| Map 2 • Chinatown / Union Station | |
Chinatown / Union Station
Map 2
Mostly white-collar business by day, Judiciary Square, Union Station, and the Capitol are full of politicians, lawyers, and other Washington DC fat cats. You really can see it all in this part of town: motorcades, suits feasting on steaks during weekday power lunches, credit card-happy consumers, fashion plates, hipsters, and sports fans, all set to go-go beats being pounded out on trash cans.
Landmarks
• Casa Italiana • 595 3rd St NW
202-638-1348
DC’s half-block answer to Little Italy.
• Chinatown Gate • H St NW & 7th St NW
Ushers you in for cheap eats and cheaper pottery.
• Columbus Memorial •
1st St NE & Massachusetts Ave NE
Look for a big statue and fountain—the one with the carvings.
• National Building Museum • 401 F St NW
202-272-2448
Step inside and feel your jaw drop.
• Shakespeare Theatre • 450 7th St NW
202-547-1122
Where the Bard shows off.
• Sixth and I Synagogue • 600 I St NW
202-408-3100
Stunning, historic temple/event space welcomes all to its intimate sanctuary.
• Supreme Court of the United States • 1st St NE
202-479-3211
Bring your favorite protest sign.
• United States Botanic Garden • 245 1st St SW
202-225-8333
Flowers of freedom.
• United States Botanic Garden Conservatory • 100 Maryland Ave SW
202-225-8333
Relaxing refuge of tropical flora and primeval plants.
• United States Navy Memorial •
701 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Bronze reliefs depicting scenes from the Navy’s distinguished history.
• US Library of Congress •
101 Independence Ave SE
202-707-5000
Lose yourself in letters.
Coffee
• Bucks County Coffee •
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-682-1326
A taste of Pennsylvania in every cup.
• Cafe Grande • 1775 K St NW
202-223-3636
Coffee, espresso, sandwiches, and frozen yogurt near Farragut North metro.
• Chinatown Coffee Co. • 475 H St NW
202-559-7656
Chinatown indie artisanal coffee.
• Firehook Bakery & Coffee House •
441 4th St NW
202-347-1760
Like a cozy kitchen with great cake.
• Juan Valdez Cafe • 1889 F St NW
202-464-1360
Washington hub of Colombian coffeehouse chain.
• La Colombe • 900 6th St NW
202-795-7909
Philly roasters on way to world domination.
Nightlife
• Bar Louie • 701 7th St NW
202-638-2460
Sandwiches, pizza, and bar food.
• The Dubliner • 4 F St NW
202-737-3773
Cozy, classy Irish pub.
• Fadó Irish Pub • 808 7th St NW
202-789-0066
Every beer imaginable.
• Iron Horse Taproom • 507 7th St NW
202-347-7665
Enormous, foodless “biker” bar with plenty of beer and bourbon.
• Kelly’s Irish Times • 14 F St NW
202-543-5433
DC’s only Irish pub with a swerve’dance club basement.
• Lucky Strike Lanes • 701 7th St NW
202-347-1021
Pricey bowling alley, but the martinis come with Pop Rocks.
• My Brother’s Place • 237 2nd St NW
202-347-1350
Cheap, hole-in-the-wall CUA bar.
• Poste Moderne Brasserie & Bar • 555 8th St NW
202-783-6060
Full of fresh food, fresh faces, and fresh bank accounts.
• RFD Washington • 810 7th St NW
202-289-2030
Brickskeller’s downtown sibling—hundreds of beers.
• Rocket Bar • 714 7th St NW
202-628-7665
The home of bar games.
• Sixth Engine • 438 Massachusetts Ave NW
202-629-2283
Perfect for after-work imbibing and eating.
• Tel’veh • 401 Massachusetts Ave NW
202-758-2929
Wine bar for people who use the word “aficionado.”
Restaurants
• 701 • 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW
202-393-0701 • $$$$
Posh food not worth the price.
• Art and Soul • 415 New Jersey Ave NW
202-393-7777 • $$$$
Southern hospitality for uptight Washingtonians
• B. Smith’s • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-289-6188 • $$$$
Creole elegance, jarring in Union Station.
• Billy Goat Tavern & Grill • 500 New Jersey Ave NW
202-783-2123 • $
Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger.
• Bistro Bis • 15 E St NW
202-661-2700 • $$$$
Pricey, but a solid place for an upscale lunch on the Hill.
• Bistro Med • 736 6th St NW
202-393-3300 • $$
Pizza on H St = last nail in Chinatown’s coffin.
• Burma • 740 6th St NW
202-638-1280 • $$
Green tea leaf salad. We kid you not.
• Center Café • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-682-0143 • $$
Enjoy the scenery from the middle of the country’s best RR station.
• Charlie Palmer Steak • 101 Constitution Ave NW
202-547-8100 • $$$$
Fine wine and world-famous steak—a splurge for wannabe high rollers.
• China Chilcano • 418 7th St NW
202-783-0941 • $$$$
Jose Andres’ deep dive into Peru’s exceptionally diverse cuisine.
• Chinatown Express • 746 6th St NW
202-638-0424 • $$
Watch food preperation from the street and decide for yourself.
• Daikaya • 705 6th St NW
202-589-1600 • $$$
Ramen down below, izakaya above, great ambiance throughout.
