Washington DC City Guide The Ultimate Washington, DC City Guide

Ben's Chili Bowl

The District is home to one of the largest African American populations in the US as well as a sizable Latino population hailing from a diverse array of countries within Central and South America, making it a culinary destination for everything from pupusas to ceviche. Architecturally, instead of skyscrapers, The District has federally imposed height limits, which means you can spot the US Capitol or Washington Monument from your hotel room. The city is also known for its colorful row houses, and one of the best parks in America—a 1,754-acre urban forest complete with a panda-laden zoo. So, pack your bags, come hungry, and stay awhile, because our nation’s capital has a little something for everyone.

Let’s start with the basics. Washington, DC’s iconic dish is the half-smoke—half-pork, half-beef sausage—best served at Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street. This family-owned restaurant stays open late (until 1 am on weekends) to feed hungry revelers. Virginia Ali, 86, started the restaurant with her husband, Ben, when she was only 24. A fixture in DC history, Ben’s is a Black-owned business that’s hosted everyone from President Barack Obama to Bruno Mars.

Photo by April Greer for Thrillist

If you’re planning a trip to the nation’s capital, visit the National Mall after hours, preferably by traffic-beating scooter or bike. Staring out across the National Mall from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, it’s hard not to be awestruck by the lighted views of the Washington Monument and US Capitol Building in the distance. Plus, at night the monuments are much quieter than during the day when throngs of eigth-graders descend for a civics lesson.

Monument tour at night

In the city’s West End, this sleek new hotel exudes sophistication, minus the price tag. Rates start in the mid-$100 range and come with added amenities like flexible meeting spaces, a demonstration kitchen, and a vintage vinyl record shop. Plus, the lobby has one of DC’s hottest restaurants, Mercy Me, the hotel’s flagship all-day eatery, which is popular with both those staying here and locals popping in for a bite. Visitors tend to gravitate to the front porch area or vibrant backyard and outdoor garden for a leisurely hang.

YOURS TRULY

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One of the fanciest additions to downtown DC, The Riggs is a luxury boutique hotel with incredible attention to detail. The building itself has been completely restored and injected with a colorful palette, and each of the 181 guest rooms and suites is reminiscent of its historical past as the Riggs Bank building. Rooms have oversized safety deposit boxes and tinier details that draw on the narrative inspired by the golden age of banking.

THE RIGGS WASHINGTON

The heart of Washington’s K Street corridor, known as the place lobbyists talk shop, is also where you’ll find one of the most socially conscious hotels lobbying for your stay. Eaton is a hotel with a progressive agenda, where travelers seek innovation, impact, and healthy living. From coworking spaces to meditation and wellness programs—there are even healing crystals provided to you at check-in—it’s a vibe designed around your well-being. Rooms usually run in the mid-$200s and come with books, art, and vinyl records to play in the room.

EATON

You simply cannot beat the rooftop views from The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan, looking south toward the White House and Washington Monument. Rooms are priced from the mid-$200s to $300s and come with pet-friendly policies. You and Fido can also enjoy the downstairs lobby, housed in a historic DC church.

THE LINE HOTEL DC

You might not be able to sleep at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW (a.k.a. The White House), but you can get pretty close to the experience at The Jefferson. This historic, lushly landscaped hotel is White House-adjacent, and takes its past seriously: its in-house historian, Georgetown University Professor Susan Sullivan Lagon, PhD., curates itineraries that will bring you around to some of Washington’s most beloved attractions. She also has unique DIY walking tours, such as the pets of Washington or an Alexander Hamilton-specific jaunt around DC. Those who would like a more casual surrounding should opt for brunch at The Greenhouse. It offers a seasonal menu where guests dine under The Jefferson's historic skylight surrounded by lush plant life.

THE JEFFERSON

This DC row home turned global restaurant features the flavors of far-flung destinations from around the globe. Rose Previte’s interpretation of Georgian khachapuri—a traditional cheesy bread topped with a runny egg—is divine, as are the Spanish patatas bravas, Argentinian Asado, Tunisian kebabs, and more. Previte’s love of travel is apparent in every detail, including the Bedouin tent she designed for private dining experiences.

Compass Rose

This is one of Washington’s oldest restaurants, located across the street from the White House, known by locals and tourists alike as the best spot to slurp freshly shucked oysters on the half shell. You can’t beat the deals during oyster happy hour, either: from 3-5 pm daily, a dozen oysters are $24, and a half-dozen are $12. The briny bivalves are sourced up and down the East Coast, including Moondance oysters from Maine, Blish Point oysters from Massachusetts, and Standish Shore oysters from New York.

