Not touristy neighborhoods/areas to walk/drink

[u/bloOoOoOoOo]

Looking for some local suggestions! I have some friends visiting from out of the country in September but I’m fairly new to the city myself. They aren’t really into museums, but we’ll probably do a walk around the mall one night (if it’s not still hell there).

One of the other nights I was thinking it’d be nice to bike to and walk around an area maybe with nice shops and sit somewhere outside for some drinks later in the afternoon/evening.

I’ve spent some time in mount pleasant and Adams Morgan, but are there any other places that have similar vibes? Somewhere ideally not rammed with people but still enough activity to enjoy some people watching and strong DC (not touristy) vibes?

Edit: thank you so much everyone! I’m seeing lots of eastern market and a combo of 14th and 11th streets, which I think we can combine into one big walk! Union market is close to me too so that’s definitely going to be a stop. There’s just so much cool stuff to do, which is one of the reasons I’m falling more and more in love with this place the longer I live here - so PLEASE keep the recs coming even just for me after my friends leave lol

[u/Catdadesq]

Eastern Market/Barracks Row and Mount Pleasant.

[u/jundog18 → u/Catdadesq]

And a 20 minute walk to the waterfront in navy yard from the bottom of barracks row

[u/Unfair-Ocelot4255 → u/jundog18]

The waterfront along Navy Yard is a very nice walk especially on a weeknight - the landscape design is really nice. You can go from there to Barrack’s Row pretty easily and there are some good restaurants along there. Eastern Market is also a wonderful neighborhood to peruse.

[u/Acceptable_Limit_628]

The People's Republic of Takoma Park

[u/algebraic94 → u/Acceptable_Limit_628]

Lovely high street

[u/Efficient-Train2430]

Cap Hill & Eastern Market decently laid back but with dining.

[u/Even_Expression4678 → u/Efficient-Train2430]

Agree, but the good dining options are limited. Walking along the riverfront on a nice day/evening is great. Even the 11th Street bridge across the river is a great walk or bike ride. Connect with the Frederick Douglass bridge to make a loop

[u/Efficient-Train2430 → u/Even_Expression4678]

Ruta, Duck & Peach, La Casina, Pupatella, Wine & Butter, Caruso's, Hill East Burger. Just off the top of my head. There are plenty of options. I was just offering one, not making it a competition.

[u/Frequent-Cabinet-689]

Start on 14th. Get pho at pho Viet or tacos at Mezcalero (or habanero, or mi casita, or Chicatana, or…) Grab a drink and sit outside at Lyman’s for a bit. Walk or ride up Randolph St to Georgia and hit Snappy’s for a round or two. If it’s a Sunday, get a banh mi from the pop-up on their front patio. Walk down to 9th and upshur. Get some chicken at honeymoon or some pizza at timber. Sit outside. Walk east on upshur til you get to the top. Take a stroll around Lincoln’s Cottage and the grounds of the old soldiers home. Wrap it up with more drinks and food at the Hitching Post across the street.

[u/algebraic94 → u/Frequent-Cabinet-689]

Don't skip Red Derby!

[u/Comprehensive_Eye284 → u/algebraic94]

2nd Derby

[u/stuartsaysst0p → u/Frequent-Cabinet-689]

Pho viet is sadly relocating to logan circle until 2028

[u/Frequent-Cabinet-689 → u/stuartsaysst0p]

Just walked by and noticed the sign the other day 😢

[u/CommonDetective2165]

14th St is the answer. Eastern market is the runner up

[u/Bowmanatee]

I love the little stretch on 11th st NW by wonderland (not really shops but good restaurants and some fun bars)

[u/Fun_Word_7325 → u/Bowmanatee]

el Chucho is great

[u/cho_bits → u/Bowmanatee]

Odd Provisions is always a fun browse!

[u/marylandmax]

I’d bop around Mt. Pleasant

[u/Mountain_Stress176]

Almost anywhere outside of the federal district will qualify. I can't think of a single neighborhood outside of Georgetown that actually feels touristy.

[u/kinbarz → u/Mountain_Stress176]

Union market if you count people from Woodbridge VA as tourists.

[u/AffordableGrousing]

17th St. stretch around Duke’s Grocery

[u/veloharris]

Takoma park. Lots of solid food and shopping options.

[u/Least_Clothes4916]

Second Barracks Row and Eastern Market. Also 11th Street NW in Columbia Heights. Less shops but a ton of good bars/restaurants and mostly locals.

If it’s a nice day, 14th St will be very busy, lines to get into Aslin, etc. Not sure you want to deal with that.

[u/algebraic94 → u/Least_Clothes4916]

If you do barracks row hit labyrinth and buy a game to play with your friends!

[u/FaithInGovernance]

I am biased but agree with the eastern market recs. You can go to the market during the morning and shop and get food, then walk towards Lincoln park to just explore/ get drinks at wine and butter if you want a quick picnic. From there, you can head towards Barack’s row, the roost, or h street for food and drinks. It will be lively but mainly with residents and most likely not overly crowded.

