Gina's Guide to Capitol Hill
Food Scene
Best espresso on the Hill (locations here and at Union Matket). Run un-ironically by friendly hipster baristas!
171 locals recommend
Peregrine Espresso
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SEBest espresso on the Hill (locations here and at Union Matket). Run un-ironically by friendly hipster baristas!
Just look em up on the web, you'll get it. Completely lives up to its reputation. Get in line by 4:00-4:15--doors open at 5:00--and you'll get a table (you can ask to sit right away or come back for a later seating). Try the lychee salad. You're welcome.
303 locals recommend
Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SEJust look em up on the web, you'll get it. Completely lives up to its reputation. Get in line by 4:00-4:15--doors open at 5:00--and you'll get a table (you can ask to sit right away or come back for a later seating). Try the lychee salad. You're welcome.
Great small plates, authentic Spanish, wonderful ambiance.
27 locals recommend
Joselito Casa de Comidas
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SEGreat small plates, authentic Spanish, wonderful ambiance.
So many pop-ups, so little time. You could literally eat here all day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), buy fancy cheese, Dutch flowers, and indie press books, and still have time to get your knives sharpened. All indoors. Gets a bit crazy starting mid-day, so early is best for the crowd-wary.
906 locals recommend
Union Market
1309 5th St NESo many pop-ups, so little time. You could literally eat here all day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), buy fancy cheese, Dutch flowers, and indie press books, and still have time to get your knives sharpened. All indoors. Gets a bit crazy starting mid-day, so early is best for the crowd-wary.
Beautiful building, indoor market with great breakfast. The streets around are closed on the weekends for outdoor vendors. This is a heart of the neighborhood, must check it out.
699 locals recommend
Eastern Market
225 7th St SEBeautiful building, indoor market with great breakfast. The streets around are closed on the weekends for outdoor vendors. This is a heart of the neighborhood, must check it out.
Compass Rose
1346 T St NWGreat Slavic food!
Best Indian food on the Hill, in a boho chic setting. Make your way through the crowd of hipsters to get inside. If hipsters aren't your scene, take out's easy! Butter chicken picnic on the Capitol grounds.
148 locals recommend
Indigo
243 K St NEBest Indian food on the Hill, in a boho chic setting. Make your way through the crowd of hipsters to get inside. If hipsters aren't your scene, take out's easy! Butter chicken picnic on the Capitol grounds.
DC Harvest
517 H St NEFarm to table loveliness on vibrant H street.
Fantastic authentic Balkan food for a cosmopolitan crowd. Try it.
134 locals recommend
Ambar Capitol Hill
523 8th St SEFantastic authentic Balkan food for a cosmopolitan crowd. Try it.
Millennial paradise concept shop, can't argue with good pastries and bao when needed!
284 locals recommend
Maketto
1351 H St NEMillennial paradise concept shop, can't argue with good pastries and bao when needed!
Toki Underground
1234 H St NEBest miso / ramen around.
Go to Ted's on 8th for homemade pop tarts and white russian milk shakes. More than once I've seen a motorcade here picking up vittles for the White House.
425 locals recommend
Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SEGo to Ted's on 8th for homemade pop tarts and white russian milk shakes. More than once I've seen a motorcade here picking up vittles for the White House.
Sightseeing
The East and West galleries are within walking distance, just down Capitol Hill. You can also drive. Parking will be easy around Thanksgiving (they are open on Thanksgiving day)!
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street SoutheastThe grounds are our favorite part!
Beautiful indoor and outdoor garden, with a special kids garden in warmer months.
253 locals recommend
United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SWBeautiful indoor and outdoor garden, with a special kids garden in warmer months.
The building is like a great mesa before the Capitol. The collections are lovely if a bit peripetetic, and the interior space is grand. Try floor 3 "Imaginations" with kids. All will enjoy the cafeteria--by far the best museum food around, not a chicken finger in sight and yet even tots love it.
196 locals recommend
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street SouthwestThe building is like a great mesa before the Capitol. The collections are lovely if a bit peripetetic, and the interior space is grand. Try floor 3 "Imaginations" with kids. All will enjoy the cafeteria--by far the best museum food around, not a chicken finger in sight and yet even tots love it.
