Dose of Prose
When was the last time you made a memory? For me, it was February of 2023. During that month, I took a trip to Washington DC for the first time in a long time (since 2012) and it was as great as I remember it being. For me, this trip served as a much-needed vacation as well as a belated birthday celebration. My visit included lots of sightseeing, walking and most importantly, eating (lol). Overall, I had such a fun time and I definitely want to go back soon. If you have a short attention span and want a visual recap of my trip, check out the video below:
In today’s blog post, I share highlights from my trip as well as reviews, recaps and recommendations that could be useful for anyone who has upcoming plans to tour the nation’s capital. I hope you can refer back to this city guide to help you navigate and appreciate all that DC has to offer. However, if you’re looking for a more tropical themed guide, feel free check out my Jamaica travel guide to satisfy your island vacation needs. Otherwise, keep reading!
Where to Stay? The Wharf.
During my DC trip I stayed at the InterContinental Washington DC – The Wharf. This modern comfort, luxury, waterfront hotel is located less than 1 mile from The National Mall and historical monuments, and is centered at the heart of the Wharf District, which features many gourmet restaurants and shops. In addition to the beautiful views and convenient location, the rooms were clean and the staff was professional, welcoming and helpful throughout my stay. Overall, I had an enjoyable experience at this hotel and will definitely be back. I highly recommend considering this property if you are planning a trip to DC! Check out the video below for a quick tour of the hotel so you can see for yourself how amazing it is.
For the Foodies (Restaurant Recs)
Since I stayed along the water, the majority of my food choices in DC were…you guessed it, seafood! I tried all types of oysters, a variety of po’ boys, Connecticut-style lobster rolls and fish n’ chips along the Wharf and Navy Yard. For brunch, I supported black-owned restaurants* (see below) near 14th and U-Street. I satisfied my sweet tooth with cupcakes in Georgetown. To quench my thirst, I enjoyed coffee from local coffee shops by day and drinks at bars along Adams Morgan by night. Below is a list with links (+photos) of the specific places I frequented that I believe are worth giving a try. At the end of the blog post, I’ll mention places that my friends and co-workers suggested that I didn’t get a chance to go to, but I want to mention them here as they’re so popular and deserve to be featured. Check them out and thank me later!
Coffee
- Mah Ze Dahr
- The Wydown Coffee Bar
- Pluma by Bluebird Bakery – located in Union Market, really great coffee and pastries
Brunch
- Busboys and Poets* – a bookstore/bar/restaurant/events venue/cultural hub, such a cool spot (all food and drinks are organic and the chicken is halal)
- The Park at 14th* – a “restobar” with an all you can eat brunch, bottomless mimosas, live DJ and more!
Dinner/Seafood
- Hanks Oyster Bar
- The Salt Line – if it’s nice outside, this is a great outdoor bar/restaurant that has great oysters; it’s on the water and in the SE area of DC
- BlackSalt
- Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips – my friend ordered a biscoff milkshake from here and said it was the best milkshake she’s ever had
Drinks/Dessert
- Barcelona Wine Bar – shared tapas with a menu selection of over 400 Spanish wines
- Baked + Wired – delicious cupcakes and coffee
Honorable Mention
- Chopsmith – elevated fast casual restaurant that is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner; a consistent and reliable option all around!
Sights to See – Monuments & Culture
My sightseeing centered around The National Mall, which is a park-like area that features the Washington Monument and all the Smithsonian museums. The whole area is very pretty with a ton of history. All of the Smithsonian museums are amazing, close to each other, and free! I specifically went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and spent most of the day there. Tickets are free and easy to obtain online, all you have to do is pick the time slot you want and go from there. You’ll most-likely run into student field trip groups while there, but if you go on a weekday it shouldn’t be as crowded. I made a video detailing my initial thoughts and experience at the AA museum, see below:
@styleprose My review of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. ✊🏾 I highly recommend you check it out! #washingtondc #africanamericanmuseum #smithsonianmuseum #museumreview #blacklifestyleblogger ♬ original sound – DJ R-LO | The Peoples DJ
In terms of other sights, the National Gallery of Art is amazing and massive. DC is also known for its cherry blossoms, so if you go during the spring, then that would be the perfect time to check that out. The zoo is also really fun and free. For other activities, DC is so unique because it has embassies, consulates and the state department. There is a really large Ethiopian community in DC, and you’ll see a ton of great Ethiopian restaurants. A lot of the embassies have free cultural events, especially during the week. Click the link here to find upcoming cultural events. Also, a bit unrelated but important to note when seeing the sights: DC is very walkable. The metro is super safe and reliable, so you won’t need to spend as much on transportation.
