Best Things To Do In Washington DC

It’s the seat of American democracy, a columned altar to neoclassical architecture with an intensely frescoed rotunda and a deeply creepy crypt — plus a few hundred working congresspeople, of course. (Though that part of the building is off limits to visitors.) Reservations are recommended. For the architecture nerds among us, plan a separate visit to the National Arboretum, where you can walk among the Capitol’s displaced and slightly eerie former columns.

Stroll through the lobby of the infamous building from which E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy organized the break-in of the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in 1972. BTW, you can stay in room 214, where they hatched their plan, for a mere $1,600 a night.

Yes, we do, in fact, have a national, non-denominational Christian church. And it’s huge. At the National Cathedral, the neo-gothic stone colossus built between 1907 and 1990, look for the space-themed stained glass window containing a moon rock, as well as the Darth Vader and hippie gargoyles.

History buffs should plan to visit (or even better – see a show at) the Ford’s Theater, where President Lincoln was shot and assassinated in 1865.

A perennial favorite, where you can admire the Wright Brothers’s original 1903 flier and, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Space Shuttle Discovery.

This newest addition to the National Mall houses a huge collection of art, architecture and artifacts, including items owned by Harriet Tubman and Mohammed Ali’s boxing gloves.

In the Old Patent Building, make intense eye-contact with over 23,000 famous (and infamous) Americans, including Kehinde Wiley’s bold and colorful painting of Barack Obama. And while you’re in the building, don’t forget to admire the glass-covered Kogod Courtyard and the centuries-spanning exhibits of the American Art Museum.

Formerly Zenebech, this long-time Washington, D.C. institution has won a number of accolades over the years, including a Michelin Bib Gourmand and inclusion in the Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants. We love the Elfegne Special Goden Tibs, short ribs with caramelized onion and jalapenos.

Get cozy in the warm and casual Chercher, where you should definitely dig into Lamb and Beef Tibs. The restaurant is also a spice market, so if you like to cook, stock up.

A relative newcomer to the scene, the truly family-run Family Ethiopian opened in 2020, managing to survive (and thrive) through the pandemic thanks to a tweet. Come with friends and split the Meat & Veggie Special. And don’t skip the lentil sambusas.

Dupont Circle has also long been a focal point for Washington’s LGBTQ+ community, and hosts the Capital Pride Parade each year. The Tuesday before each Halloween, you can cheer on the High Heel Drag Queen Race, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Stroll down Embassy Row, where former estates were transformed post-Depression into diplomatic institutions. Each May, the Embassies open to the public during Passport DC, a series of free open houses with food, demonstrations and other cultural events.

Speaking of mansions, wear your quirkiest outfit and blend in with the decor at O Museum in the Mansion, a historied hotel museum that will make even dedicated maximalists raise their eyebrows.

Visiting on a weekend? Check out the Sunday Dupont Circle Farmers’ Market, where you can find seasonal produce and a host of locally-made goodies.

You may have heard of Georgetown’s nationally-renowned cupcakes, designer bakeries that have collected fierce allegiances not unlike sports teams. You owe it to yourself to sample both Georgetown Cupcake (pictured) and Baked & Wired – then get ready to vehemently defend your favorite whenever the topic arises.

Looking for a quick lunch? Student interns salivate for $4 falafel pita pockets from Falafel Inc.

Spend the afternoon wandering through Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art at Dumbarton Oaks, a 19th-century mansion-turned-museum.

In 2013, Atlanta-based muralist HENSE boldly reimagined the outside of Friendship Baptist Church with psychedelic, larger-than-life patterns. What started as a grassroots labor of community pride is now a well-known art exhibition and performance space. Make sure to check out their rotating gallery shows. 

Attend a poetry reading at indie bookstore slash lauded restaurant slash bar Kramers, where you can listen to some damning slant rhymes while you fork down a slice of Goober Pie.

At this local chain — named after the various jobs of Langston Hughes — get inspired by recommended activist readings, chow down on vegan nachos, and prepare to snort into your straw at one of their regular comedy nights.

A home for up-and-coming alternative music from the beginning, the 9:30 Club, named after its street address, hosted pretty much all of the punk, alternative, grunge-y, indie heavy hitters you can think of: Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Ramones, Blue Angel, R.E.M., the Violent Femmes, Marshall Crenshaw, the Foo Fighters. Then they switched locations, and the bands remained epic: Radiohead, Gorillaz, you get the idea. It’s a pretty big fucking deal, so try to squeeze in a show (or attend one of their epic dance parties).

Duke Ellington played here. Ella Fitzgerald sang. The list goes on: Sarah Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye. A center of African-American culture and music in the 20th century, the Howard Theater was recently restored and now welcomes a huge range of musical artists.

The Black Cat has been a hub for the alternative and indie music scene since the venue kicked its way out of a bass drum in 1993 (early club founders included former Gray Matter drummer Dante Ferrando as well as Nirvana drummer and future Foo Fighter Dave Grohl). Even though its location changed in 2001, it’s still an underground music icon, hosting local and international indie bands.

At The Green Zone, a middle eastern bar, sample some truly inventive craft cocktails, including Mint Lemonade, voted Washington’s best cocktail in 2021.

It’s playful. It’s plush. It’s a dive-ish spot with great cocktails. Plus, wings, vegan chicken and brussel sprouts? Gotta love a place that caters to all stripes.

Sample everything Balkan at local chain Ambar. And I mean everything. They offer a bottomless brunch that ranges from mushroom pilav to Balkan salad to hamburgers. Pro-tip: folks prefer the vibe at the Capitol Hill location.

Seafood lovers will melt into a happy brine at this modern Peruvian restaurant that offers a three-course prix fixe brunch menu and two-hour bottomless mimosas. Don’t miss their traditional-inspired dishes, like Crepes de AjÍ de Gallina, which combines chicken and cream and crepes.

A familiar favorite with the Washington, D.C. crowd, this local farm-to-table chain collectively owned by North Dakota Farmers Union is serious about making things from scratch. Uncle Buck’s Beignets with caramel sauce–that’s all I’ll say, my friend. Not bottomless, which is probably a good thing.

Soak in old world charm and hollandaise sauce at Le Diplomate, where one egg is never un oeuf. Ce n’est pas bottomless, you silly Americans.

Not a fan of bottomless or looking for something quick? Feel the carbo-loaded love at local chain Call Your Mother Deli, who take their bagels very seriously. As one should. Try the Sun City with pastrami, bodega-style eggs, cheese, and spicy honey. There are six locations plus they’re at the Dupont Farmer’s Market.

If you love tech and you’re tryna be a wallet-savvy tourist, check out (and by out, I mean in) Capitol Hill’s CitizenM, only a 15-minute walk from the National Mall. Dance around in your very own lil’ mood-lit crash pad like it’s 3085. The rooms are tiny, but economically organized and the beds are surprisingly big.

Aesthetically-minded travelers will drool over the eclectic and warmly-accented rooms at the Line, a boutique hotel housed in a neoclassical 20th century church. It’s pet friendly (your beloved chihuahua can stay for free) and everyday is a happy hour day (literally, so get your hands on one of those $10 Bay Cruiser G&T cocktails).