Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Elle is cafe serving delicious coffee and baked goods during the day. It becomes an intimate restaurant at night serving delicious food. Good for dates.
56 locals recommend
Ellē
3221 Mt Pleasant St NWElle is cafe serving delicious coffee and baked goods during the day. It becomes an intimate restaurant at night serving delicious food. Good for dates.
Boutique grocer has basics like vegetables, fresh bread and meats. Also has a good meat and cheese selection. A variety of a sandwiches made on the spot.
60 locals recommend
Each Peach Market
3068 Mt Pleasant St NWBoutique grocer has basics like vegetables, fresh bread and meats. Also has a good meat and cheese selection. A variety of a sandwiches made on the spot.
Delicious food and coffee. They have a big window at the front which is great for people watching.
10 locals recommend
Pear Plum Café
3064 Mt Pleasant St NWDelicious food and coffee. They have a big window at the front which is great for people watching.
Fantastic Laotian food. One of our favorites restaurants. The Naem Khao dish is amazing. This restaurant is very popular and can be kinda loud.
127 locals recommend
Thip Khao Restaurant
3462 14th St NWFantastic Laotian food. One of our favorites restaurants. The Naem Khao dish is amazing. This restaurant is very popular and can be kinda loud.
One of our favorite authentic Mexican restaurants. We like to go here or Taqueria Haberno (another Mexican restaurant which is next door) and then get drinks at The Red Derby or Lyman's, a couple of neighborhood bars just up the street.
44 locals recommend
Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana
3714 14th St NWOne of our favorite authentic Mexican restaurants. We like to go here or Taqueria Haberno (another Mexican restaurant which is next door) and then get drinks at The Red Derby or Lyman's, a couple of neighborhood bars just up the street.
Quirky restaurant serving pizza and past. The pasta is made fresh every day and is available for dinner only. They have a patio out front and a deck upstairs for when the weather is nice. Also serves good cocktails.
57 locals recommend
Little Coco's
3907 14th St NWQuirky restaurant serving pizza and past. The pasta is made fresh every day and is available for dinner only. They have a patio out front and a deck upstairs for when the weather is nice. Also serves good cocktails.
Family-owned basement restaurant serving the best pho in DC. Highly recommended.
65 locals recommend
Pho Viet Restaurant
3513 14th St NWFamily-owned basement restaurant serving the best pho in DC. Highly recommended.
Large restaurant/cafe serving a full menu all day. They have a mix of couches, bars and tables. Good place to bring your laptop if you wanted to work outside the house for an afternoon.
299 locals recommend
The Coupe
3415 11th St NWLarge restaurant/cafe serving a full menu all day. They have a mix of couches, bars and tables. Good place to bring your laptop if you wanted to work outside the house for an afternoon.
One of our favorite cocktail bars. Delicious food on the menu as well. Very cozy place with a large patio that sometimes includes a fire pit.
211 locals recommend
Room 11
3234 11th St NWOne of our favorite cocktail bars. Delicious food on the menu as well. Very cozy place with a large patio that sometimes includes a fire pit.
Hip Japanese restaurant where they serve donburi (rice bowls with meat/fish etc) and prepare it right in front of you at the bar.
46 locals recommend
Donburi
2438 18th St NWHip Japanese restaurant where they serve donburi (rice bowls with meat/fish etc) and prepare it right in front of you at the bar.
Popular neighborhood Thai restaurant serving typical Thai dishes along with noodle bowls. Open for lunch and dinner every day.
106 locals recommend
Beau Thai Mount Pleasant
3162 Mt Pleasant St NWPopular neighborhood Thai restaurant serving typical Thai dishes along with noodle bowls. Open for lunch and dinner every day.
Locally owned fast-casual mediterranean. Delicious bowls full of vegetables/falafel and/or meat. A definite go-to for lunch or dinner when you want something quick.
141 locals recommend
CAVA
3105 14th St NWLocally owned fast-casual mediterranean. Delicious bowls full of vegetables/falafel and/or meat. A definite go-to for lunch or dinner when you want something quick.
A long-time staple of 18th street. Tryst is a hip cafe with a mix of couches and tables. A good place to bring your laptop or a book and do some work while people watching.
252 locals recommend
Tryst
2459 18th St NWA long-time staple of 18th street. Tryst is a hip cafe with a mix of couches and tables. A good place to bring your laptop or a book and do some work while people watching.
Lively ramen restaurant located in a basement in Adams Morgan.
