Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
You can order to-go or eat upstairs in the inviting and hip bar area. Good cocktails, has expanded its menu to Szechuan-inspired options. It used to be more a economical choice, but they’ve upped their vibe and their prices. Best time to go is happy hour.
161 locals recommend
Copycat Co.
1110 H St NEYou can order to-go or eat upstairs in the inviting and hip bar area. Good cocktails, has expanded its menu to Szechuan-inspired options. It used to be more a economical choice, but they’ve upped their vibe and their prices. Best time to go is happy hour.
A good 40 min away but one of my favorite taco spots. It's closest to the Petworth metro station.
93 locals recommend
Taqueria Habanero
3710 14th St NWA good 40 min away but one of my favorite taco spots. It's closest to the Petworth metro station.
A favorite near the house. This is a takeout place - limited seating and not exactly charming. It is Jamaican food: jerk chicken, oxtail stew, seafood pastas and more.
Hard to get to from the house unless you have a car.
9 locals recommend
Pimento Grill
4405 Bowen Rd SEA favorite near the house. This is a takeout place - limited seating and not exactly charming. It is Jamaican food: jerk chicken, oxtail stew, seafood pastas and more.
Hard to get to from the house unless you have a car.
Decent szechuan-style Chinese food. I recommend the cumin lamb and hot and spicy wontons. Not in an interesting or pretty nook of DC, and you need a car to get there. And yes, it is attached to a Days Inn. Worth the trip though and far better than your typical American-Chinese fare. They do not have a liquor/beer license. It is down the street from the National Arboretum, which also requires a car to get to, so you can work in both.
18 locals recommend
Panda Gourmet
Decent szechuan-style Chinese food. I recommend the cumin lamb and hot and spicy wontons. Not in an interesting or pretty nook of DC, and you need a car to get there. And yes, it is attached to a Days Inn. Worth the trip though and far better than your typical American-Chinese fare. They do not have a liquor/beer license. It is down the street from the National Arboretum, which also requires a car to get to, so you can work in both.
Good SE Asian and good cocktails. Parking can be tricky at times but can be found. Good spot when the weather is nice too.
16 locals recommend
Laos in Town
250 K St NEGood SE Asian and good cocktails. Parking can be tricky at times but can be found. Good spot when the weather is nice too.
A quieter spot on Penn Ave with good food and drinks. Reservations recommended.
56 locals recommend
Beuchert’s Saloon
623 Pennsylvania Ave. SEA quieter spot on Penn Ave with good food and drinks. Reservations recommended.
If you need a decent Mexican/El Salvadoran fix that’s nearby, this is it. It is a neighborhood spot that pulls all sorts of DC residents. The patio is nice when the weather is too.
9 locals recommend
Las Placitas
1100 8th St SEIf you need a decent Mexican/El Salvadoran fix that’s nearby, this is it. It is a neighborhood spot that pulls all sorts of DC residents. The patio is nice when the weather is too.
Reservations recommended. Call ahead if you want to walk-in or just sit at the bar. Slightly uppity crowd but great staff. Great drinks, good food.
284 locals recommend
Maketto
1351 H St NEReservations recommended. Call ahead if you want to walk-in or just sit at the bar. Slightly uppity crowd but great staff. Great drinks, good food.
Always busy, but they always seem to have a table for you. My favorite burger nearby, great beer. Open for lunch and dinner.
129 locals recommend
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEAlways busy, but they always seem to have a table for you. My favorite burger nearby, great beer. Open for lunch and dinner.
Drinks & Nightlife
A neighborhood dive. Relatively cheap burgers and cheesesteak sandwiches.
77 locals recommend
Trusty's
1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SEA neighborhood dive. Relatively cheap burgers and cheesesteak sandwiches.
A famous and my personal favorite music venue with quite a few bars and restaurants nearby. Walkable from the U-street metro station.
455 locals recommend
9:30
815 V St NWA famous and my personal favorite music venue with quite a few bars and restaurants nearby. Walkable from the U-street metro station.
the Gibson
2009 14th St NWA speakeasy that serves seasonal cocktails.
Sightseeing
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWMy favorite DC monument!
A word of warning on this one... these tours are, in my opinion, not very good. You get to see the dome, which is pretty, and the statuary on one side of the dome, as well as the vault under the dome. That's it really. You can get passes to see the floor of the House or Senate which is worthwhile, and I believe you can get a private tour if you ask your representative/senator.
