Guidebook for Washington
Drinks & Nightlife
Variety to suit any palate. Try the pretzels. Great for any size group. Outdoor patio.
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Biergarten Haus
1355 H St NEVariety to suit any palate. Try the pretzels. Great for any size group. Outdoor patio.
Speakeasy. Classic and inventive cocktails. Sip and while away an evening. Great for after dinner drinks. Recommend reservations on Thursdays, weekends. Dress smartly (a.k.a. put together).
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the Gibson
2009 14th St NWSpeakeasy. Classic and inventive cocktails. Sip and while away an evening. Great for after dinner drinks. Recommend reservations on Thursdays, weekends. Dress smartly (a.k.a. put together).
Reservations on weekends a must. Bar is neat style - I'll let you discover on your own. Italian, pizza, pasta, fresh and delicious. Ask for Ralph.
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Ghibellina
2000 Fenwick Street NortheastReservations on weekends a must. Bar is neat style - I'll let you discover on your own. Italian, pizza, pasta, fresh and delicious. Ask for Ralph.
Play some bocce, drink some beer. They always have interesting things happening in here. Cheers!
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Vendetta Bocce Bar & Tavern
1212 H St NEPlay some bocce, drink some beer. They always have interesting things happening in here. Cheers!
Grab a drink downstairs. Or upstairs, especially if dancing is your thing. Rotating DJ. Good & sometimes funky jams. Can get very crowded late-night. Locals love this place.
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Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar
1104 H St NEGrab a drink downstairs. Or upstairs, especially if dancing is your thing. Rotating DJ. Good & sometimes funky jams. Can get very crowded late-night. Locals love this place.
Closest neighborhood bar. Definite dive bar; sister bar is Little Miss Whiskey's. Great staff/bartenders. DJ rotates. Awesome beer selection.
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Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club
1103 Bladensburg Rd NEClosest neighborhood bar. Definite dive bar; sister bar is Little Miss Whiskey's. Great staff/bartenders. DJ rotates. Awesome beer selection.
Amazing (absolutely huge) beer selection. Knowledgeable bartenders. Above average bar food from kitchen downstairs at Birch & Barley (see separate review).
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ChurchKey
1337 14th St NWAmazing (absolutely huge) beer selection. Knowledgeable bartenders. Above average bar food from kitchen downstairs at Birch & Barley (see separate review).
Fun bar. No food, but you can bring your own in. Good beer selection. $2 off draft beers for happy hour. Games like billiards, skee-ball, and more downstairs.
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Iron Horse Tap Room
507 7th St NWFun bar. No food, but you can bring your own in. Good beer selection. $2 off draft beers for happy hour. Games like billiards, skee-ball, and more downstairs.
Good place to catch a game and enjoy a pint of beer.
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Finn McCool's Irish Publick House
713 8th Street SoutheastGood place to catch a game and enjoy a pint of beer.
Located upstairs of a ramen/Asian food spot; amazing cocktails and cozy atmosphere. I've seen well-known chefs in the area stop in here for a nightcap.
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Copycat Co.
1110 H St NELocated upstairs of a ramen/Asian food spot; amazing cocktails and cozy atmosphere. I've seen well-known chefs in the area stop in here for a nightcap.
A true speakeasy with no sign on the door. Entrance is the light brown unmarked door to the left of the Aqua al 2 restaurant entrance. Go upstairs, and double back, knock on the door. Reservation strongly recommended for weekend nights.
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Harold Black
212 7th St SEA true speakeasy with no sign on the door. Entrance is the light brown unmarked door to the left of the Aqua al 2 restaurant entrance. Go upstairs, and double back, knock on the door. Reservation strongly recommended for weekend nights.
Beer, good food, a fabulous patio, and close to a lot of other nightlife. Very close to my place.
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Argonaut
1433 H Street NortheastBeer, good food, a fabulous patio, and close to a lot of other nightlife. Very close to my place.
The Pursuit Wine Bar
1025 H Street NortheastWine bar. Good wine list and brunch / food options.
Food Scene
Ceviche, pisco sours, and more delicious dishes at this Peruvian establishment, open for less than a year but already making a good name for itself. Front windows open for an al fresco dining feel.
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Ocopa
1324 H St NECeviche, pisco sours, and more delicious dishes at this Peruvian establishment, open for less than a year but already making a good name for itself. Front windows open for an al fresco dining feel.
Chef Aaron Silverman's place. Best restaurant, Bon Appetit. It's is a must. No reservations, so grab a drink upstairs/nearby. A small splurge that's worth your money and the wait. Shareable plates.
