Guidebook for Washington
Essentials
popular family-owned boutique grocery with super yummy made to order sandwiches, and beer and wine - 3 blocks away
6 locals recommend
Cornercopia
1000 3rd St SEpopular family-owned boutique grocery with super yummy made to order sandwiches, and beer and wine - 3 blocks away
Harris Teeter
900 Army Navy Drbrand new Harris Teeter grocery store
Food Scene
Very popular family-owned neighborhood coffee shop, great for meetings. Great espresso drinks and delicious sandwiches.
7 locals recommend
Lot 38 espresso bar
1001 2nd St SEVery popular family-owned neighborhood coffee shop, great for meetings. Great espresso drinks and delicious sandwiches.
Tons of bars and restaurants on Barracks Row (8th Street), including the top-rated restaurant in the country, Rose's Luxury!
133 locals recommend
Barracks Row Main Street
731 8th St SETons of bars and restaurants on Barracks Row (8th Street), including the top-rated restaurant in the country, Rose's Luxury!
Kruba Thai and Sushi
300 Water St SEexcellent thai restaurant in Yards Park
If craft beer's your thing, you'll spend the whole trip here. Trust me.
129 locals recommend
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEIf craft beer's your thing, you'll spend the whole trip here. Trust me.
Because some folks just need their Starbucks. But there's also a closer one down in Navy Yard that isn't showing up on the map, at M st and 2nd St. And, Dunkin Donuts is at 8th and Penn Ave, too.
466 locals recommend
Starbucks
3100 14th St NWBecause some folks just need their Starbucks. But there's also a closer one down in Navy Yard that isn't showing up on the map, at M st and 2nd St. And, Dunkin Donuts is at 8th and Penn Ave, too.
Awesome family friendly restaurant with silent black and white movie screen (for the kids), spiked milkshakes (for the parents), and home made pop tarts - for everyone.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEAwesome family friendly restaurant with silent black and white movie screen (for the kids), spiked milkshakes (for the parents), and home made pop tarts - for everyone.
100 Montaditos
Great Spanish sandwich and tapas place. It's the real deal - yum!
I haven't been here yet but it's owned by the same folks as Justin's - another sports bar for Nats fans.
10 locals recommend
The Big Stick
20 M St SEI haven't been here yet but it's owned by the same folks as Justin's - another sports bar for Nats fans.
Ever wanted to try booking a line stander? Here's your opportunity. People wait two hours in line to go to dinner at this place. It's the top-rated restaurant in the country.
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEEver wanted to try booking a line stander? Here's your opportunity. People wait two hours in line to go to dinner at this place. It's the top-rated restaurant in the country.
They have some great shows at this theater, one metro stop away.
56 locals recommend
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
1101 6th St SWThey have some great shows at this theater, one metro stop away.
Everything Else
Navy Yard-Ballpark Station
122 M St SWLess than 10 mins walk
Eastern Market station
701 Pennsylvania Ave. SEless than 15 mins walk
Harry's Reserve
909 New Jersey Ave SEABC/package store
One of these days we are going to go see a play here!! It's so close, just by Gallery Place Metro Station, which is 4 stops from Navy Yard Station.
56 locals recommend
Shakespeare Theatre Company: Lansburgh Theatre
450 7th St NWOne of these days we are going to go see a play here!! It's so close, just by Gallery Place Metro Station, which is 4 stops from Navy Yard Station.
Sightseeing
Canal Park
200 M St SEOutdoor ice rink in winter, water fountains in spring and summer!
Award-winning waterfront park - beautiful views, water features, boardwalk. Yes, a boardwalk in DC. It goes all the way to Nationals Stadium or the Navy Yard
145 locals recommend
The Yards Park
355 Water St SEAward-winning waterfront park - beautiful views, water features, boardwalk. Yes, a boardwalk in DC. It goes all the way to Nationals Stadium or the Navy Yard
This ship, which the public may tour, was part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis!
Display Ship BARRY
This ship, which the public may tour, was part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis!
Wonderful, historic indoor / outdoor market with fresh produce and deli products, flowers and other wares.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEWonderful, historic indoor / outdoor market with fresh produce and deli products, flowers and other wares.
Garfield Park
1-299 South Carolina Ave SEHuge park with two playgrounds - for toddlers and big kids
Come during spring/summer parade season and book tickets to see the President's or the Commandant's Own Marine Band and the Silent Drill Team - it's amazing. (We can help you with that.)
28 locals recommend
Marine Barracks
8th Street SoutheastCome during spring/summer parade season and book tickets to see the President's or the Commandant's Own Marine Band and the Silent Drill Team - it's amazing. (We can help you with that.)
You can take a nice long walk here, or hop the Circulator bus to Union Station (at 4th and M SE), and ask the driver when you should hop off.
159 locals recommend
Supreme Court of the United States
1 First St NEYou can take a nice long walk here, or hop the Circulator bus to Union Station (at 4th and M SE), and ask the driver when you should hop off.
The Capitol is gorgeous of course, but I suggest also check with your local House & Senate offices to get an intern to take you to the Senate and House floor - from the gallery you can watch debate.
