Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Ambar Capitol Hill
523 8th St SEVery unique dining spot with great food and service.
Excellent breakfast spot. It's a diner, but upscale and great food. They don't take reservations, but you can do call-ahead seating. They also open early (7am), so if you are an early riser, you should be able to easily get in. Showing up mid to late morning can result in long waits. This place is very popular!
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEExcellent breakfast spot. It's a diner, but upscale and great food. They don't take reservations, but you can do call-ahead seating. They also open early (7am), so if you are an early riser, you should be able to easily get in. Showing up mid to late morning can result in long waits. This place is very popular!
Amazing breakfast burritos! It's a bit further of a walk, but you'll find us there almost every weekend. Try the "super breakfast burrito" with your choice of plantains or home fries. There's nothing fancy about this spot, but if you like breakfast burritos, you can't go wrong here.
7 locals recommend
Burrito Brothers of Capitol Hill
205 Pennsylvania Ave. SEAmazing breakfast burritos! It's a bit further of a walk, but you'll find us there almost every weekend. Try the "super breakfast burrito" with your choice of plantains or home fries. There's nothing fancy about this spot, but if you like breakfast burritos, you can't go wrong here.
Excellent gourmet pizza and other fare. Good drinks. Hip atmosphere. Reservations recommended.
226 locals recommend
matchbox
521 8th St SEExcellent gourmet pizza and other fare. Good drinks. Hip atmosphere. Reservations recommended.
It's simply a great bar with great non-typical bar food. The fried chicken is amazing! Great interior and friendly staff. Music is a little on the louder side, but you can still hear each other talk. It's seat yourself at the bar or tables. There's also additional seating in the basement.
68 locals recommend
Barrel
613 Pennsylvania Ave. SEIt's simply a great bar with great non-typical bar food. The fried chicken is amazing! Great interior and friendly staff. Music is a little on the louder side, but you can still hear each other talk. It's seat yourself at the bar or tables. There's also additional seating in the basement.
Some of the best Italian food in DC. It's a bit on the pricey side, but soooo worth it! Relaxed atmosphere with great service. Reservations recommended.
84 locals recommend
Acqua Al 2
Some of the best Italian food in DC. It's a bit on the pricey side, but soooo worth it! Relaxed atmosphere with great service. Reservations recommended.
Great French bistro - especially for weekend brunch. Their creme brulee French toast is amazing! Reservations recommended.
8 locals recommend
Bearnaise
315 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastGreat French bistro - especially for weekend brunch. Their creme brulee French toast is amazing! Reservations recommended.
If you like burgers... this is the place! It's fast food meets gourmet.
110 locals recommend
Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave. SEIf you like burgers... this is the place! It's fast food meets gourmet.
Ok... we love Starbucks. There are two within close walking distance. This one is a bit further, but larger and even has a quieter upstairs with a fireplace. It's also one of the few pilot Starbucks in DC that recently started serving alcohol in the evenings with some great light bites.
466 locals recommend
Starbucks
3100 14th St NWOk... we love Starbucks. There are two within close walking distance. This one is a bit further, but larger and even has a quieter upstairs with a fireplace. It's also one of the few pilot Starbucks in DC that recently started serving alcohol in the evenings with some great light bites.
Great microbrewery. Cool atmosphere and excellent craft beers. Good food as well!
129 locals recommend
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEGreat microbrewery. Cool atmosphere and excellent craft beers. Good food as well!
Drinks & Nightlife
This "speakeasy" is off the beaten path, but a true hidden gem for the neighborhood. Excellent craft cocktails, intimate, hip atmosphere and some good light-bites to eat. Reservations are encouraged, but we've gotten in before without them.
56 locals recommend
Harold Black
212 7th St SEThis "speakeasy" is off the beaten path, but a true hidden gem for the neighborhood. Excellent craft cocktails, intimate, hip atmosphere and some good light-bites to eat. Reservations are encouraged, but we've gotten in before without them.
If you like classic "holes in the wall", this is an interesting and fun spot. It can get crowded, but many locals love it. Their buffalo chicken sandwich is pretty darn good too.
77 locals recommend
Trusty's
1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SEIf you like classic "holes in the wall", this is an interesting and fun spot. It can get crowded, but many locals love it. Their buffalo chicken sandwich is pretty darn good too.
Shopping
It's iconic, historic, unique, and fun on a good-weather day. Something for everyone from local art to gourmet food.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEIt's iconic, historic, unique, and fun on a good-weather day. Something for everyone from local art to gourmet food.
Parks & Nature
You'll feel like you're a million miles away. Excellent place to bike ride on the weekends. Very scenic and hilly park that follows the meandering Rock Creek. Very cool stone bridges.
584 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWYou'll feel like you're a million miles away. Excellent place to bike ride on the weekends. Very scenic and hilly park that follows the meandering Rock Creek. Very cool stone bridges.