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Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEChef Aaron Silverman's place. Best restaurant, Bon Appetit. It's is a must. No reservations, so grab a drink upstairs/nearby. A small splurge that's worth your money and the wait. Shareable plates.
What I drink every day. All the baristas are friendly. Open, airy, bright space. Pour overs & drip. Try the buzz bars. Buy a lb. of coffee, get a free brewed coffee. Patio, indoor seats.
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Peregrine Espresso
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SEWhat I drink every day. All the baristas are friendly. Open, airy, bright space. Pour overs & drip. Try the buzz bars. Buy a lb. of coffee, get a free brewed coffee. Patio, indoor seats.
Quick and delicious gourmet pizza. Good price. Good for dinner or at 2am after closing time at the Biergarten Haus.
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&pizza
1118 H St NEQuick and delicious gourmet pizza. Good price. Good for dinner or at 2am after closing time at the Biergarten Haus.
Ah-mazing al pastor tacos. Excellent price. Practice your Spanish - or not. These guys are awesome at what they do. Fresh ingredients, varied menu. Guac, salsa, chips, tacos, burritos, more.
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Sol Mexican Grill
1251 H Street NortheastAh-mazing al pastor tacos. Excellent price. Practice your Spanish - or not. These guys are awesome at what they do. Fresh ingredients, varied menu. Guac, salsa, chips, tacos, burritos, more.
Greasy spoon diner. Bring cash to be safe. Super varied breakfast menu, friendly waiter, harried but always witty cook, free coffee refills in random mugs. Sit back and stay a while.
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Jimmy T's Place
501 E Capitol St SEGreasy spoon diner. Bring cash to be safe. Super varied breakfast menu, friendly waiter, harried but always witty cook, free coffee refills in random mugs. Sit back and stay a while.
Another coffee option in Eastern Market. Pastries and more. WiFi.
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Port City Java
701 North Carolina Ave SEAnother coffee option in Eastern Market. Pastries and more. WiFi.
Legit Ethiopian coffee spot with the nicest staff. WiFi. Little seating, but grab one & people watch if you can. They roast on the spot. Pastries + a few seasonal dishes for more of a meal.
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Sidamo Coffee & Tea
417 H St NELegit Ethiopian coffee spot with the nicest staff. WiFi. Little seating, but grab one & people watch if you can. They roast on the spot. Pastries + a few seasonal dishes for more of a meal.
Nice Italian restaurant. Lunch/Dinner weekdays, brunch/dinner on weekends. Try the steak w/ blueberry glaze. Good wine list. $$$ (More upscale but not insanely expensive.) Solid beverage program.
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Acqua Al 2
Nice Italian restaurant. Lunch/Dinner weekdays, brunch/dinner on weekends. Try the steak w/ blueberry glaze. Good wine list. $$$ (More upscale but not insanely expensive.) Solid beverage program.
Cute, tiny walk-up and order pretzel bakery. Coffee = oh yes. Several styles of pretzels and toppings sure to take your breath away and leave your taste buds happy. Patio seating, or have it to go.
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The Pretzel Bakery
257 15th St SECute, tiny walk-up and order pretzel bakery. Coffee = oh yes. Several styles of pretzels and toppings sure to take your breath away and leave your taste buds happy. Patio seating, or have it to go.
Casual choose your own salad place; better than Chop't in my opinion, but same model. Great for lunch or a light dinner. Eat in or get it to go. Tart frozen yogurt is a nice side/dessert.
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sweetgreen Capitol Hill
221 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastCasual choose your own salad place; better than Chop't in my opinion, but same model. Great for lunch or a light dinner. Eat in or get it to go. Tart frozen yogurt is a nice side/dessert.
Upscale French; great for weekend brunch or dinner. Stellar menu + wine list. This place is such a treat. Knowledgeable and attentive staff. Highly recommend.
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Montmartre
327 7th St SEUpscale French; great for weekend brunch or dinner. Stellar menu + wine list. This place is such a treat. Knowledgeable and attentive staff. Highly recommend.
Coffee by day, bistro by night. Wednesday=half off bottles of wine. Wide variety of coffee drinks; try the nutella latte + nutella scone for a treat. Plenty of seating but can get crowded on weekends.
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Pound the Hill
621 Pennsylvania Avenue SoutheastCoffee by day, bistro by night. Wednesday=half off bottles of wine. Wide variety of coffee drinks; try the nutella latte + nutella scone for a treat. Plenty of seating but can get crowded on weekends.
They have the equivalent of a sommelier but for beer. Delicious food and beverage pairings. Highly recommend reservations. Closed Mon. Grab a beer upstairs at ChurchKey while you wait for your table.
