Hidden D.C.: How to Visit Like a Local
Get to know the ins and outs of D.C. with satisfying soul food restaurants and state-of-the-art breweries—this list covers all the bases.
Image via Complex Original
At this juncture in life, a visit to D.C. should be more adventurous than the class trips you took in middle and high school. While landmarks like the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and even the infamous steps from The Exorcist are certainly worth visiting, venturing to spots off the beaten path will offer a more memorable—and authentic—D.C. experience. The funny thing about D.C. is that, as time passes, the number of people who reside there but aren’t actually from there increases. What they eventually learn to do (granted they’re willing to leave their quadrant of the District) is blend in, to some degree, by frequenting certain places. Allow this guide to be your cornerstone for seamlessly navigating the streets of D.C. like a seasoned veteran.
Velvet Lounge
Location: 915 U St. NW
Locating a good dive bar is a quick way to blend in when visiting any city, and U Street corridor’s Velvet Lounge is a strong choice. It’s marked by the stickers adorning the front window, as well as the random assortment of photographs that cover the interior walls. The punk-rock aesthetic is heightened by the graffiti scribbled all over the bathroom, and the upstairs portion serves as a music venue. Be advised that Velvet Lounge tends to get crowded on the weekends, but in the event that this happens, follow the overflow to its less eccentric neighbor, Dodge City.
Meridian Hill Park
Location: 2400 15th St. NW
The National Park Service might call it Meridian Hill Park, but longtime D.C. residents and those in the know recognize it as "Malcolm X Park." The impressive fountains and statues of Joan of Arc and Dante catch the eye, but the true draw of Malcolm X Park—especially during the warmer months—is the drum circle, which takes place on Sundays. Even as D.C.’s cultural demographic evolves, the explosive energy of dance and live music helps to maintain the District’s history. If you want to feel that (which you should), this is where you need to be.
Eddie Leonard
Location: 3300 Georgia Ave. NW
The carryout restaurant culture in D.C. has been well documented—so it would almost be criminal to visit without indulging. Eddie Leonard provides Park View residents with standard Chinese fare, but it’s the combination of fried chicken wings and mumbo sauce (mild sauce to Chicagoans) that drives foot traffic to the restaurant. Be sure to complement your meal with a large mix (i.e., a plastic container holding a refreshing mixture of lemonade and iced tea). The neighborhood may be changing, but Eddie Leonard is a staple that will hopefully endure.
Bluejacket
Location: 300 Tingey St. SE
In 2013, the Navy Yard area was blessed with the striking craft microbrewery, Bluejacket. This is a must for beer nerds, as the minds responsible for Churchkey built the brewery inside of an old boilermaker factory. Aside from the layout being beautifully industrial, Bluejacket offers an array of beer brewed on location, and the food served inside of the Arsenal (the name of the restaurant and bar) is equally superb. The menu features everything from bar food, to burgers, chicken and dumplings, and even warm, soft pretzels. Its proximity to the Washington Nationals stadium makes it well worth the post-game trek, but even if you’re in the area for other reasons, it’s worth the journey.
Marvin
Location: 2007 14th St. NW
Marvin, named in honor of Marvin Gaye, has been a fixture on northwest 14th Street since it opened in 2007. The restaurant and bar is a tribute to the D.C. native’s period of exile in Belgium, and its menu reflects this (the chicken and Belgian waffles combination tastes like a small piece of heaven). Food aside, Marvin earned its esteemed reputation because of the fun the lounge and rooftop bar have to offer. On Monday nights, patrons get a taste of classic soul, and on other nights, DJs unearth songs from the early 2000s, which startlingly now fall into the "old school" category. Don’t let the line craning out of the door and onto 14th street intimidate you into avoiding Marvin on the weekend. Also, never call it "Marvin’s," even though plenty of longtime D.C. residents tack the extra apostrophe and "s" onto the end of the name, for whatever reason.
Landmark’s E Street Cinema
Location: 555 11th St. NW
Anyone harboring a deep interest in independent, documentary, or foreign films will appreciate a theater with a big picture of Run Lola Run on its wall. While the masses are concerned with the big releases, E Street Cinema is the basement theater catering to all movie buffs eager to see the art-house flicks they’ve been scouring IMDB for updates. When it’s Oscar season and you haven’t seen the majority of the films in the Best Picture category, or want to form your own opinion about who really deserves that Best Supporting Actress statue, this is where you go in D.C.
Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Location: 1005 U St. NW
When cooked to perfection, soul food is a national treasure. In addition to fried chicken, Oohh’s & Aahh’s offers catfish, beef short ribs, shrimp, teriyaki salmon and more, and an assortment of top-notch side dishes (mac and cheese, potato salad, collard greens, yams). It’s the type of food that will leave you simultaneously sad and satisfied when you’re finished consuming it, and will ultimately have you standing in line for more at 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning.
Sakuramen
Location: 2441 18th St. NW
If you still have nightmares about the salty ramen noodles you consumed like war rations during college, fear not. The delectable bowls you’ll enjoy at Sakuramen are inspired by ramen houses from Tokyo to Seoul, and appetizers like the bulgogi buns and fried or steamed dumplings are the perfect prelude to more than a half-dozen ramen choices. If you’re bold, add a spicy fireball to your ramen for an extra kick. Lastly, the music you’ll hear at Sakuramen goes hand-in-hand with the dining experience: sometimes it’s Young Jeezy, sometimes it’s Amy Winehouse, but you’re never be disappointed.
LongView Gallery
Location: 1234 9th St. NW
Although it functions as both a gallery and an event space, LongView Gallery lines up several exhibits featuring work from a host of artists, and each are bolstered by lively opening parties. Some might consider looking at art to be a tedious or pretentious experience, but an enlightening day at LongView will reverse that misconception. If you’re already an art fan who needs no nudge, it’s even better.
Pho Viet
Location: 3513 14th St. NW
Often lost in the mix of stellar Vietnamese food in the D.C. area is the quiet Pho Viet. The food—be it the Pho bowls, rice dishes, or Bánh mì sandwiches—is exceptional, the service is great, and it’s rarely busy. When the season changes for the better, you have the option of enjoying your meal while dining outside, just try to fight off your Vietnamese food cravings on Tuesdays—they’re closed.
