An Incomplete Guide to Washington DC

Washington DC | Our nation’s Capital is one of our favorite cities — it’s the city of wings and burgers, receptions and happy hours, politics and power. In the words of a close friend, it’s where southern hospitality meets the northeast’s work ethic.

Here’s our recommendations — we hope they serve you well!

Chinatown

Chinatown is incredible — aside from checking if their are any events happening at The Loft at 600 F, I usually only have one recommendation for people for this area:

• Chinatown Express at Gallery Place — authentically prepared duck and hand drawn noodles make this spot incredible and the perfect choice for dinner or lunch in Chinatown. Order the noodles and duck, you can’t go wrong.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is a favorite for nightlife, food, and good times.

• Nightlife | You can never go wrong with a table at The Gryphon, Dirty Bar, or The Manor — it’s always a great time with great friends. The Front Page is a great spot for happy hour bites and well drinks, and Mission is a favorite for watching FIFA matches over Mexican eats and sangria.
• Want access to one of our favorite rooftop pools in the entire city? Book a room at the Embassy Row Hotel and enjoy great cocktails and BBQ prepared on the roof while you swim and enjoy the music and views.
• Academic Centers and Think Tanks | Some of our favorite think tanks hosting top thinkers and speakers from across politics and international affairs include the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Brookings Institution, Johns Hopkins SAIS, the German Marshall Fund, the Center for Global Development, and the Institute for World Politics. Check their websites for their open events.
• Logan Circle | Head to the DNV Rooftop at the Kimpton Donovan Hotel for the sushi of the incredible in house Zentan japanese restaurant — and stay for the drinks, pool, and views.

Downtown

The space spanning Foggy Bottom to Capitol Hill plays host not only to government buildings and monuments, but also to some incredible spots for a good time. Here’s everything you need to know:

• West of the White House | Your first stop should be Tonic for the happy hour drinks and wings — definitely get the spicy wings, they are incredible, and at $0.75 a piece you won’t regret ordering a dozen or so and sharing a plate. Made with rice starch, these are the best wings in the United States hands down. Also feel free to check out Burger Tap and Shake for a great burger or Circa for dinner.
• If you can get in, The World Bank’s cafeteria serves an eclectic mix of classic dishes from around the world. In addition to the beautiful forum that sits in the main lobby and plays host to plenty of receptions and other events, their rooftop conference room where the Board of Directors meets is an incredible space to be seated for a meeting.
• East of the White House | On Fridays during the summer after work, the Smithsonian Gardens throws incredible live Jazz shows with Sangria served by the pitcher — bring a blanket to sit picnic style, bring friends for good times and good laughs, and bring a TGIF attitude and you’re sure to have a great time. Be sure to check out the POV Rooftop of the W Hotel for great drinks and an even more incredible view over the White House and the monuments, the Newseum, and the theatres south of Carnegie library and north of the National Mall.
• Iconic Washington | The Round Robin Bar at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel is the perfect place to post up for a few hours over incredible cocktails and discuss the issues in the space where Lincoln would drink and where Martin Luther King Jr wrote his “I Have a Dream” speech. We recommend sitting on the opposite side of the entrance at the back of the round bar as you’ll find people will naturally find their way circling around to speak to you. The vibe here is relaxed and conversational, and you could easily find yourself spending about three hours here and not even realize it. Manhattans are made strong here, and the duck sliders are one of the best appetizers you can find in the entire city. (A note from Robert — this is easily one of our favorite bars in the country).
• Iconic Washington | Around the corner from the Willard you can find the Hamilton and the Old Ebbitt Grill, where DC natives and newcomers gather for great drinks and an even greater ambiance — no one is allowed to drink alone at these attached taverns, the vibe is friendly and welcoming, and you’ll always walk out of these places with a new friend.
• Nightlife | If you’re in college, Sign of the Whale on Tuesdays is the spot for you — start your weekend right in this narrow space for well drinks and dancing. Two of our other favorite clubs include Bonfire, where table service comes with s’mores, and Capitale.
• Attractions | The Renwick Gallery is incredible, and be sure to check out the Washington, Lincoln, and WWII Memorials at night — also, we dare you to skinny dip in the Reflection Pool, you won’t regret it.

Prohibition

There are a few great hidden bars serving up live music and and great cocktails for all to enjoy.

• Our favorite speakeasies include The Sheppard and The Gibson, two chic spots perfect for small and intimate occasions.
• Georgetown plays host to great live, local talent in blues and jazz at Blues Alley — hidden in the alleys behind the shops of M Street.

Georgetown

Georgetown is incredible in every sense of the city — historic, a center for commerce, food, drinks, and a good time. Here’s everything you should know…

• Some great places to eat include Mr. Smith’s, where we recommend the burgers or ribs, Il Canale or Cafe Milano for pizza or italian, and some of our favorite happy hours include Clyde’s of Georgetown and J. Paul’s.
• Georgetown Waterfront | The perfect spot to eat and drink on the Potomac, six incredible restaurants share the same space at the Washington Harbor where the beautiful fountain turns into an ice skating rink for wintertime. Boats are not allowed to dock here on weekends between midnight and 6 AM, so there were quite a few nights where we found ourselves with friends tying a few yachts together, throwing parties and having a good time on the water until sunrise.
• The Canal between K and M Streets is the perfect place to go for a morning run, and be sure to check out the vintage films shown on Thursdays in the summer outside at the Waterfront park.
• Bars and nightlife are tricky in Georgetown — unless you’re looking to meet Georgetown frat boys, stay away from Chinese Disco and Piano Bar (or go if that’s your vibe, we’re not judging). Bars and lounges we love include L2 Lounge, Old Glory, and the Sovereign — and feel free to check out El Centro if you’re looking to dance salsa.
• The AMC Theatre is also worth a pass through, it’s beautiful and seats are incredibly comfortable.

Seafood in Washington DC

Washington gets its hands on some incredible seafood.

• Our favorite spot for outside summertime eats on the boardwalk at the Washington Harbour is Tony’s and Joe’s — we’ve hosted dignitaries from Asia, friends from school, and visiting students from the Middle East here and they’ve all loved it — we’re sure you’ll love it t0o.
• While everyone on the staff will recommend to you the BBQ Oysters at Hank’s Oyster House, we usually go for the raw bar and we love everything we order every time we go.
• Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab — the incredible crab claws and dessert pie at this this South Beach export makes it the perfect restaurant to wrap up a visit to the nation’s Capital.

And on an ending note for getting around the city — your best bet is Uber, with average price of a trip around $8.

We hope you head to some of these places and let us know about the good times you have when you visit Washington DC! This article is meant to be a living document of our favorite places — we are going to build out a list of private city clubs we recommend in Washington, and include more restaurants, cafes, and hotels with our next update. We’ll also include some spots in Arlington as well.

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Robert Dowling is a junior at The Wharton School, on sabbatical to pursue his social enterprises — the Renegade Institute, the Diplomacy and Policy Council (www.PennDPC.com), and rePurpose (www.repurpose.global). He spent the summer of 2016 living in Georgetown while working for the Center for Strategic and International Studies and now spends a third of his time in and out of Washington consulting on early stage startups, working in academia, and meeting with partners on matters of international development.