DC Travel Guide
Best Breakfast/ Coffee Spots
If there is one thing we love, it's coffee and a croissant. Here are a few of our favorite spots: - Firehook Bakery (Dupont Circle) - Kramer's (Dupont Circle) - Bagel's Etc (cash only) (Dupont Circle) - Emissary (Dupont Circle) - Ted's Bulletin (14th St or Eastern Market) - Call Your Mother Bagels - Compass Coffee For Brunch try Agora (Dupont Circle) or Ambar (Shaw or Eastern Market)
Favorite Restaurants
Whether you are looking for a casual lunch spot or a fancy dinner, we have a lot of recommendations! Try these spots: - Good Stuff Eatery (Capitol Hill) - We the Pizza (Capitol Hill) - Astro Beer Hall (Downtown) - Indigo (NoMa) - Rakuya (Dupont Circle) - Floriana (Dupont Circle) - Ok-U (NoMa) - St. Anselm (NoMa) - Le Diplomate (14th St) - Clyde's (Chinatown or Georgetown) - Old Ebbitt Grill (Downtown) - Zaytinya (Penn Quarter) - Caruso's Grocery (Potomac Avenue)
Barcelona Wine Bar
This is where we had our first date. We recommend getting the paella and a Spanish red wine. Don’t forget to make reservations beforehand.
Great Places for a Drink
Looking for a happy hour or a night cap, here are a few places that are perfect: - Dacha (Navy Yard or Shaw) - Jane Jane (14th St) - Vin Sur Vignt (14th St) - Green Zone (Adams Morgan) - Dubliner (Union Station) - Wundergarten (NoMa) - District Winery (Navy Yard)
Things to Do
If you have time during the weekend to explore the city, we recommend doing these activities: - The Wharf - A Big Bus Tour - Any of the Smithsonian Museums - The zoo (it's free!) - Union Market - Shopping in Georgetown and exploring Georgetown University campus (and see the famous Exorcist Steps) - Capitol Bike Share around the Mall and monuments at night. The red bikes throughout the city are the best way to see the sites without all the walking. Going after dark ensures cooler weather and less crowds. - Arlington Cemetary
Embassy Row
Our favorite way to explore the city is by taking long walks. Our favorite walk is through all of the embassies on Embassy Row. Most of the embassies have the architecture of the country they represent. We recommend getting an iced coffee and a ham & cheese croissant from Firehook Bakery on Q St NW and walking over to Massachusetts Ave where many of the embassies are located.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is right across the street from Hotel Monaco and is where we will be doing our wedding photos. The museum is free and has a beautiful peaceful courtyard area. All Smithsonian museums are free, close to the hotel, and worth a visit. Our favorites are the National Gallery of Art (west wing for historical art, east wing for modern art) and the American History Museum which usually has interesting exhibits.
Safety measures
We have lived in the city for 6 years and have never had an issue with crime but want to warn our guests about some things to look out for. The most common crime in the city is carjacking so please remove all valuables from your car and opt for parking in an underground deck as opposed to the street (more expensive but less of a risk). Please be aware of your surroundings and items you have with you. Just be smart and you'll be fine! If you have any concerns, please contact us. We are happy to discuss further. Let's have a safe weekend!