114 locals recommend
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street SoutheastA word of warning on this one... these tours are, in my opinion, not very good. You get to see the dome, which is pretty, and the statuary on one side of the dome, as well as the vault under the dome. That's it really. You can get passes to see the floor of the House or Senate which is worthwhile, and I believe you can get a private tour if you ask your representative/senator.
Essentials
This is the only convenience store by the house. It has basic items for a upcharge/okay beer/liquor/terrible wine. Fine in a pinch, and the staff are courteous.
Jones Grocery Store
4350 Texas Ave SEThis is the only convenience store by the house. It has basic items for a upcharge/okay beer/liquor/terrible wine. Fine in a pinch, and the staff are courteous.
This 7-eleven near the metro is a better place to get snacks and essentials than the Jones Grocery Store.
4443 Benning Rd NE
4443 Benning Road NortheastThis 7-eleven near the metro is a better place to get snacks and essentials than the Jones Grocery Store.
Entertainment & Activities
The Kennedy Center hosts concerts, cultural events, dance events, and more. Check for tickets at http://www.kennedy-center.org. There are free events a few times a week. The nearest metro is Foggy Bottom, so it's a straight shot from the apartment, ~30-40 minutes.
498 locals recommend
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NWThe Kennedy Center hosts concerts, cultural events, dance events, and more. Check for tickets at http://www.kennedy-center.org. There are free events a few times a week. The nearest metro is Foggy Bottom, so it's a straight shot from the apartment, ~30-40 minutes.
Great place to escape the heat or the cold. Rotating digital art installations. Some are better than others, but I always enjoy stopping here. A bar upstairs lets you look onto the main screen while you sit.
52 locals recommend
Artechouse DC
1238 Maryland Avenue SouthwestGreat place to escape the heat or the cold. Rotating digital art installations. Some are better than others, but I always enjoy stopping here. A bar upstairs lets you look onto the main screen while you sit.
You will need a car to get here. It’s possible to get here by bus, but I’m sure it would take awhile. If you want to grab lunch before or after, I recommend Panda Gourmet.
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEYou will need a car to get here. It’s possible to get here by bus, but I’m sure it would take awhile. If you want to grab lunch before or after, I recommend Panda Gourmet.
Getting Around
There are buses along Texas that go to the metro. It's only a 15-minute walk but if you don't feel like walking it, go out to Texas, cross the street, and then get bus U5 or U6 for a couple stops to the intersection of Benning Road and East Capitol Street. Let us know if you need help figuring out DC public transportation.
4320 Texas Ave SE
4320 Texas Avenue SoutheastThere are buses along Texas that go to the metro. It's only a 15-minute walk but if you don't feel like walking it, go out to Texas, cross the street, and then get bus U5 or U6 for a couple stops to the intersection of Benning Road and East Capitol Street. Let us know if you need help figuring out DC public transportation.
This is the closest metro, about a 15-minute walk. It is on the blue and silver line. Go to wmata.com for maps of the transportation system.
21 locals recommend
Benning Road Station
4500 Benning Rd NEThis is the closest metro, about a 15-minute walk. It is on the blue and silver line. Go to wmata.com for maps of the transportation system.
Shopping
Union market is primary a food market but is also a great place to eat. There are stalls for empanadas, oysters, mediterranean food, bagels, and much more. It has expanded to sort of a mini city center since I moved here, and it boasts even more food options and is large enough to work in a stroll around. Sometimes public events like outdoor films and spin classes are offered.
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEUnion market is primary a food market but is also a great place to eat. There are stalls for empanadas, oysters, mediterranean food, bagels, and much more. It has expanded to sort of a mini city center since I moved here, and it boasts even more food options and is large enough to work in a stroll around. Sometimes public events like outdoor films and spin classes are offered.
Eastern Market is a foods and art market. It is closed Mondays and is most interesting to visit on the weekends, when there are the most vendors. You can buy all sorts of arts and crafts here, and there a number of good restaurants nearby.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEEastern Market is a foods and art market. It is closed Mondays and is most interesting to visit on the weekends, when there are the most vendors. You can buy all sorts of arts and crafts here, and there a number of good restaurants nearby.
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
1100 S Hayes StVery metro accessible
Tysons Galleria Shopping Center
2001 International Dr