Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Range of food from Le Diplomate (beautiful, bustling, great food and service) to Commissary (go-to spot for reasonably-priced food and drink, good spot for families).
Le Diplomate
1601 14th St NWWonderful experience, great service and food. Bustling Paris scene.
Wonderful ambience, especially if the weather allows eating outdoors.
32 locals recommend
Iron Gate Restaurant
1734 N St NWWonderful ambience, especially if the weather allows eating outdoors.
Great place to grab lunch/brunch, with a nice selection of restaurants and take-out spots, lots of seating, and also sometimes music/movies/events.
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEGreat place to grab lunch/brunch, with a nice selection of restaurants and take-out spots, lots of seating, and also sometimes music/movies/events.
Best coffeeshop I know. It's so relaxed that you can buy a cup of coffee, lounge on a couch all day, and no one will ever bother you. Good spot for working, reading.
252 locals recommend
Tryst
2459 18th St NWBest coffeeshop I know. It's so relaxed that you can buy a cup of coffee, lounge on a couch all day, and no one will ever bother you. Good spot for working, reading.
Good food and drink, reasonably priced. Happy hour 3-7pm includes 8 oz beef burger for $6.50, which means you can have a draft beer and a burger for $13 plus tax and tip — hard to beat in DC.
49 locals recommend
Commissary
1443 P St NWGood food and drink, reasonably priced. Happy hour 3-7pm includes 8 oz beef burger for $6.50, which means you can have a draft beer and a burger for $13 plus tax and tip — hard to beat in DC.
Entertainment & Activities
9:30
815 V St NWGreat place for live music
Rock and roll, my friends. Range of music from local bands to up-and-coming national favorites. Worth checking their website, or just walking past to see who's playing.
136 locals recommend
Black Cat
1811 14th St NWRock and roll, my friends. Range of music from local bands to up-and-coming national favorites. Worth checking their website, or just walking past to see who's playing.
Bustling and busy, Dupont Circle Park is a great spot to relax with a cup of coffee from one of the many nearby coffeeshops and just watch the scene. Musicians, chess players, yoga enthusiasts, and just people enjoying the day.
301 locals recommend
Dupont Circle
Bustling and busy, Dupont Circle Park is a great spot to relax with a cup of coffee from one of the many nearby coffeeshops and just watch the scene. Musicians, chess players, yoga enthusiasts, and just people enjoying the day.
Sightseeing
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWJust 20 minutes easy walk away.
This is where most of the monuments and museums are. It's about a 30 minute easy walk (downhill) from the apartment, or you could Uber or take one of the shared Capital Bikeshare bikes from just across the street.
1111 locals recommend
National Mall
This is where most of the monuments and museums are. It's about a 30 minute easy walk (downhill) from the apartment, or you could Uber or take one of the shared Capital Bikeshare bikes from just across the street.
Parks & Nature
Nice Victorian-style landscaped park with a lovely fountain, different levels. Very busy drum circle on Sunday afternoons. Nice people watching.
445 locals recommend
Meridian Hill Park
W Street NorthwestNice Victorian-style landscaped park with a lovely fountain, different levels. Very busy drum circle on Sunday afternoons. Nice people watching.
Right in the middle of the city, great hiking trails, good for biking. Main road is closed to cars on Sunday.
584 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWRight in the middle of the city, great hiking trails, good for biking. Main road is closed to cars on Sunday.
Drinks & Nightlife
The diviest of dive bars, great live music, outdoor seating.
216 locals recommend
The Wonderland Ballroom
1101 Kenyon St NWThe diviest of dive bars, great live music, outdoor seating.
ChurchKey
1337 14th St NWHuge selection of beers.
Stoney's
1433 P St NWYour basic bar, open until 2am.
Wonderful and stylish wine bar, open until late, delicious food, nice outdoor seating.
322 locals recommend
Barcelona Wine Bar
1622 14th St NWWonderful and stylish wine bar, open until late, delicious food, nice outdoor seating.
Arts & Culture
I find this is one of the most interesting Smithsonian museums, and often overlooked. Always has an interesting exhibit...
28 locals recommend
National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Ave SWI find this is one of the most interesting Smithsonian museums, and often overlooked. Always has an interesting exhibit...