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Washington, D.C., United States
Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant, and Columbia Heights are three bordering neighborhoods in Washington DC, each with a different character, but united in an unmistakable sense of dynamism, diversity, youth, and nightlife. There are plenty of great ethnic restaurants, most often offering a better value for your money than in Dupont Circle, downtown, or Georgetown. These neighborhoods are good places to see the city at its most dynamic; people from all walks of life, culture, race, sexual orientation, immigrants, natives, transplants, etc. all converge here to have a good time.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Housed in the beautiful former Embassy of Mexico, the cultural center has a nice collection of Mexican artwork, and puts on frequent classical and other musical performances, as well as film screenings, lectures, and other events. The gallery and many of the events are free but some require hefty donations.
Ingleside Estate
Mount Pleasant's residential streets are filled with beautiful old single-family homes and rowhouses, and several old estates. This former 19th century estate, which was far larger than the present day property, now houses what is probably the city's most architecturally significant retirement home!
A colorful house dedicated to teaching and encouraging art in the community. Features a small art gallery showing exhibits of works by local youths.
aka Malcolm X Park
A 12-acre park centered on a long, stunning, cascading waterfall, surrounded by European-style terraced landscaping, and administered by the National Park Service. The grounds have long been an esteemed commodity in the city, first surrounding an 1819 mansion that became President James Quincy's home following his presidency. Around 1900, Mary Foote Henderson, who owned the land, petitioned Congress to move the White House to or establish the Lincoln Memorial at Meridian Hill, since the National Mall was just north of the putrid stench of the mosquito and sewage-infested Washington City Canal in Waterfront. The plan didn't pass the House of Representatives. However, she did convince Congress to create a park and, in 1910, the federal government purchased the ground and later converted it into the extravagant Italianate park that you see today. After the 1968 DC riots, the park was a haven for open-air drug markets, which got worse and worse throughout the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Following the murder of a teenager in 1990, the community decided to take back control of the park, and organized regular citizen patrols throughout the day and night. They were very successful, and the park is quite safe today. The sword from the statue of Joan of Arc—the only female equestrian statue in the city— was stolen and replaced several times.
A beautiful park with a community garden, dog park, basketball court, chess tables, and children's area.
Song for Hope is Mount Pleasant's mural, covering a whole block.
One of several murals around the city by the city's legendary Nigerian artist, Aniekan Udofia.
This one is a fun advertisement of sorts for both City Bikes and Ben & Jerry's.
The unmistakeable mural that is (to the consternation of some of the more uptight residents) the somewhat risqué symbol of Adams Morgan.
The Adams Morgan Mural
"A Town without Murals." is an odd title in these parts—clearly, it isn't referring to Adams Morgan. On the contrary, there is an element of Pinochet's Chile here, as the mural was painted by two asylum seekers from that oppressive regime, and the caption's "demuralized people" likely refers to that society. The diverse group of people in the mural, however, resemble Adams Morgan.
Contrary to popular belief, this huge two-story mural is not of the famous French painter, it is a mural reproduction of one of his paintings. The man in question is Aristide Bruant, a then-popular French cabaret performer.
This is a sadder mural, a memorial by Aniekan Udofia to two teenagers who were murdered near this park.
DCAC
The Arts Center has an art gallery with rotating high-quality shows by local artists, as well as a very cool black box theater, and regular and special events (like avant garde poetry nights).
GALA stands for Grupo de Artistas Latino Americanas. The Tivoli Theatre was the grandest of D.C.'s early 20th-century movie palaces, built in ornate Italianate Renaissance style for a whopping one million dollars in 1921. Today the theatre is mixed use, with the important use being the small stage for GALA. Most of GALA's performances are in Spanish, with English subtitles, and range from classical Spanish drama to contemporary Latino theater. They also put on frequent non-dramatic performances of dance, music, etc.
Underground comedy club. Many free shows. Age 21 to enter.
Tiny local gem of a movie theater in a converted townhouse. Features a bar and screenings of indie and other obscure films.
The weekly Drum Circle has been going on for nearly 50 years, and is one of the coolest events in the city, with the most diverse section of drummers, acrobats, and dancers. Come to hang out and enjoy the vibe, or bring your drum and join in the jam session!
Weekly swing dancing in the Josephine Butler Parks Center, a 1920s marble-filled mansion that once housed the Brazilian and Hungarian Embassies. The weekly event attracts most of the dedicated swing dancers from the area and there are always a couple top notch instructors around to get beginners started for free. The limited number of window air conditioning units and restrictions on opening the windows due to noise can make the dance floor as hot as a sauna in the summer, but free ices are provided. BYOB.