Word of Mouth
As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day…so unfortunately I wasn’t able to see everything I wanted to see on my short trip to DC. However, I know that I’ll return again and when I do, I’ll have something to look forward to. Below is a list, as promised, of additional recommendations from some of my friends and co-workers who used to be locals to the city.
Georgetown:
An area that is beautiful during the day! M street I think is the Main Street, and it has lots of great food and shopping.
- The Georgetown waterfront – also beautiful and really relaxing for a stroll
- Ristorante Piccolo – amazing Italian food
- Farmers Fishers Bakers
- Walking around the neighborhood north of M Street is also fun (lots of beautiful mansions)!
Coffee:
- Sidamo Coffee and Tea – cozy Ethiopian coffee shop on H Street
- The Roasted Boon Co*
Dupont Circle:
- Sushi Taro – great sushi
- Bar Charley – nice cocktail bar
- Anju – delicious food in the Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan area
- Astoria – sichuan food, cute environment
DC Classics:
- Old Ebbitt grill – highly recommend if you are near the White House
- Le Diplomate – French food, amazing brunch, DC classic, you may not get a reservation but I would try walking up or sitting at the bar. On the popular 14th St with lots of shops and restaurants.
Bars/Nightlife
- The juncture between U street and 14th street is a super fun area! Lots of cool restaurants, bars, and historical sites! Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Lincoln Theatre are both on U street.
- Closer to the capital, the H Street corridor as well as 8th Street (near Eastern Market) also have amazing restaurants and are fun to walk around!
- Southwest waterfront: super new area on the water with a ton of new restaurants/ bars! Somewhat nearby (5 min Uber) is the Yards Marina, which is also beautiful/on the water
- Adams Morgan is also a really fun area for nightlife, but a bit more rowdy/college-y
U St NW is a street with lots of night life. Depending on what vibe you are looking for, some good ones are:
- Takota – has a fun roof bar that is covered in the winter
- El Rey – cool mexican food and margaritas
- Wet dog – a more laid back beer garden
- Hawthorne – full college crazy going out if you are into that
- Capo deli – speakeasy under Takota
- Outside of U street, Adams Morgan has some good bars too like Madams Organ (play on the neighborhood title) for live music, roofers union
Miscellaneous
- Mumbo sauce – a DMV fave, usually put on wings
- Jumbo slice – delicious pizza on Adams Morgan
- Uncle Julios – known for fajitas and drinks (get the reverse swirl drink with the shot on top)
- Causa – top rated Peruvian cuisine
I think this comprehensive list should be enough to get you started. If you end up going to any of the DC neighborhoods, sights, bars, hotels or restaurants mentioned in this post, leave a comment and let me know! I would love to hear your experience. Although DC may not be a typical vacation destination, I still believe that it’s one of those places that everyone should go to and experience, even if it’s just once, for themselves. There’s so much history there and overall the city is very clean and walkable. The area feels safe and there’s activities to do for families, young adults, older generations and everyone in between. The weather wasn’t the best during the time I went there (the first couple days were filled with rain and cold wind), but since I went to college on the East Coast, I was able to easily adjust to the chilly weather and time zone.
Last but not least, I would be remiss if I didn’t quickly talk about the fashion in DC (I mean, this blog is called Style Prose after all 😉). I’d describe the fashion sense of DC locals as preppy, chic and more on the formal side. Reminds me a lot of the way people dress in NY. I liked it!
Overall I had the best time in DC and writing this post makes me even more excited for my next trip. Where should I go next, you ask? Well, wherever it is and however long I stay, I know I’ll make memories for a lifetime.
