Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
$$-$$$ My local. Excellent bistro menu with locally sourced ingredients. The Obamas ate here! Good for family night, date night, or any night. Late night kitchen menu until midnight. http://boundaryrd.com/
70 locals recommend
Boundary Road
414 H Street Northeast$$-$$$ My local. Excellent bistro menu with locally sourced ingredients. The Obamas ate here! Good for family night, date night, or any night. Late night kitchen menu until midnight. http://boundaryrd.com/
$-$$ My #1 neighborhood recommendation. Assertive Indian food, gentle prices. The quintessential neighborhood spot. Very popular, many people call ahead to place their orders to avoid a 45 minute wait. https://www.facebook.com/indigo.dc.5?fref=ts
148 locals recommend
Indigo
243 K St NE$-$$ My #1 neighborhood recommendation. Assertive Indian food, gentle prices. The quintessential neighborhood spot. Very popular, many people call ahead to place their orders to avoid a 45 minute wait. https://www.facebook.com/indigo.dc.5?fref=ts
$ Gently priced kabobs and lebanese fare less than a block away! Micho is a friend of the block. Open until 9pm Sun-Thurs, open until 3am on Fri and Saturday. http://www.michosgrill.com/
11 locals recommend
Micho's Lebanese Grill
500 H Street Northeast$ Gently priced kabobs and lebanese fare less than a block away! Micho is a friend of the block. Open until 9pm Sun-Thurs, open until 3am on Fri and Saturday. http://www.michosgrill.com/
In Union Market. Closed Mondays. My local coffeehouse, great spot for people watching. I always go for the sun-dried coffee choice. http://peregrineespresso.com/
171 locals recommend
Peregrine Espresso
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SEIn Union Market. Closed Mondays. My local coffeehouse, great spot for people watching. I always go for the sun-dried coffee choice. http://peregrineespresso.com/
One of the retails pioneers of H Street NE, Ethiopian style coffees roasted on site. Pretty strong coffee. The line moves slowly, but very community oriented. Quiet patio out back. http://www.sidamocoffeeandtea.com/
120 locals recommend
Sidamo Coffee & Tea
417 H St NEOne of the retails pioneers of H Street NE, Ethiopian style coffees roasted on site. Pretty strong coffee. The line moves slowly, but very community oriented. Quiet patio out back. http://www.sidamocoffeeandtea.com/
$-$$ Hipster ramen joint, I saw Alice Waters eating here! Great food, relatively cheap for DC, long lines especially after 6pm (like, 90 minute waits). http://tokiunderground.com/#/
256 locals recommend
Toki Underground
1234 H St NE$-$$ Hipster ramen joint, I saw Alice Waters eating here! Great food, relatively cheap for DC, long lines especially after 6pm (like, 90 minute waits). http://tokiunderground.com/#/
$$ Great mussels, fries, and Belgium ales in this funky gastropub. Late night menu available. http://www.granvillemoores.com/
169 locals recommend
Granville Moore's
1238 H St NE$$ Great mussels, fries, and Belgium ales in this funky gastropub. Late night menu available. http://www.granvillemoores.com/
$ Personalize your own pizza! This is like the Subway of pizzas, it's really good, a local chain. Kid friendly restaurant. http://www.andpizza.com/
210 locals recommend
&pizza
1118 H St NE$ Personalize your own pizza! This is like the Subway of pizzas, it's really good, a local chain. Kid friendly restaurant. http://www.andpizza.com/
$-$$ DC-based salad chain. Local ingredients, juices, there are several around the city. Also the sponsor of their own concert, sweetlife festival. www.sweetgreen.com
25 locals recommend
sweetgreen City Vista
1065 5th Street Northwest$-$$ DC-based salad chain. Local ingredients, juices, there are several around the city. Also the sponsor of their own concert, sweetlife festival. www.sweetgreen.com
Vegan haven! I had a watermelon juice, very good. They also serve hot meals here and raw foods. http://kheprasrawfoodjuicebar.com/
25 locals recommend
Khepra's Raw Food Juice Bar/ Hempburger Cafe & Juice Bar
Vegan haven! I had a watermelon juice, very good. They also serve hot meals here and raw foods. http://kheprasrawfoodjuicebar.com/
$$-$$$ Ethiopian food is a staple of DC, and Ethiopic is one of the highest rated restaurants. Date night atmosphere. Try the vegetarian platter. http://www.ethiopicrestaurant.com/Home.html
147 locals recommend
Ethiopic Restaurant
401 H St NE$$-$$$ Ethiopian food is a staple of DC, and Ethiopic is one of the highest rated restaurants. Date night atmosphere. Try the vegetarian platter. http://www.ethiopicrestaurant.com/Home.html
$$ Local burger joint/sports bar featuring local beers. Decent burgers and sweet potato fries. Some say it's family friendly, eh. http://thebigboarddc.com/
94 locals recommend
Prather's On The Alley
455 I St NW$$ Local burger joint/sports bar featuring local beers. Decent burgers and sweet potato fries. Some say it's family friendly, eh. http://thebigboarddc.com/
$$ A huge venue on H Street, gorgeous rooftop patio with views of the Capitol. Wood fired pizza and pastas. Kid friendly. http://www.redrocksdc.com/h-street/
92 locals recommend
RedRocks H Street
1348 H St NE$$ A huge venue on H Street, gorgeous rooftop patio with views of the Capitol. Wood fired pizza and pastas. Kid friendly. http://www.redrocksdc.com/h-street/
$$ Big venue for H Street, good beer list. American menu. The Obamas ate here once!
