Guidebook for Washington
Essentials
Basically across the street is a full grocery store, with a really big take-out food section (perfect for grabbing something hot when you're exhausted from travel or tourism).
410 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
900 Army Navy DrBasically across the street is a full grocery store, with a really big take-out food section (perfect for grabbing something hot when you're exhausted from travel or tourism).
Great local organic market grocery store that's open regular hours across from Eastern Market (which has more limited hours).
85 locals recommend
Yes! Organic Market Capitol Hill
410 8th St SEGreat local organic market grocery store that's open regular hours across from Eastern Market (which has more limited hours).
Inside the main brick-building are grocers selling meats, cheese and produce from this Capitol Hill institution. Weekends bring a lot of vendors and people watching. Then brunching nearby.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEInside the main brick-building are grocers selling meats, cheese and produce from this Capitol Hill institution. Weekends bring a lot of vendors and people watching. Then brunching nearby.
Trader Joe's
750 Pennsylvania Ave. SEOpen daily until 10 p.m.!
Another Harris Teeter, further away (only about a mile) but just fyi.
410 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
900 Army Navy DrAnother Harris Teeter, further away (only about a mile) but just fyi.
Arts & Culture
Barracks Row is just blocks away and filled with eclectic food, drinks and entertainment for your enjoyment.
133 locals recommend
Barracks Row Main Street
731 8th St SEBarracks Row is just blocks away and filled with eclectic food, drinks and entertainment for your enjoyment.
Drinks & Nightlife
Trusty's is my personal favorite local dive bar. It's low-key and automotive-themed with a bus bar upstairs and has tons of board games you can play as well as pretty good prices for DC.
77 locals recommend
Trusty's
1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SETrusty's is my personal favorite local dive bar. It's low-key and automotive-themed with a bus bar upstairs and has tons of board games you can play as well as pretty good prices for DC.
Wisdom is an amazing gin bar -- one of the 10 best in the country in 2015 according to USA Today -- where the mixologists will treat you right. It's pretty quiet and has a lot of private areas.
42 locals recommend
Wisdom
1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SEWisdom is an amazing gin bar -- one of the 10 best in the country in 2015 according to USA Today -- where the mixologists will treat you right. It's pretty quiet and has a lot of private areas.
A very funky outdoor brewery on the Anacostia River with plenty of bike parking and benches to enjoy the view.
10 locals recommend
Bardo Brewing
25 Potomac Ave SEA very funky outdoor brewery on the Anacostia River with plenty of bike parking and benches to enjoy the view.
An awesome local brewery with great food that offers a wide range of fermented beverages -- they also specialize in sour beers!
129 locals recommend
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SEAn awesome local brewery with great food that offers a wide range of fermented beverages -- they also specialize in sour beers!
The Ugly Mug
723 8th St SEA divey bar with karaoke on some nights on the hoppin' Barracks Row.
Food Scene
If you just want to grab a pie and crash, this is the closest mainstream pizza joint. Check out IsPizzaHalfPrice.com for discounts if DC sports teams won.
21 locals recommend
Papa John's Pizza
1460 Addison Rd SIf you just want to grab a pie and crash, this is the closest mainstream pizza joint. Check out IsPizzaHalfPrice.com for discounts if DC sports teams won.
This is the closest local pizza place. It's open late and not the best, but even mediocre pizza is good, right?
12 locals recommend
New York Pizza DC
1442 Pennsylvania Ave. SEThis is the closest local pizza place. It's open late and not the best, but even mediocre pizza is good, right?
Breakfast anytime! Open 24 hours and... well, it's McDonalds. So you know what you're getting.
52 locals recommend
McDonald's
1539 Pennsylvania Ave. SEBreakfast anytime! Open 24 hours and... well, it's McDonalds. So you know what you're getting.
Kind of a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. Not the best in the world, but it fills your belly with warm cheese and fried things, so I can't complain.
29 locals recommend
La Lomita Restaurant
1330 Pennsylvania Ave. SEKind of a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. Not the best in the world, but it fills your belly with warm cheese and fried things, so I can't complain.
Iconic DC pretzel shop that offers savory and sweet options, as well as beverages and a nice patio.
110 locals recommend
The Pretzel Bakery
257 15th St SEIconic DC pretzel shop that offers savory and sweet options, as well as beverages and a nice patio.
Low cost, inventive, and funky, this amazing Chinese-Korean fusion in an industrial setting. Recently named by the Washington Post as one of the 10 best restaurants in DC.
32 locals recommend
CHIKO
423 8th St SELow cost, inventive, and funky, this amazing Chinese-Korean fusion in an industrial setting. Recently named by the Washington Post as one of the 10 best restaurants in DC.
Very expensive ($300 per person), but one of the best restaurants in America. A very special experience from the renowned chef of Rose's Luxury (next door, and a little cheaper option if this is too steep for you). Or if you're a foodie on a tight budget, you can also try Little Pearl nearby (founded by the same chef).
41 locals recommend
Pineapple and Pearls
715 8th St SEVery expensive ($300 per person), but one of the best restaurants in America. A very special experience from the renowned chef of Rose's Luxury (next door, and a little cheaper option if this is too steep for you). Or if you're a foodie on a tight budget, you can also try Little Pearl nearby (founded by the same chef).
Amazingly inventive "New American" restaurant, consistently rated on of the best in DC, and in the country. Pretty expensive ($100ish) but worth the splurge if you are a foodie. If you're a foodie on a budget, try Little Pearl nearby (founded by the same chef).
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEAmazingly inventive "New American" restaurant, consistently rated on of the best in DC, and in the country. Pretty expensive ($100ish) but worth the splurge if you are a foodie. If you're a foodie on a budget, try Little Pearl nearby (founded by the same chef).
By morning, a high-end coffee and pastry shop. By night, a wine, cocktail, and small plates restaurant. From the creator of Rose's Luxury and Pineapple and Pearl, Little Pearl offers a more economical option for high end cuisine.
48 locals recommend
Little Pearl
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SEBy morning, a high-end coffee and pastry shop. By night, a wine, cocktail, and small plates restaurant. From the creator of Rose's Luxury and Pineapple and Pearl, Little Pearl offers a more economical option for high end cuisine.
An upscale greasy spoon that features hand-made pop tarts, boozy shakes, and overall excellent comfort food.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEAn upscale greasy spoon that features hand-made pop tarts, boozy shakes, and overall excellent comfort food.
Shopping
Not a bar, but a beer, wine and spirits store. They have good hours and a pretty good selection, including some local growlers.
6 locals recommend
World Wine and Spirits
1453 Pennsylvania Ave. SENot a bar, but a beer, wine and spirits store. They have good hours and a pretty good selection, including some local growlers.