Denzel’s guidebook
Suggestions Guide
Welcome to the DMV!!!! (Stands for DC, Maryland and Virginia). From this house you can travel between all three within 40 minutes by car. There’s a ton of history to soak up, sites to see, restaurants to indulge in, and fun to be had. I’ll offer suggestions on a little bit of all of the above for several hotspots in the area
This is cultural gem that highlights the painful and inspirational history of African Americans. It takes at least two visits to experience in full since you’d want to dedicate roughly 4 hours per visit at minimum.
451 locals recommend
National Museum of African American History and Culture
1400 Constitution Ave. NWThis is cultural gem that highlights the painful and inspirational history of African Americans. It takes at least two visits to experience in full since you’d want to dedicate roughly 4 hours per visit at minimum.
Roughly three miles direct line of sight from the US Capitol Building to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The National Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, The Washington Monument, and the National World War II Memorial are all along the path).
1111 locals recommend
National Mall
Roughly three miles direct line of sight from the US Capitol Building to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The National Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, The Washington Monument, and the National World War II Memorial are all along the path).
United States Capitol
First Street SoutheastIf you love Art please visit the National Gallery of Art in DC. You’ll find work from every movement dating hundreds of years. You can lose yourself for days here if you desire.
385 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestIf you love Art please visit the National Gallery of Art in DC. You’ll find work from every movement dating hundreds of years. You can lose yourself for days here if you desire.
Interested in anything aviation and/or space related? This museum will have you covered from models of the very first aircraft to models of satellites and rovers. Very cool and super informative. A massive Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater is also within this museum. It’s one of the largest IMAX screens in DC. You can buy tics online or in person when available. Major movie releases are usually shown here, but not all so definitely research beforehand.
809 locals recommend
National Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Ave SWInterested in anything aviation and/or space related? This museum will have you covered from models of the very first aircraft to models of satellites and rovers. Very cool and super informative. A massive Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater is also within this museum. It’s one of the largest IMAX screens in DC. You can buy tics online or in person when available. Major movie releases are usually shown here, but not all so definitely research beforehand.
Washington Monument
2 15th St NWWorld War II Memorial
1750 Independence Ave SWI occasionally go here at night, sit on the steps, and just observe the reflection pool along with the Washington Monument in the night sky. I honestly think the experience is better at night. There’s usually college aged adults and small groups of tourists around even at 1am.
697 locals recommend
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWI occasionally go here at night, sit on the steps, and just observe the reflection pool along with the Washington Monument in the night sky. I honestly think the experience is better at night. There’s usually college aged adults and small groups of tourists around even at 1am.
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Marvin
2007 14th St NWHipHop/Rap/Trap Mellow lounge vibes. Usually a dope time
Also known for cool day parties, but also fun at night. Mostly Hip-Hop/ Trap.
11 locals recommend
Rosebar Lounge
1215 Connecticut Ave NWAlso known for cool day parties, but also fun at night. Mostly Hip-Hop/ Trap.
Three floor club with a different dj per floor. great diverse crowd. dj’s usually play top charts pop, hip hop, and/or a mix of Latin or Afrobeats
21 locals recommend
Decades DC
1219 Connecticut Ave NWThree floor club with a different dj per floor. great diverse crowd. dj’s usually play top charts pop, hip hop, and/or a mix of Latin or Afrobeats
Awesome parties at night playing Reggaeton, Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue.
105 locals recommend
El Centro
1819 14th St NWAwesome parties at night playing Reggaeton, Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue.
Cafe Citron
1343 Connecticut Ave NWnight parties. Mostly Reggaeton and Spanish top charts
Very cozy Jazz spot. one of the handful remaining in DC. Check for and buy tickets online in advance.
23 locals recommend
Twins Jazz
1344 U St NWVery cozy Jazz spot. one of the handful remaining in DC. Check for and buy tickets online in advance.
Classy Jazz/Blues spot in Georgetown DC. Always positive vibes. Check for and buy tickets online in advance.
59 locals recommend
Blues Alley Club
1073 Wisconsin Ave NWClassy Jazz/Blues spot in Georgetown DC. Always positive vibes. Check for and buy tickets online in advance.
Honestly my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the DMV
23 locals recommend
Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart
1334 9th St NWHonestly my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the DMV
Lavagna
539 8th St SEMost likely the best Italian restaurant in DC. Make reservations as far in advance as possible.
49 locals recommend
Filomena Ristorante
1063 Wisconsin Ave NWMost likely the best Italian restaurant in DC. Make reservations as far in advance as possible.
Like stepping into a piece of France but in DC. Lovely service, delicious food, wonderful ambiance.
52 locals recommend
Montmartre
327 7th St SELike stepping into a piece of France but in DC. Lovely service, delicious food, wonderful ambiance.