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Birch & Barley
1337 14th St NWThey have the equivalent of a sommelier but for beer. Delicious food and beverage pairings. Highly recommend reservations. Closed Mon. Grab a beer upstairs at ChurchKey while you wait for your table.
Tucked away in Blagden Alley. Originals are in Philly. Our location is pretty good, too. Quirky, nice baristas w/ helpful information. Buy some beans to go as a souvenir. Pastries + macarons.
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La Colombe Coffee Roasters
924 Blagden Alley NWTucked away in Blagden Alley. Originals are in Philly. Our location is pretty good, too. Quirky, nice baristas w/ helpful information. Buy some beans to go as a souvenir. Pastries + macarons.
Quick and delicious pizza, well-made by Spike Mendelsohn's staff. Great for groups. Closed Sundays. Order to go or eat upstairs or on the patio. Buffalo chicken and sausage w/ peppers are good go-tos.
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We, The Pizza
2100 Crystal DrQuick and delicious pizza, well-made by Spike Mendelsohn's staff. Great for groups. Closed Sundays. Order to go or eat upstairs or on the patio. Buffalo chicken and sausage w/ peppers are good go-tos.
Good burger place, well-made by Spike Mendelsohn's staff. Great for groups. Closed Sundays. Order to go or eat upstairs or on the patio. Try the milkshakes.
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Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave. SEGood burger place, well-made by Spike Mendelsohn's staff. Great for groups. Closed Sundays. Order to go or eat upstairs or on the patio. Try the milkshakes.
Jacob's Coffee House
401 8th St NECoffee shop w/ pastries tucked into a residential area.
Authentic German restaurant. Lovely patio seating + indoors, too. Nice staff. Great beer list. Delicious food. $$ (affordable)
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Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave NEAuthentic German restaurant. Lovely patio seating + indoors, too. Nice staff. Great beer list. Delicious food. $$ (affordable)
Delicious bread sold here. Grab some coffee and a loaf of bread (many varieties) to go.
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Spring Mill Bread Co
701 8th St SEDelicious bread sold here. Grab some coffee and a loaf of bread (many varieties) to go.
Absolutely delicious Belgian restaurant. At brunch, try the bacon Bloody Mary, mimoas, and waffles. Open for dinner, too. Reservations not a must but could help.
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Belga Café
514 8th St SEAbsolutely delicious Belgian restaurant. At brunch, try the bacon Bloody Mary, mimoas, and waffles. Open for dinner, too. Reservations not a must but could help.
Two words: flaming cheese. Another few words: excellent happy hour. Feta cheese dip, harissa with pita. So delicious.
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Cava Mezze
527 8th St SETwo words: flaming cheese. Another few words: excellent happy hour. Feta cheese dip, harissa with pita. So delicious.
Solid restaurant with variety: burgers, pizza, other. Something for everyone. They do it up right here and it's affordable. $$
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matchbox
521 8th St SESolid restaurant with variety: burgers, pizza, other. Something for everyone. They do it up right here and it's affordable. $$
Popular at brunch, also good for dinner. Homemade Pop Tarts. Adult milkshakes. Old-timey decor but bright and spacious. Reservations recommended, or grab a milkshake while you wait.
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Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEPopular at brunch, also good for dinner. Homemade Pop Tarts. Adult milkshakes. Old-timey decor but bright and spacious. Reservations recommended, or grab a milkshake while you wait.
Amazing bagels with all sorts of yumminess on them. Located inside the Star & Shamrock bar/restaurant.
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Bullfrog Bagels
317 7th St SEAmazing bagels with all sorts of yumminess on them. Located inside the Star & Shamrock bar/restaurant.
Just amazing. Highly recommend. Good beer list and great food. Upscale casual.
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Boundary Road
414 H Street NortheastJust amazing. Highly recommend. Good beer list and great food. Upscale casual.
I happen to work here! I won't be working while you're in town most likely, but I highly recommend this place. Great oysters, seafood dishes, and a couple meat dishes. Good cocktails and wine. Stunning views of the waterfront and boardwalk. Located near other good nightlife spots.
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Whaley's
I happen to work here! I won't be working while you're in town most likely, but I highly recommend this place. Great oysters, seafood dishes, and a couple meat dishes. Good cocktails and wine. Stunning views of the waterfront and boardwalk. Located near other good nightlife spots.
A restaurant and brewery. Amazingly big beer selection, all made in house.
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Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEA restaurant and brewery. Amazingly big beer selection, all made in house.
The name says it all. So good. Highly recommend. You can walk around the waterfront and enjoy their sweet, cool treats.
