Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Twin Dragon Carry-Out
5504 3rd St NWCheap, fast Chinese delivery or carryout
Taqueria Distrito Federal
805 Kennedy St NWauthentic casual Mexican food for dine-in or carry out
Relaxed neighborhood counter-serve spot for soul food, Caribbean dishes & breakfast
22 locals recommend
Andrene's
308 Kennedy St NWRelaxed neighborhood counter-serve spot for soul food, Caribbean dishes & breakfast
Culture Coffee
709 Kennedy Street Northwestlocal coffee shop with art gallery and live performance venue
Restaurant/Cafe/Bookstore with artsy social justice bend, entertainment and community events, lots of vegetarian options
250 locals recommend
Busboys and Poets
235 Carroll St NWRestaurant/Cafe/Bookstore with artsy social justice bend, entertainment and community events, lots of vegetarian options
Roscoe's Pizzeria
7040 Carroll AveNeapolitan-style pizza and italian with outdoor seating
Taco-ma Yucatán chicken
353 Cedar Street Northwestyummy Peruvian chicken
If you've never eaten pupusas or Salvadoran food, you have to try La Casita! Casual restaurant for takeout or dine-in and best pupusas in DC; try the chicken (our favorite) or the classic mixta. Long lines on the weekends so best to call ahead if you don't want to wait. Parking can be tricky on weekends; park in lot across the street, between gas station and paint store.
14 locals recommend
La Casita Pupuseria & Market
8214 Piney Branch RdIf you've never eaten pupusas or Salvadoran food, you have to try La Casita! Casual restaurant for takeout or dine-in and best pupusas in DC; try the chicken (our favorite) or the classic mixta. Long lines on the weekends so best to call ahead if you don't want to wait. Parking can be tricky on weekends; park in lot across the street, between gas station and paint store.
Cafe/Bar/Restaurant, great coffee, food and people watching. Open 24 hrs/day on the weekends, sidewalk seating during warm months
299 locals recommend
The Coupe
3415 11th St NWCafe/Bar/Restaurant, great coffee, food and people watching. Open 24 hrs/day on the weekends, sidewalk seating during warm months
all day breakfast, family friendly setting with classic diner styling
42 locals recommend
Slim's Diner
4201 Georgia Ave NWall day breakfast, family friendly setting with classic diner styling
Himitsu
828 Upshur Street Northwesthip Japanese and Asian dishes
Nando's
924 Ellsworth Drfamily friendly restaurant with Portuguese style chicken
LEBTAV
8535 Fenton Stcasual, family friendly food and wine
New Haven style - our favorite pizza restaurant in DC! Favorite toppings include the Nighthawk and prosciutto
7 locals recommend
Pete's New Haven Style Pizza
962 Wayne AvenueNew Haven style - our favorite pizza restaurant in DC! Favorite toppings include the Nighthawk and prosciutto
8407 Kitchen Bar
8407 Ramsey Avenuelocally sourced upscale American food
fun Hibachi grill; best to make reservations for hibachi on the weekends as tables can fill up or have a long wait
10 locals recommend
Masa Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi
921 J Ellsworth Drfun Hibachi grill; best to make reservations for hibachi on the weekends as tables can fill up or have a long wait
Jazz, famous DC half smokes, upscale and locals-only bars, upscale second hand stores, lots of interesting international restaurants
98 locals recommend
Cardozo
Jazz, famous DC half smokes, upscale and locals-only bars, upscale second hand stores, lots of interesting international restaurants
Iconic american fare restaurant; excellent breakfast, "grown-up" milkshakes and homemade poptarts are some of the favorites.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEIconic american fare restaurant; excellent breakfast, "grown-up" milkshakes and homemade poptarts are some of the favorites.
