We still love to discover new places, but here are a few of our favorite DC spots!
{EAT in DC}
- Busboys & Poets | This fantastic restaurant bills itself as a space for community gathering and a "place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul." They also have beacoup de vegetarian and vegan options; do yourself a favor and order the peanut butter + banana panini.
- Founding Farmers | We adore this restaurant because it features ingredients sourced by local farmers, serves old-fashioned cocktails, and does upscale comfort food in the best possible way. The building itself is both exquisite and LEED certified; you can't help but feel a little "greener" for being there. In fact, the only thing not sustainable about this restaurant is how much we want to go there (sorry pocket books!).
- Ted's Bulletin | This Eastern Market eatery calls itself "a real American classic joint with a bit of style" and we couldn't agree more. The ambience is incredible and they serve homemade pop-tarts, which can be purchased at the front counter before entering the restaurant. We usually buy one or two to enjoy as an amuse-bouche whilst waiting for a table; time has never flown so fast.
- Good Stuff Eatery | We've reconnoitered, people, and this is our favorite burger joint in DC. Yes, the burgers are terrific (including the "Vegetarians are People, Too 'Shroom Burger"), but what sky-rockets it off the charts are the seasoned mayos available for fry dunking.
- El Centro | A Richard Sandoval restaurant, this taqueria/tequileria has amazing upscale Mexican food. We arrived early for brunch one morning and sat by the open kitchen for a good half hour scrutinizing every dish that the cooks prepared. We say with full confidence that it all looked amazing. Special shoutout to the red chiliquiles which, if you don't know what they are, RUN, don't walk.
- Casa Nonna | The name of this restaurant means "grandmother's house" in Italian and "get in my belly" in Smithster talk. It's quite possibly the best Italian we've ever had which, coupled with the cozy atmosphere, makes it a do-not-miss experience.
- The National Zoo | FREE! Perfect for an afternoon stroll, be sure to stop by and say hello to the highly entertaining pandas (of both the black and red varieties).
- Newseum | $20 for a ticket lasting two days, but completely worth the price. Be sure to check out the Pulitzer Prize Photo Gallery and don't forget to eat first. You'll want to stay for a while. This is the same methodology that gets us through trips to IKEA, FYI.
- National Museum of the American Indian | FREE! The newest Smithsonian is packed with fascinating information, expertly curated, and houses a cafe with authentic dishes from various nations.
- National Portrait Gallery | FREE! Definite "bang for your (zero) buck" and located in the heart of Chinatown.
- Eastern Market | This neighborhood and market is a unique and treasured part of DC. Recently rebuilt after an electrical fire, the market feels more vibrant than ever. We usually elect to go on the weekend so we can stop by the outdoor food and craft stands; it's the perfect place for window shopping or picking up small presents for your twin sister. ::wink nudge::
- U Street Music Hall | To quote A Tribe Called Quest, get ready to "wipe your feet on the rhythm rug." The music is so loud you'll feel it from the inside out and yes, dancing shoes are required.
- Bar Pilar | This restaurant/lounge is scene-y enough to feel like you're somewhere cool, but doesn't seem pretentious. Also, the bartender asked us to order our drinks using a foreign accent and giggled with us when our attempt was no bueno. Major points.
- Red Palace | Formerly two bars that have joined forces, this is now the conjoined twins of H Street venues. As in the decor is total side-show status. Looking around you'll notice the bust of a two-headed cow, a primitive-looking organ that sparks debate about whether or not it actually plays music when drinks are poured, and a live cat wandering around, lapping up all sorts of things it shouldn't. To say that this place has some serious character is an understatement.
- Wonderland Ballroom | We were told that this Columbia Heights spot is always full of hipsters, but all we found was a fantastic scene of silly people. Sure, the dance floor was cramped, but it just felt like everyone was (respectfully) dancing with each other. The other highlight was that people were in clothes ranging from sneakers and t-shirts to club attire, and no one looked like they were in the wrong place.
- Bier Garten Haus | This place has massive brewskis, authentic pretzels and a really nice staff who probably won't role their eyes when you jokingly refer to your sister as "fraulein" all night. Or at least you won't notice that they're unamused (see: massive brewskis).
- Bobby Lew's | A hidden treasure, you'll find live music, a seedy atmosphere, and a lower percentage of college students than most other Adams Morgan bars. You're also within walking distance of Jumbo Slice, which is helpful when you accidentally shoot SoCo Lime all night and end up acting like the university students you're trying to avoid.
{COFFEE + DESSERT in DC}
- ACKC | Artisanal chocolates. A menu of cocoas named after famous divas (Eartha Kitt me, please). Red walls stacked with the work of local artists. Free Wi-Fi. The perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon.
- Peregrine | This snuggly cafe makes some seriously good coffee. Best of luck to anyone looking to park at one of the few tables; last time we got bested by a couple with a giant baby stroller. We'll give you this round, cute family, but don't cross us again.
- Sticky Fingers | All vegan, all the time. We wish you could tell you more than the oreo cupcake is to die for, but we can't convince ourselves to try anything else. We bet you'll fall victim, too.
- Tryst | Undoubtedly the best lazy laptop/cappuccino spot we've patroned. The added bonus is that there's terrific people-watching. You'll also find a ton of Craigslist "Missed Connections" posts citing Tryst as the location, which leads us to believe that it's a great spot for those of you trying to spark up a conversation with someone cute and/or reading something interesting.
- Miss Pixie's Furnishings and Whatnot | This over-the-top store features bright pink walls and a large array of unique pieces including furniture, art, chandeliers and keepsakes. We recommend doing at least two laps because you can always find more treasures!
- Good Wood | Arguably the best-curated of the vintage furniture stores in DC, Good Wood has an incredible selection. They also offer additional bits and bobs including clothing and trinkets. As the final selling point, the staff is incredible and we have a huge girl crush on the owner.
- Unique Thrift | This national chain of thrift stores never disappoints, and we've been very impressed by their Falls Church and Silver Spring locations. The stores are HUGE and you can usually find exactly what you need plus a few extra treasures (unless you're really disciplined).
- The Christ Child Society Opportunity Shop | This high-end consignment shop sells beautiful, antique home goods. All proceeds support the DC chapter of the Christ Child Society, which operates with the mission of "bringing charity to life".