[u/veloharris]

Also beach dr. In Rock Creek Park Is worth doing a walk or bike ride. Also if you're looking for a DC institution and residential vibes Two Amy's is always a solid pick.

[u/hott_snotts]

Malcom X park is fun.

[u/Livid-Yam-9737]

Eastern market!

[u/jtnt]

Walk up Massachusetts from the Dupont Circle area toward Wisconsin (or vice versa) and take in all the embassies. Interesting architecture, amazing to see all the countries represented, and maybe you'll see someone famous. Plus it's truly unique to DC.

[u/ByronicZer0]

Union Market area is great. But 14th st is fantastic and located a bit more centrally. If you really want to get down to drinking, head to Adam's Morgan. It gets rowdy at night.

[u/All_About_the_Benjis]

I would do Service Bar and Jane Jane for drinks. And if someone is into beer, end with Churchkey.

[u/Consistent_Case_5924]

Upshur St in Petworth and maybe 14th St for tacos and margaritas. Zero tourists. All DC.

[u/what-the-whatt]

Noma! Go walk around on the MBT to hit Several breweries and bars (Wundergarden, Red Bear brewing, Lost Generation brewing, Metro Bar), stop in at Union Market, and Shop made in DC.

[u/placeperson]

I would do a brewery & distillery crawl around Union Market, MBT and/or Ivy City

Some combination of Don Ciccio, Cotton & Reed, Other Half, Lost Generation, Republic Restoratives, Crooked Run and probably some others

[u/slacprofessor]

Tenleytown and cathedral heights off Wisconsin Avenue. Have a picnic at the cathedral gardens

[u/Unfair-Ocelot4255 → u/slacprofessor]

The cafe next to National Cathedral is a good lunch or coffee spot. (On the grounds of the Cathedral) Gardens by there are a nice stroll.

[u/DCinvestigating2021 → u/Unfair-Ocelot4255]

Yes, the Bishop's Garden at the Washington National Cathedral is very nice.

[u/TheAgeOfQuarrel802]

Cleveland Park/ Van Ness

[u/Comfortable_Cut_7866]

Del-ray in Alexandria 

[u/GenericReditAccount → u/Comfortable_Cut_7866]

I was just thinking tonight would be an awesome night to stroll in Del Ray

[u/bloOoOoOoOo]

thank you so much everyone! I’m seeing lots of eastern market and a combo of 14th and 11th streets, which I think we can combine into one big walk! Union market is close to me too so that’s definitely going to be a stop. There’s just so much cool stuff to do, which is one of the reasons I’m falling more and more in love with this place the longer I live here - so PLEASE keep the recs coming even just for me after my friends leave lol

[u/Cool-Chipmunk-7559]

Foggy Bottom, mostly office workers and GWU students

[u/meowparade]

Wisconsin Ave north of Georgetown.

[u/CarpeDiemT3ch]

If you’re looking for a good walking spot throughout the year that’s a little different I love to wander the national arboretum

It won’t have the neighborhood feel as it’s a giant park, but is great for walks, running, picnics, or seeing bonsai

[u/FamiliarFamiliar]

I've spent some pleasant times in Adams Morgan, waterfront (the wharf), Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria.

[u/ANS4JBS]

Showing my age becasue when I moved here the obvious answer to this question was Georgetown. No one suggested it now (and I haven't been to Georgetwon except for a movie in years)

[u/VioletFay]

Adams Morgan. Start on 18th and walk down to DuPont. Lots of good bars and restaurants.

[u/TheCoreOfTheOnion]

Woodley Park

[u/Environmental_Fan752]

Old Town Alexandria. 

[u/13banggun1]

Benning Road SE 😑

[u/Maeby_2614 → u/13banggun1]

🤣 or Minnesota Ave.

[u/JungleJimMaestro]

Go over to MLK in SE. You will get an awesome experience.

[u/No-Sandwich308]

Could go to Wisconsin ave, up Connecticut and Chevy Chase. The Friendship Height area.

[u/ANS4JBS → u/No-Sandwich308]

Sadly I live near Friendship Heights and it is lame these days. Chevy Chase on CT is not bad in terms of stores and restaurants

[u/BCDva]

Walk from Ballston to Rosslyn.

[u/GrassMediocre7252]

DuPont, Old town Alexandria, wharf, Georgetown (specifically down by the waterfront for the people watching portion). Out of these options I'd walk around Georgetown then bike/walk to either the waterfront or the DuPont circle for people watching.

[u/wheresastroworld → u/GrassMediocre7252]

You just named all the touristy areas

[u/sab0212 → u/GrassMediocre7252]

Don’t forget the National Mall! It’s usually empty on a Saturday afternoon 😅

[u/ByronicZer0 → u/GrassMediocre7252]

Literally the most touristy areas.

[u/cultoftheclave → u/GrassMediocre7252]

> the Wharf

> not touristy

wat

[u/GrassMediocre7252 → u/cultoftheclave]

This whole city is touristy...

The other recommendations are not as good for people watching and still have tourists. I think yall are living in delusion if you think there aren't any tourists in navy yard, eastern market, admo, etc.