Our new favorite! Originally from 1906, revamped in 2025

Like if Atlanta's Marcel had a cool older brother that works in politics

Reservations required

Fantastic patio, great for dinner or brunch

Restaurant perfection (French café)

Reservations required

Great for dinner or brunch (reservations still recommended)

Our favorite cafe of all time! There are multiple locations across the city. We love the City Center location, but the new Georgetown location looks amazing.

American brasserie

Reservations recommended for brunch and dinner

Great place to grab drinks (or downstairs in the old bank vault at Silver Lyan)

Italian

Reservations required

Japanese cuisine & sushi

Reservations required

French brasserie

Reservations recommended

Walking distance from Hotel Washington & JW Marriott

Washington's oldest bar

Walking distance from Hotel Washington & JW Marriott

Countless hallways and rooms of portraits and bios of interesting people throughout U.S. history - one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon. Presidential portrait gallery is also here.

All Smithsonian museums are worth a visit (and free), but this one is our absolute favorite. The flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner and the First Ladies gallery are both here.

Admission is free, but it's worth reserving a timed entry ticket in advance online (linked below). Famous for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights on display in the Rotunda.

Unfortunately, September is far from cherry blossom season, but the tidal basin is still a beautiful place to take a walk!

Since everything is about food.. Baked & Wired and Maman are two great bakeries in Georgetown

George Washington's estate on the Potomac

+/- 40 minutes outside of the city