Guidebook for Washington
Food Scene
Philz Coffee
1827 Adams Mill Rd NWGet the mint mojito coffee! It will change your life for the better.
FANTASTIC Italian food. Great wine. Top-notch service. Love this place!
55 locals recommend
Osteria Morini
301 Water St SEFANTASTIC Italian food. Great wine. Top-notch service. Love this place!
From corporate lawyer to presidential appointee at Homeland Security to ice cream shop entrepreneur. Only in DC!
Awesome and creative flavors here. Put it on your list!
52 locals recommend
Ice Cream Jubilee
301 Water St SEFrom corporate lawyer to presidential appointee at Homeland Security to ice cream shop entrepreneur. Only in DC!
Awesome and creative flavors here. Put it on your list!
Breakfast and lunch and coffee at this local spot that has a lot of fans. Expect a line, but it moves pretty fast. So worth it!
43 locals recommend
Bethesda Bagels
4819 Bethesda AveBreakfast and lunch and coffee at this local spot that has a lot of fans. Expect a line, but it moves pretty fast. So worth it!
The best Korean chicken I've ever had. The spicy is SPICY but I love it. Good beers, too. Order take-out or eat in but be ready to wait a little since dishes take about 20 minutes. You won't regret it.
14 locals recommend
Bonchon Navy Yard
1015 Half St SEThe best Korean chicken I've ever had. The spicy is SPICY but I love it. Good beers, too. Order take-out or eat in but be ready to wait a little since dishes take about 20 minutes. You won't regret it.
It doesn't get any closer than this! Look over from my balcony and you can see this place (and sometimes hear it, too). Can't beat the setting, or the drinks, really. I love the Narragansett lager + Del's lemonade mix -- brings me back to my two years in Rhode Island!
26 locals recommend
The Salt Line
79 Potomac Ave SEIt doesn't get any closer than this! Look over from my balcony and you can see this place (and sometimes hear it, too). Can't beat the setting, or the drinks, really. I love the Narragansett lager + Del's lemonade mix -- brings me back to my two years in Rhode Island!
The closest fast-casual place to grab lunch or dinner, and pretty much on the way to the metro from my place.
16 locals recommend
Chopt Creative Salad Co.
1735 N Lynn StThe closest fast-casual place to grab lunch or dinner, and pretty much on the way to the metro from my place.
Another fast-casual lunch or dinner spot, right near Chop'd. I love the hummus here, and the falafel, and all their spicy sauces. Pack a mint though, 'cause man that garlic sticks around ;)
45 locals recommend
Roti Modern Mediterranean
1275 First St NEAnother fast-casual lunch or dinner spot, right near Chop'd. I love the hummus here, and the falafel, and all their spicy sauces. Pack a mint though, 'cause man that garlic sticks around ;)
Cool new coffeeshop/cocktail place. Keep meaning to go here because it looks so cool!
60 locals recommend
Slipstream
1333 14th St NWCool new coffeeshop/cocktail place. Keep meaning to go here because it looks so cool!
Shake Shack - Navy Yard
54 M St SEPeople go pretty crazy for this burgers!! (and fries and shakes)
Fast-casual lunch or dinner, a blend of Korean and Mexican. Pretty cool! And they serve beer.
13 locals recommend
TaKorean | The Yards
1212 4th St SEFast-casual lunch or dinner, a blend of Korean and Mexican. Pretty cool! And they serve beer.
Delicious fast-casual upscale salads. Lunch or dinner. Feels so healthy!
6 locals recommend
sweetgreen Navy Yard
1212 4th Street SoutheastDelicious fast-casual upscale salads. Lunch or dinner. Feels so healthy!
District Doughnut
749 8th St SEWhoa. These are good doughnuts.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEAmazing architecture and ambiance. Even more amazing beers.
Bare-bones but great outdoor beer garden on the waterfront next to my building. You can try a sample before you buy something. Dog-friendly with a bunch of games you can play as you while away your afternoon.
10 locals recommend
Bardo Brewing
25 Potomac Ave SEBare-bones but great outdoor beer garden on the waterfront next to my building. You can try a sample before you buy something. Dog-friendly with a bunch of games you can play as you while away your afternoon.
Yet another beer garden! Attracts a younger crowd, but man are those (large) Belgian beers great. Some nice Belgian and German bites, too!
29 locals recommend
the brig
1007 8th St SEYet another beer garden! Attracts a younger crowd, but man are those (large) Belgian beers great. Some nice Belgian and German bites, too!
Parks & Nature
Yards Park isn't huge, but it is awesome. When the boardwalk ends at the park, to the left is a nice plot of green grass, and to the right is this awesome native plants garden to sit and look out on the water. Walk a little further (or just follow your ears) and you can watch a ton of very jubilant kids splashing in the waterfall and shallow pool in the middle of the park. Head over the white bridge and sit on the public patio to eat lunch, or a little farther to a second grassy area, and beyond it, some nice shade trees and really cool benches and built-in lounge chairs. Just writing about it makes me wish I were there!
