
9:30
815 V St NWLegendary, intimate concert space Top-name rock, punk, hip-hop and country acts nightly.
Located on "Washington's Black Broadway", The Lincoln Theater served the city's African American community when segregation kept them out of other venues. Music, comedy, variety and more.
62 locals recommend
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St NWLocated on "Washington's Black Broadway", The Lincoln Theater served the city's African American community when segregation kept them out of other venues. Music, comedy, variety and more.
Host to the Washington Nationals baseball team and a great concert venue. Quick metro ride from U Street takes you straight to the entrance!
455 locals recommend
Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SEHost to the Washington Nationals baseball team and a great concert venue. Quick metro ride from U Street takes you straight to the entrance!
Amazing collection of works from the US and around the globe. Priceless treasure. You really could spend your whole vacation here. Don't miss the sculpture garden!
385 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestAmazing collection of works from the US and around the globe. Priceless treasure. You really could spend your whole vacation here. Don't miss the sculpture garden!
Entertainment & Activities
Brand new Landmark Theaters (independent, foreign, artsy, smart movie types) in the edgy and bustling Shaw neighborhood. About 15 minutes walking, or a quick uber ride.
104 locals recommend
Landmark's Atlantic Plumbing Cinema
807 V Street NorthwestBrand new Landmark Theaters (independent, foreign, artsy, smart movie types) in the edgy and bustling Shaw neighborhood. About 15 minutes walking, or a quick uber ride.
Do not miss the Capitol Visitor Center! And the Capitol itself, of course. If you have a relationship with your US Rep or Senator, the Capitol Dome Tour is, hands-down, the best tour in Washington. You can only be excorted on the tour by one of your reps. You climb up inside the dome and come out at the top to breathtaking views, all the while learning fascinating history. The dome has re-opened after a renovation and is stunning! Do try to plan ahead and arrange this tour!
114 locals recommend
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street SoutheastDo not miss the Capitol Visitor Center! And the Capitol itself, of course. If you have a relationship with your US Rep or Senator, the Capitol Dome Tour is, hands-down, the best tour in Washington. You can only be excorted on the tour by one of your reps. You climb up inside the dome and come out at the top to breathtaking views, all the while learning fascinating history. The dome has re-opened after a renovation and is stunning! Do try to plan ahead and arrange this tour!
Local distillery known for its signature "Green Hat" gin (named for the first producer in DC post-prohibition.) Public tours and tastings Saturdays 1-4 pm.
33 locals recommend
New Columbia Distillers/Green Hat Gin
1832 Fenwick St NE Local distillery known for its signature "Green Hat" gin (named for the first producer in DC post-prohibition.) Public tours and tastings Saturdays 1-4 pm.
DC's newest gem. Restaurants/bars, The Anthem music venue, water taxis to Old Town and Georgetown, street art, people watching, firepit with ample seating for keeping warm in colder weather, the iconic DC fish market, and more!
58 locals recommend
District Wharf
760 Maine Ave SWDC's newest gem. Restaurants/bars, The Anthem music venue, water taxis to Old Town and Georgetown, street art, people watching, firepit with ample seating for keeping warm in colder weather, the iconic DC fish market, and more!
Drinks & Nightlife
Dacha Cafe
1600 7th St NWFun outdoor beer garden!
Large selection of bottled and draft beers. Good place to watch a game, but not a "sports bar."
136 locals recommend
ChurchKey
1337 14th St NWLarge selection of bottled and draft beers. Good place to watch a game, but not a "sports bar."
Number Nine
1435 P St NWUpscale gay bar with inventive cocktails!
Stylish underground lounge (literally, it's in the basement of Doi Moi restaurant)
40 locals recommend
2 Birds 1 Stone
1800 14th Street NorthwestStylish underground lounge (literally, it's in the basement of Doi Moi restaurant)
DC's original brewery. Free tours and tastings on Saturdays, along with 7-days a week hours in the tap room for drinking a pint! Tap room offers brewery-only exclusives and Friday is half-price pint night! Check dcbrau.com for details.
47 locals recommend
DC Brau
3178-B Bladensburg Road NortheastDC's original brewery. Free tours and tastings on Saturdays, along with 7-days a week hours in the tap room for drinking a pint! Tap room offers brewery-only exclusives and Friday is half-price pint night! Check dcbrau.com for details.
Jane Jane
Cozy, nearby cocktail bar