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Ice Cream Jubilee
301 Water St SEThe name says it all. So good. Highly recommend. You can walk around the waterfront and enjoy their sweet, cool treats.
Shopping
One-stop shopping at Giant. Variety, fresh produce, wine/beer, anything you could need. Parking garage (free).
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Giant Food
1345 Park Rd NWOne-stop shopping at Giant. Variety, fresh produce, wine/beer, anything you could need. Parking garage (free).
It's Walmart. You can find just about everything here. Groceries at this location. Free parking garage.
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Walmart Supercenter
5929 Georgia Ave NWIt's Walmart. You can find just about everything here. Groceries at this location. Free parking garage.
City Sports
715 7th Street NorthwestRunning and other sports store. Shoes, equipment, athletic clothing, etc.
In case you forgot something and need it, or just feel like shopping. Basement level store. Huge inventory.
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Bed Bath & Beyond
3100 14th St NWIn case you forgot something and need it, or just feel like shopping. Basement level store. Huge inventory.
Stop here to pick up wine. Amazing selection and knowledgeable staff will be attentive and help you find what you're looking for at your price point. Beer, spirits/liquor, too.
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Schneider's of Capitol Hill
300 Massachusetts Ave NEStop here to pick up wine. Amazing selection and knowledgeable staff will be attentive and help you find what you're looking for at your price point. Beer, spirits/liquor, too.
Essentials
Within walking distance. No self-check out lanes. Be aware this store is usually understaffed, so lines sometimes take longer. But still the closest, so may be worth it instead of a drive.
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Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWWithin walking distance. No self-check out lanes. Be aware this store is usually understaffed, so lines sometimes take longer. But still the closest, so may be worth it instead of a drive.
Warehouse style = no frills. But GREAT prices. Only debit & cash accepted. Use a quarter to get a cart, get it when you return the card. Fun fact: same company as Trader Joe's. Happy shopping.
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ALDI
3025 Hamilton StWarehouse style = no frills. But GREAT prices. Only debit & cash accepted. Use a quarter to get a cart, get it when you return the card. Fun fact: same company as Trader Joe's. Happy shopping.
Everything Else
Low-priced (~$12/class) yoga classes at all times of the day. Buy online or try walk-in.
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Yoga District
500 H St NELow-priced (~$12/class) yoga classes at all times of the day. Buy online or try walk-in.
Affordable gas station in the city. Avoid the one at 2nd St. and Massachusetts Avenue, NE right by Union Station.
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BP
2600 14th St NWAffordable gas station in the city. Avoid the one at 2nd St. and Massachusetts Avenue, NE right by Union Station.
Metro rail hub, Amtrak, Buses. Huge variety of places to eat on the go. Starbucks x 2, Pret a manger, etc.
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Union Station
Metro rail hub, Amtrak, Buses. Huge variety of places to eat on the go. Starbucks x 2, Pret a manger, etc.
Sightseeing
Nature trails and fields are great for jogging, walking, or picnicking. Free parking. 8am-5pm every day. Check out the bonsai exhibit. The Columns offer the perfect photo backdrop.
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United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NENature trails and fields are great for jogging, walking, or picnicking. Free parking. 8am-5pm every day. Check out the bonsai exhibit. The Columns offer the perfect photo backdrop.
Grocery, restaurant, and sight-seeing in one. Inside, vendors sell fish, poultry, beef, produce, baked goods, flowers & more. Weekends: outside vendors sell more produce, crafts. A must see!
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Imakethe yase-Eastern
225 7th St SEGrocery, restaurant, and sight-seeing in one. Inside, vendors sell fish, poultry, beef, produce, baked goods, flowers & more. Weekends: outside vendors sell more produce, crafts. A must see!
One of my favorite Smithsonian museums. Portraits of all sorts of people, including all U.S. Presidents. Open later than most museums, till 7 or so. Grab dinner in Chinatown afterward.
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National Portrait Gallery
One of my favorite Smithsonian museums. Portraits of all sorts of people, including all U.S. Presidents. Open later than most museums, till 7 or so. Grab dinner in Chinatown afterward.
Great for picnics, walking around. People run here and also bring their dogs here daily (and clean up after them). A little greenery in the city is always nice.
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Lincoln Park
Great for picnics, walking around. People run here and also bring their dogs here daily (and clean up after them). A little greenery in the city is always nice.
Arts & Culture
Soccer stadium where other sporting events are also held (road races, car rallies, etc.)
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RFK Stadium
2400 East Capitol St NESoccer stadium where other sporting events are also held (road races, car rallies, etc.)