Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Perfect for brunch, good lunch, ample drinks all reasonable hours. Great place to camp out with your laptop if you prefer a busy or noisy atmosphere. Noisy in a good way - kid friendly as well but that doesn't mean they don't mix a strong bloody mary.
299 locals recommend
The Coupe
3415 11th St NWPerfect for brunch, good lunch, ample drinks all reasonable hours. Great place to camp out with your laptop if you prefer a busy or noisy atmosphere. Noisy in a good way - kid friendly as well but that doesn't mean they don't mix a strong bloody mary.
Good pho right at the metro. Tell me what you think - I'm not a pho expert and don't do soup much but I've been there and like it.
7 locals recommend
Pho Viet USA
3713 New Hampshire Ave NWGood pho right at the metro. Tell me what you think - I'm not a pho expert and don't do soup much but I've been there and like it.
Good happy hour, simple sushi offerings, Asian fusion food, and all at pretty reasonable prices. This used to be "Sala Thai" and may still be owned by the same people but with a new theme. If so - I think this new theme is working.
23 locals recommend
Pantry
3716 Georgia Ave NWGood happy hour, simple sushi offerings, Asian fusion food, and all at pretty reasonable prices. This used to be "Sala Thai" and may still be owned by the same people but with a new theme. If so - I think this new theme is working.
Ah-maze-ing food. I hear it is authentic to the degree that they have a "real" menu for people are familiar with Laotian cuisine. You can get tame food or a leaf-wrapped intact fish. Your call!
127 locals recommend
Thip Khao Restaurant
3462 14th St NWAh-maze-ing food. I hear it is authentic to the degree that they have a "real" menu for people are familiar with Laotian cuisine. You can get tame food or a leaf-wrapped intact fish. Your call!
Margaritas on tap and latino-mixed food. Casual, fun, very schooled on their tequilas, and usually filled with a young crowd. Common date-night or early dating hotspot: Expect skirts and diving necklines - in the winter. Loud.
192 locals recommend
El Chucho - Cocina Superior
3313 11th St NWMargaritas on tap and latino-mixed food. Casual, fun, very schooled on their tequilas, and usually filled with a young crowd. Common date-night or early dating hotspot: Expect skirts and diving necklines - in the winter. Loud.
Excellent tequila focus and good food. The drinks aren't cheap but they use good liquors - the food is good and reasonably priced. Great casual atmosphere - the patio is a good idea.
44 locals recommend
Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana
3714 14th St NWExcellent tequila focus and good food. The drinks aren't cheap but they use good liquors - the food is good and reasonably priced. Great casual atmosphere - the patio is a good idea.
Pitchers of margaritas are the key draw here - also a good patio. I tend to prefer Mezcalero but this is almost as good and better for drinking pitchers cost-wise.
93 locals recommend
Taqueria Habanero
3710 14th St NWPitchers of margaritas are the key draw here - also a good patio. I tend to prefer Mezcalero but this is almost as good and better for drinking pitchers cost-wise.
Excellent Italian and pizza; also good drink specials if you catch happy hour. Good quality food, arty decor, but as is the cliche, more than half the menu is some version of pork. Also note their upstairs bar, ranging from a tiki-bar to xmas theme...it varies. Drinks downstairs focus on wine and amaro; upstairs the liquor based concoctions are slow to make but prescription strength.
57 locals recommend
Little Coco's
3907 14th St NWExcellent Italian and pizza; also good drink specials if you catch happy hour. Good quality food, arty decor, but as is the cliche, more than half the menu is some version of pork. Also note their upstairs bar, ranging from a tiki-bar to xmas theme...it varies. Drinks downstairs focus on wine and amaro; upstairs the liquor based concoctions are slow to make but prescription strength.
There are 2 locations nearby on 14th Street - the closest is on Otis Place NW and 14th Street NW - about 2.5 blocks! Authentic latin cuisine and no-joke margaritas (no pictures or silly straws). Order the right one and sometimes a food-grade cricket may appear as a garnish. Outdoor patio optional.
6 locals recommend
Tequila & Mezcal
3475 14th St NWThere are 2 locations nearby on 14th Street - the closest is on Otis Place NW and 14th Street NW - about 2.5 blocks! Authentic latin cuisine and no-joke margaritas (no pictures or silly straws). Order the right one and sometimes a food-grade cricket may appear as a garnish. Outdoor patio optional.
