| Map 15 • Columbia Heights | |
Columbia Heights
Map 15
Columbia Heights has a well-earned reputation as a hipster mecca and vegan ghetto. It’s true, there’s no shortage of skinny jeans, fixies or soy cheese here. But there’s also amazing Latin and African American culture and eats. Traveling away from the main drag reveals that the neighborhood’s full transformation isn’t yet complete.
Landmarks
• Blackburn University Center • 2400 6th St NW
202-806-5983
Howard University’s living room.
Coffee
• Tynan Coffee and Tea • 1400 Irving St NW
202-299-0811
Coffee, Wi-Fi, & waffles all day!
Nightlife
• Acre 121 • 1400 Irving St NW
202-328-0121
Low Country BBQ and craft beer.
• Chuck & Billy’s • 2718 Georgia Ave NW
202-234-5870
Malcolm X adorns the wall, elder statesmen hold court, circa 1992 decor prevails.
• The Coupe • 3415 11th St NW
202-209-3342
Full-service bar with cocktails.
• Maple • 3418 11th St NW
202-588-7442
Italian wine bar.
• Meridian Pint • 3400 11th St NW
202-588-1075
Pour your own beer and indulge in brined pork chops.
• Mothership • 3301 Georgia Ave NW
202-629-3034
Late-night food and drinks.
• Room 11 • 3234 11th St NW
202-332-3234
The fanciest feather in CH’s gentrification cap: a wine bar.
• The Wonderland Ballroom • 1101 Kenyon St NW
202-232-5263
Crowded, smoky, fun neighborhood dive. Great bratwurst.
Restaurants
• Acre 121 • 1400 Irving St NW
202-328-0121 • $$
Low Country BBQ and craft beer.
• Bad Saint • 3226 11th St NW
202-328-0121 • $$$
Tasty, playful Filipino.
• The Coupe • 3415 11th St NW
202-209-3342 • $$
Breakfast all day and late night, diner style.
• DC Reynolds • 3628 Georgia Ave NW
202-506-7178 • $
Patio gets a new definition, plus summer dinner and a movie.
• El Chucho • 3313 11th St NW
202-290-3313 • $
Taqueria dishing out Mexican staples and margaritas, por favor.
• El Pollo Sabroso • 1434 Park Rd
202-986-0022 • $
Two El Pollo Sabrosos within half a mile of each other = high demand.
• El Rinconcito II • 1326 Park Rd NW
202-299-1076 • $
Small, unassuming spot with a lot of character.
• Fast Gourmet • 1400 W St NW
202-448-9217 • $$
Don’t fear the gas station setting; these sandwiches are unbelievable.
• Fish in the Neighborhood • 3601 Georgia Ave NW
202-545-6974 • $$
So good, you won’t tell anyone else about this place.
• Five Guys • 1400 Irving St NW
202-332-8060 • $
The smell of cajun fries by Columbia Heights Metro is irresistible.
• Florida Avenue Grill • 1100 Florida Ave NW
202-265-1586 • $$
Greasy spoon from the dirty south.
• G by Mike Isabella • 2201 14th St NW
202-234-5015 • $$$
Sandwich shop by day, revved up Italian sit-down by night.
• The Heights • 3115 14th St NW
202-797-7227 • $$
Upscale homestyle food: fried chicken, meatloaf, burgers, rotisserie chicken.
• Kangaroo Boxing Club • 3410 11th St NW
202-505-4522 • $
From the BBQ geniuses behind the PORC food truck.
• Kapnos • 2201 14th St NW
202-234-5000 • $$$
Mike Isabella dishes out Northern Greek fare.
• The Looking Glass Lounge •
3634 Georgia Ave NW
202-722-7669 • $$
New owners change name, but keep all the 1920s charm.
• Maple • 3418 11th St NW
202-588-7442 • $$$
New Italian fare in Columbia Heights.
• Mothership • 3301 Georgia Ave NW
202-629-3034 • $$
Community tables, weekend brunch and family-friendly foods.
• Negril • 2301 Georgia Ave NW
202-332-3737 • $
Local Caribbean quick-eats chain.
• Panda Express • 3100 14th St NW
202-986-0292 • $
Definitely not Chinese. Make no mistake about that.
• Pollo Campero • 3229 14th St NW
202-745-0078 • $
Addictive fried chicken born in Guatemala.
• Red Rocks • 1036 Park Rd NW
202-506-1402 • $$
Brick-oven pizza in a red-brick dining room.
The only Target in the District means plenty of visitors hauling toilet paper and lumpy bull's-eye shopping bags. Chicks in granny glasses and guys with sleeve tattoos chow down on vegan eats at Sticky Fingers Bakery. Catch them washing it all down with a beer at Wonderland Ballroom.
• Rita’s West Indian Carry-Out •
3322 Georgia Ave NW
202-722-1868 • $$
Authentic Caribbean carryout, recently refurbished without the bullet-proof glass.
• Ruby Tuesday • 3365 14th St NW
202-462-7681 • $$
All you’ve heard, and nothing more.
• Taqueria Distrito Federal • 3463 14th St NW
202-276-7331 • $
Trying to describe the deliciousness feels like food porn.
• Thip Khao • 3462 14th St NW
202-387-5426 • $$$
Lao cuisine in super-comfortable setting (and fun cocktails!).
• Thip Khao • 3462 14th St NW
202-387-5426 • $$$
Lao cuisine in super-comfortable setting (and fun cocktails!).
Shopping
• Best Buy • 3100 14th St NW
202-387-6150
Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets.
• Mom N’ Pop Antiques • 3534 Georgia Ave NW
202-722-0719
Perhaps the last affordable antique store in DC.
• Palace 5ive • 2220 14th St NW
202-299-9008
DC meets Dogtown.
• Sticky Fingers Bakery • 1370 Park Rd NW
202-299-9700
Vegan bakery.
• Target • 3100 14th St NW
202-777-3773
DC’s first. Is that bull’s eye aimed at small and local business?