Guidebook for Silver Spring
Arts & Culture
An historic theater, preserved and expanded. Count on AFI for independent films and celebrations of film industry leaders and legends.
149 locals recommend
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville RoadAn historic theater, preserved and expanded. Count on AFI for independent films and celebrations of film industry leaders and legends.
Food Scene
Delicious, healthy food, organic ingredients. “The sweetlife is about meaningful living and authentic relationships." How many restaurants do you know with a manifesto?
108 locals recommend
sweetgreen
1461 P St NWDelicious, healthy food, organic ingredients. “The sweetlife is about meaningful living and authentic relationships." How many restaurants do you know with a manifesto?
Amazing sweet and savory crepes plus Italian coffee served in a simple café space with indoor and outdoor seating. Very comfortable, very popular with locals.
11 locals recommend
Fenton Cafe
8311 Fenton StAmazing sweet and savory crepes plus Italian coffee served in a simple café space with indoor and outdoor seating. Very comfortable, very popular with locals.
This quick serve spot offers Ethiopian bowls built around a protein, a carb (or greens) & a sauce. Bright and clean. Will deliver.
Ethio Express Grill
952 Sligo AveThis quick serve spot offers Ethiopian bowls built around a protein, a carb (or greens) & a sauce. Bright and clean. Will deliver.
Lotus Cafe
8077 Georgia AveExcellent Vietnamese; dine in or take out. It's comfort food to me!
Quality seafood. Casual, vintage atmosphere. Owned and operated by the same family since 1945, still in its original location. Remarkable!
9 locals recommend
Crisfield Seafood
8012 Georgia AveQuality seafood. Casual, vintage atmosphere. Owned and operated by the same family since 1945, still in its original location. Remarkable!
Great coffee, inventive food, attentive service, regular live music. Wireless. A big living room. Very popular, with good reason!
17 locals recommend
Zed's Cafe
8225 Georgia AveGreat coffee, inventive food, attentive service, regular live music. Wireless. A big living room. Very popular, with good reason!
Industrial-sleek hangout. House-made pasteries and gourmet coffee. Very comfortable for working or meeting.
30 locals recommend
Kaldi’s Social House
918 Silver Spring AveIndustrial-sleek hangout. House-made pasteries and gourmet coffee. Very comfortable for working or meeting.
Small, highly-rated, Chinese restaurant. Quality food, fresh ingredients, inexpensive. Eat in, take out, delivery.
Golden House
8200 Georgia AveSmall, highly-rated, Chinese restaurant. Quality food, fresh ingredients, inexpensive. Eat in, take out, delivery.
Organic coffee, peace and friendliness served all day. Hugely popular in local community. No WiFi by policy to promote people connecting!
12 locals recommend
Kefa Cafe
963 Bonifant StOrganic coffee, peace and friendliness served all day. Hugely popular in local community. No WiFi by policy to promote people connecting!
Traditional food, friendly atmosphere. “Straight-ahead” Jazz performed Monday nights. Tickets at jazzknights.com.
Vicino Restaurante Italiano
959 Sligo AveTraditional food, friendly atmosphere. “Straight-ahead” Jazz performed Monday nights. Tickets at jazzknights.com.
Independently owned restaurant/ book store/ literary event location ~ a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul.
250 locals recommend
Busboys and Poets
235 Carroll St NWIndependently owned restaurant/ book store/ literary event location ~ a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul.
Market-driven & seafood-centric American eatery with an oyster bar, plus quaint vintage elements.
142 locals recommend
Republic
6939 Laurel AveMarket-driven & seafood-centric American eatery with an oyster bar, plus quaint vintage elements.
Everything Else
Serenity. As a hair stylist, Mesu is an artist! Let time stop for a luxury pedicure. Book in advance!
Spa Mesu
8215 Fenton StSerenity. As a hair stylist, Mesu is an artist! Let time stop for a luxury pedicure. Book in advance!
Wash & Fold laundry service or do it yourself. Open 24 hours. Plenty of machines, clean and well-lighted. Put money to a rechargeable card – no need for quarters.
