Guidebook for Washington
Drinks & Nightlife
The dive bar is the heart and soul of the H St bar scene. One of the first bars to open up during the H St revitalization, it is a haven for locals and tourists alike.
Cheap drinks and free cheese balls. Need we say more?
If it is cold out, be sure to try the hot cider!
61 locals recommend
The Pug
1234 H St NEThe dive bar is the heart and soul of the H St bar scene. One of the first bars to open up during the H St revitalization, it is a haven for locals and tourists alike.
Cheap drinks and free cheese balls. Need we say more?
If it is cold out, be sure to try the hot cider!
The Queen Vic is H St's very own British pub. The Queen Vic has an expansive drink menu as well as spectacular dinner specials. The ravioli is a must if you see it on the menu.
If Noel is bartending, be sure to ask for his special orange cocktail, it basically tastes like a boozy Orangina.
The Queen Vic is where you can catch all the European football games.
100 locals recommend
The Queen Vic
1206 H St NEThe Queen Vic is H St's very own British pub. The Queen Vic has an expansive drink menu as well as spectacular dinner specials. The ravioli is a must if you see it on the menu.
If Noel is bartending, be sure to ask for his special orange cocktail, it basically tastes like a boozy Orangina.
The Queen Vic is where you can catch all the European football games.
If you want cheap drinks and dancing, Jimmy V's is the place to go. It's a little off the beaten path so take an Uber or a Lyft. It is a cash only bar so bring your bills!
25 locals recommend
Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club
1103 Bladensburg Rd NEIf you want cheap drinks and dancing, Jimmy V's is the place to go. It's a little off the beaten path so take an Uber or a Lyft. It is a cash only bar so bring your bills!
Bardo
1200 Bladensburg Road NortheastThis beer garden is perfect for a weekend afternoon.
German beer garden with expansive outdoor space. Great for Sunday night football in their heated outdoor tent.
142 locals recommend
Biergarten Haus
1355 H St NEGerman beer garden with expansive outdoor space. Great for Sunday night football in their heated outdoor tent.
Gorgeous rooftop, margarita specials, giant jenja, skeeball and mini-golf.
196 locals recommend
H Street Country Club
1335 H Street NortheastGorgeous rooftop, margarita specials, giant jenja, skeeball and mini-golf.
Rock & Roll Hotel
1353 H St NECool concert venue/bar with year-round rooftop patio.
Food Scene
This ramen noodle shop is not to be missed! Be sure to get there early as there is usually a line to get into the restaurant.
Margaret is a fan of the fried chicken curry ramen and the miso chocolate chip cookies!
256 locals recommend
Toki Underground
1234 H St NEThis ramen noodle shop is not to be missed! Be sure to get there early as there is usually a line to get into the restaurant.
Margaret is a fan of the fried chicken curry ramen and the miso chocolate chip cookies!
Craft cocktails for under $15 in Washington, DC are getting harder and harder to find, but Copycat has a whole menu of them! Enjoy your cocktails upstairs while enjoying dumplings and bao from the chicken downstairs.
161 locals recommend
Copycat Co.
1110 H St NECraft cocktails for under $15 in Washington, DC are getting harder and harder to find, but Copycat has a whole menu of them! Enjoy your cocktails upstairs while enjoying dumplings and bao from the chicken downstairs.
This is the place to get mussels and your favorite Belgian beer. Check it out during Mussel Mondays for discounted mussels and drinks specials.
169 locals recommend
Granville Moore's
1238 H St NEThis is the place to get mussels and your favorite Belgian beer. Check it out during Mussel Mondays for discounted mussels and drinks specials.
This kid-friendly spot has a great menu for both kids and adults. Strollers and carseats are welcomed.
Margaret is a huge fan of the blackened chicken club sandwich. Bill likes the ribeye and the burger.
169 locals recommend
Brookland's Finest Bar and Kitchen
3126 12th Street NortheastThis kid-friendly spot has a great menu for both kids and adults. Strollers and carseats are welcomed.
Margaret is a huge fan of the blackened chicken club sandwich. Bill likes the ribeye and the burger.
Franklin's Restaurant and Brewery is the perfect stop for both kids and adults. The beer menu is expansive and cheap. The food menu is eclectic and we have yet to run into an item we didn't like! We highly recommend the cheesy crab dip.
90 locals recommend
Franklins
5123 Baltimore AveFranklin's Restaurant and Brewery is the perfect stop for both kids and adults. The beer menu is expansive and cheap. The food menu is eclectic and we have yet to run into an item we didn't like! We highly recommend the cheesy crab dip.
Big Bear is a great spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch.
Margaret loves their lox bagel. If you are around on weekdays at 11 am, the chef will come out of the kitchen and exclaim, "breakfast is over, long live lunch!"
354 locals recommend
Big Bear Cafe
1700 R St NWBig Bear is a great spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch.
Margaret loves their lox bagel. If you are around on weekdays at 11 am, the chef will come out of the kitchen and exclaim, "breakfast is over, long live lunch!"
The spot has both El Salvadorian food as well as Mexican favorites. It's a great spot for a cheap and quick lunch or dinner. The owners are so welcoming, you end up staying all night there!
