Guidebook for Washington
Getting Around
NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave Station
200 Florida Ave NE Closest Metro Station to my place.
Union Station
Bus and train station.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
2401 Smith BlvdClosest airport to my place.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cheap beer and whiskey. Cash only bar. There is an ATM inside. Live music and dancing on Sunday nights til about 9 pm. Walking diastase from my place. But be safe at night!
145 locals recommend
Showtime Lounge
113 Rhode Island Ave NWCheap beer and whiskey. Cash only bar. There is an ATM inside. Live music and dancing on Sunday nights til about 9 pm. Walking diastase from my place. But be safe at night!
The Pub & The People
1648 North Capitol Street NorthwestClose to my place. Be safe at night! Good brunch!
Decent food. Open for lunch daily. CROWDED on Fri/Sat nights. I prefer brunch here on weekends. Open mic on Mondays. Be safe walking home at night!
262 locals recommend
Boundary Stone
116 Rhode Island Ave NWDecent food. Open for lunch daily. CROWDED on Fri/Sat nights. I prefer brunch here on weekends. Open mic on Mondays. Be safe walking home at night!
The Red Hen
1822 1st St NWFancy Italian food. Be ready to spend money. Great date spot.
Great Happy Hour. The most amazing chicken sandwich you'll ever have in your life.
49 locals recommend
Crisp Kitchen + Bar
1837 1st St NWGreat Happy Hour. The most amazing chicken sandwich you'll ever have in your life.
Great unique beer that you can ONLY get at this brewery. Full food menu. Indoor/outdoor seating.
124 locals recommend
Right Proper Brewing Company
920 Girard St NEGreat unique beer that you can ONLY get at this brewery. Full food menu. Indoor/outdoor seating.
Great for dancing. The drinks are pricey. Check the website to see what kind of music they are playing. Sometimes it's house, sometimes reggae... And it's usually a live DJ.
85 locals recommend
Eighteenth Street Lounge
1230 9th Street NorthwestGreat for dancing. The drinks are pricey. Check the website to see what kind of music they are playing. Sometimes it's house, sometimes reggae... And it's usually a live DJ.
Entertainment & Activities
A very small Improv Comedy Theatre owned by a husband and wife team. Tickets are usually cheap or free. Cash only.
6 locals recommend
Unified Scene Theatre
80 T St NWA very small Improv Comedy Theatre owned by a husband and wife team. Tickets are usually cheap or free. Cash only.
If you want to catch a movie, here's the closest place to do it. Lots of bars and restaurants are near here. Two Metro stop away, although it's very walkable.
105 locals recommend
Regal Gallery Place & 4DX
701 7th St NWIf you want to catch a movie, here's the closest place to do it. Lots of bars and restaurants are near here. Two Metro stop away, although it's very walkable.
Essentials
Harris Teeter
1201 First Street NortheastCloses daily at midnight.
Closes early. I think around 7 pm? But Harris Teeter across the street should have it.
342 locals recommend
CVS
3642 Georgia Ave NWCloses early. I think around 7 pm? But Harris Teeter across the street should have it.
Starbucks
3100 14th St NWIt's a bit farther away from my place than Harris Teeter, but if you're on a budget and you're over there, you can grab an inexpensive sandwich or wrap and stick it in your bag for later while walking around town. It's also close to Meridian Hill Park (which used to be called Malcolm X Park) and bring a can (yes, a can) of wine or a 6 pack and have a picnic there. Open daily from 8 am (I think) - 10 pm.
342 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1914 14th St NWIt's a bit farther away from my place than Harris Teeter, but if you're on a budget and you're over there, you can grab an inexpensive sandwich or wrap and stick it in your bag for later while walking around town. It's also close to Meridian Hill Park (which used to be called Malcolm X Park) and bring a can (yes, a can) of wine or a 6 pack and have a picnic there. Open daily from 8 am (I think) - 10 pm.
Food Scene
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
924 Blagden Alley NWBecause it's great coffee INSIDE of the REI.
Savory and sweet pies. There's more than one location (including one in Chinatown around 6th and H NW I think), so if you're in Chinatown, you can go to that one. But it's worth it to venture over to H St NE towards the Atlas District.
102 locals recommend
Pie Shop
1339 H St NESavory and sweet pies. There's more than one location (including one in Chinatown around 6th and H NW I think), so if you're in Chinatown, you can go to that one. But it's worth it to venture over to H St NE towards the Atlas District.
Shopping
It's expensive, but if you forgot something for camping or hiking, here's the place to get it. It's a flagship store. so it's HUGE! And there's a coffee shop inside.
29 locals recommend
REI Co-op
201 M St NEIt's expensive, but if you forgot something for camping or hiking, here's the place to get it. It's a flagship store. so it's HUGE! And there's a coffee shop inside.
Sightseeing
You can walk to the monument from my apartment if you wanted to. Wear comfortable shoes. Once you're there, you can get to most of the major monuments. Kinda cool.
Great to go early in the am and try to beat the crowds, or to bring a flask of whiskey at night after it's dark. Super crowded during midday.
The elevator has been broken off and on for a while now, so don't expect to take the elevator to see the view from the top/inside for a while.
1111 locals recommend
National Mall
You can walk to the monument from my apartment if you wanted to. Wear comfortable shoes. Once you're there, you can get to most of the major monuments. Kinda cool.
Great to go early in the am and try to beat the crowds, or to bring a flask of whiskey at night after it's dark. Super crowded during midday.
The elevator has been broken off and on for a while now, so don't expect to take the elevator to see the view from the top/inside for a while.
Great museum with paintings, sculptures and other artwork. Rotating exhibit that is usually on the top floor. There is a GORGEOUS open garden in the middle of the museum where you can sit and relax. Completely covered in a glass ceiling. After you're done head over to Proof across the street for some wine and cheese.
365 locals recommend
National Portrait Gallery
Great museum with paintings, sculptures and other artwork. Rotating exhibit that is usually on the top floor. There is a GORGEOUS open garden in the middle of the museum where you can sit and relax. Completely covered in a glass ceiling. After you're done head over to Proof across the street for some wine and cheese.