Super close pizza place - why order in when a couple blocks away you can eat on their patio? Fresh herbs, good drinks, a fun place to hang out. Patio is GREAT for eye candy - you will always see something entertaining.
173 locals recommend
RedRocks Columbia Heights
1036 Park Rd NWSuper close pizza place - why order in when a couple blocks away you can eat on their patio? Fresh herbs, good drinks, a fun place to hang out. Patio is GREAT for eye candy - you will always see something entertaining.
Hear me out - MEXICAN food PIZZA.
Not the usual nonsense of a regular pizza with ground beef on it - they use REAL STRETCHED DOUGH AND A BRICK OVEN. They put real food in this mixed format: Chicken molé! Chile Poblano! It's a fun combination - go there quick before they wake up and raise the prices.
Anafre DC
3704 14th Street NorthwestHear me out - MEXICAN food PIZZA.
Not the usual nonsense of a regular pizza with ground beef on it - they use REAL STRETCHED DOUGH AND A BRICK OVEN. They put real food in this mixed format: Chicken molé! Chile Poblano! It's a fun combination - go there quick before they wake up and raise the prices.
Great very flavorful pizza - a local favorite for good reason. Small and local, but very busy (and able to keep up).
175 locals recommend
Timber Pizza Company
809 Upshur St NWGreat very flavorful pizza - a local favorite for good reason. Small and local, but very busy (and able to keep up).
(RENAMED Commonwealth Cantina) Great locally sourced tex-mex food, great drinks, reasonable prices. Being a little trendy they perhaps serve a little bit too much pork (if you see a word you don't recognize that isn't a cheese - it's some part of a pig each and every time).
71 locals recommend
Homestead
3911 Georgia Avenue Northwest(RENAMED Commonwealth Cantina) Great locally sourced tex-mex food, great drinks, reasonable prices. Being a little trendy they perhaps serve a little bit too much pork (if you see a word you don't recognize that isn't a cheese - it's some part of a pig each and every time).
Mostly for take out, good Vietnamese food place that has been around forever. Easy walk if you want to sit down and creative use of string lights if you're there...
65 locals recommend
Pho Viet Restaurant
3513 14th St NWMostly for take out, good Vietnamese food place that has been around forever. Easy walk if you want to sit down and creative use of string lights if you're there...
Drinks & Nightlife
I used to go to this hardware store and to decorate they kept some choice items to display. This bar used to be amazing, making up drinks on the fly based on stated preferences - but honestly they seem to be sliding on quality. Still "reliable" and a decent bar. Ask if they still saw their own giant ice cubes...
29 locals recommend
Reliable Tavern
3655 Georgia Ave NWI used to go to this hardware store and to decorate they kept some choice items to display. This bar used to be amazing, making up drinks on the fly based on stated preferences - but honestly they seem to be sliding on quality. Still "reliable" and a decent bar. Ask if they still saw their own giant ice cubes...
Taphouse (brewery was the closest they had). Food offerings are weak and the music is mainstream pop and loud, but they keep their pet dog there, the beers are local, fun, and reasonably priced - and you can walk there.
86 locals recommend
The Midlands Beer Garden
3333 Georgia Ave NWTaphouse (brewery was the closest they had). Food offerings are weak and the music is mainstream pop and loud, but they keep their pet dog there, the beers are local, fun, and reasonably priced - and you can walk there.
Surprisingly well stocked bar that looks super seedy at a glance - my review of their brunch is "mixed" but I haven't gone often. Check their schedule for the type of event going on upstairs.
* Great landmark - was an underground gay & black bar way back when everyone was on the down low
216 locals recommend
The Wonderland Ballroom
1101 Kenyon St NWSurprisingly well stocked bar that looks super seedy at a glance - my review of their brunch is "mixed" but I haven't gone often. Check their schedule for the type of event going on upstairs.
* Great landmark - was an underground gay & black bar way back when everyone was on the down low
Pinball venue! Good drinks and reasonable local beer selection, beard-friendly, but very serious about their pinball. One competition machine typically has the playfield live-displayed on a large wall.
