Guidebook for Washington
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a rooftop gin bar on top of Belga Cafe. This is a hidden gem on Barrack's Row where you have to enter up stairs around the back of the building. This place specializes in various gin drinks but they serve a variety of cocktails. It is a great place for locals hanging out.
15 locals recommend
BETSY
514 8th St SEThis is a rooftop gin bar on top of Belga Cafe. This is a hidden gem on Barrack's Row where you have to enter up stairs around the back of the building. This place specializes in various gin drinks but they serve a variety of cocktails. It is a great place for locals hanging out.
Whiskey lounge with surprising good food as well. Very nice and upscale bar.
68 locals recommend
Barrel
613 Pennsylvania Ave. SEWhiskey lounge with surprising good food as well. Very nice and upscale bar.
Wine bar that opened in the last few years--has patio seating and nice indoor space.
13 locals recommend
The Eastern
360 7th St SEWine bar that opened in the last few years--has patio seating and nice indoor space.
Parks & Nature
This is a great bike path for biking/running. It loops around the Anacostia River giving great views of DC along the way.
19 locals recommend
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
Anacostia Riverwalk TrailThis is a great bike path for biking/running. It loops around the Anacostia River giving great views of DC along the way.
Great place for a walk or bike ride. The Anacostia Riverwalk trail runs through here and extends way out into PG county. This is a hidden gem in DC for biking and running.
97 locals recommend
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
1550 Anacostia Avenue NortheastGreat place for a walk or bike ride. The Anacostia Riverwalk trail runs through here and extends way out into PG county. This is a hidden gem in DC for biking and running.
Dining Recommendations
This is a list of some of our preferred dining options in the neighborhood.
This is our go to place in the neighborhood for Thai food. They have great food, quick service, and reasonable prices.
18 locals recommend
Sanphan Thai Cuisine
653 Pennsylvania Ave. SEThis is our go to place in the neighborhood for Thai food. They have great food, quick service, and reasonable prices.
It is a Chinese-Korean fusion restaurant with an eclectic menu. It is a small place so we recommend ordering online and/or using the take out option. Love most of the menu.
32 locals recommend
CHIKO
423 8th St SEIt is a Chinese-Korean fusion restaurant with an eclectic menu. It is a small place so we recommend ordering online and/or using the take out option. Love most of the menu.
Great place for a local happy hour and also has a very solid menu.
56 locals recommend
Beuchert’s Saloon
623 Pennsylvania Ave. SEGreat place for a local happy hour and also has a very solid menu.
This is one of two Michelin Star rated restaurants in Barracks row. It is pricey made of mainly small plates but definitely worth it. We love the lychee salad but you cannot go wrong with really anything on the menu.
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEThis is one of two Michelin Star rated restaurants in Barracks row. It is pricey made of mainly small plates but definitely worth it. We love the lychee salad but you cannot go wrong with really anything on the menu.
Great local diner for a good brunch. Make sure to call ahead as they get busy on the weekends. Among our favorites there include their homemade pop tarts.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEGreat local diner for a good brunch. Make sure to call ahead as they get busy on the weekends. Among our favorites there include their homemade pop tarts.
This Balkan delight is a gem of our neighborhood. There is a $50/person all you can eat and drink for dinner and something similar for $35/person at lunch. If you have never had Bosnian food this is a place we highly recommend.
134 locals recommend
Ambar Capitol Hill
523 8th St SEThis Balkan delight is a gem of our neighborhood. There is a $50/person all you can eat and drink for dinner and something similar for $35/person at lunch. If you have never had Bosnian food this is a place we highly recommend.
This place has a great menu and everything you expect from a Belgian cafe. We like to go on their mussel pot Tuesday but their menu (including their brunch) is great.
106 locals recommend
Belga Café
514 8th St SEThis place has a great menu and everything you expect from a Belgian cafe. We like to go on their mussel pot Tuesday but their menu (including their brunch) is great.
