Things To Do
Jaleo by José Andrés
One of our favorite spots for dinner and right around the corner from the Hotel Monaco. Stop by the bar for their "Sangria Hour" during the gap between our ceremony and reception, or make a reservation ahead for dinner if you're staying for the weekend!
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
Authentic Mexican cuisine. A great spot for dinner (reservations highly recommended) or another place to grab a seat at the bar for during the gap between our ceremony and reception. Happy hour is from 4-6pm on Friday! Located one block from the Monaco.
Free State
This bar in Chinatown celebrates the Mid-Atlantic region with spirits from local distilleries and Maryland crushes. Happy hour is from 4-6pm on weekdays, with $5 select wine, beer, and spirits. One of the best deals in the area! A 5 minute walk to the Hotel Monaco.
Hill Country Barbecue Market
This BBQ spot requires no reservation. A low-key bar and restaurant with great meats and sides. It's large bar area (both upstairs and downstairs) offers plenty of space for bigger groups. They are famous for their pitchers of margaritas. Conveniently located in Penn Quarter.
Puttery
If you're looking for a fun way to spend a day in DC, we recommend checking out one of the indoor putt-putt venues! The Puttery is right across from the Hotel Monaco and offers 3 different themed courses. Choose between the “Art Museum,” a Warhol-esque course with bright pops of color; the “Conservatory,” a botanical-themed set up with prickly cacti and giant redwoods; and the “Illusion,” a trippy, optical-bending course that’ll challenge your golf skills. Or you can stop by their bar for fancy cocktails and gourmet pizza.
Kraken Axes
Reserve a lane at Kraken Axes to channel your inner lumberjack by throwing axes! An axe-pert will teach you how to toss - we promise it's safe. Travel delays get you angry? They also have a rage room so you can smash away at plates, tv's, appliances... you name it.
Wok and Roll
This is the best karaoke bar in DC! It's also a sushi/chinese restaurant, but we recommend it for booking private karaoke rooms. You can turn the music up loud enough so no one ever has to know you can't actually sing. It's a great time. Note that after 7pm, all guests must be 21+.
CityCenterDC
City Center is one of our city's most "instagrammable" spots. It's home to high-end stores and fine dining, along with a few bakeries and coffee shops. We recommend strolling through the area when you have some free time. Centrally located to all of our recommended hotels.
National Portrait Gallery
What's that regal building you see in front of you when entering/exiting the Hotel Monaco? It's the Portrait Gallery, and it's gorgeous. Stroll through the halls to see famous faces, or grab Shake Shack across the street and eat in the picturesque Kogod Courtyard. You're allowed to bring in food (fun fact: Kelsey ate her lunch here multiple days a week when working in the neighborhood back in the day).
National Mall and Smithsonian
DC’s most iconic strip of real estate, the National Mall, stretches from the Capitol Building on the East to the Washington Monument on the west. Running in parallel are numerous Smithsonian museums that are free and open to the public. Think DC school field trips - if you've never been, it's essential!
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The newest on the Mall is the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) which was completed in the last year of President Obama's second term. NMAAHC does require time entry passes which can be obtained on their website.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is currently under a 6 year renovation project that will be temporarily closed from March to an underdetermined period in the fall of 2022. The NASM, which was opened in time for the US Bicentennial in 1976, is undergoing an interior, exterior and systems update. As the second most visited museum in the world and the most visited museum in North & South America; the Air and Space Museum is a staple of the National Mall.
National Monuments
Washington D.C. is home to numerous national monuments and memorials, many located on the National Mall just south of City Center and the Hotel Monaco. The number on the mall and around the city has continued to grow. The most recent Presidential memorial to be opened to the public is for the West Point graduate and Kansas Native, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Check out Miles' favorite, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, or Kelsey's favorite, the Lincoln Memorial. Bonus points for checking out the monuments at night - any local will tell you they are better lit up at night than in the daylight.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The National Zoo is located in the Woodley Park neighborhood, accessible via the Metro’s Red Line. This zoo is free and open to the public. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes during a visit as there is no way to go through the zoo without having to trek up the hill, either at the beginning or the end. While a popular exhibit, it should be noted that the giant pandas are the property of the People's Republic of China. Therefore, they are political prisoners and visitors should be careful when engaging with them.
National Museum of the United States Army
South of the Beltway, off of I-95, is the National Museum of the United States Army (NMUSA). Completed and opened to the public in 2020; this interactive museum is dedicated to the past and present Soldiers of the U.S. Army. NMUSA was built under the direction of the Army Historical Foundation and paid by funds raised by private citizens and companies. Free time entry tickets are available ahead of your visit and recommended for busy weekends.
Neighborhood Recommendation: Navy Yard
Located south of Capitol Hill and adjacent to the Anacostia River; this neighborhood is home to Nationals Park and Kelsey’s previous home for 8 years. The Yard’s Park has numerous restaurants and bars; some being Miles and Kelsey’s favorite in the city. We recommend checking out Due South, Mission, or Osteria Morini, but there are plenty more options to fit anyone's cravings.
Neighborhood Recommendation: Barrack's Row / Eastern Market / Hill East
Further east from Capitol Hill is the neighborhood where Kelsey and Miles currently live after purchasing their first home. This neighborhood is much quieter than the ever growing Navy Yard. The brick row homes and wrought iron are a staple of the neighborhood. This area has many great breakfast and brunch spots that are great Saturday and Sunday morning activities. Barrack’s Row is lined with restaurants from the local popular (but slightly overrated) Ted’s Bulletin, to the newer but growing Call Your Mother A Jew-ish Deli (best bagels in the city!).
Neighborhood Recommendation: Georgetown
Past the Kennedy Center and Watergate northwest of the National Mall, tucked into the banks of the Potomac River, is the Georgetown neighborhood. While this neighborhood is not metro accessible; the shop lined streets and restaurants make it worth the trip. Avoid the tourist trap of the line at Georgetown Cupcake and instead checkout District Doughnuts. The intersection of Wisconsin and M Street is the heart of the boutique shopping area for Georgetown.