• District Chophouse • 509 7th St NW
202-347-3434 • $$$$
Impressive roaring ‘20s atmosphere. Avoid Verizon game night.
• The Dubliner • 4 F St NW
202-737-3773 • $$
Hearty Irish pub grub for Washington bureaucracy.
• Eat First • 609 H St NW
202-289-1703 • $
Simple, no frills Chinese. Great for pre-theatre.
• Fiola • 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW
202-628-2888 • $$$
Refined cooking goes rustic in a comforting yet elegant manner.
• Full Kee • 509 H St NW
202-371-2233 • $$
Chinatown can be overwhelming. We’ll make it easier. Eat here.
• Graffiato • 707 6th St NW
202-289-3600 • $$$
Penn Quarter Italian hot spot to see and be seen.
• Hill Country Barbecue • 410 7th St NW
202-556-2050 • $$$
Texas style BBQ, brews, and live music.
• Irish Channel Pub • 500 H St NW
202-216-0046 • $$
The Irish Pub with Cajun flair.
• Jaleo • 480 7th St NW
202-628-7949 • $$$$
The tapas king of DC. Great for first dates.
• Jerk Chicken Wrap Cart • 4th St NW & E St NW
$
$5 for jerk chicken, citrus black beans, mango salsa, coconut rice.
• Johnny’s Half Shell • 400 N Capitol St NW
202-737-0400 • $$$
Best crabcakes in Washington. Friendly barstaff attracts solo diners.
• La Tasca • 722 7th St NW
202-347-9190 • $$
Mexican tapas on a beer budget.
• Matchbox • 713 H St NW
202-289-4441 • $$$
Where martinis meet pizza.
Once defined by its ethnic and culinary connections to China, a yuppie influx encouraged by the popularity of the Verizon Center has made Chinatown a haven for mid-career types looking to blow a wad on food, drink, and residence. Eat pizza at Matchbox, tapas at Jaleo, sushi at Momiji, grab a pint at The Dubliner, and an espresso at Chinatown Coffee Co. (just don’t ask for it over ice).
• Mitsitam Café • Independence Ave SW & 4 St SW
202-633-1000 • $$
Cafeteria featuring American Indian cuisine.
• Momiji • 505 H St NW
202-408-8110 • $$
Great sushi. Great happy hour.
• My Brother’s Place • 237 2nd St NW
202-347-1350 • $$
A lunchtime hole-in-the-wall.
• Nando’s Peri-Peri • 819 7th St NW
202-898-1225 • $$
One more chain in Chinatown, this time Portuguese chicken via South Africa.
• Oyamel • 401 7th St NW
202-628-1005 • $$$$
Another outfit in Jose Andres’s total tapas assault on DC.
• Protein Bar • 398 7th St NW
202-621-9574 • $
Feel good about yourself with their health-conscience offerings.
• Rasika • 633 D St NW
202-637-1222 • $$$$
Pricey, polished Indian.
• Red Velvet Cupcakery • 505 7th St NW
202-347-7895 • $
Aah! Another attack of the cupcakes!
• Rosa Mexicano • 575 7th St NW
202-783-5522 • $$$$
Squeeze past the perennial crowds for a pomegranate margarita.
• SEI • 444 7th St NW
202-783-7007 • $$$
Super-slick sushi, complete with glamorous cocktails.
• The Source • 575 Pennsylvania Ave NW
202-637-6100 • $$$
Wolfgang Puck cooks again.
• Tony Cheng’s Mongolian Restaurant •
619 H St NW
202-842-8669 • $$
No reason to dine here. Upstairs is where you want to be.
• Tony Cheng’s Seafood Restaurant • 619 H St NW
202-371-8669 • $$
Overlook gaudy décor and enjoy best Chinese Washington offers.
• Wiseguy NY Pizza • 300 Massachusetts Ave NW
202-408-7800 • $$
NYC-calibrated solid thin-crust option.
• Wok and Roll • 604 H St NW
202-347-4656 • $$
Japanese and Chinese cuisine AND karaoke.
• YO! Sushi • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-408-1716 • $$
Trendy, colorful, self-service sushi bar.
• Zengo • 781 7th St NW
202-393-2929 • $$$
Sleek Asian-Latin fusion.
Shopping
• Alamo Flags Company • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-842-3524
Don’t bring matches.
• Appalachian Spring • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-682-0505
Pottery, jewelry, and other unique knick-knacks.
• Aveda Institute • 713 7th St NW
202-824-1624
Beauty on a budget for the willing guinea pig.
• Bed Bath and Beyond • 709 7th St NW
202-628-0002
Moderately priced home furnishings.
• Comfort One Shoes • 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
202-898-2430
Beyond Birkenstocks.
• LOFT • 707 7th St NW
202-628-1224
Moderately priced womenswear shop.
• Pua • 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW
202-347-4543
Locally designed women’s clothing.
• Radio Shack • 732 7th St NW
202-638-5689
Around the corner from the Spy Museum; not a coincidence.
• Red Velvet Cupcakery • 505 7th St NW
202-347-7895
Frosting is the best part.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Store • Independence Ave SW & 6th St SW
202-633-4510
Great plane-related stuff for the kids (or for you).
• TangySweet • 675 E St NW
202-347-7893
Green tea and other exotic flavors.
• Urban Outfitters • 737 7th St NW
202-737-0259
Slightly hipper than its Georgetown cousin.