Tropicana Laundromat
8010 Fenton StWash & Fold laundry service or do it yourself. Open 24 hours. Plenty of machines, clean and well-lighted. Put money to a rechargeable card – no need for quarters.
Iva's Market
730 Sligo AveConvenience store. Bottle of wine, cold beer, milk for your coffee, craving ice cream?
1280 East-West Hwy
1280 East-West HighwayThis is the closest of 10 Silver Spring locations.
Grab a bike to get to work, Metro, run errands, go shopping. Join online for 1 day, 3 days, a month. Key fob gives access. 1st 30 min of each trip are free. Each additional 30 min incurs fee.
8011 Fenton St
8011 Fenton StreetGrab a bike to get to work, Metro, run errands, go shopping. Join online for 1 day, 3 days, a month. Key fob gives access. 1st 30 min of each trip are free. Each additional 30 min incurs fee.
Yoga, Pilates, Barre and meditation instruction in various formats. Deeply rooted in this community. Drop in for a class and a terrific experience. Many gifted instructors.
16 locals recommend
Willow Street Yoga
6930 Carroll AveYoga, Pilates, Barre and meditation instruction in various formats. Deeply rooted in this community. Drop in for a class and a terrific experience. Many gifted instructors.
For those here on short term NIH assignments, 15-20 minutes~
37 locals recommend
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville PikeFor those here on short term NIH assignments, 15-20 minutes~
For those here on short term assignments, 15 minutes!
10 locals recommend
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire AveFor those here on short term assignments, 15 minutes!
Flying in? Reagan National is on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Transfer to the Red Line at multiple locations. Easy!
216 locals recommend
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
2401 Smith BlvdFlying in? Reagan National is on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Transfer to the Red Line at multiple locations. Easy!
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
11355 Woodglen DrIt's Whole Foods!
Safeway
11201 Georgia AveIt's Safeway and it's closer than Whole Foods!
900 Wayne Ave
900 Wayne AvenueOpened in June 2015, great place to chill with a laptop and/or a great book.
Shopping
Hand-crafted, ultra-premium, inspired ice cream made right here! My fav: Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.
15 locals recommend
Moorenko's Ice Cream Café
8030 Georgia AveHand-crafted, ultra-premium, inspired ice cream made right here! My fav: Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.
Sightseeing
Ever evolving exhibits and habitats! Take the Red Line to Woodley Park Station -- 30-35 minutes.
771 locals recommend
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave NWEver evolving exhibits and habitats! Take the Red Line to Woodley Park Station -- 30-35 minutes.
Nat'l Gallery of Art, Museums of American History, Natural History, Air & Space, Asian Art, African Art ~ and so much more! Red Line to Gallery Place Station or Metro Center - 25 minutes!
1111 locals recommend
National Mall
Nat'l Gallery of Art, Museums of American History, Natural History, Air & Space, Asian Art, African Art ~ and so much more! Red Line to Gallery Place Station or Metro Center - 25 minutes!
Great exhibits, films, speakers! Take the Red Line to Farragut North Station - 25 minutes.
56 locals recommend
National Geographic Museum
1145 17th St NWGreat exhibits, films, speakers! Take the Red Line to Farragut North Station - 25 minutes.
Gorgeous & historic. Access Amtrak or Metro. Shop, Dine. Visit the U.S. Capitol from this Metro Station, on the Red Line.
629 locals recommend
Union Station
Gorgeous & historic. Access Amtrak or Metro. Shop, Dine. Visit the U.S. Capitol from this Metro Station, on the Red Line.
My favorite! A must-see for pop-culture fans, history buffs and art lovers alike. Take the Red Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown. Surrounded by great restaurants, private art galleries and shopping.
365 locals recommend
National Portrait Gallery
My favorite! A must-see for pop-culture fans, history buffs and art lovers alike. Take the Red Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown. Surrounded by great restaurants, private art galleries and shopping.