Luke and I recently had a quick trip to Washington, DC and absolutely fell in love with the city! The food is 10/10, there are so many cute parts of the city to explore, and obviously the monuments are a must! Below is a guide to our favorite restaurants, neighborhoods, and more!
Neighborhoods To Visit:
• Georgetown / West End: This was hands down my FAVORITE part of Washington, DC. It is the CUTEST little neighborhood with so many shops and restaurants. It's super charming and historic with it's cobblestone streets, brick buildings, and you can even walk down to Georgetown Waterfront Park! This is a MUST when visiting DC.
• The Wharf: This was my second favorite part of DC, mostly because I LOVE being on the water. The Wharf is a mile-long stretch along the Potomac River with a bunch of different restaurants and businesses.
• Downtown / Dupont Circle: Downtown DC is a very cute + walkable part of the city, with a ton of different restaurants, cafes, and shops. This is where our hotel was located, so we got to explore the downtown area a bit! It's very clean & safe, so we just walked around and would stop when we saw something that intrigued us!
• Old Town, Alexandria: Old Town is an ADORABLE historic neighborhood about 25 minutes south of downtown, in Alexandria, Virginia. Sadly we didn't have enough time to visit, but it was HIGHLY recommended by a bunch of people. It's also located along the Potomac river.
Places To Eat
• Hank's Oyster Bar: We went here for my birthday dinner, and it was INCREDIBLE. It's located on the waterfront at The Wharf, so it's such a cute atmosphere too. The drinks were amazing (Luke got an IPA, I got some frozen watermelon rum cocktail), and the seafood was so fresh and delicious. I got the peel n' eat shrimp, a half dozen oysters, and lobster bisque. Luke got the lobster dinner. We were both blown away by our meals. 12/10.
• Café Georgetown: This was the cutest little café / coffee shop in the heart of Georgetown. We went for breakfast and got pastries and iced lattes! I got mocha, Luke got caramel, both equally as delicious. They also have a wine bar if you go in the afternoon or evening! The inside aesthetics were to die for, and they have outdoor seating as well.
• Tatte Bakery & Café: Once again, this place had the CUTEST aesthetic and the YUMMIEST food! They serve breakfast all day as well, which is a HUGE plus in my books. Luke had the Lamb Kebab Pita, and I got the Roasted Peach & Ricotta Tartine with a mint lemonade. They have a location on West End, and a Dupont Circle location!
• Founding Farmers: This was one of the most recommended places to us, and I can totally see why. Everything they serve is made from scratch; food and drinks. We went for dinner, although their brunch looks BOMB. Luke got a steak salad, which he really enjoyed. I got the Farmhouse Platter, but subbed the coleslaw for their infamous mac n cheese. If I went back I would probably go with something different, but we overall had a great experience.
• Le Diplomat: This is an ADORABLE french café that was recommended by so many! They have dinner every night and brunch on the weekends.
• Union Market: I'm so sad we didn't make it to Union Market! It's essentially a one stop shop for tons of restaurants, shopping, and events. They have a huge rooftop lawn area to just eat, drink, play games, and hang out too! Definitely a great place to visit and spend a few hours.
• Baked & Wired: If you've got a sweet tooth, definitely hit up Baked & Wired! It's located in Georgetown and they have over 15 cupcake flavors, cookies, coffee, and so many other sweet treats.
Places For A Drink
• Tiki TNT: MY FAVORITE BAR IN DC. I mean I might be bias considering I love a good tropical theme, but it was SUCH a fun bar! They even passed out flower leis to everyone! It's located at The Wharf and you can sit inside or outside, giving you views of the river! Definitely go here for a good time.
• 12 Stories Bar: This rooftop bar / lounge is located in the Wharf area, and gives you all the good vibes and all the great views. Like the name suggests.. it's on the 12th floor of the InterContinental hotel, so it offers views of the Potomac River and the DC Skyline! It's very sleek, modern, and has great cocktails.
• Service Bar DC: This bar was recommended by some locals, and it looks AWESOME. Unfortunately we didn't get to check it out ourselves, but the cocktail and food menus look delish! There are also a ton of other bars along U Street, so this is a great area if you're wanting to bar hop!
Where To Stay
• Hyatt Place (West End / Georgetown): We chose to stay at Hyatt Place because 1) it was the best price we found, and 2) we LOVED the location! It was walking distance to Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Downtown. It was super clean, had complimentary breakfast, and I would definitely stay there again. Parking was $50/night for valet, so we chose to self park at the parking deck next door (Colonial Parking Station #729) and we walked / took an uber everywhere. We booked our parking in advance through Parkopedia, and got parking for $35 for 2 full days.
• Airbnb: I always look into airbnbs when I'm visiting a new city, because sometimes you can find SUPER unique stays, for a great price! Unfortunately there weren't many options left since we booked so last minute, but linked below are a few of my favorite airbnbs:
Georgetown:
Georgetown Modern Chic 1 Bedroom (sleeps 2)
Cozy / Modern Apartment (sleeps 4-5)
The Wharf area:
Private Row House (sleeps 4)
Downtown area:
Penthouse 2 BR Apartment (sleeps 4-5)
Designer 2 BR Suite (sleeps 4)
Things To Do
• National Mall: This is probably one of the main reasons you're visiting Washington, DC, so I'm sure it's already on your list! BUT I'm gonna give you a pro tip: rent a scooter (or bike) and make your way throughout National Mall! You can get through it a lot quicker than walking, and it's way more fun ;) It was so cool to see all of the monuments, and this is a no brainer when visiting Washington, DC!
• Smithsonian National Zoo: The zoo was highly recommended to us by a few locals, so I had to include it on the list! The best part? IT'S FREE! They have lions, pandas, elephants, and more! A great family friendly activity in DC.
• Holocaust Memorial Museum: We sadly didn't get to visit the Holocaust Museum because it was sold out on the days we were there. So definitely get a ticket in advance if you decide to go! Tickets are free online, and the museum contains artifacts, film footage, photographs and more. There are also a TON of other free museums in DC!
• Shopping: Georgetown has the best shopping options, in my opinion! They have Madewell, Patagonia, Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, and SO much more! Downtown is also a great option for shopping, but Georgetown is just SO DANG CUTE!
I hope you love visiting the Washington, DC area! As always, DM or email with any feedback or questions :)
Xo,
Blaire
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