Where to Find Eats and Beats in D.C.
Washington D.C. is a popular destination for travelers whether on business or just visiting. Once you’ve visited the famous landmarks such as the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial you may want to relax and hit the local scene. Having lived in D.C. for 7 years, here are some of my favorite hangouts and suggestions.
Sweet Frog: THE best frozen yogurt shop in the East. One thing that makes it special is that their flavors are so much more inventive than your average vanilla, cheesecake and chocolate variety. I’m talking apple pie, Peanut Butter, Red Velvet and Snickerdoodle folks and don’t even get me started on the plethora of toppings. This place is the Disneyland of frozen yogurt and in case you can’t get to the East Coast, Sweet Frog is coming to the West very soon!
The Spy Museum: Ever since the movie Harriet the Spy was released, I’ve had a fascination with spy paraphernalia. If you or your kids are into this stuff, this place is not to be missed. Located in D.C. during the summer they are open until 7 pm, and while $19.95 per person is a bit pricy, just about every other museum in the area is free so the splurge will definitely be worth it.
Caribou Coffee: This place has locations from the East Coast as far west as Nevada. While I’ll always be partial to Starbucks, this coffeehouse offers something different to those of us desperate for a jump start in the morning. Their mint mochas are the best I’ve ever had and around the holidays this is the only place I go to grab a cider during my annual drive to view the Christmas lights.
Coastal Flats: This restaurant only has two locations in Virginia with one in Tysons Corner which is a popular mall located in McLean. After having lunch at Coastal Flats you can experience exceptional shopping as Tysons Corner is one of the most exquisite malls I’ve ever been to. Coastal Flats has some very interesting menu items such as maple-coated bacon, salads and basic vegetables by cooking and pairing them with foods that taste amazing. With an American vibe this place is not your average burger and fries joint so please give them a try if you are in the area.
DC9: Good music, great people, great location; what more can you ask for? DC9 is located on 9th street in D.C. and takes the cake when it comes to having a good night out. With three stories the bottom floor is a chill hangout, the middle floor is more like a dance floor that costs a small fee to get in and the top floor is an outside bar where running into new friends is inevitable. The bartenders here are excellent and I’ve often found myself dancing with total strangers while belting out lyrics by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. All-in-all you will have a wonderful night.
These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fantastic things you can do in D.C. and the greater area, yet they’ll at least get you started for a fun and relaxing stay in D.C. If you have been to any of these places be sure to share your feedback on how they were or give recommendations for all the other ones I didn’t mention!
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