54 locals recommend
Sakuramen Ramen Bar
2441 18th St NWLively ramen restaurant located in a basement in Adams Morgan.
This French Bistro is a staple of Dupont Circle. Great for steak frites and mussels.
66 locals recommend
Bistrot Du Coin
1738 Connecticut Ave NWThis French Bistro is a staple of Dupont Circle. Great for steak frites and mussels.
Grab a falafel sandwich and pick your toppings at this classic late-night spot located on busy 18th street. Cheap, delicious and filling. Fries with mayo served as well.
125 locals recommend
Amsterdam Falafelshop
2425 18th St NWGrab a falafel sandwich and pick your toppings at this classic late-night spot located on busy 18th street. Cheap, delicious and filling. Fries with mayo served as well.
Hip taco spot with a wide selection of tequila. Outdoor roof seating for warmer months.
192 locals recommend
El Chucho - Cocina Superior
3313 11th St NWHip taco spot with a wide selection of tequila. Outdoor roof seating for warmer months.
Federalist Pig
1654 Columbia Rd NWOne of the best places to get barbecue in DC.
One of our favorite neighborhood spots serving Filipino dishes along with a few American classics. The upstairs has more of a restaurant feel and the lower level has a lower-key bar vibe. Very family friendly for young kids in the lower level.
46 locals recommend
Purple Patch
3155 Mt Pleasant St NWOne of our favorite neighborhood spots serving Filipino dishes along with a few American classics. The upstairs has more of a restaurant feel and the lower level has a lower-key bar vibe. Very family friendly for young kids in the lower level.
An old warehouse turned into a market featuring local vendors. Great place to grab lunch/drinks and do a little shopping. Includes a nice outdoor space as well and a movie theater.
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEAn old warehouse turned into a market featuring local vendors. Great place to grab lunch/drinks and do a little shopping. Includes a nice outdoor space as well and a movie theater.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cozy neighborhood bar with friendly owners. Also serves reasonably priced dinner.
39 locals recommend
Marx Cafe Revolutionary Cuisine
3203 Mt Pleasant St NWCozy neighborhood bar with friendly owners. Also serves reasonably priced dinner.
Quirky movie house with a bar showing an eclectic mix of films. It only holds about 15 people so make sure you get there on time or perhaps buy a ticket when they open in the evening.
27 locals recommend
Suns Cinema
3107 Mt Pleasant St NWQuirky movie house with a bar showing an eclectic mix of films. It only holds about 15 people so make sure you get there on time or perhaps buy a ticket when they open in the evening.
Neighborhood dive bar with a jukebox. Fun place to pop in late night after dinner. Cash only
53 locals recommend
Raven Grill
3125 Mt Pleasant St NWNeighborhood dive bar with a jukebox. Fun place to pop in late night after dinner. Cash only
One of the best craft beer bars in DC. Neighborhood feel with pinball machines in the basement. Plenty of outdoor seating for warmer months.
199 locals recommend
Meridian Pint
6035 Wilson BlvdOne of the best craft beer bars in DC. Neighborhood feel with pinball machines in the basement. Plenty of outdoor seating for warmer months.
Huge space with a big outdoor beer garden and multiple fire pits. Pool tables and darts inside along with a big screen showing sports. Fun place to bring a group.
86 locals recommend
The Midlands Beer Garden
3333 Georgia Ave NWHuge space with a big outdoor beer garden and multiple fire pits. Pool tables and darts inside along with a big screen showing sports. Fun place to bring a group.
A low-key neighborhood bar with pinball machines and an outdoor seating patio area. Local scene.
59 locals recommend
Lyman's Tavern
3720 14th Street NorthwestA low-key neighborhood bar with pinball machines and an outdoor seating patio area. Local scene.
World famous music venue. Shows every night - big and small acts. Frequent dance parties as well.
455 locals recommend
9:30
815 V St NWWorld famous music venue. Shows every night - big and small acts. Frequent dance parties as well.
This awesome multi-purpose space is a mix between a cafe and record store upstairs. The downstairs setting is a lively bar/live music venue. Mostly local acts.
22 locals recommend
Songbyrd Record Cafe and Music House
540 Penn Street NortheastThis awesome multi-purpose space is a mix between a cafe and record store upstairs. The downstairs setting is a lively bar/live music venue. Mostly local acts.
A great neighborhood bar with a dive bar feel on the first level and an outdoor roof deck upstairs.
127 locals recommend
Red Derby
3718 14th St NWA great neighborhood bar with a dive bar feel on the first level and an outdoor roof deck upstairs.