96 locals recommend
Smith Commons
1116 H Street Northeast$$ Big venue for H Street, good beer list. American menu. The Obamas ate here once!
$$ NY-based burger chain that is very popular. It is located in a gorgeous part of Union Station. http://www.shakeshack.com/location/union-station-dc/
86 locals recommend
Shake Shack
1216 18th St NW$$ NY-based burger chain that is very popular. It is located in a gorgeous part of Union Station. http://www.shakeshack.com/location/union-station-dc/
$$$ $$$. Artisian gelato and coffeehouse behind Union Market. This guy is serious. http://dolcezzagelato.com/
30 locals recommend
Dolcezza Factory
550 Penn St NE$$$ $$$. Artisian gelato and coffeehouse behind Union Market. This guy is serious. http://dolcezzagelato.com/
$ Chicago-based sandwich chain. Friendliest staff in DC, good hot sandwiches and the best DC prices. These are all over town and always a safe choice. Great milkshakes too! http://www.potbelly.com/
79 locals recommend
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
655 Michigan Ave NE$ Chicago-based sandwich chain. Friendliest staff in DC, good hot sandwiches and the best DC prices. These are all over town and always a safe choice. Great milkshakes too! http://www.potbelly.com/
$$$ In Union Market. Locally sourced Virginia oysters and clams, this place is killer. Excellent crab cakes as well. Intelligent drink program. https://www.rroysters.com/restaurants.htm
19 locals recommend
Rappahannock Oyster Bar (Union Market)
1309 5th St NE$$$ In Union Market. Locally sourced Virginia oysters and clams, this place is killer. Excellent crab cakes as well. Intelligent drink program. https://www.rroysters.com/restaurants.htm
$$-$$$ Fishmonger from Australia. In Union Market. Best quality seafood in the city, also sells some prepared foods like Fish and Chips. http://www.thedistrictfishwife.com/
The District Fishwife
1309 5th St NE$$-$$$ Fishmonger from Australia. In Union Market. Best quality seafood in the city, also sells some prepared foods like Fish and Chips. http://www.thedistrictfishwife.com/
$$ March 2015 launch. Men's retail, coffeeshop, French pastries, and asian street food all rolled into one. Really cool spot. Chef Erik supports our neighborhood school, too. www.maketto1351.com
284 locals recommend
Maketto
1351 H St NE$$ March 2015 launch. Men's retail, coffeeshop, French pastries, and asian street food all rolled into one. Really cool spot. Chef Erik supports our neighborhood school, too. www.maketto1351.com
$$-$$$ Vegetable-centric, gluten-free dairy-free options, automatic gratuity. Great food in a noisy diner, very unique spot. http://sallysmiddlename.com/
Northeast Washington
$$-$$$ Vegetable-centric, gluten-free dairy-free options, automatic gratuity. Great food in a noisy diner, very unique spot. http://sallysmiddlename.com/
Getting Around
Historic Union Station. One of the bigger malls in the District, and the busiest Metro station in the District. Food court, Starbucks, restaurants and retail. http://www.unionstationdc.com/
629 locals recommend
Union Station
Historic Union Station. One of the bigger malls in the District, and the busiest Metro station in the District. Food court, Starbucks, restaurants and retail. http://www.unionstationdc.com/
On the Red Line. If you are using a stroller, consider going to this stop instead of Union Station. Much more modern elevators and easier to access.
182 locals recommend
NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave Station
200 Florida Ave NEOn the Red Line. If you are using a stroller, consider going to this stop instead of Union Station. Much more modern elevators and easier to access.
