Guidebook for Washington
Essentials
Harris Teeter
900 Army Navy DrFull service grocery just 2 blocks away. Surprisingly good sushi.
If you need organic, natural, and similar hard-to-find food, personal care, and cleaning items. Really friendly staff, too.
85 locals recommend
Yes! Organic Market Capitol Hill
410 8th St SEIf you need organic, natural, and similar hard-to-find food, personal care, and cleaning items. Really friendly staff, too.
Shopping
Full service pharmacy and many other personal care items, in case you left something home by accident
500 12th St SE
500 12th Street SoutheastFull service pharmacy and many other personal care items, in case you left something home by accident
Food Scene
Best take-out pizza and subs within 5 min. of the house. They also sublet to a Middle Eastern mom and pop restaurant.
1123 Pennsylvania Ave SE
1123 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastBest take-out pizza and subs within 5 min. of the house. They also sublet to a Middle Eastern mom and pop restaurant.
Wonderful New Orleans style cafe. Cool ambiance, excellent chai, divine beignets made fresh to order.
8 locals recommend
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
901 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastWonderful New Orleans style cafe. Cool ambiance, excellent chai, divine beignets made fresh to order.
Our favorite local bakery for fresh-baked breads. They also do great sandwiches.
25 locals recommend
Spring Mill Bread Co
701 8th St SEOur favorite local bakery for fresh-baked breads. They also do great sandwiches.
Named "best new restaurant" of 2014 by Bon Appetit. The food is amazing.
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SENamed "best new restaurant" of 2014 by Bon Appetit. The food is amazing.
Great for the kids (coloring pages + crayons), great salsa bar, great fish tacos, and great soda options (bottled Mexican and gourmet fountain).
122 locals recommend
District Taco
656 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastGreat for the kids (coloring pages + crayons), great salsa bar, great fish tacos, and great soda options (bottled Mexican and gourmet fountain).
Kid-friendly menu, fabulous thin-crust pizzas (you'll need lots of water to go with the Fire and Smoke, but worth it!), yummy sliders, and wonderful salads. Crayons + coloring pages for the kids.
226 locals recommend
matchbox
521 8th St SEKid-friendly menu, fabulous thin-crust pizzas (you'll need lots of water to go with the Fire and Smoke, but worth it!), yummy sliders, and wonderful salads. Crayons + coloring pages for the kids.
Excellent Middle Eastern tapas. All-you-can-eat brunch option on Sundays.
104 locals recommend
Cava Mezze
527 8th St SEExcellent Middle Eastern tapas. All-you-can-eat brunch option on Sundays.
Belga Café
514 8th St SEBelgian food. Mussels and frites or Belgian waffles anyone?
American sandwiches and breakfast + Korean fusion cuisine (bulgogi tacos, kimchi quesadillas), fast food style.
Cafe Kimchi
751 8th Street SoutheastAmerican sandwiches and breakfast + Korean fusion cuisine (bulgogi tacos, kimchi quesadillas), fast food style.
Gourmet donuts (e.g., chocolate and bacon) + coffee! Need I say more?
50 locals recommend
District Doughnut
749 8th St SEGourmet donuts (e.g., chocolate and bacon) + coffee! Need I say more?
Only Vietnamese place within walking distance of the apt. Tasty pho and lemongrass beef. My kids love the fresh spring rolls.
Anh Dao Pho
1123 Pennsylvania Ave. SEOnly Vietnamese place within walking distance of the apt. Tasty pho and lemongrass beef. My kids love the fresh spring rolls.
Gourmet hot dogs (oxymoron?) representing different regional specialties (Philly cheesesteak style, Chicago style, even a Seoul style), fried pickles, and frozen yogurt.
DC-3
423 8th St SEGourmet hot dogs (oxymoron?) representing different regional specialties (Philly cheesesteak style, Chicago style, even a Seoul style), fried pickles, and frozen yogurt.
Higher-class diner food than your local greasy spoon. Awesome gourmet pop tarts and other baked goods. Creative milkshakes (and for grown-ups, alcoholic ones). Very kid-friendly.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEHigher-class diner food than your local greasy spoon. Awesome gourmet pop tarts and other baked goods. Creative milkshakes (and for grown-ups, alcoholic ones). Very kid-friendly.
Wonderful Balkan food, tapas-style, and really creative cocktails.
134 locals recommend
Ambar Capitol Hill
523 8th St SEWonderful Balkan food, tapas-style, and really creative cocktails.
Entertainment & Activities
Little Loft
511 11th St SEArts and crafts center for kids.
Lincoln Park
Large park with two playgrounds for the kiddos.
More commonly known as "Turtle Park" (you'll see why). Great playground for the little ones.
12 locals recommend
Marion Park
401-479 E St SEMore commonly known as "Turtle Park" (you'll see why). Great playground for the little ones.
A homegrown park created by local parents from "donated" (or dumped, some would say) plastic slides, playhouses, ride on toys, and other items. Really great for tiny toddlers - everything is small.
880 Pennsylvania Ave SE
880 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastA homegrown park created by local parents from "donated" (or dumped, some would say) plastic slides, playhouses, ride on toys, and other items. Really great for tiny toddlers - everything is small.
Close-by park with two play structures - one for older elementary school kids and one for younger ones.
1345 Potomac Ave SE
1345 Potomac Avenue SoutheastClose-by park with two play structures - one for older elementary school kids and one for younger ones.
Close-by park with two play structures - one for older elementary school kids and one for younger ones. There is also a baseball diamond and grass field. Unfortunately, it is sometimes locked.
Tyler Elementary School
1001 G St SEClose-by park with two play structures - one for older elementary school kids and one for younger ones. There is also a baseball diamond and grass field. Unfortunately, it is sometimes locked.
Arts & Culture
Lots of art, educational, music, music, dance, yoga, and other classes for kids and grown-ups.
12 locals recommend
Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SELots of art, educational, music, music, dance, yoga, and other classes for kids and grown-ups.
Everything Else
Drop-in yoga classes for babies, kids, and adults. They even offer childcare for some of the classes.
Breathing Space
641 Pennsylvania Ave. SEDrop-in yoga classes for babies, kids, and adults. They even offer childcare for some of the classes.
On weekdays, go to the food market and the Market Lunch for fried fish and crabcakes. On the weekend, visit the flea market and the Market Lunch breakfast's legendary blueberry buckwheat pancakes.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEOn weekdays, go to the food market and the Market Lunch for fried fish and crabcakes. On the weekend, visit the flea market and the Market Lunch breakfast's legendary blueberry buckwheat pancakes.
The closest gym to the house. It's more of a small group/personal training place. You can purchase a pass.
Atlas Fitness
920 11th Street SoutheastThe closest gym to the house. It's more of a small group/personal training place. You can purchase a pass.
A gym close to the apt. It's focused on group classes and small group training rather than your traditional gym.
Jade Fitness
1310 Pennsylvania Ave. SEA gym close to the apt. It's focused on group classes and small group training rather than your traditional gym.
Traditional gym in a not-so-traditional setting (renovated elementary school). Amazing locker rooms, hot tub, massages, classes, lots of equipment, volleyball and basketball, and even child care!
13 locals recommend
Results Gym
315 G Street SoutheastTraditional gym in a not-so-traditional setting (renovated elementary school). Amazing locker rooms, hot tub, massages, classes, lots of equipment, volleyball and basketball, and even child care!