H Street Northeast
H Street NortheastArts & Culture
The Hillwood is an incredible estate located a bit off the beaten path. First-time visitors should tour the house but we often go there just to walk around the grounds, which contain several gardens and natural settings. It's truly a beautiful place to have a picnic and spend the afternoon outside.
63 locals recommend
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
4155 Linnean Ave NWThe Hillwood is an incredible estate located a bit off the beaten path. First-time visitors should tour the house but we often go there just to walk around the grounds, which contain several gardens and natural settings. It's truly a beautiful place to have a picnic and spend the afternoon outside.
Renowned concert hall hosts major theater acts/musicals. The Millennium stage hosts a free live performance every day at 6 pm. Take a walk out on the balcony for beautiful views of the Potomac and Georgetown.
498 locals recommend
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NWRenowned concert hall hosts major theater acts/musicals. The Millennium stage hosts a free live performance every day at 6 pm. Take a walk out on the balcony for beautiful views of the Potomac and Georgetown.
Parks & Nature
Go for a walk on one of the many trails in Rock Creek Park, conveniently located next to Mount Pleasant. On the weekends, north of where Beach Drive hits Broad Branch Rd, Beach Drive is closed off to cars. A great place to go for a walk, run or ride a bike.
584 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWGo for a walk on one of the many trails in Rock Creek Park, conveniently located next to Mount Pleasant. On the weekends, north of where Beach Drive hits Broad Branch Rd, Beach Drive is closed off to cars. A great place to go for a walk, run or ride a bike.
Dupont Circle
Grab a coffee and people watch in this diverse urban park.
Urban waterfront park close to Nationals Stadium and several bars and restaurants. Walk or bike along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which goes through the park. Bring a towel and take a dip in the wading pool on a hot day. Live music every Friday night.
145 locals recommend
The Yards Park
355 Water St SEUrban waterfront park close to Nationals Stadium and several bars and restaurants. Walk or bike along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which goes through the park. Bring a towel and take a dip in the wading pool on a hot day. Live music every Friday night.
Awesome urban park within walking distance. We like to pick up some snacks and sandwiches at Each Peach and walk over on a weekend afternoon. There is a drum circle every Sunday starting at 4 pm which is always entertaining.
445 locals recommend
Meridian Hill Park
W Street NorthwestAwesome urban park within walking distance. We like to pick up some snacks and sandwiches at Each Peach and walk over on a weekend afternoon. There is a drum circle every Sunday starting at 4 pm which is always entertaining.
Definitely include some time here if you take a trip to Georgetown. It's a new park along the Potomac with a water feature, pedestrian path and great people watching. Great place to take the family and picnic.
219 locals recommend
Georgetown Waterfront Park
3100 K St NWDefinitely include some time here if you take a trip to Georgetown. It's a new park along the Potomac with a water feature, pedestrian path and great people watching. Great place to take the family and picnic.
Essentials
Harris Teeter
1201 First Street NortheastLarge grocery store with free parking garage.
Giant Pharmacy
1345 Park Rd NWLarge grocery store within walking distance.
Conveniently located shabby grocery store. Specializes in latino and asian flavors/spices.
20 locals recommend
BestWorld Supermarket
3178 Mt Pleasant St NWConveniently located shabby grocery store. Specializes in latino and asian flavors/spices.
Popular grocery store in a bustling part of town with free parking garage
342 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1914 14th St NWPopular grocery store in a bustling part of town with free parking garage
Getting Around
The closest metro station is on the green line and is a 15 minute walk from our house. Several stores and restaurants located at this metro stop as well.
259 locals recommend
Columbia Heights Station
3030 14th St NWThe closest metro station is on the green line and is a 15 minute walk from our house. Several stores and restaurants located at this metro stop as well.
A 1 mile walk (mostly uphill) across Rock Creek Park on Porter Street to get to the red line. There are several stores and restaurants located near the metro station.
21 locals recommend
Cleveland Park Station
3599 Connecticut Ave NWA 1 mile walk (mostly uphill) across Rock Creek Park on Porter Street to get to the red line. There are several stores and restaurants located near the metro station.
Entertainment & Activities
Catch a professional baseball game at Nationals Park. A straight shot on the green line from Columbia Heights. Plenty of restaurants and bars near the stadium.
455 locals recommend
Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SECatch a professional baseball game at Nationals Park. A straight shot on the green line from Columbia Heights. Plenty of restaurants and bars near the stadium.
Capital One Arena
601 F St NWProfessional hockey and basketball and other events.