OLD EBBITT GRILL

For a taste of something local, head to this Michelin-starred restaurant tucked away in an alley in Washington’s historic Shaw neighborhood. The Dabney is run by chef Jeremiah Langhorne, who sources his menu entirely from the Mid-Atlantic region. It also changes weekly, thanks to seasonal ingredients from local farmers, watermen, and purveyors. The current menu is a four-course prix fixe for $95 a pop and features everything from Maryland blue crab to an extremely tasty cornbread served with sorghum butter and chives. Nearly all of the dishes are cooked on a wood-fired hearth within view of the dining room.

THE DABNEY

Washington, DC is a city built on immigrant communities, so it’s not surprising that a husband and wife from El Salvador are smoking the best version of Texas-style barbecue in the DMV (a.k.a. District, Maryland, and Virginia). You can find 2Fifty at a vendor stall in the bustling Union Market food hall. Order up a tray of wagyu brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and sausage links. It’s also strongly encouraged that you come early, or else risk the inevitable sellouts. Don’t miss the brisket pupusa.

2fifty

Chef Danny Lledo has won awards for his version of Spanish paella, but it’s just one of several dishes that represent his home on the Iberian peninsula. The tasting menu ($210 per person) starts downstairs with tapas, and continues upstairs in front of an open-hearth kitchen. The 14-course experience takes its cues from classic Spanish cuisine, with modern accents and techniques. The tasting menu is destination dining, perfect for special occasions, but there’s a much more casual a la carte experience to be had at the adjacent Slate, as well.

Xiquet

This fast-casual burger concept has a mix of flavors, ingredients, and techniques from around the world. Chef Elias Taddesse was born in Ethiopia, trained in French culinary techniques, and now experiments with the all-American burger with Ethiopian spices and flavors. Mélange also offers an East-African-infused beverage menu and will soon debut a chef’s tasting menu that combines, naturally, Ethiopian and French flavors.

Mélange

Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod are lifelong friends who grew up working at their dad’s Indian restaurants. But a few years ago, they decided to go their own way and open a fast-casual concept that brings Indian cuisine to a bowl format, making it a popular option with 9-to-5 lunchers. In a menu full of great options for vegan and vegetarian diners, one standout is the “Aloo Need is Love,” a love letter to Indian cuisine featuring roasted lentils, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, peas, chilies, and spices.

RaSa

With three locations and shelf space in grocery stores (plus an online shop, where you can get pints shipped nationwide), Ice Cream Jubilee has become a staple since it opened its first DC outpost in 2014. The shop stocks unique flavors like Banana Bourbon Caramel, MarionBerry (named after the former DC mayor), and Honey Lemon Lavender. The shop also adds in seasonal and holiday specials, like the Vanilla Chocolate Chip that was added in honor of President Biden during his inauguration in January (it’s reportedly his favorite flavor).

ICE CREAM JUBILEE

Photo by Scott Suchman for Thrillist

Photo by Andrew Cebulka, courtesy of The Dabney

Photo by Scott Suchman for Thrillist

Photo by April Greer for Thrillist

Photo courtesy of Ice Cream Jubilee

Photo by Scott Suchman for Thrillist

In Adams Morgan, there’s a legendary brunch that books up weeks in advance, and that’s saying something because DC is a town awash in Sunday brunch options. So why does Perry’s attract so much of a crowd? Two words: drag brunch. This is the city’s longest-running and most fabulous drag brunch. There are two performances each Sunday, 10 am and 1 pm, and guests are charged at $44 per head, which includes an all-you-can-eat buffet. The serenading and dancing? That’s absolutely priceless.

Drag brunch at Perry's

No other city in America rivals the access, ease, and options of museums found in The District. And the most engaging and interactive museum is Planet Word, an immersive language experience located at the historic Franklin School. While the museum opened briefly last year, it was put on hiatus due to COVID-19. But this year, the museum reopened with voice-activated exhibits, the first in the world, plus interactive galleries bringing words and language to life in all sorts of fun ways.

