Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Indigo
243 K St NEGood for carry out, or sit-down when the weather is nice.
Arepa Zone
1309 5th St NEVendor within Union Market. Great arepas and cachapas.
Bistro Cacao
316 Massachusetts Ave NELovely french restaurant within converted rowhome.
&pizza
1118 H St NEPretty cheap, really good, build-your-own pizza joint.
Shake Shack
1216 18th St NWGreat burgers and fries (and shakes).
Toki Underground
1234 H St NEGreat ramen, etc. Very little seating, best for take out.
Spanish tapas-style sandwiches (100 combinations to choose from). Just delicious. And a great place to watch a soccer match.
11 locals recommend
100 Montaditos
Spanish tapas-style sandwiches (100 combinations to choose from). Just delicious. And a great place to watch a soccer match.
Copycat Co.
1110 H St NENorthern Chinese street food and drinks. Hard to go wrong here.
Indoor market with lots and trendy and delicious food options. Lots of outdoor seating. And lots of food trucks outside. Official market hours are Tue-Fri: 11am-8pm and Sat-Sun: 8am-8pm, but individual vendors do not necessarily keep those same hours.
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NEIndoor market with lots and trendy and delicious food options. Lots of outdoor seating. And lots of food trucks outside. Official market hours are Tue-Fri: 11am-8pm and Sat-Sun: 8am-8pm, but individual vendors do not necessarily keep those same hours.
Parks & Nature
Administered by the Dept. of Agriculture, great local place to escape the city. Nice to drive through, or get out and enjoy some of the forested trails. Don't forget to check out the bonsai exhibit.
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEAdministered by the Dept. of Agriculture, great local place to escape the city. Nice to drive through, or get out and enjoy some of the forested trails. Don't forget to check out the bonsai exhibit.
Paved biking/walking trail runs along most of the Anacostia River within DC and beyond into Prince George's County, Maryland, where it connects with other trails.
17 locals recommend
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
Anacostia Riverwalk TrailPaved biking/walking trail runs along most of the Anacostia River within DC and beyond into Prince George's County, Maryland, where it connects with other trails.
C&O Canal towpath runs 185 miles along the Potomac River starting in the heart of Georgetown. Great for any distance bike ride, or drive to notable spots along the way, including Great Falls where there are great views and numerous hiking trails off the towpath.
C&O Mile 0
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal TowpathC&O Canal towpath runs 185 miles along the Potomac River starting in the heart of Georgetown. Great for any distance bike ride, or drive to notable spots along the way, including Great Falls where there are great views and numerous hiking trails off the towpath.
Lots of hiking trails. Main road closed to traffic on weekends makes it perfect for bike rides. Other specific sites, amenities, programs scattered throughout the large park.
59 locals recommend
Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
5200 Glover Rd NWLots of hiking trails. Main road closed to traffic on weekends makes it perfect for bike rides. Other specific sites, amenities, programs scattered throughout the large park.
Nice place to have a picnic or catch a sunset. Devoid of Congressional staff on weekends, evenings, and during recess.
The Spirit of Justice Park
Nice place to have a picnic or catch a sunset. Devoid of Congressional staff on weekends, evenings, and during recess.
Might be the best fountain in town when running in the warmer months. Nice plantings and seating options.
253 locals recommend
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWMight be the best fountain in town when running in the warmer months. Nice plantings and seating options.
NPS maintains East Potomac Park, Hains Point is on the tip at the confluence of the Washington Channel and Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Usually nice breeze and views. Also nice drive or bike ride down there, especially when cherry blossoms are out.
68 locals recommend
Hains Point
NPS maintains East Potomac Park, Hains Point is on the tip at the confluence of the Washington Channel and Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Usually nice breeze and views. Also nice drive or bike ride down there, especially when cherry blossoms are out.
Essentials
Harris Teeter
1201 First Street NortheastCVS
3642 Georgia Ave NWNoMa Cleaners
1160 First St NEGiant Food
1345 Park Rd NWWhole Foods Market
600 H St NEEntertainment & Activities
Regal Gallery Place & 4DX
701 7th St NWRun by the National Community Church, small theater shows mostly family friendly movies no longer playing at main theaters.
21 locals recommend
The Miracle Theatre
535 8th St SERun by the National Community Church, small theater shows mostly family friendly movies no longer playing at main theaters.
IMAX theater within the Smithsonian, shows primarily specialty museum and educational films but occasionally have showings of major movies.
Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater
Constitution Avenue NorthwestIMAX theater within the Smithsonian, shows primarily specialty museum and educational films but occasionally have showings of major movies.
Small theater with a mix of Hollywood releases and more obscure films.
89 locals recommend
Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market
550 Penn St NESmall theater with a mix of Hollywood releases and more obscure films.
Arts & Culture
Biggest library in the world. Probably most beautiful too. Check out Jefferson's donated book collection.
314 locals recommend
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SEBiggest library in the world. Probably most beautiful too. Check out Jefferson's donated book collection.
Gorgeous and spacious main hall, even if you don't pay to enter any of the exhibits, though the exhibits are usually cool too.
92 locals recommend
National Building Museum
401 F St NWGorgeous and spacious main hall, even if you don't pay to enter any of the exhibits, though the exhibits are usually cool too.
Museum and theatre and research library. Replica of globe theatre where Shakespeare and Shakespeare inspired plays are performed.
64 locals recommend
Folger Shakespeare Library
201 E Capitol St SEMuseum and theatre and research library. Replica of globe theatre where Shakespeare and Shakespeare inspired plays are performed.
Sightseeing
Often overlooked memorial at a quieter part of the mall at Constitution Gardens Pond. Back to the beginning of a new nation.
56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
Often overlooked memorial at a quieter part of the mall at Constitution Gardens Pond. Back to the beginning of a new nation.
Getting Around
Metro Red Line. 1 stop to Union Station. A few more stops to the downtown core and transfers to all other metro lines.
182 locals recommend
NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave Station
200 Florida Ave NEMetro Red Line. 1 stop to Union Station. A few more stops to the downtown core and transfers to all other metro lines.
Commuter rail (MARC, Amtrak, VRE), metro rail (red line), bus lines (BoltBus, MegaBus, Peter Pan, etc.), tourist bus lines, car rental, bike rental, Capital Bikeshare. All your transportation options for getting around DC and up and down the east coast.
Oh, and there is an entire shopping center and a food court.
629 locals recommend
Union Station
Commuter rail (MARC, Amtrak, VRE), metro rail (red line), bus lines (BoltBus, MegaBus, Peter Pan, etc.), tourist bus lines, car rental, bike rental, Capital Bikeshare. All your transportation options for getting around DC and up and down the east coast.
Oh, and there is an entire shopping center and a food court.