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestDrinks & Nightlife
Sticky Rice
1224 H St NENot really a club, but great cocktails!
This is a "secret" speakeasy, but like most secrets in DC everyone knows about it so you'll need a reservation. Look em up, give em a call. The drinks and appetizers are superb. There's no sign outside indicating where they are. You just go to the door on the left side of Aqua al 2, up the dark stairway, knock on the wooden door at the top and Bob's your Uncle, or mum's the word... or some such.
56 locals recommend
Harold Black
212 7th St SEThis is a "secret" speakeasy, but like most secrets in DC everyone knows about it so you'll need a reservation. Look em up, give em a call. The drinks and appetizers are superb. There's no sign outside indicating where they are. You just go to the door on the left side of Aqua al 2, up the dark stairway, knock on the wooden door at the top and Bob's your Uncle, or mum's the word... or some such.
Essentials
We have two Whole Foods within walking distance! One is H street SE (that's our favorite), and the other is H street NE. There are many other groceries -- Harris Teeter, My Organic Market, and Trader Joe's are the main ones.
287 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
600 H St NEWe have two Whole Foods within walking distance! One is H street SE (that's our favorite), and the other is H street NE. There are many other groceries -- Harris Teeter, My Organic Market, and Trader Joe's are the main ones.
Shopping
Right next to East City books, we're here once a week for board games, puzzles, Pokémon night. The good folk who work here are the sincere and helpful Mensa-types who know everything there is to know about everything from role playing to table top conventions.
33 locals recommend
Labyrinth Games & Puzzles
645 Pennsylvania Ave. SERight next to East City books, we're here once a week for board games, puzzles, Pokémon night. The good folk who work here are the sincere and helpful Mensa-types who know everything there is to know about everything from role playing to table top conventions.
Parks & Nature
There are about 22 parks in the Hill hood, and this is the closest. Includes a playground for little ones and green space for all. Great spot for picnics. From the corners you really get a sense of L'Enfant's layout for D.C. Great cannon angles to hold back marauders. Plus, a statue of Nathaniel Greene for Revolutionary War buffs.
47 locals recommend
Stanton Park
226 4th St NEThere are about 22 parks in the Hill hood, and this is the closest. Includes a playground for little ones and green space for all. Great spot for picnics. From the corners you really get a sense of L'Enfant's layout for D.C. Great cannon angles to hold back marauders. Plus, a statue of Nathaniel Greene for Revolutionary War buffs.
Bigger than Stanton, and with two playgrounds, this is another hub of the Hill. Also famous for its well-meaning but now somewhat cringeworthy statue of Lincoln emancipating kneeling slaves. Bring your hammock if you have one.
85 locals recommend
Lincoln Park
Bigger than Stanton, and with two playgrounds, this is another hub of the Hill. Also famous for its well-meaning but now somewhat cringeworthy statue of Lincoln emancipating kneeling slaves. Bring your hammock if you have one.
Arts & Culture
The best collection of original works outside of Stratford-upon-Avon, and a reproduction of the Globe theatre to watch your show. Sure, it's going to be set to Diana Ross or some such, but the play's the thing and all's well that ends well.
64 locals recommend
Folger Shakespeare Library
201 E Capitol St SEThe best collection of original works outside of Stratford-upon-Avon, and a reproduction of the Globe theatre to watch your show. Sure, it's going to be set to Diana Ross or some such, but the play's the thing and all's well that ends well.
It is utterly magnificent, a cathedral to human knowledge, and literally two blocks away. The grounds alone are enough reason to visit. Have a picnic, bring your dog, see the majesty of 19th century Italian stone masons.
314 locals recommend
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave SEIt is utterly magnificent, a cathedral to human knowledge, and literally two blocks away. The grounds alone are enough reason to visit. Have a picnic, bring your dog, see the majesty of 19th century Italian stone masons.
We once saw a giant golden, lit-up crystal box installation by Ai Weiwei here. Look up "golden age" by him on the web, you'll see. Magic awaits in this modern satellite of the Nat Mall arts scene.
230 locals recommend
Hirshhorn Museum
7th Street SouthwestWe once saw a giant golden, lit-up crystal box installation by Ai Weiwei here. Look up "golden age" by him on the web, you'll see. Magic awaits in this modern satellite of the Nat Mall arts scene.
Know that all museums on the Mall are FREE. Amazing collection, easy walking distance straight down the Hill. Our favorite is the blue rooster on the roof. Must visit.
385 locals recommend
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestKnow that all museums on the Mall are FREE. Amazing collection, easy walking distance straight down the Hill. Our favorite is the blue rooster on the roof. Must visit.