Visit Planet Word

This year, the DC Public Library is celebrating its 125th birthday, and as part of the party, it’s breaking in its brand new central library, which underwent a $211 million renovation last year. The space has been designed for all ages, including kids, who can slide down from a children’s reading room instead of taking the stairs. There’s also a recording, dance, and recital studio, a rooftop garden with sweeping views of Gallery Place-Chinatown, and an opulent lobby featuring an iconic mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. created by artist Don Miller in 1986.

READ A BOOK AT MLK LIBRARY

When you run the most powerful country in the world, you also get to commission artists to paint your portrait, which someday will hang in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. From Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy, you’ll find some of the most impressive portraitures in America at this museum. But you don’t need to be president to have your canvas hanging here. There are national icons, like singer Marian Anderson, and a few celebrities, like rapper LL Cool J.

Pose with Presidents at the Portrait Gallery

At the far east end of Capitol Hill, in a neighborhood called Hill East, sits a historic cemetery known as the burial place of Francis Scott Key, J. Edgar Hoover, and other historic figures, including dozens of members of Congress. Congressional Cemetery is also an expansive garden and a popular place for neighbors to walk their dogs. During the summer, the cemetery hosts spooky and family-oriented movie nights on the lawn, and in October the cemetery plays host to a “Dead Man’s Run 5K” Race. The cemetery is free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.

Visit Dead Members of Congress at THE Cemetery

This 446-acre space is a sprawling expanse about two miles northeast of Capitol Hill. Inside, you’ll find Japanese gardens, trails for hiking, and more than 9.5 miles of protected roadways, making it popular with road bikers. One of the best ways to enjoy the arboretum is with a picnic amongst the trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants. Plus, you’ll easily spot some of the original columns to the US Capitol, which reside here, making for an awesome Instagram selfie.

PICNIC AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM

Fridays aren’t just for happy hours. When the clock strikes 5 pm in Washington, many folks flock to the Kennedy Center for Millenium Stage performances and dance sessions. These free concerts take place most Fridays evenings at this outdoor pavilion and park area. Check the schedule for upcoming performances. Millennium Stage is located at The Reach, Kennedy Center’s new outdoor park.

Attend Free Concerts at Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

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The Kennedy Center

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Photo by DuHon Photography/Planet Word

Photo courtesy of Perry's Drag Brunch

Yours Truly

Photo by Scott Suchman for Thrillist

Photo Courtesy of eaton

PHOTO courtesy of THE LINE HOTEL

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JEFFERSON

Photo courtesy of Perry's Drag Brunch

Yours Truly

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Eurobanks/Shutterstock.com

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The Washington Post/Getty Images

Photo by DuHon Photography/Planet Word

The Kennedy Center

Photo by Scott Suchman for Thrillist

PHOTO COURTESY OF EATON

Image courtesy of So-and-so-and-so

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JEFFERSON

Cute, cuddly, and playful—DC’s pandas are always one of the top attractions for visitors. This year, tourists can’t get enough of giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji, a name that translates to “little miracle” in English. He’s a playful toddler, and Washingtonians have watched him grow from the size of a butter stick to a small cub eager to frolic through the yard or nap the day away. Bonus: unlike most other zoos, the Smithsonian is absolutely free.

Visit the Pandas at The Zoo

Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Trendy workout classes usually involve reservations and doling out $30 or $40 to ride a bike in the dark. But at November Project, you sweat for free, while also socializing with like-minded fitness aficionados. Every Wednesday at 6:20 am the group meets at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial for exercise that usually includes stair climbs, burpees, and tons of pushups. People of all fitness levels are welcome, and there’s a warm-up to get you going oh-so-early.

Get Sweaty with November Project

November Project DC

Trendy workout classes usually involve reservations and doling out $30 or $40 bucks to ride a bike in the dark. But at November Project, you sweat for free, while also socializing with like-minded fitness aficionados. Every Wednesday at 6:20 a.m. the group meets at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial for exercise that usually includes stair climbs, burpees, and tons of pushups. People of all fitness levels are welcome, and there’s a warm-up to get you going oh-so-early.

Get Sweaty with November Project

November Project DC

Cute, cuddly, and playful — DC’s pandas are always one of the top attractions for visitors. This year, tourists can’t get enough of giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji, a name that translates to “little miracle” in English. He’s a playful toddler, and Washingtonians have watched him grow from the size of a butter stick to a small cub eager to frolic through the yard or nap the day away. Bonus: unlike most other zoos, the Smithsonian is absolutely free.

VISIT THE PANDAS AT THE ZOO

Smithsonian’s National Zoo

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