Guidebook for Silver Spring
Food Scene: Some of My Favorites
Here is a list of restaurants and breweries you might like.
Excellent local coffee shop. Good coffee, great breakfast options. You can work here all day (wifi). At night it is more of a bar scene.
30 locals recommend
Kaldi’s Social House
918 Silver Spring AveExcellent local coffee shop. Good coffee, great breakfast options. You can work here all day (wifi). At night it is more of a bar scene.
Authentic Italian. Delicious and just order whatever the waiter recommends.
20 locals recommend
Trattoria da Lina
7000 Carroll AveAuthentic Italian. Delicious and just order whatever the waiter recommends.
Coffee and breakfast in the am. Beer, wine and small plates in the PM. Just stay all day.
64 locals recommend
Takoma Beverage Company
6917 Laurel AveCoffee and breakfast in the am. Beer, wine and small plates in the PM. Just stay all day.
Takoma Park Farmers Market
6931 Laurel AveOn Sundays - nice farmers market!
Saturday Farmers Market - I prefer this one to Takoma Park b/c they allow dogs :) Be sure to visit the Baklava Couture table. She's a friend and my client. Amazing Greek pastries.
FRESHFARM Downtown Silver Spring Market
1 Veterans PlSaturday Farmers Market - I prefer this one to Takoma Park b/c they allow dogs :) Be sure to visit the Baklava Couture table. She's a friend and my client. Amazing Greek pastries.
Locally owned, one of 5 or 6 locations. There is a book store inside. Good for all diets (plenty of vegetarian and vegan options).
250 locals recommend
Busboys and Poets
235 Carroll St NWLocally owned, one of 5 or 6 locations. There is a book store inside. Good for all diets (plenty of vegetarian and vegan options).
Throwing in my favorites in DC (the others on the list are in the neighborhood around the Airbnb). This is one of the best if not the best restaurant in DC. This is for the people who want epic food and service. Go early or be prepared to wait. If you do have to wait, plenty of places to hang out in the neighborhood.
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEThrowing in my favorites in DC (the others on the list are in the neighborhood around the Airbnb). This is one of the best if not the best restaurant in DC. This is for the people who want epic food and service. Go early or be prepared to wait. If you do have to wait, plenty of places to hang out in the neighborhood.
Amazing DC restaurant in a 'back alley' but don't let that scare you. All the food is cooked in a hearth.
109 locals recommend
The Dabney
122 Blagden Alley NWAmazing DC restaurant in a 'back alley' but don't let that scare you. All the food is cooked in a hearth.
Lovely neighborhood restaurant. Not the kind of place that is in tourist books. Excellent food - get there early if you can.
359 locals recommend
The Red Hen
1822 1st St NWLovely neighborhood restaurant. Not the kind of place that is in tourist books. Excellent food - get there early if you can.
Brand new (fall 2018) from the chef/owner of another local spot. Cuban food, great drinks. If it's warm, go to the outdoor bar. Mojitos!
7 locals recommend
El Sapo Cuban Social Club
8455 Wayne AveBrand new (fall 2018) from the chef/owner of another local spot. Cuban food, great drinks. If it's warm, go to the outdoor bar. Mojitos!
This is the third of three! Silver Spring now has THREE breweries as of early 2019. And we couldn't be prouder of ourselves :) There is a nice beer garden.
10 locals recommend
Silver Branch Brewing Company
8401 Colesville RoadThis is the third of three! Silver Spring now has THREE breweries as of early 2019. And we couldn't be prouder of ourselves :) There is a nice beer garden.
Part wine shop, part deli. This is a great little neighborhood spot. You can take some food to go. But also a nice spot to hang out and have a well-crafted cocktail and an equally well-crafted sandwich/salad.
12 locals recommend
The Girl and The Vine
7071 Carroll AvePart wine shop, part deli. This is a great little neighborhood spot. You can take some food to go. But also a nice spot to hang out and have a well-crafted cocktail and an equally well-crafted sandwich/salad.
Great Mexican food from a local woman who went to California, met her husband while working in a Mexican restaurant and they brought what they learned back home. So delicious and fresh. Amazing cocktails as well. If the weather is nice, sit outside.
24 locals recommend
Cielo Rojo Restaurant
7211 Carroll AveGreat Mexican food from a local woman who went to California, met her husband while working in a Mexican restaurant and they brought what they learned back home. So delicious and fresh. Amazing cocktails as well. If the weather is nice, sit outside.