114 locals recommend
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street SoutheastThe Capitol is gorgeous of course, but I suggest also check with your local House & Senate offices to get an intern to take you to the Senate and House floor - from the gallery you can watch debate.
It's a beautiful building, one of the few historic train stations still in use in the US - worth seeing inside and out
629 locals recommend
Union Station
It's a beautiful building, one of the few historic train stations still in use in the US - worth seeing inside and out
At least go see the Jefferson Building, the most beautiful of the LOC buildings. It's open to the public. They do storytime for kiddos on Friday mornings (I would have to find out which bldg does it.)
314 locals recommend
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SEAt least go see the Jefferson Building, the most beautiful of the LOC buildings. It's open to the public. They do storytime for kiddos on Friday mornings (I would have to find out which bldg does it.)
National Portrait Gallery
Easy to metro or bus here
This is just minutes away - you could walk, or else metro a couple stops, or walk to the bus and take the bus. It takes 2 minutes if you drive. They have an IMAX theater and offer several short films.
809 locals recommend
National Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Ave SWThis is just minutes away - you could walk, or else metro a couple stops, or walk to the bus and take the bus. It takes 2 minutes if you drive. They have an IMAX theater and offer several short films.
We love the numerous ecosystem exhibits here. It's especially great if you have little ones who need a change of scene and a little room to stretch.
253 locals recommend
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWWe love the numerous ecosystem exhibits here. It's especially great if you have little ones who need a change of scene and a little room to stretch.
This has the best museum cafeteria anywhere in the country. That doesn't sound like high enough praise - it's SO good, and so varied and interesting. Go there.
196 locals recommend
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street SouthwestThis has the best museum cafeteria anywhere in the country. That doesn't sound like high enough praise - it's SO good, and so varied and interesting. Go there.
Great place to bike to! Such a beautiful view from here.
258 locals recommend
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Bookstore
16 E Basin Dr SWGreat place to bike to! Such a beautiful view from here.
You can bike here, likely bus here too, but we locals cheat, and we drive over to 23rd Street and park. If you have a car while here, we'll explain.
697 locals recommend
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWYou can bike here, likely bus here too, but we locals cheat, and we drive over to 23rd Street and park. If you have a car while here, we'll explain.
It's a quick cab over (parking would be iffy), or metro from Eastern Market. Remember to ask your home state House or Senate office to get you a White House tour - ask weeks/months in advance!
1097 locals recommend
The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWIt's a quick cab over (parking would be iffy), or metro from Eastern Market. Remember to ask your home state House or Senate office to get you a White House tour - ask weeks/months in advance!
There's a great exhibit there now called "Wonder" - everyone is raving about it, and it's worth the raves. We drove over, but you can cab or metro easily enough.
159 locals recommend
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NWThere's a great exhibit there now called "Wonder" - everyone is raving about it, and it's worth the raves. We drove over, but you can cab or metro easily enough.
You could metro and then walk a few blocks here, or, if driving, it's really a quick 10 minute drive (if that), and you just pay parking.
498 locals recommend
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NWYou could metro and then walk a few blocks here, or, if driving, it's really a quick 10 minute drive (if that), and you just pay parking.
Just so you know where it is, if this is your first time in DC - it's right by the Kennedy Center.
Watergate Complex Real Estate
2600 Virginia Ave NWJust so you know where it is, if this is your first time in DC - it's right by the Kennedy Center.
Drinks & Nightlife
Due South
301 Water St SESuper delicious southern cuisine at the waterfront
slightly pricey but very worth it Italian restaurant (go for weekend brunch, it's cheaper and just as delicious!)
55 locals recommend
Osteria Morini
301 Water St SEslightly pricey but very worth it Italian restaurant (go for weekend brunch, it's cheaper and just as delicious!)
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
100 M St SEBecause who doesn't love garlic fries?
Delicious Latin fusion cuisine - Spanish and Cuban - right on the waterfront
28 locals recommend
Agua 301 Restaurant
301 Water St SEDelicious Latin fusion cuisine - Spanish and Cuban - right on the waterfront
Food is great, prices are decent, there's something for everyone on this menu. Fancy burgers, pizzas, salads and more.
226 locals recommend
matchbox
521 8th St SEFood is great, prices are decent, there's something for everyone on this menu. Fancy burgers, pizzas, salads and more.
Willie's Brew & Que
300 Tingey St SEBarbecue and sports on TVs, anyone?
It's under renovation now but we hear a pizzeria is on its way in January.
6 locals recommend
Il Parco Restaurant
200 M St SEIt's under renovation now but we hear a pizzeria is on its way in January.
Justin's might have been the first restaurant down here after the Stadium was built. It gets busy, especially before and after Nats games.
16 locals recommend
Justin's Cafe
Justin's might have been the first restaurant down here after the Stadium was built. It gets busy, especially before and after Nats games.
Entertainment & Activities
Marion Park
401-479 E St SEgreat fenced in playground for the youngins'
We love this place - it's a bar, restaurant and kid-friendly indoor DC-themed mini-golf destination.
196 locals recommend
H Street Country Club
1335 H Street NortheastWe love this place - it's a bar, restaurant and kid-friendly indoor DC-themed mini-golf destination.