Great place for a beer, to watch the game, and grab a burger. As a side note, during major weather events they are one of the places that basically stay open whenever.
45 locals recommend
Tunnicliff's Tavern
222 7th St SEGreat place for a beer, to watch the game, and grab a burger. As a side note, during major weather events they are one of the places that basically stay open whenever.
This is a DC gem on H St. Fantastic food that also does take out. If you are in the mood for ramen please be advised this place is small. If you want to go in person we recommend going during the week since reservations are not allowed during the weekend.
256 locals recommend
Toki Underground
1234 H St NEThis is a DC gem on H St. Fantastic food that also does take out. If you are in the mood for ramen please be advised this place is small. If you want to go in person we recommend going during the week since reservations are not allowed during the weekend.
This is a bit of a walk but well worth it. They have $5 happy hour drinks and $2 taco Tuesdays. We have tried every taco on the menu and it does not disappoint. It is away from some of the other more glamorous 8th street SE restaurants but well worth the visit.
8 locals recommend
Taco City DC
1102 8th St SEThis is a bit of a walk but well worth it. They have $5 happy hour drinks and $2 taco Tuesdays. We have tried every taco on the menu and it does not disappoint. It is away from some of the other more glamorous 8th street SE restaurants but well worth the visit.
The neighborhood pretzel bakery is a hidden gem in our neighborhood. Head on over in the morning and you are bound to find families and dogs hanging out in this bakery across from a local grade school. It has great pretzels and is quite the popular hangout for locals.
110 locals recommend
The Pretzel Bakery
257 15th St SEThe neighborhood pretzel bakery is a hidden gem in our neighborhood. Head on over in the morning and you are bound to find families and dogs hanging out in this bakery across from a local grade school. It has great pretzels and is quite the popular hangout for locals.
New Italian place that opened a few months ago. Large outdoor patio with good service and good food.
La Collina
747 C Street SoutheastNew Italian place that opened a few months ago. Large outdoor patio with good service and good food.
We have only done takeout from here since it opened in the last year during the pandemic. Elevated American cuisine with good outdoor patio seating.
10 locals recommend
The Duck & The Peach
300 7th Street SoutheastWe have only done takeout from here since it opened in the last year during the pandemic. Elevated American cuisine with good outdoor patio seating.
If you haven't had Moroccan food before you are in for a treat. Our favorites are the chicken tagine, zaalouk and taktouka.
Mekki DC
517 8th Street SoutheastIf you haven't had Moroccan food before you are in for a treat. Our favorites are the chicken tagine, zaalouk and taktouka.
Grocery Stores
These are local grocery stores that could be of use during your stay.
This TJ's is right across the street from Eastern Market metro and a short walk from our place.
192 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
750 Pennsylvania Ave. SEThis TJ's is right across the street from Eastern Market metro and a short walk from our place.
Significant renovated Safeway reopen in 2020 and the hours are 24/7. Full service grocery that includes fresh sushi, a poutine bar along with fresh popcorn.
855 locals recommend
Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWSignificant renovated Safeway reopen in 2020 and the hours are 24/7. Full service grocery that includes fresh sushi, a poutine bar along with fresh popcorn.
Food scene
Open each day except Mondays. There is a nice farmers market on Tuesday and all weekend as well. Typically in the area they also have an ongoing outdoor flea market on the weekend. We recommend trying some food in the food hall. Typically they will have nice fresh seafood including a mid-Atlantic staple, crab.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEOpen each day except Mondays. There is a nice farmers market on Tuesday and all weekend as well. Typically in the area they also have an ongoing outdoor flea market on the weekend. We recommend trying some food in the food hall. Typically they will have nice fresh seafood including a mid-Atlantic staple, crab.
Food hall that opened in 2021---contains at least six different restaurants with all different types of food. Popular hangout to meet friends among the locals.
40 locals recommend
The Roost
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SEFood hall that opened in 2021---contains at least six different restaurants with all different types of food. Popular hangout to meet friends among the locals.