59 locals recommend
Lyman's Tavern
3720 14th Street NorthwestPinball venue! Good drinks and reasonable local beer selection, beard-friendly, but very serious about their pinball. One competition machine typically has the playfield live-displayed on a large wall.
Essentials
Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWLarge chain grocery store in walking distance just past metro.
CVS
3642 Georgia Ave NWCVS drug store close by.
Large gritty gym with the basics but not great equipment and not in great shape. Will take guest / nonmembers for a fee. Only 1 lifting platform with bumper plates. Cardio in front of TVs but the sound is off (wireless headphones work). There is a "cardio stupio" which plays horrible movies in a dark room for you to cardio to and escape reality. Mediocre but works when you need to work. You can park on top of the gym (up the ramp) for another fee.
51 locals recommend
Gold's Gym
3910 Wilson BlvdLarge gritty gym with the basics but not great equipment and not in great shape. Will take guest / nonmembers for a fee. Only 1 lifting platform with bumper plates. Cardio in front of TVs but the sound is off (wireless headphones work). There is a "cardio stupio" which plays horrible movies in a dark room for you to cardio to and escape reality. Mediocre but works when you need to work. You can park on top of the gym (up the ramp) for another fee.
Giant food close to Columbia Heights metro - it's fine but overall Safeway is closer
803 locals recommend
Giant Food
1345 Park Rd NWGiant food close to Columbia Heights metro - it's fine but overall Safeway is closer
Everything Else
Dog park (unofficial!?) fenced in run across the street from Meridian Pint. Technically owned by metro but been a dog park for years.
Columbia Heights Dog Park
1100 Park Rd NWDog park (unofficial!?) fenced in run across the street from Meridian Pint. Technically owned by metro but been a dog park for years.
Massage spa - short walk from my place. Veronica says it's good (ask her for details - but I can her her endorsement is based on experience and not many meet her standards)
Bluebell Spa DC
3705 14th St NWMassage spa - short walk from my place. Veronica says it's good (ask her for details - but I can her her endorsement is based on experience and not many meet her standards)
Apologies on this one - parking SUCKS!!!
However, this is the best nail salon in the area (or so I hear). There are many others, but the consensus seems to be it is worth all the inconvenience to get to this one in Adam's Morgan - on the busiest street.
Parking? Nightmarish.
8 locals recommend
Enchanted Nails & Spa
2324 18th St NWApologies on this one - parking SUCKS!!!
However, this is the best nail salon in the area (or so I hear). There are many others, but the consensus seems to be it is worth all the inconvenience to get to this one in Adam's Morgan - on the busiest street.
Parking? Nightmarish.
Getting Around
Closest Metro-rail station: Green (and yellow) line trains. Straight shot to chinatown, Lenfant Plaza (to get to the museums and mall - faster than transferring to smithsonian but with a bit more walking), and National Airport / DCA.
148 locals recommend
Georgia Ave-Petworth Station
3700 Georgia Ave NWClosest Metro-rail station: Green (and yellow) line trains. Straight shot to chinatown, Lenfant Plaza (to get to the museums and mall - faster than transferring to smithsonian but with a bit more walking), and National Airport / DCA.
Metro rail: Further from my place than Georgia Ave / Petworth, but in a busier shopping area. Too many fast food places, bars, and restaurants to detail.
Mall is small but has best buy, target, bed bath & beyond, and a few main banks as well.
259 locals recommend
Columbia Heights Station
3030 14th St NWMetro rail: Further from my place than Georgia Ave / Petworth, but in a busier shopping area. Too many fast food places, bars, and restaurants to detail.
Mall is small but has best buy, target, bed bath & beyond, and a few main banks as well.
Parks & Nature
Great for long runs or bike rides. Many trails are paved and well maintained - stretching for miles from Georgetown to (someplace up northwest I guess - I've never gone past Military Road).
584 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWGreat for long runs or bike rides. Many trails are paved and well maintained - stretching for miles from Georgetown to (someplace up northwest I guess - I've never gone past Military Road).
Soccer fields, bbq and picnic spaces, trails (see Rock Creek Park), and a working mill restored for Saturday events (check schedule online).
12 locals recommend
Peirce Mill
2401 Tilden St NWSoccer fields, bbq and picnic spaces, trails (see Rock Creek Park), and a working mill restored for Saturday events (check schedule online).