Drinks & Nightlife
local brewery and tasting room that offers tours, growler specials and weekend food trucks
41 locals recommend
3 Stars Brewing Company
6400 Chillum Pl NWlocal brewery and tasting room that offers tours, growler specials and weekend food trucks
relaxed, local brewery open Th-Sun offering beer by the glass or growler
23 locals recommend
Hellbender Brewing Company
5788 2nd St NErelaxed, local brewery open Th-Sun offering beer by the glass or growler
inventive drinks, pub grub, library; weekly events that pair books and specialty cocktails
121 locals recommend
Petworth Citizen & Reading Room
829 Upshur St NWinventive drinks, pub grub, library; weekly events that pair books and specialty cocktails
Homestead
3911 Georgia Avenue Northwestbar with rooftop seating
Vast wine and beer selection, good food with nice happy hour and weekday specials
15 locals recommend
Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe
8519 Fenton StreetVast wine and beer selection, good food with nice happy hour and weekday specials
Walter's Sports Bar
3632 Georgia Avenue NorthwestCasual sports bar, nightly specials, mostly locals
Interesting street to wander around for bars, coffee shops, restaurants, music and cultural venues
51 locals recommend
14th Street Northwest
14th Street NorthwestInteresting street to wander around for bars, coffee shops, restaurants, music and cultural venues
H Street Corridor
Variety of bars and restaurants in newly developing part of DC
Essentials
Valero
Nearby gas station
Basic sundries, nice owners who are open to customer stocking requests
Capitol View Convenience Store
12 Kennedy Street NorthwestBasic sundries, nice owners who are open to customer stocking requests
Kennedy Liquor
101-171 Kennedy St NWNearby liquor store
CVS Pharmacy
128 Kennedy St NWpharmacy & general supplies
7-Eleven
407 8th St NEsnacks, drinks, & sundries
Walmart Supercenter
5929 Georgia Ave NWGrocery and general supplies
Shoppers
6881 New Hampshire AveSafeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWGiant Food
1345 Park Rd NWTarget
3100 14th St NWGrocery and general supplies
Whole Foods Market
11355 Woodglen DrUpscale, organic grocery
Nearby international grocery store that carries food staples and exotic foods
Tropimart International Foods
607 Kennedy St NWNearby international grocery store that carries food staples and exotic foods
Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWMedStar Washington Hospital Center
106 Irving St NWFull service hospital and ER
Children's National - Main Hospital
111 Michigan Ave NWChildren's hospital and ER
GW Immediate and Primary Care: Silver Spring
8484 Georgia AveUrgent care, open late and on weekends
Shopping
Takoma Park Farmers Market
6931 Laurel AveClose farmer's market open on Sundays most of the year
Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, shopping, Saturday farmers market, outdoor live events (summer), ice skating (winter), and free cultural/music/yoga/dance/etc on the weekends. Free garage parking on weekends.
21 locals recommend
Downtown Silver Spring
916 Ellsworth DrRestaurants, bars, grocery stores, shopping, Saturday farmers market, outdoor live events (summer), ice skating (winter), and free cultural/music/yoga/dance/etc on the weekends. Free garage parking on weekends.
Takoma Park, Maryland is the hippy, quirky, liberal neighborhood right outside of DC proper. Take a stroll down mainstreet (Carroll/Laurel Ave) for unique gift stores, childrens store, bike shop, arts, farmers market, restaurants (old school ice cream shop, cheesecake coffee shop, and middle eastern food, pizza, etc) and general people watching.
34 locals recommend
Takoma Park
Takoma Park, Maryland is the hippy, quirky, liberal neighborhood right outside of DC proper. Take a stroll down mainstreet (Carroll/Laurel Ave) for unique gift stores, childrens store, bike shop, arts, farmers market, restaurants (old school ice cream shop, cheesecake coffee shop, and middle eastern food, pizza, etc) and general people watching.
Antiques, high end shopping, clothing stores, fancy restaurants, college town bars, waterfront dining - Georgetown has a little bit of everything. Very touristy, crowded sidewalks, not metro accessible.
664 locals recommend
Georgetown
Antiques, high end shopping, clothing stores, fancy restaurants, college town bars, waterfront dining - Georgetown has a little bit of everything. Very touristy, crowded sidewalks, not metro accessible.
Indoor food market, from locally sourced to artisan foods. Weekend market with stands that sell arts, crafts, antiques, international products, woodworking, jewelry, and farmers market food. The Market Lunch has amazing pancakes and crab cakes; it can become very crowded on the weekends with little seating, but worth the wait!
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEIndoor food market, from locally sourced to artisan foods. Weekend market with stands that sell arts, crafts, antiques, international products, woodworking, jewelry, and farmers market food. The Market Lunch has amazing pancakes and crab cakes; it can become very crowded on the weekends with little seating, but worth the wait!
Parks & Nature
Tons of trails for walkers, bikers, hikers, runners. Open spaces for sports or just wandering.
584 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWTons of trails for walkers, bikers, hikers, runners. Open spaces for sports or just wandering.
