Your COVID-Friendly Guide to Washington DC

So you’re heading to Washington DC! Well, first off, you’ve made a great decision. I adore this city and I’m thankful our best friends lived there for so long so they could introduce us to all the best spots in town. Don’t just stop at any random spot along the way and risk missing out on something great, use this comprehensive list of the best areas, restaurants, bars, shops and more to see everything that DC has to offer!

While I frequented many of these during pre-COVID times, the majority are now offering outdoor seating and delivery!

Eats

Finer Dining

Le Diplomate – Logan Circle
This place is a must. Get a real Parisian experience in the middle of DC. Order the warm shrimp salad, trust me. And the burger, oh the burger. Tables are socially distanced inside and they have provided extra outdoor seating space.

Rose’s Luxury – Capitol Hill
This place is a culinary experience. They have a Michelin Star and while it’s pricey, it’s worth it. Treat yourself to this place, you won’t regret it. It was Bon A Petit Magazine’s Best New Restaurant when it opened and one of the top rated in DC. One of the best meals I’ve had.

Pineapple and Pearls – Capitol Hill
The same restaurant group as Roses Luxury and 2 Michelin Stars! I actually haven’t been here but it is my friend’s favorite so I had to include it.

The Dabney – Blagden Alley
Such a fun experience. Another pricey one that is completely worth it. Upscale but relaxed. Rustic food that will blow your mind. Order for the table and share here! One of Kyle’s favorite meals ever. Blagden Alley is a little hidden area that has some cool spots in it too!

Iron Gate – Dupont Circle 
Delicious food with a gorgeous patio. Mediterranean inspired and just really good.

Hangover Healers

Ted’s Bulletin – Capitol Hill
They are famous for their homemade poptarts! Go here for brunch! Call ahead to reserve a table, it gets busy.

Buffalo and Bergen – Capitol Hill & Union Market
Their pulled pork knish is your morning-after hangover’s best friend. There is one in Union Market and on Capitol Hill and you can get it delivered! Kyle says the burrito also deserves an honorable mention. The matzo ball soup is salty deliciousness too!

Call Your Mother – Capitol Hill
The best bagel sandwich spot with a couple locations. Go pick it up because it’s really cute! I’ve tried a few and the salmon bagel sandwich wasn’t my favorite, I’d recommend the pastrami sun city.

Other Favorites

Union Market
Union Market is the king of food halls. We’ve tried a few places there and they are all SO.GOOD. Every stand is serving up the most authentic amazing food, so I’d suggest trying a few different things. Salt and Sundry is in there too, an adorable little shop with things you didn’t know you needed. While you’re at Union Market, you HAVE TO visit La Cosecha in the district. It’s a Latin American experience. Get drinks, shop, eat, see art, all in a gorgeous market. They have some of the most beautiful handmade items I’ve ever seen and it is an Instagrammer’s dream!

Rasika – Penn Quarter & West End
Some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had. We ordered in. Extremely good and highly recommend!

Maketto – H Street
A really unique spot that combines a restaurant, bar and retail space. The food is their take on Cambodian and Taiwanese cooking. Get the fried chicken here!

Toki Underground – H Street
Amazing ramen for the soup lover like myself! Pick up or delivery.

Time For a Drink

The Berliner – Georgetown
Beer hall with delicious beer and great outside seating. Really cool area, great for people watching!

Tabard Inn – Dupont Circle 
A historic boutique hotel and restaurant that serves great cocktails by the fire.

Barrel – Capitol Hill
A good spot for craft cocktails and bourbon drinks. Bottomless mimosas, need I say more?

Blue Jacket Brewery – Navy Yard
Craft beer brewery with great beer and a patio with TVs.

District Winery – Navy Yard
A boutique urban winery with a cool vibe and great wine!

Dacha – Navy Yard
Fun indoor/outdoor beer garden with a great vibe.

14th street is filled with bars, restaurants and nightlife. We haven’t been there since COVID, but it could be a good spot to get to-go drinks and have a picnic!

Favorite Neighborhoods

Capitol Hill
This will always be my favorite. The gorgeous row houses here will always have my heart. Walk around the Capitol Building and Supreme Court Building at night.

Navy Yard
Highly recommend going here! A newer area along with water with lots of restaurants and bars. The Nationals stadium is here. Lots of COVID friendly patios and outdoor activities here. Recs for this area are: Due south for southern food, Aqua 301 for a modern Mexican brunch, The Salt Line for oysters and Chole’s for amazing upscale small plates.

Eastern Market
This is a great indoor/outdoor market that has food and fun little vendors. It’s always fun to walk through! The market is open every weekend from 9 am to 5 pm. 

The Wharf
An authentic floating fish market combined with a contemporary development a few years ago. It’s a really nice area along the waterfront to grab a drink, food, shop and walk around. You can take a boat taxi from there to Navy Yard, Georgetown, Alexandria and National Harbor.

Georgetown
Georgetown is my second favorite area. This is where the shopping is! Don’t wait in the insane line for Georgetown Cupcake, it’s just a cupcake. Walk along the side streets to find fun patios and see the gorgeous houses. 

Logan Circle & Dupont Circle
Both cool areas with lots of things to do around them. Venture to the actual circle, there are always people picnicking and hanging, and live music!

Kalorama
This is where the Obamas live! Rent a city bike and ride around looking at all the insane homes.

Alexandria
Alexandria is an adorable little town bordering DC. It’s right along the river and a very historic town with cobblestone streets. Lots of cute little shops. Word to the wise, it’s a longer bike ride than your friend is telling you, especially when you’re hungover.

Okay, a Little History

Monuments
While it may feel a little bit like the field trip I took in fourth grade, walking around the monuments is one of my favorite things to do and I highly recommend seeing as much as you can. Start at the Capitol and walk (or bike!) the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. Seeing them at night is even better, especially with a little buzz! We also love having picnics on the lawn near the Capitol Building at sunset.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
One of the newer monuments, this memorial sits along the water and is really pretty. Head there after seeing the Vietnam Wall and WWII Memorial. 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
The MLK Memorial leads you right to the FDR Memorial. I just recently went here for the first time. It’s a little hidden from the other monuments, but a really neat memorial that walks you through the Great Depression and his presidency. It’s along the water and really private. Definitely worth checking out.

Hirshhorn Museum
While unfortunately the building is closed for COVID, it is a really great art museum with beautiful modern pieces. The sculpture garden is still open though!