6 locals recommend
La Plaza Mexican Cuisine
629 Pennsylvania Ave. SEThe spot has both El Salvadorian food as well as Mexican favorites. It's a great spot for a cheap and quick lunch or dinner. The owners are so welcoming, you end up staying all night there!
La Lomita has excellent margaritas and fajitas. It also has a great outdoor patio.
29 locals recommend
La Lomita Restaurant
1330 Pennsylvania Ave. SELa Lomita has excellent margaritas and fajitas. It also has a great outdoor patio.
Hank's Oyster Bar
633 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastHank's has spectacular cocktails and oyster happy hours.
Want a quiet spot where you may see some of Congress' familiar faces? Then Trattoria Alberto is for you. They have excellent pasta, lobster bisque and chicken marsala.
Their dessert menu is delicious and we cannot recommend their Irish coffee enough, probably the best in town!
13 locals recommend
Trattoria Alberto of Capitol Hill
508 8th Street SoutheastWant a quiet spot where you may see some of Congress' familiar faces? Then Trattoria Alberto is for you. They have excellent pasta, lobster bisque and chicken marsala.
Their dessert menu is delicious and we cannot recommend their Irish coffee enough, probably the best in town!
Mia's has DELICIOUS breakfast sandwiches!
Be sure to try out the horchata latte.
28 locals recommend
Mia's Coffeehouse
101 15th Street NortheastMia's has DELICIOUS breakfast sandwiches!
Be sure to try out the horchata latte.
A bar is close walking distance to U St with excellent Fried Green Tomato BLTs.
59 locals recommend
Cafe Saint-Ex
1847 14th St NWA bar is close walking distance to U St with excellent Fried Green Tomato BLTs.
This thai restaurant is the best in DC. It's quite the hole in the wall but don't let that fool you. Advanced reservations are recommended.
106 locals recommend
Thai X-ing
515 9th St NWThis thai restaurant is the best in DC. It's quite the hole in the wall but don't let that fool you. Advanced reservations are recommended.
New Orleans has come to DC. Bayou Bakery is a one stop shop for beignets, cafe au lait and creole food.
There's a lovely outdoor patio.
17 locals recommend
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
901 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastNew Orleans has come to DC. Bayou Bakery is a one stop shop for beignets, cafe au lait and creole food.
There's a lovely outdoor patio.
Montmartre
327 7th St SEDelicious french cuisine and romantic setting.
Acqua Al 2
Delicious steaks and pasta for a special night out.
If we could live in Masseria we would. A stylish Italian restaurant housed in an renovated warehouse it boasts a spectacular tasting menu of Northern Italian foods.
During warm weather there is a stylish patio for cocktails.
48 locals recommend
Masseria
1340 4th St NEIf we could live in Masseria we would. A stylish Italian restaurant housed in an renovated warehouse it boasts a spectacular tasting menu of Northern Italian foods.
During warm weather there is a stylish patio for cocktails.
TaKorean | The Yards
1212 4th St SEGreat Korean tacos.
Overlooking Yards Park, Osteria Morini has excellent pasta and desserts!
55 locals recommend
Osteria Morini
301 Water St SEOverlooking Yards Park, Osteria Morini has excellent pasta and desserts!
This sandwich shop has a vast menu of tiny sandwiches that don't break the bank!
11 locals recommend
100 Montaditos
This sandwich shop has a vast menu of tiny sandwiches that don't break the bank!
Parks & Nature
Located right across the street from our home, Kingman Island is home to nature walks and outdoor festivals.
21 locals recommend
Kingman And Heritage Islands Park
575 Oklahoma Ave NELocated right across the street from our home, Kingman Island is home to nature walks and outdoor festivals.
Everything Else
Mia's has DELICIOUS breakfast sandwiches!
Be sure to try out the horchata latte.
28 locals recommend
Mia's Coffeehouse
101 15th Street NortheastMia's has DELICIOUS breakfast sandwiches!
Be sure to try out the horchata latte.
Shopping
Union Market is home to small boutiques, wine shops and food purveyors. Union Market is home to lots of events too. In the Summer it is home to the Union Market Drive-In Movie Theater.
Favorite spots are Union Market include:
Peregrine for coffee
Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. for biscuit sandwiches
Suburbia (after 4pm during the summer) for frozen sangria
Takorean for Korean Tacos
Neopol for salmon blts or salmon salad sandwiches
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEUnion Market is home to small boutiques, wine shops and food purveyors. Union Market is home to lots of events too. In the Summer it is home to the Union Market Drive-In Movie Theater.
Favorite spots are Union Market include:
Peregrine for coffee
Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. for biscuit sandwiches
Suburbia (after 4pm during the summer) for frozen sangria
Takorean for Korean Tacos
Neopol for salmon blts or salmon salad sandwiches
Entertainment & Activities
Small arthouse movie theater that occasionally shows old classics and current blockbusters as well.
89 locals recommend
Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market
550 Penn St NESmall arthouse movie theater that occasionally shows old classics and current blockbusters as well.
Sightseeing
Market full of artisans and food purveyors. Perfect for a weekend walk.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEMarket full of artisans and food purveyors. Perfect for a weekend walk.