Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Townie spot with great food, especially brunch. Biscuits and gravy with the fried chicken is a must.
252 locals recommend
The Pub & The People
1648 North Capitol Street NorthwestTownie spot with great food, especially brunch. Biscuits and gravy with the fried chicken is a must.
Upscale wood-fired Italian restaurant with a great wine list. One of my favorite restaurants, and annually ranked one of the best restaurants in DC.
359 locals recommend
The Red Hen
1822 1st St NWUpscale wood-fired Italian restaurant with a great wine list. One of my favorite restaurants, and annually ranked one of the best restaurants in DC.
Compass Coffee
1535 7th St NWCoffee is on point.
No need to go far for Neapolitan-style pizza! Menomale is cozy bistro that serves delicious pizza and other light Italian fare.
131 locals recommend
Menomale
2711 12th St NENo need to go far for Neapolitan-style pizza! Menomale is cozy bistro that serves delicious pizza and other light Italian fare.
The Edgewood neighborhood's no-frills bar that attracts a local crowd with good food and drinks.
38 locals recommend
Dew Drop Inn
2801 8th St NEThe Edgewood neighborhood's no-frills bar that attracts a local crowd with good food and drinks.
Cute bakery with a good selection of cupcakes, cookies, scones, and other baked treats. Best known for the delicious "cinnascone". Ask for it warmed up.
31 locals recommend
Buttercream Bakeshop
1250 9th St NWCute bakery with a good selection of cupcakes, cookies, scones, and other baked treats. Best known for the delicious "cinnascone". Ask for it warmed up.
Neighborhood pub in Bloomingdale with good food and a great whiskey selection.
262 locals recommend
Boundary Stone
116 Rhode Island Ave NWNeighborhood pub in Bloomingdale with good food and a great whiskey selection.
Looking for great BBQ? Go no further. DCity Smokehouse has got some of the best 'cue in DC and it's only a fifteen minute walk from the house.
114 locals recommend
DCity Smokehouse
203 Florida Ave NWLooking for great BBQ? Go no further. DCity Smokehouse has got some of the best 'cue in DC and it's only a fifteen minute walk from the house.
Thai restaurant and sushi bar with a great menu and live jazz on the weekend.
27 locals recommend
Sala Thai
2300 Washington Pl NEThai restaurant and sushi bar with a great menu and live jazz on the weekend.
Fantastic sandwiches themed after world capital cities using local ingredients. Great lunch stop.
104 locals recommend
SUNdeVICH
1314 9th St NWFantastic sandwiches themed after world capital cities using local ingredients. Great lunch stop.
If you're looking for vegan options, NuVegan has cornered the market on vegan soul food. They also have really tasty juices and smoothies.
70 locals recommend
NuVegan Café
2928 Georgia Ave NWIf you're looking for vegan options, NuVegan has cornered the market on vegan soul food. They also have really tasty juices and smoothies.
Very trendy spot that serves small plate French-American fare & craft cocktails. Excellent latkes, and a different, but very delicious take on coq au vin.
68 locals recommend
Convivial
801 O St NWVery trendy spot that serves small plate French-American fare & craft cocktails. Excellent latkes, and a different, but very delicious take on coq au vin.
Chic French bistro and wine bar. Feels like you've traveled to Paris. The french onion soup is to die for.
41 locals recommend
Primrose
3000 12th St NEChic French bistro and wine bar. Feels like you've traveled to Paris. The french onion soup is to die for.
Excellent restaurant in Petworth serving Peruvian/Argentinian fusion. The parradilla is a must that you can share between two people. The mezcal negroni has the perfect amount of smokiness, and any of the tannat wines are delicious.
33 locals recommend
Ruta del Vino
800 Upshur Street NorthwestExcellent restaurant in Petworth serving Peruvian/Argentinian fusion. The parradilla is a must that you can share between two people. The mezcal negroni has the perfect amount of smokiness, and any of the tannat wines are delicious.
Getting Around
Ten minute walk that includes a few blocks along busy Rhode Island Avenue. Safe at night and my friends have never had any issues walking alone.
93 locals recommend
Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood station
919 Rhode Island Ave NETen minute walk that includes a few blocks along busy Rhode Island Avenue. Safe at night and my friends have never had any issues walking alone.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cash only dive bar is a great local spot in Bloomingdale. Hosts the funk fusion band Granny and the Boys every Sunday night.
145 locals recommend
Showtime Lounge
113 Rhode Island Ave NWCash only dive bar is a great local spot in Bloomingdale. Hosts the funk fusion band Granny and the Boys every Sunday night.
Chill bar in Shaw with a large beer list that doesn't serve food, but has snacks for purchase (think Pringles).
42 locals recommend
Lost & Found DC
1240 9th St NWChill bar in Shaw with a large beer list that doesn't serve food, but has snacks for purchase (think Pringles).
An excellent, 100% women-owned, distillery in the hip Ivy City neighborhood. Ask about tours, and try the Borough Bourbon.
25 locals recommend
Republic Restoratives Distillery and Craft Cocktail Bar
1369 New York Ave NEAn excellent, 100% women-owned, distillery in the hip Ivy City neighborhood. Ask about tours, and try the Borough Bourbon.
