Things To Do
Explore the National Mall
See the monuments by day or (maybe even better) by night! We love the Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial, and MLK Jr. Memorial. The photo on our home page was taken at the Jefferson! If it's not too cold, we recommend grabbing a bike share and starting at the U.S. Capitol where you can see the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. From there, you can bike down the mall to the Washington Monument, and go on to explore the WWII memorial and the Tidal Basin. We also recommend exploring the free Smithsonian museums - some of our favorites are the National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, Air and Space, and American History!
Grab a bite
We encourage you to try one of our many favorite restaurants, starting with Le Diplomate! It's a little slice of Paris in D.C. that offers a great burger (Igor's favorite) & delicious escargot (a must for Val). Book a reservation in advance or hang out at their cozy bar. If you're craving something warm, go to Daikaya ramen shop where Igor took Valerie on their 1st date! She had never tried it before & luckily for Igor, she loved it! One might say it was love at first slurp. Other recommendations: - Barcelona: Spanish food & good vibes - Dauphines: New Orleans fare - DoiMoi: Vietnamese street food - Rasika: great Indian food & a DC institution - Causa: Peruvian small plates - Zaytinya: mediterranean & a Jose Andres classic - L'Ardente: upscale Italian - 40 layer lasagna is a must! - Al Volo: our fav neighborhood Italian joint - Maydan: middle eastern fare - Val & Igor once dined here next to the Obamas! - Call Your Mother: the best bagels - The Royal: coffee, cocktails & arepas
or a drink!
Check out one of our favorite local bars! For a classic DC vibe, we recommend: - Off the Record at the Hay Adams - VUE Rooftop for a great view of the White House - Round Robin at the Willard for a taste of DC history - The lobby bar at the Riggs Hotel or the Waldorf Astoria For more of a local flavor: - Silver Lyan for great, creative cocktails (also at the Riggs hotel!) - 600 T or Jojos for jazz - The Green Zone - Le Mont Royal for a more disco vibe - Maxwell Park or St. Vincent for great wine - Jack Rose for an impressive selection of whiskey - Denson - a downtown cocktail bar where Valerie and Igor kicked off their first date!
Check out something new and something old
Explore historic Georgetown, D.C.'s oldest neighborhood, located a mile from our wedding venue. Do some shopping, walk the canals, or simply get lost on its charming cobblestone streets! If you're looking for something more high energy, the Wharf is D.C.'s newest waterfront location with dozens of new bars and restaurants. Catch a concert at The Anthem, roast s'mores by the marina, or check out the nation's oldest continuously operating open-air fish market, dating back to 1805. Valerie has bought (and Igor has cleaned) many a shrimp here!
get lost in the stacks!
We love exploring our local bookstores. Check out a few of our favorites! - Capitol Hill Books: The best used bookstore in town! It's located in an old rowhouse on Capitol Hill in the Eastern Market neighborhood. Stroll through the market on Saturday or Sunday before popping into the bookstore to warm up a find your next read. - Second Story Books: A longstanding, great little used bookstore in Dupont Circle. - Kramer Books: A true DC institution! Valerie's dad lived nearby in his bachelor days and was a regular. Kramers is now also home to great little restaurant -- perfect for grabbing a casual lunch. - Politics and Prose: There are several branches now open in DC, but the original in NW often hosts authors, journalists and politicians for readings. - Lost City Books: A cozy little bookstore in Adams Morgan.
can't decide on dinner?
Visit Union Market -- the best food hall in DC. At Union Market, you can sample food from some of our favorite DC restaurants. You can try everything from local oysters, to bowls of pasta from Al Volo, to Nepalese dumplings. Next door, you can also explore La Cosecha for more latin options. Grab pupusas or arepas and snag a cocktail from Serenata. Union Market is also home to some great shops, including a newer branch of Politics and Prose and Songbyrd records!
Get in the Christmas Spirit
DC at Christmas time is magical! Here are a few of our favorite things to do in December around the District: - Visit the National Christmas Tree at the White House and the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Afterwards, warm up with a drink at Old Ebbitt, the Willard, or the Waldorf Astoria (also home to an amazing tree in the lobby!). - Pop by the Willard to enjoy the lobby decor, check out the impressive gingerbread replica of the hotel, and listen to carolers in the afternoons. If you book ahead, you can also have high tea in the lobby. - Check out the annual Downtown Christmas market in Penn Quarter or the Heurich House holiday market in Dupont. - Go ice skating in the National Sculpture Garden or at the Georgetown Waterfront. - Catch a showing of the Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater. - Don't forget to pick up a 2023 White House Christmas ornament! We buy one every year. The White House gift shop inside the Mayflower will have them in stock.