Annual street festival with music, yoga workshops, eating contests, etc.
Annual street festival with music, karaoke, etc.
Peruvian roast chicken, with its spices and green salsa, is good. This is the place in the city to get it, with a side of fluffy Spanish rice, yucca, fried plantains, etc., and washed down with some fruit licuados or horchata. It's a Peruvian place so skip the pupusas.
A Guatemalan fast food chain offering fried chicken which is of significantly higher quality than the garbage you would get at a KFC or Popeye's, along with Central American sides and drinks. It's hardly the best food in the area, but it is fast food, and a fun experience.
It's a 24-hour diner on the booziest street in the city. Amazingly, the food is actually good! D.C. is rather lacking in 24 hour establishments, so this location is very popular. Weekend nights include performances by local DJs, so expect to brave crowds late nights F-Sa.
A hole-in-the-wall ramen shop in the basement of a row house, featuring Japanese ramen with a Korean twist. Among the menu options is a "fireball" ramen (featuring a ball of spices that pops in the broth for a nice kick), a kimchi ramen, and a number of broths featuring Berkshire pork belly. The saku-ramen dish on the menu is actually a vegetarian ramen that is widely acclaimed.
Don Juan is less accessible to non-Spanish speakers, but the pupusas are some of the best in the city. The atmosphere is a little weird, with a big disco ball complementing the big flat-screen TV, some deer heads on the walls, and the requisite thumping polka on the jukebox, but that can heighten the experience with the right attitude. Separate take-out entrance is in the back.
Mount Pleasant's nomination for friendliest Pupusería in town. It's not just a take-out; there is a nice little restaurant inside, so you can sit back, linger over tasty soups or snack on yuca frita.
This is the best known of all the pupuserías in D.C. Cash only.
This Salvadoran place offers solid food and solid drinks at reasonable prices, in a nice, comfortable dining room. Another establishment catering to the ultra-late night crowd.
Mexican.
Traditional Indian cuisine with outdoor seating.
Afghani food in a restaurant decorated with rugs.
Specialty burgers. The popular Aussie inspired Bogan burger comes with gouda and bacon jam, and the El Jefe has hatch green chili relish and queso fresco. Sides include thick cut British style fries with ketchup, mayo or curry. Also features a Tropical-esque cocktail program inline with the nightlife in AdMo.
A Turkish restaurant with an extensive offering of fresh mojitos. Open since 2001.
Arguably the best Vietnamese food within the city limits.
Authentic Middle Eastern food.
This is no gimmicky downtown place—this is a real taste of Brazil in D.C. Brazilian food is meat heavy, and the steaks here are excellent. If steak is too one-dimensional, try the feijoada, a stew of various smoked meats, southern greens, fruit, and black beans. Too much meat? Try one of the seafood moquecas. And the potent caipirinhas are among the neighborhood's favorite cocktails. It is a little overpriced, but if you don't mind the extra $5-10, this makes for a great dinner date.
This restaurant, bar, and coffee shop all-in one has a mix of casual dining options from day to night. The menus feature Mid-Atlantic cuisine. Standout dishes include a crab dip and Chesapeake oysters.
There are a lot of reasons to come here, the biggest being the rooftop patio seating and the masterful cooking (mostly Japanese and Middle Eastern "tapas") by famous local chefs as well as an import from New York's Bond Street. Other attractions include drag queen brunch ($39.95 + tax & gratuity) on Sundays, and happy hour specials on sushi and tapas (M-F 5:30-7:30PM)
A fusion of Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors with a daily changing menu based on local and seasonal ingredients. Despite its focus on fine dining, the restaurant is very welcoming and unpretentious, making it a neighborhood staple.
Lesbian bar promoting a safe space for queer women.
Offers billiards and shuffleboard and displays artwork by local artists.
This family run operation is a true dive bar and most colorful bars in the city. Operated since 1965 by owner Clinnie Dickens, who is now in his 80s. SoCo lime shooters are served in squeeze ketchup bottles. It's a one of a kind experience. If you want a dive on 18th St, this is it. Cash only.
This taqueria and bar is known for happy hour specials. Specialities include margaritas (including a habanero spiced margarita that has a real kick), tacos, and grilled corn with cheese. The kitchen closes before the bar does.
Classic cocktails, beer, and wine with varied music & occasional vinyl nights.
A whiskey-themed bar with huge windows for smoking cigars.
