Washington D.C. City Guide

When you think of Washington D.C. what comes to mind? It’s probably monuments, the White House, and all kinds of government stuff? Well sure, those are great things to see if you’ve never been to Washington D.C. before. But I’m lucky enough to go to Washington about once a year for work, so I’m a little past seeing monuments at this point! I love visiting museums, going for walks, and eating great food, so that’s what you’re going to get in this Washington D.C. City Guide! Plus, as you have surely come to expect, you’re in for recommendation for where I get tacos….!

My Washington D.C. City Guide

Things to Do

If you’re in D.C. you must catch a few museums, and my favorite the last few times I’ve visited has been the Renwick Gallery. The Renwick is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which collects contemporary visual art. The Renwick Gallery is located in a historic building very close to the White House. It was recently closed to the public for major renovations, and reopened in November 2015, with this showstopper of an exhibit, WONDER featuring installation art from nine contemporary artists.

WONDER is closed now, but the Renwick’s upcoming shows do not look one bit disappointing — their next major exhibition will bring large scale, installation art from the Burning Man festival to D.C.! I wish I go could go see that, it looks wild. Plus, this museum has free admission!

Other interesting museums doing amazing things D.C. (one for every type of museum person!):

• Newseum
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum
• The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

Places to Stroll

Rock Creek Park is a United States National Park that basically bisects Washington D.C. It’s one of the oldest national parks and it is BIG. There are tons of trails, and it’s just quite a peaceful place to be in the city.

Eastern Market is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and it’s a Pike Place Public Market-esque food and arts market. I like to visit the flower stands, and the artist/maker stalls.

Finally, I would just recommend you stroll around the Georgetown area. This part of the city has awesome shopping, and it’s just a walkable place to go for a stroll — you’ll be surrounding by beautiful, old brick buildings!

Where to Eat & Drink

When I visit for work, I always stay near Zentan Sushi, which does great sushi and has a famous sake flight, and by Rural Society, which I hear is closed! It’s a shame, that place was delicious– they did Argentinian style steak, etc. And had a good breakfast. I hear they’re opening up a new gastrob pub called Village Whiskey, so maybe I’ll try that next time I’m in D.C.

But now for the reveal you’ve all been waiting for — the tacos!

I tried Chaia last time I visited, and it was amazing! They do fresh and seasonal (“farm to taco”), plant-based tacos, cold-pressed juices and shrubs, and some fun baked goods. If you’re looking for a taco that will make you feel good, give this place a try! Plus, the tiny cafe is aesthetically delightful, filled with black and white tile and tons of greenery.

Finally, my favorite bar in D.C. is Duke’s Grocery, located in East Dupont. It feels like such a “neighborhood” spot. The tiny upstairs is cozy and the music is fantastic. They update their chalkboard menu all the time, but the burgers are somewhat famous and they also do late night food like mac n’ cheese and big dishes of spicy stir fry. Plus they have a proper cocktail list and a lot of unique beer selections (they try to feature a lot of imports).

I hope you enjoyed this little Washington D.C. City Guide of all my favorite places! Where do you like to go when your’e in D.C.? I’m always looking for new places to try! Let’s chat over on Instagram or Twitter, where I’m @brumeanddaisy. Talk to you soon!

-Emily