Chances are you will walk past this combo hangout spot/ restaurant/ hype clothing store. But don’t sleep on it! The Cambodian food here is delicious.
284 locals recommend
Maketto
1351 H St NEChances are you will walk past this combo hangout spot/ restaurant/ hype clothing store. But don’t sleep on it! The Cambodian food here is delicious.
I typically only eat ceviche abroad.... Pisco y Nazca being the only exception to that rule. The food here is remarkably fresh and flavorful.
9 locals recommend
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
1823 L St NWI typically only eat ceviche abroad.... Pisco y Nazca being the only exception to that rule. The food here is remarkably fresh and flavorful.
Busboys & Poets is so much more than a restaurant. Enjoy Poetry slams? Go to Busboys. Interested in partaking in community conversations surrounding social inequities? Go to Busboys. The food is good, but you get so much more here than a full stomach.
569 locals recommend
Busboys and Poets
450 K St NWBusboys & Poets is so much more than a restaurant. Enjoy Poetry slams? Go to Busboys. Interested in partaking in community conversations surrounding social inequities? Go to Busboys. The food is good, but you get so much more here than a full stomach.
As a New Yorker I practically grew up surrounded by awesome Dominican food. This is my only fix for that in DC.
16 locals recommend
Los Hermanos
1428 Park Rd NWAs a New Yorker I practically grew up surrounded by awesome Dominican food. This is my only fix for that in DC.
Just looking to drink some tea and have one on one conversation with a friend? Perfect. Sankofa is the comfy ethnocentric location to do just that.
28 locals recommend
Sankofa Video Books & Café
2714 Georgia Ave NWJust looking to drink some tea and have one on one conversation with a friend? Perfect. Sankofa is the comfy ethnocentric location to do just that.
Daikaya The Izakaya
705 6th Street NorthwestItadakimasu 🙏🏿
Georgetown Cupcake
3301 M St NWSimply Banh Mi
1624 Wisconsin Ave NWSoca Brunch Bin 1301 Wine Bar
1301 U St NWDo you like wine? Great. Indulge!
They offer a water taxi from Georgetown, DC to Old Town and several other noteworthy sites in the area. I have not been quite yet, but it seems like a fun way to see several sites from a calming and laid back perspective
29 locals recommend
Potomac Riverboat Co
3 Cameron St They offer a water taxi from Georgetown, DC to Old Town and several other noteworthy sites in the area. I have not been quite yet, but it seems like a fun way to see several sites from a calming and laid back perspective
Zaytinya
701 9th St NWI claim this as the best Caribbean food in the DMV and it’s only a short 5 min drive away. It’s pickup only. Try to get food here before 5pm because some dishes start becoming unavailable in the later hours. Food is cooked per order so there’s usually a 15 min or so wait.
Just Jerk
9005 Lanham Severn RdI claim this as the best Caribbean food in the DMV and it’s only a short 5 min drive away. It’s pickup only. Try to get food here before 5pm because some dishes start becoming unavailable in the later hours. Food is cooked per order so there’s usually a 15 min or so wait.
Dope Peruvian food also a short drive away. They also offer delivery to my house via DoorDash
DC Charbroiled Chicken
6062 Greenbelt RoadDope Peruvian food also a short drive away. They also offer delivery to my house via DoorDash
Caribbean restaurant & bakery. Good spot for Caribbean desserts- cakes and such. The food options are ok, but I think Just Jerk is much more flavorful
Weekness For Sweetness
8821 Greenbelt RdCaribbean restaurant & bakery. Good spot for Caribbean desserts- cakes and such. The food options are ok, but I think Just Jerk is much more flavorful
A very cool healthy twist of Diner culture stocked with old school music booths per table too. They offer delivery to my house through DoorDash as well. The Apple Pie is outlandishly delicious.
11 locals recommend
Silver Diner- Greenbelt
6040 Greenbelt RdA very cool healthy twist of Diner culture stocked with old school music booths per table too. They offer delivery to my house through DoorDash as well. The Apple Pie is outlandishly delicious.
Good Jerry
8845 Greenbelt RoadShort drive away but also delivery to my house through Seamless
You will be hard pressed to get seated at a table here in under 40 minutes most weekends, but the Southern breakfast food here is wildly delicious. They also offer delivery to my house via DoorDash, but in my opinion the food here is best enjoyed freshly cooked seconds off the pot)
12 locals recommend
Milk and Honey Cafe
12500 Fairwood PkwyYou will be hard pressed to get seated at a table here in under 40 minutes most weekends, but the Southern breakfast food here is wildly delicious. They also offer delivery to my house via DoorDash, but in my opinion the food here is best enjoyed freshly cooked seconds off the pot)
Five Guys
1300 2nd St NEShort drive away. Also delivery to my house via UberEats
Jodeem African Cuisine
6000 Greenbelt RdShort drive away located in Beltway Plaza Mall