I’ve been working to partner with more tourism boards around the world so I can bring you a fresh perspective on different cities. And that city is DC! Huge thank you to Destination DC for inviting me out and being such a great host.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend escape from NYC or find yourself in DC for work, you can use my recs to have a fabulous weekend.
I took a 10:30 AM Amtrak from Moynihan Station and arrived in DC around 2 PM. Taking the train is a super easy way to travel, and I highly recommend it if you’re coming from NYC.
I checked into the Fairmont Washington, DC Georgetown, which made it super easy to explore the neighborhood on foot. The hotel was lavish, with a pearly white lobby, a stunning outdoor courtyard, and incredible service. They allowed me to check in early, which is always a great feeling after a long travel day (yes, three hours on the train is loooong).
The cherry on top was the complimentary Summer Season Golden Hours, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot, that they hosted in the courtyard.
I honestly never had a bad bite in this city on this trip.
Let’s start with the mornings. I grabbed coffee at Flor, an Argentinian coffee shop and bookstore, and Baked & Wired, a Georgetown staple known for its baked goods. Although no place can beat NYC bagels, Call Your Mother Deli was pretty close.
I had Yellow for lunch, a very popular Levantine café from Michelin-starred chef Michael Rafidi. Please order the Mish Mish Soda and their specialty pastries. Unfortunately, I did have to wait in line to get the goods, which is against my religion, but I’ll do it when I’m on vacation.
For dinner, I popped into Bar Angie down the street from the hotel. It was cute, but was giving more The Smith than I like (iykyk).
Night two, I got dressed up and had a very bougie dinner at Isla. Not only was I greeted by Chef Lonie Murdock, but the large pink cascading chandelier that tied the room together was giving exxxxpensive. The dining room was filled with girl groups having a pre-night-out dinner, couples grabbing drinks at the bar, and good music pumping through the speakers. The vibes were high, but the menu took this place over the top. The standout dishes were the lamb tartare (trust me), oxtail patties, and the snapper, which was presented in the coolest way.
For night one, I had post-dinner drinks at Press Club, a small underground bar that felt like I was hanging out in my cool friend’s basement. It was giving listening bar minus the pretentiousness.
After dinner at Isla, I went right next door to their sister bar, Goodlove, which felt like the party extension of Isla. Incredible cocktails at both spots — worth a revisit!
Georgetown has a great little cluster of vintage and secondhand shops that you can easily walk between. Union Market was also another cool area for fun shopping! Some standouts below:
Sourced by Scottie — curated European vintage
Ella Rue — pre-owned designer clothing and accessories
Nunumia Vintage — vintage clothing
Reddz Trading — secondhand designer pieces
Current Boutique — authenticated pre-owned designer
Alas Eius — local Georgetown boutique
Vintage Vintage Vintage - vintage collective in Union Market and it also has a cute photo booth in the back of the shop!
Salt & Sundry - home decor + gift shop in Union Market
La Cosecha — Latin American food and shopping hall
I love to lean into the touristy activities on my solo trips. This time, I booked a Washington, DC Monuments Tour by E-Cart and was able to hit all the big monuments in one sitting.
You can also explore via bike or walk the National Mall on your own time. After the tour, I browsed the National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian museums, many of which are free to enter.
On Fridays during the summer, the National Gallery of Art hosts Jazz in the Garden inside its Sculpture Garden. Such a fun summer activity if you want live music and something a little more social than a traditional museum visit.
I started Saturday with Rhythm & Release, a live-DJ yoga class at Manifest 002. It’s a 45-minute flow followed by music, drinks, and time to hang out, a very fun way to start a weekend in DC.
After yoga, I explored the Union Market neighborhood and the Union Market Food Hall. I also stumbled upon a street market that was happening right on the main street.
A few spots to save:
Bread Alley — bread and pastries
The Market — 40+ food vendors
Peregrine Espresso — coffee
Handcraft Doughnuts — specialty doughnuts
I’m not going to lie, I thought DC was going to be a snooze but this vibrant city exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to come back. Next up: Mexico and South Africa — so make sure you’re subscribed because there are a lot more travel recs coming your way. ✈️
xoxo Katie
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