145 locals recommend
The Yards Park
355 Water St SEYards Park isn't huge, but it is awesome. When the boardwalk ends at the park, to the left is a nice plot of green grass, and to the right is this awesome native plants garden to sit and look out on the water. Walk a little further (or just follow your ears) and you can watch a ton of very jubilant kids splashing in the waterfall and shallow pool in the middle of the park. Head over the white bridge and sit on the public patio to eat lunch, or a little farther to a second grassy area, and beyond it, some nice shade trees and really cool benches and built-in lounge chairs. Just writing about it makes me wish I were there!
Across the river from my place is a lovely linear park to bike, run and walk, or just hang out and watch the river and the birds. There are a few benches along the way, but a lot of people are on the move on this path, so step lightly!
65 locals recommend
Anacostia Park
1500 Anacostia DrAcross the river from my place is a lovely linear park to bike, run and walk, or just hang out and watch the river and the birds. There are a few benches along the way, but a lot of people are on the move on this path, so step lightly!
Take a bike and find your way here, with some food and drinks (maybe even grab my navy picnic backpack from the clothes closet!) Watch the planes land across the river at DCA (Reagan airport) and the bikers whiz by you, and contemplate your existence. Especially mesmerizing during cherry blossom season.
68 locals recommend
Hains Point
Take a bike and find your way here, with some food and drinks (maybe even grab my navy picnic backpack from the clothes closet!) Watch the planes land across the river at DCA (Reagan airport) and the bikers whiz by you, and contemplate your existence. Especially mesmerizing during cherry blossom season.
You can bike here easily, using the new, wonderful, well-marked Anacostia River bike path, and you should!
97 locals recommend
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
1550 Anacostia Avenue NortheastYou can bike here easily, using the new, wonderful, well-marked Anacostia River bike path, and you should!
When you'd like some nature in your DC stay. Best to drive here, but you can bike mostly along the river, too.
350 locals recommend
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEWhen you'd like some nature in your DC stay. Best to drive here, but you can bike mostly along the river, too.
Bike or take a Lyft here; hard to get to otherwise and competitive (though free) parking if you drive. A nice little jaunt!
165 locals recommend
Theodore Roosevelt Island Park
Bike or take a Lyft here; hard to get to otherwise and competitive (though free) parking if you drive. A nice little jaunt!
Man, what a fantastic place. Go just to the overlook, or walk along the towpath to the Billy Goat Trail. You won't believe you're so close to DC with this amazing river spot!
182 locals recommend
Great Falls
11710 Macarthur BlvdMan, what a fantastic place. Go just to the overlook, or walk along the towpath to the Billy Goat Trail. You won't believe you're so close to DC with this amazing river spot!
Essentials
Wine and beer selections here, along with anything else you expect at a grocery store!
410 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
900 Army Navy DrWine and beer selections here, along with anything else you expect at a grocery store!
CVS
1418 P St NWAll your pharmacy needs!
Cosmopolitan Nail Lounge
1331 4th St SEWhen you need some mani-pedi pampering.
Bang Salon
1212 4th St SEWhere I get my hair cut. Caroline's my gal!
Arts & Culture
Frederick Douglass is more than "an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more." His is an amazing story of education, leadership, bravery, and conviction in the mid-1800s. His house in Anacostia is a National Park, and there's an excellent visitors' center with a 20-minute movie that will help you know someone you should know about, and will make you wonder why you didn't know more about him before.
67 locals recommend
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
1411 W St SEFrederick Douglass is more than "an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more." His is an amazing story of education, leadership, bravery, and conviction in the mid-1800s. His house in Anacostia is a National Park, and there's an excellent visitors' center with a 20-minute movie that will help you know someone you should know about, and will make you wonder why you didn't know more about him before.
The nicest DC perfoming arts theater. Amazing architecture. Check it out!
56 locals recommend
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
1101 6th St SWThe nicest DC perfoming arts theater. Amazing architecture. Check it out!
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SWNo one regrets going here.
Hirshhorn Museum
7th Street SouthwestFor your favorite modern art, including sculpture.
Can't beat it! Especially love the outdoor Sculpture Garden -- ice skating rink in winter, Jazz in the Garden on Friday nights in the summer.
385 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestCan't beat it! Especially love the outdoor Sculpture Garden -- ice skating rink in winter, Jazz in the Garden on Friday nights in the summer.
Newseum
565 Pennsylvania Avenue NWOne of the rare museums you pay for in DC, and worth it!
Extinct charismatic megafauna, the Hope Diamond, Ocean Hall... yes. You want this.
647 locals recommend
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NWExtinct charismatic megafauna, the Hope Diamond, Ocean Hall... yes. You want this.
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street SouthwestRecently reopened and always, always wonderful.
159 locals recommend
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NWRecently reopened and always, always wonderful.
You can bike all the way here if you like! Lovely.
191 locals recommend
George Washington's Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HwyYou can bike all the way here if you like! Lovely.
Entertainment & Activities
Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SEInescapable since you're right next to it!
Shopping
Conte's Bike Shop
3449 Wilson BlvdBike rentals if Capital Bikeshare is not your kind of thing.
Pacers Running
300 Tingey St SEFor the runner you are or want to be! A local chain, and a great one.
Union Station
Closest collection of shops -- clothes, shoes, more.
When you have to go somewhere like this, it's good to know where it is!
200 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
5929 Georgia Ave NWWhen you have to go somewhere like this, it's good to know where it is!