Fort Slocum Park
5800 Kansas Ave NWNearby small national park (no playground); open field
Playground, splash park (free); indoor swimming pool and gym (cost for non-DC residents)
7 locals recommend
Takoma Community Center
300 Van Buren St NWPlayground, splash park (free); indoor swimming pool and gym (cost for non-DC residents)
Expansive arboretum with indoor and outdoor features. Miles and miles of hiking and walking trails, educational programs, plenty of open space for kids to run around. Not as crowded as other national parks in DC.
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEExpansive arboretum with indoor and outdoor features. Miles and miles of hiking and walking trails, educational programs, plenty of open space for kids to run around. Not as crowded as other national parks in DC.
Outdoor park, picnic areas, playground, golf course, mini golf, pool (fee for non-DC residents). Great views of cherry blossoms and other iconic DC scenes
68 locals recommend
Hains Point
Outdoor park, picnic areas, playground, golf course, mini golf, pool (fee for non-DC residents). Great views of cherry blossoms and other iconic DC scenes
Sightseeing
Washington Monument
2 15th St NW
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWPlant and garden exhibits from every terrain in the United States. Beautiful outdoor garden seating and fun children's garden where little ones can dig, plant, splash and play. Holiday train display in December. Free!
253 locals recommend
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWPlant and garden exhibits from every terrain in the United States. Beautiful outdoor garden seating and fun children's garden where little ones can dig, plant, splash and play. Holiday train display in December. Free!
National Mall
A must see during Cherry Blossom Festival (spring) but a neat walk along the Potomac River any time of the year. Paddle boat rentals available
123 locals recommend
Tidal Basin
20245 National DrA must see during Cherry Blossom Festival (spring) but a neat walk along the Potomac River any time of the year. Paddle boat rentals available
United States Capitol
First Street Southeast
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWOutdoor space and splash park with lots of people watching and occasional outdoor performances. A fun place to visit when shopping or eating in Georgetown. Great views of DC.
219 locals recommend
Georgetown Waterfront Park
3100 K St NWOutdoor space and splash park with lots of people watching and occasional outdoor performances. A fun place to visit when shopping or eating in Georgetown. Great views of DC.
Year round outdoor entertainment (free outdoor concert series in the summer and other seasonal events) with lots of local, delicious restaurants and some original shopping venues.
7 locals recommend
Southwest Waterfront Park
Year round outdoor entertainment (free outdoor concert series in the summer and other seasonal events) with lots of local, delicious restaurants and some original shopping venues.
National monument that's not as crowded or touristy as monuments on the mall, set in forest-y island environment. For the adventurous, rent kayaks from the Georgetown waterfront, kayak to the island for a hike, and paddle back.
165 locals recommend
Theodore Roosevelt Island Park
National monument that's not as crowded or touristy as monuments on the mall, set in forest-y island environment. For the adventurous, rent kayaks from the Georgetown waterfront, kayak to the island for a hike, and paddle back.
Arts & Culture
Free! Fun for kids and adults of all ages, entertaining and educational.
647 locals recommend
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NWFree! Fun for kids and adults of all ages, entertaining and educational.
Free! Two wings (east wing: modern and contemporary art; west wing: 13th-20th century art, much larger than east wing); underground cafe, rooftop terrace on east wing, connected by sculpture garden.
385 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue Northwest Free! Two wings (east wing: modern and contemporary art; west wing: 13th-20th century art, much larger than east wing); underground cafe, rooftop terrace on east wing, connected by sculpture garden.
Outdoor sculpture garden that connects the east and west wings of National Gallery of art. Ice skating in the winter; Friday jazz concerts in the summer. Free!
55 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
7th Street NorthwestOutdoor sculpture garden that connects the east and west wings of National Gallery of art. Ice skating in the winter; Friday jazz concerts in the summer. Free!
Newest Smithsonian museum, a museum that seeks to understand American history through the lens of the African American experience. Free
325 locals recommend
National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave. NWNewest Smithsonian museum, a museum that seeks to understand American history through the lens of the African American experience. Free
Diverse permanent and rotating exhibits; robust programming events; amazingly delicious cafe. Free
196 locals recommend
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street SouthwestDiverse permanent and rotating exhibits; robust programming events; amazingly delicious cafe. Free
National Archives Research Center
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NWLesser known Smithsonian museum with interesting exhibits for all ages; very family friendly. Located next to Union Station.
25 locals recommend
National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave NELesser known Smithsonian museum with interesting exhibits for all ages; very family friendly. Located next to Union Station.