Awesome dive bar with a Detroit and Chicago theme. Get the hot dogs, and take a shot of Malört if you dare. Cash only.
37 locals recommend
Ivy and Coney
1537 7th St NWAwesome dive bar with a Detroit and Chicago theme. Get the hot dogs, and take a shot of Malört if you dare. Cash only.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful urban park great for a afternoon stroll or a picnic in warmer weather.
76 locals recommend
Crispus Attucks Park
23 U St NWBeautiful urban park great for a afternoon stroll or a picnic in warmer weather.
Stunning outdoor space with lots of running trails, city history, and a surprisingly extensive and diverse bonsai collection.
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEStunning outdoor space with lots of running trails, city history, and a surprisingly extensive and diverse bonsai collection.
Beautiful park with an Italian Renaissance-style cascading fountain and an open mall that hosts picnics, frisbee games, slack-liners, and regular Sunday drum circles.
445 locals recommend
Meridian Hill Park
W Street NorthwestBeautiful park with an Italian Renaissance-style cascading fountain and an open mall that hosts picnics, frisbee games, slack-liners, and regular Sunday drum circles.
The oldest botanic garden in the US. A must-do if you're sightseeing along the Mall.
253 locals recommend
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWThe oldest botanic garden in the US. A must-do if you're sightseeing along the Mall.
Entertainment & Activities
New movie theater with COMFY seats that serves alcohol and draws a trendy crowd.
104 locals recommend
Landmark's Atlantic Plumbing Cinema
807 V Street NorthwestNew movie theater with COMFY seats that serves alcohol and draws a trendy crowd.
Internationally-renowned music venue that attracts a wide range of shows and bands.
455 locals recommend
9:30
815 V St NWInternationally-renowned music venue that attracts a wide range of shows and bands.
THE place to rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle-boards in the warmer months.
75 locals recommend
Boating in DC at Key Bridge Boathouse
3500 Water St NWTHE place to rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle-boards in the warmer months.
Home of the Washington Capitals (hockey) and Washington Wizards (basketball), Capital One Arena also hosts a variety of concerts and other sporting events throughout the year.
305 locals recommend
Capital One Arena
601 F St NWHome of the Washington Capitals (hockey) and Washington Wizards (basketball), Capital One Arena also hosts a variety of concerts and other sporting events throughout the year.
Home of the Washington Nationals baseball team. Fun (and slightly expensive) way to spend a nice afternoon or evening when the team is in town.
455 locals recommend
Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SEHome of the Washington Nationals baseball team. Fun (and slightly expensive) way to spend a nice afternoon or evening when the team is in town.
Sightseeing
The epic-center of American democracy, or dysfunction, depending on your perspective. I can help arrange a tour, but need at least a month's notice.
670 locals recommend
United States Capitol
First Street SoutheastThe epic-center of American democracy, or dysfunction, depending on your perspective. I can help arrange a tour, but need at least a month's notice.
DC's most iconic green space. A nearly two mile stretch of greenery from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial that attracts tourists and local Washingtonians who run along the paths. Great to explore for a day while visiting the various monuments and museums that line it.
1111 locals recommend
National Mall
DC's most iconic green space. A nearly two mile stretch of greenery from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial that attracts tourists and local Washingtonians who run along the paths. Great to explore for a day while visiting the various monuments and museums that line it.
Even for non-Catholics, the Basilica is one of the most beautiful buildings in DC. One of the best examples of Neo-Byzantine architecture in the US, it's also the largest Catholic church in the US.
134 locals recommend
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue NortheastEven for non-Catholics, the Basilica is one of the most beautiful buildings in DC. One of the best examples of Neo-Byzantine architecture in the US, it's also the largest Catholic church in the US.
Moving monument and tribute to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Phenomenal views from the top of the steps.
697 locals recommend
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWMoving monument and tribute to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Phenomenal views from the top of the steps.
The seat of executive power in the United States and the home of the current President.
1097 locals recommend
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWThe seat of executive power in the United States and the home of the current President.
Arts & Culture
One of my favorite Smithsonian museums, the American Art Museums is one of the largest showcases of American artists in the world. It's in the same building as the National Portrait Gallery, another excellent museum, and houses the beautiful Kogod Courtyard.
179 locals recommend
Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th Street NorthwestOne of my favorite Smithsonian museums, the American Art Museums is one of the largest showcases of American artists in the world. It's in the same building as the National Portrait Gallery, another excellent museum, and houses the beautiful Kogod Courtyard.
A huge renovated townhome, now museum, houses an exquisite collection of Post-Impressionist and modern art. Several Rothko works can be found here. If you're in town on the first Thursday of the month, they host Philips After 5, which draws a hip crowd to enjoy cocktails, music, and the collection after work.
224 locals recommend
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St NWA huge renovated townhome, now museum, houses an exquisite collection of Post-Impressionist and modern art. Several Rothko works can be found here. If you're in town on the first Thursday of the month, they host Philips After 5, which draws a hip crowd to enjoy cocktails, music, and the collection after work.