Arts & Culture
This was the former Pension Bureau building, and it is spectacular. An underrated tourist stop that is rarely crowded. There is a Building Zone for toddlers, too. Great gift shop. http://www.nbm.org/
92 locals recommend
National Building Museum
401 F St NWThis was the former Pension Bureau building, and it is spectacular. An underrated tourist stop that is rarely crowded. There is a Building Zone for toddlers, too. Great gift shop. http://www.nbm.org/
Absolutely gorgeous building, very European. See Thomas Jefferson's library, some Gutenberg bibles, and the amazing architecture. www.loc.gov
314 locals recommend
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SEAbsolutely gorgeous building, very European. See Thomas Jefferson's library, some Gutenberg bibles, and the amazing architecture. www.loc.gov
Free! One of the most popular museums in DC. http://airandspace.si.edu/
809 locals recommend
National Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Ave SWFree! One of the most popular museums in DC. http://airandspace.si.edu/
The closest museum, gorgeous building. http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/
25 locals recommend
National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave NEThe closest museum, gorgeous building. http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/
Sightseeing
It needs no introduction. Make a reservation for a tour before you arrive. http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol#.U86pzvldV8E
670 locals recommend
United States Capitol
First Street SoutheastIt needs no introduction. Make a reservation for a tour before you arrive. http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol#.U86pzvldV8E
Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard of hearing students. Gorgeous Kendall Green campus.
31 locals recommend
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave NEGallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard of hearing students. Gorgeous Kendall Green campus.
Parks & Nature
One of the most magical, tranquil DC spots. Should probably drive here, it isn't near public transport. Great for a picnic.
http://www.usna.usda.gov/
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEOne of the most magical, tranquil DC spots. Should probably drive here, it isn't near public transport. Great for a picnic.
http://www.usna.usda.gov/
Essentials
Upstairs yoga studio. http://www.yogadistrict.com/the-studios/h-street-dc/
34 locals recommend
Yoga District
500 H St NEUpstairs yoga studio. http://www.yogadistrict.com/the-studios/h-street-dc/
Hot yoga! Lady Gaga stopped by here. http://bikramyogacapitolhill.com/
19 locals recommend
Hot Yoga Capitol Hill
410 H St NEHot yoga! Lady Gaga stopped by here. http://bikramyogacapitolhill.com/
Just two and a half blocks away. Don't forget to bring your own grocery bag to avoid the 5 cent DC tax!
803 locals recommend
Giant Food
1345 Park Rd NWJust two and a half blocks away. Don't forget to bring your own grocery bag to avoid the 5 cent DC tax!
North Carolina-based grocery chain. A bit nicer than average chains. Don't forget to bring your own grocery bag to avoid the 5 cent DC tax!
337 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
1201 First Street NortheastNorth Carolina-based grocery chain. A bit nicer than average chains. Don't forget to bring your own grocery bag to avoid the 5 cent DC tax!
Old school Italian grocery! Tight aisles packed with great deals. Closes at 3:30pm. Try the meatball sandwich at the deli. http://alitteri.com/
45 locals recommend
A. Litteri
517 Morse St NEOld school Italian grocery! Tight aisles packed with great deals. Closes at 3:30pm. Try the meatball sandwich at the deli. http://alitteri.com/
Old City CrossFit
1007 H St NEhttp://www.oldcitycrossfit.com/
Capitol Fine Wine and Spirits
415 H St NEClosest wine, beer, and liquor store.
Local institution, they will help you pick out a great wine, craft beer, or interesting spirit. www.cellar.com
26 locals recommend
Schneider's of Capitol Hill
300 Massachusetts Ave NELocal institution, they will help you pick out a great wine, craft beer, or interesting spirit. www.cellar.com
CVS
645 H St NEThe ubiquitous drugstore.
Shopping
Eastern Market
225 7th St SE$$ Neighborhoody market that is worth visiting on the weekends.
The toast of the town. Situated among a gritty food warehouse district, this vibrant market offers a great oyster bar, bakery, butcher, etc. http://unionmarketdc.com/
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEThe toast of the town. Situated among a gritty food warehouse district, this vibrant market offers a great oyster bar, bakery, butcher, etc. http://unionmarketdc.com/
$$$ an iconic neighborhood. The city's best Farmer's Market is here Sundays mornings, see website for hours. http://freshfarmmarkets.org/farmers_markets/markets/dupont_circle.php
27 locals recommend
FRESHFARM Dupont Circle Market
1600 20th St NW$$$ an iconic neighborhood. The city's best Farmer's Market is here Sundays mornings, see website for hours. http://freshfarmmarkets.org/farmers_markets/markets/dupont_circle.php