The biggest bar in the area, with three-levels plus a more relaxed rooftop deck offering great views of the neighborhood from its tables. The club, and of course the rooftop patio, can get extremely crowded, so show up early on the weekends. No dress code, no cover.
A good selection of Irish beers and drinks. Popular with the young and drunk crowd.
Sports bar that claims to have the hottest wings in DC.
A bar on the first floor; dancing upstairs.
Columbia Heights' neighborhood bar is beloved by the neighborhood's residents, especially the hipsters for the welcoming, local neighborhood bar vibe. There's a lot of history at this bar. Its previous incarnation as Nob Hill was a legendary gay bar that had quite a run from 1954–2004. Weekends are crowded, but people will be happy to let you squeeze. Dance floor upstairs.
A multi-level bar with a dance floor, friendly bartenders, hookah, and good pizza.
This club is a bit unordinary, but the theme is fun. Basement is hell (who would've thought hell would be the most low-key and conversation friendly?), first floor is purgatory (appropriate for anyone stuck in line), and the upper floor is of course heaven, with its large celestial dance floor. Other than the gimmick, the no dress code policy and $5 covers make this a popular stop. Hell does not have A/C.
Reggae and dancehall.
During the week, it's a sports bar. On the weekend, top 40 pop songs are blasting and the venue attracts a younger, drunker crowd.
The food is subpar, the drinks are pricey, but the bands are usually great.
The "cafe" bit refers to the food, which is fine Ghanaian cuisine (don't miss the "beer meat"). But the attraction that draws the crowds is the nightly live music—mostly reggae bands, but also West African music. The friendly crowd is mostly African, and a good deal older and more laid back than the rowdy neighbors. No cover.
Virtually anyone who's been to Adams Morgan has been to the fixture that is Madams Organ. Live music every night—mainly blues but also jazz and bluegrass. Tuesday night is acoustic Delta blues. It owns its own atmosphere, with its stuffed animals, appliances and nick-nacks hanging from the walls and ceiling. Playboy magazine once named it one of the best bars in America, and redheads get discounts.
Art gallery with live music and comedy nights.
Very hip café-by-day/bar-by-night strategically placed next to The Diner (same owners). The atmosphere is very friendly and encourages you to just hang out for a while. Free WiFi M-Th.
A nice hotel/hostel right near the action on 18th St. Clean rooms and helpful staff on duty 24-hours per day. 2-night minimum stay.
If you'd like to stay right in the center of the coolest street in D.C., this is your hostel. It's very noisy, of course. Lots of international students.
It's hard not to like this place, with its beautiful rooms in an Adams Morgan 1880s Mansion. Double check that you are OK with the size of your room, though, as a couple towards the low end of the price-range are very small.
The 1,070-room luxury hotel, with a great location near both Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan, underwent a $150 million restoration in 2010. It is famous as the place where former President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr.
Its lobby is a former church. Features 3 restaurants by top chefs. Full Service Radio broadcasts live from the hotel lobby. Includes a 1,600 square foot fitness center. The interesting in-room decor includes works by local artists and found ephemera.
The Tibetan import store, run by an acclaimed Tibetan journalist and photographer, packed with upscale, handmade arts and crafts, as well as ritual items, carpets, clothes, etc.
Wide selection of new books and a small selection of used books. Highlights include non-fiction books on politics and public policy, and books from and about other countries. But even if those don't interest you, there are very well curated sections for a variety of genres.
A small men's and women's vintage store run by long-time D.C. fashionista of the same name. In a unique twist, the items on display are well organized, carefully selected, and don't require extensive browsing. Considering the careful attention to detail, the prices are quite affordable, and the fashions skew 1970s-ish, but other periods are also well-represented.
One-stop gaucho shop. Snakeskin check, leather (crocodile, cow, and others) check, cowboy boots, check, large cowboy belt buckles, check. OK, it's not just gaucho apparel, and there are women's items here too, but most of the items are leather of some sort. And it's expensive.
D.C.'s punk rock scene was legendary in the 1980s, and this was its most famous record store. It has a great collection of both old and new punk and other local indie CDs, as well as related books. Also on offer is a small selection of cheap punk fashion.
By bus
Metrobus operates in these neighborhoods. For more information on riding buses in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get_around.
By car
The main streets for driving north-south are 16th St and Georgia Ave, although 14th St can be a surprisingly quick route north of U St.
By taxi
Taxis are easy to catch on the main drags in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant, and pretty much anywhere within Adams Morgan.
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