An awesome place in a delightful historic building. It used to be Mrs. K's Toll House. An actual toll house, converted into a restaurant. Then, it was turned into this great spot, Zinnia. In the morning, grab coffee and breakfast. Sit in the beautiful garden. They serve lunch and dinner in the garden. They have a cozy tavern. And they are also a fine-dining restaurant in the evening. Something for everyone!
Zinnia
An awesome place in a delightful historic building. It used to be Mrs. K's Toll House. An actual toll house, converted into a restaurant. Then, it was turned into this great spot, Zinnia. In the morning, grab coffee and breakfast. Sit in the beautiful garden. They serve lunch and dinner in the garden. They have a cozy tavern. And they are also a fine-dining restaurant in the evening. Something for everyone!
Woman-owned, unique food. You'll feel like you've travelled around the world in one night.
89 locals recommend
Compass Rose
1346 T St NWWoman-owned, unique food. You'll feel like you've travelled around the world in one night.
Motorkat
Delicious locally owned restaurant
Opened in 2023 this is a great all-day cafe. It's in a residential area in a tiny strip of retail. On the end of the same strip is a great African restaurant called Mansa Kunda
Koma Cafe
Opened in 2023 this is a great all-day cafe. It's in a residential area in a tiny strip of retail. On the end of the same strip is a great African restaurant called Mansa Kunda
Drinks & Nightlife
McGinty's Public House
911 Ellsworth DrClassic Irish Pub.
Wonderful brewery - the first in the neighborhood. Great beer garden. Decent food.
43 locals recommend
Denizens Brewing Co.
1115 East-West HwyWonderful brewery - the first in the neighborhood. Great beer garden. Decent food.
I hate to call it a bar, but really it is. This place is a dive bar that also serves decent food. They have a great jukebox. An awesome beer and whiskey list. You will feel like you are walking into a dungeon - don't worry. It's been around for nearly 50 years. There was a fire in 2015 and after 2 years of restoration it reopened. And by restoration, the owner restored it to look...well, old! It's just a great neighborhood spot. Kids are welcome on the earlier side (5-7pm).
38 locals recommend
Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia AveI hate to call it a bar, but really it is. This place is a dive bar that also serves decent food. They have a great jukebox. An awesome beer and whiskey list. You will feel like you are walking into a dungeon - don't worry. It's been around for nearly 50 years. There was a fire in 2015 and after 2 years of restoration it reopened. And by restoration, the owner restored it to look...well, old! It's just a great neighborhood spot. Kids are welcome on the earlier side (5-7pm).
Third Hill Brewing Co
Citizens & Culture
Locally owned. Good food. Fun vibe.
Parks & Nature
Sligo Creek Trail
Sligo Creek TrailGood area for walking, running or biking.
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan AveUnited States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWBeautiful place to walk and explore. You won't believe you're in DC
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEBeautiful place to walk and explore. You won't believe you're in DC
Shopping
Tabletop
1608 20th St NWI just love this little shop for gifts and home stuff.
I put this here after I had the first dog guest. This is a local pet supply store in Takoma Park (about a 1 mile walk) if you need anything for your pet.
The Big Bad Woof
6960 Maple St NWI put this here after I had the first dog guest. This is a local pet supply store in Takoma Park (about a 1 mile walk) if you need anything for your pet.
Essentials
Natural foods store. Parking is tough, but you can manage. If you can walk that is ideal. They also have plenty of prepared foods/ready to eat.
There is another WFM at The Historic Parks at Walter Reed. It’s a little further but has wine & beer and is a bigger, newer store. opened June 2023
138 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
11355 Woodglen DrNatural foods store. Parking is tough, but you can manage. If you can walk that is ideal. They also have plenty of prepared foods/ready to eat.
There is another WFM at The Historic Parks at Walter Reed. It’s a little further but has wine & beer and is a bigger, newer store. opened June 2023
Safeway
11201 Georgia AveStandard grocery store. Nothing special.
There are a lot of 7-11 stores in the neighborhood. If you need a Slurpee or other convenience items.
30 locals recommend
7-Eleven
8101 Fenton StThere are a lot of 7-11 stores in the neighborhood. If you need a Slurpee or other convenience items.
Entertainment & Activities
Regal Majestic Stadium 20 and IMAX
900 Ellsworth DrGreat movie theater for interesting shows.
149 locals recommend
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville RoadGreat movie theater for interesting shows.
Arts & Culture
The Fillmore Silver Spring
8656 Colesville RdLive music and shows