Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
the pig
1320 14th St NWMostly pork-based tapas. Creative cocktails. Great atmosphere.
Peregrine Espresso
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SEHipster coffee joint.
The old standby. Best oysters in the city. Great seafood, great salads. Inventive cocktails and fun happy hour. Always bustling. You can call 20 minutes in advance to put your name on the list.
81 locals recommend
Hanks on the HIll
1624 Q Street NorthwestThe old standby. Best oysters in the city. Great seafood, great salads. Inventive cocktails and fun happy hour. Always bustling. You can call 20 minutes in advance to put your name on the list.
Another great seafood-y restaurant with a lot of Southern influence (read: good veggies!). GREAT drinks. Go upstairs after dinner for another drink or snack.
137 locals recommend
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
1612 14th St NWAnother great seafood-y restaurant with a lot of Southern influence (read: good veggies!). GREAT drinks. Go upstairs after dinner for another drink or snack.
More of a trek from the apartment, but DELICIOUS Japanese farmhouse fare. If you like the freshest of raw meat, you must go.
41 locals recommend
Izakaya Seki
1117 V St NWMore of a trek from the apartment, but DELICIOUS Japanese farmhouse fare. If you like the freshest of raw meat, you must go.
The place I can go for work mtgs, drinks with friends, late night dessert or coffee, book reading and perusing, live entertainment--everything. A staple in Dupont. Casual, yummy.
151 locals recommend
Kramers
1517 Connecticut Ave NWThe place I can go for work mtgs, drinks with friends, late night dessert or coffee, book reading and perusing, live entertainment--everything. A staple in Dupont. Casual, yummy.
When the weather is nice, dinner al fresco at Floriana is the best. Great pasta dishes, wild boar ragu, half price wine nights. Cozy and more upscale inside.
45 locals recommend
Floriana
1602 17th St NWWhen the weather is nice, dinner al fresco at Floriana is the best. Great pasta dishes, wild boar ragu, half price wine nights. Cozy and more upscale inside.
Starbucks
1101 S Joyce StFYI
Never fails to impress. Spanish tapas. Great wine. Great vibe.
Also good for an inexpensive breakfast. (Not so inexpensive at dinner.)
117 locals recommend
Estadio
1520 14th St NWNever fails to impress. Spanish tapas. Great wine. Great vibe.
Also good for an inexpensive breakfast. (Not so inexpensive at dinner.)
Vinoteca
1940 11th St NWWine-centric restaurant. A bit of a hike, but worth it. Hidden gem.
Getting in is a pain (get in line at 4:30, put name on list, leave, they call you around 7 when table is ready), BUT it is very much worth it. Set menu, lots of spice, homemade vermouth drinks, THAI.
55 locals recommend
Little Serow
1511 17th St NWGetting in is a pain (get in line at 4:30, put name on list, leave, they call you around 7 when table is ready), BUT it is very much worth it. Set menu, lots of spice, homemade vermouth drinks, THAI.
Standard French bistro fare. Love it. Very loud, but authentic. I get steak maison with bearnaise.
66 locals recommend
Bistrot Du Coin
1738 Connecticut Ave NWStandard French bistro fare. Love it. Very loud, but authentic. I get steak maison with bearnaise.
A gem of a French restuarant in Georgetown. Get the table by the fire...cozy and DELICIOUS food.
14 locals recommend
La Chaumiere
2813 M St NWA gem of a French restuarant in Georgetown. Get the table by the fire...cozy and DELICIOUS food.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is where the dance parties happen (in the basement). It took me a while to figure out that the food is delicious upstairs, as well.
59 locals recommend
Cafe Saint-Ex
1847 14th St NWThis is where the dance parties happen (in the basement). It took me a while to figure out that the food is delicious upstairs, as well.
This is where you show up between 10-11pm (only Fri/Sat) for a Michael Jackson dance party and stiff drinks.
11 locals recommend
New Vegas Lounge
1415 P St NWThis is where you show up between 10-11pm (only Fri/Sat) for a Michael Jackson dance party and stiff drinks.
Amazing (fancy) food. But I like it for the bar. Old world hotel bar with crackling fire places. Amazing bartenders, cozy environment. If you like good cocktails, this is the spot.
47 locals recommend
Tabard Inn
1739 N St NWAmazing (fancy) food. But I like it for the bar. Old world hotel bar with crackling fire places. Amazing bartenders, cozy environment. If you like good cocktails, this is the spot.
Everything Else
Whole Foods Market
1440 P St NWFYI
B. Fit
1339 14th St NWBarre classes in an airy loft studio.
Shopping
Muléh
1831 14th St NWCutting edge clothing and funky furniture. If you want to spend serious dough.
Wine shop. There are now a couple on 14th (Cork and Batch 13) but this one has a French owner and generous tastings, so it wins in my book.
14 locals recommend
Cork & Fork LLC
1522 14th St NWWine shop. There are now a couple on 14th (Cork and Batch 13) but this one has a French owner and generous tastings, so it wins in my book.
Antique furnishings, eclectic decor, random finds. This place is always full of European transplants. Why? They have superior taste.
27 locals recommend
GoodWood
1428 U St NWAntique furnishings, eclectic decor, random finds. This place is always full of European transplants. Why? They have superior taste.
Essentials
They call it "Soviet Safeway." It has the essentials, but not many of them. This is where you go for "normal" food items that you can't find at Whole Foods. This is NOT where you go for produce...
345 locals recommend
Safeway
5101 Wilson BlvdThey call it "Soviet Safeway." It has the essentials, but not many of them. This is where you go for "normal" food items that you can't find at Whole Foods. This is NOT where you go for produce...
Sightseeing
I adore Phillips Collection. If you like impressionism...this is your spot.
224 locals recommend
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St NWI adore Phillips Collection. If you like impressionism...this is your spot.
Arts & Culture
My favorite place to watch movies, ever. Just three small screening rooms...indie films and docs...wine and beer and good popcorn. Love.
67 locals recommend
The Park at 14th
920 14th Street NorthwestMy favorite place to watch movies, ever. Just three small screening rooms...indie films and docs...wine and beer and good popcorn. Love.
Incredible venue that puts on fabulous plays. Two bars inside as well. Usually a bit risque in content, but if you are into theatre--go! A lot of talent comes through here!
109 locals recommend
Studio Theatre
1501 14th St NWIncredible venue that puts on fabulous plays. Two bars inside as well. Usually a bit risque in content, but if you are into theatre--go! A lot of talent comes through here!