Jon’s guidebook
Food & Drink
Renovated warehouse with many great local fast casual options - Worth checking out especially if you and your group can't make a decision on where to eat
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NERenovated warehouse with many great local fast casual options - Worth checking out especially if you and your group can't make a decision on where to eat
I call it an upscale bodega. Great wine and beer selection, delicious pizza, and unique snack and drink options if you need to stock up before your day exploring DC
17 locals recommend
Old City Market and Oven
522 K St NEI call it an upscale bodega. Great wine and beer selection, delicious pizza, and unique snack and drink options if you need to stock up before your day exploring DC
Boundary Stone
116 Rhode Island Ave NWOne of my favorite dive-type bars
An awesome outdoor brewery
Originally from Brooklyn but we love it in DC too.
Most of the beer selection here is IPAs, so if you don't like them, you may not have a good time :)
12 locals recommend
Other Half Brewing Co.
1401 Okie Street NortheastAn awesome outdoor brewery
Originally from Brooklyn but we love it in DC too.
Most of the beer selection here is IPAs, so if you don't like them, you may not have a good time :)
Local Coffee Shop - Great coffee but not the speediest. Worth the wait if you have time, so try somewhere else if you're in a rush
120 locals recommend
Sidamo Coffee & Tea
417 H St NELocal Coffee Shop - Great coffee but not the speediest. Worth the wait if you have time, so try somewhere else if you're in a rush
Indigo
243 K St NEDelicious “street-style” Indian Food
Red Bear Brewing Co
209 M St NEOutdoor beer garden with lots of heated and covered space. Dog friendly
40 locals recommend
Wunder Garten
1101 First St NEOutdoor beer garden with lots of heated and covered space. Dog friendly
Stellina Pizzeria
399 Morse St NECotton & Reed
1330 5th St NEDelicious Rum Bar
St. Anselm
1250 5th St NEDelicious steakhouse
Delicious place food and drinks before a game or show at Capital One Arena
23 locals recommend
Yard House
6791 Springfield MallDelicious place food and drinks before a game or show at Capital One Arena
Rasika
633 D St NWDelicious "modern" Indian Food
Dacha Cafe
1600 7th St NWA local favorite
Daru
1451 Maryland Avenue NortheastUpscale Indian Food
The Pursuit Wine Bar
1025 H Street NortheastGreat wine. Also good food
Copycat Co.
1110 H St NECafe Fili
701 2nd St NEFast Casual Mediterranean
Chicken + Whiskey
1738 14th St NWChicken in the front, Whiskey in the back
Butter Chicken Company 3
601 2nd Street NortheastEbenezers Coffeehouse
201 F St NE
L'Ardente
200 Massachusetts Avenue NorthwestTheir lasagna has 40 layers. 40!
Barcelona Wine Bar
1622 14th St NWSightseeing
A great place to take kids (and adults!)
Also, like all Smithsonians, it's free!
771 locals recommend
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave NWA great place to take kids (and adults!)
Also, like all Smithsonians, it's free!
Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SEOne of the coolest new(ish) museums. Warning: this is one of the few that isn't free!
231 locals recommend
International Spy Museum
700 L'Enfant Plaza SWOne of the coolest new(ish) museums. Warning: this is one of the few that isn't free!
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NWNational Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Ave SW
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWYou might have heard of it
A great view from the top, but you may need to get reservations ahead of time. Plan ahead!
790 locals recommend
Washington Monument
2 15th St NWA great view from the top, but you may need to get reservations ahead of time. Plan ahead!
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWMeridian Hill Park
W Street NorthwestNice place to relax
National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave. NWNational Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave NEWho knew mail could be this interesting?
City advice
Getting around
Lots of travel options nearby
If you're up for it, walk downtown to visit musuems. The walk through Capitol Hill area is very pleasant , and takes around 20 minutes to get to the Capitol) (go south down 4th street until Maryland Avenue)
For anywhere else, Google Maps is your friends
The buses are generally pretty reliable and Google Maps accurately shows when the next one arrives. When taking the metro, use the Noma metro station (it's way quicker to get onto the platform there than at Union Station)
Don't sleep on the Capital Bikeshare for a cheap and active way to explore the city!