Trip Date: May 2023
I have a cousin who lives in Washington D.C. In May we packed up a backpack and caught a plane for a long weekend in the capitol city.
Friday
This was my favorite day in D.C. I felt like we hit some of the places I was most excited to see (ie the Zoo), got in so many steps my ideal vacation activity, and the food was super big city adventurous. Friday morning my cousin Jenny was sleeping-in, and Amelia and Hunter were working, so I had the city to myself. First stop is always… coffee.
Breakfast: Bluestone Lane
Cost: $$$/$$$$
Menu: 10/10
Location: Located just off Washington Circle Park – a great jumping off point to head to the White House just down Pennsylvania Ave
Staff: 10/10 – Just really liked how they interacted with me
What I ordered: Coffee + BL Vegetarian Big Brekkie (I am an absolute freak for halloumi – automatic order if the menu mentions halloumi)
Coffee: 9/10
Brekkie: 8/10 – could’ve used more cheese, not the most aesthetically pleasing veg
Basic Tourism Shit: After breakfast, it’s time to visit all the monuments and landmarks that people associate with D.C. From breakfast at Washington Circle to the White House, the Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, and MLK Jr. Monument (+ more) I racked up almost 20,000 steps before heading back to grab the fam for some post-work shennanigans.
Smithsonian Zoo!
Is D.C. Walkable? Depends on who you ask! While everything is super readily accessible by foot, you are sure to get in plenty of steps. After leaving the zoo I had walked almost 20miles.
Entry Fee: Free!
Main Attraction: Giant Pandas
Recommendation: 8/10
Dinner: Elfegne in Adams Morgan
My first time eating Ethiopean food… and the verdict was AMAZING! You use injera (the Ethiopian flatbread) to eat the food with your hands. Literally too fun. The website has a lot of information to help you learn about the food and the staff was helping in selecting my choices.
Cost: $$/$$$$
Recommendation: 10/10 (but only for adventurous eaters)
Do: Get the Honey Win for the Table
Do: Bring home leftovers, the Injera surprisingly didn’t get soggy the next day and was the BEST hungover food
Don’t: play it safe, order big
The Menu + What I ordered:
- Meat: Doro Tibs (Tibs: similar to stir-fry, is prepared with lean cubes of beef, lamb or chicken sautéed with fresh veggies, spices & herbs. Served with 2 veggie sides and injera.) chicken sauteed with potatoes and jalapenos – pictured top of the photo below.
- Veg: Ater (mild, yellow split pea with turmeric and ginger) & Mesir (spicy red lentils)
Saturday
Breakfast: Tatte Bakery & Cafe in Dupont
I’ve been to Tatte before in Boston. Very cute bakery, always busy!
What I ordered: Halloumi Sunny-side Breakfast Sandwich (Automatic order because Halloumi). The egg was super runny, and the sandwich is messy.
Cost: $/$$$$
Recommendation: 7/10 – it’s a chain (a good one but I love eating smaller and more local when I travel)
Around the World Embassy Tour (May 6, 2023)
May 6th was Passport D.C.s Around the World Embassy Open House Day. We rented a Sprinter to easily travel between the embassies and got the opportunity to stop into: Egypt, Mexico, Pakistan, China, African Union, UK!
Featuring: Henna from Pakistan, spring rolls from China, cookies from Egypt, Bread from the African Union, and a long line for the U.K.
Dinner: Found a Thai place called Charm Thai Restaurant in Foggy Bottom! What I ordered Pad Thai. Overall 6/10 – a little forgettable as far as Thai restaurants go. Jenny boldly choose a frozen tropical pina coloda but reported that it was great!
What We Didn’t that You Should: There is an Indian Restaurant next door to Charm called Flavors of India. Both owned by the same person. The upstairs is a long skinny wooden bar, fully empty… we couldn’t even find the staff! Cheap drink alert. Not giving any indication that they serve a full Indian dinner menu. Super odd and potentially the perfect hole in the wall (or a total disaster waiting to happen, could go either way).
Nightlife: Tiki on 18th in Adams Morgan & Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten in Dupont Circle
Tiki was a long skinny bar with themed drinks and a live DJ. Vibes 9/10! But Sauf Haus was a single ladies dream. Beer, just so many people, they’re all tall and attractive. AND Live Music. Huge venue. Super fun. Great find for us (but mostly for me). 10/10
Sunday
Breakfast: Emissary in Dupont Circle
The coffee was great. The highlight of the menu was arepas for breakfast! Coming off my Colombia Trip in February 2023, the arepas obsession is still unhinged.
Lunch: Grab-N-Go from FoxTrot in Dupont Circle
I loved my Foxtrot Market in Dallas and was excited for something fresh and easy on our lazy Sunday afternoon. With our City Guides napping it was an easy win. Very big city Hipster vibes.
Cost: $$$/$$$$
Variety: 8/10
Convenience: 9/10
Dinner: ChikoDC in Dupont
ChiKo (Chinese + Korean fusion) was a tiny spot located off Dupont Circle. You order your food via mobile, and it’s brought straight to your table. No need for wait staff. But still tip thought, that’s good Karma.
What I ordered: Blistered green beans (7/10), Spicy Mango – alcoholic bev (9/10), Half-a-Cado salad (8/10), chilled peanut noodles (8/10)
Overall: small menu, quick service, fresh and light dishes (but also some deep-fried comforts)
What we didn’t but you should: At this point in our itinerary, I would like to offer up some alternatives to our lazy Sunday that we didn’t do but you should!
- Any of the Smithsonian Museums. The most highly recommended being the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
- Drinks at the Hotel Washington Rooftop overlooking the White House.
- The Botanical Gardens.
- The National Aquarium (technically in Baltimore but totally a day trip I wish I had had time for!).
Monday
Breakfast: Gregorys Coffee – gave off Starbucks vibes. I got the Honey Badger + The Skinny (8/10). But it was one of the only places open early near the Smithsonian Museums.
Smithsonian Natural History
I am a HUGE natural history nerd. Favorite exhibit: Mega-toothed Shark & Sea Monsters!
Okay exhibits: Insects, Hall of Fossils
Bad Exhibits: Gems, Taxodemry Hall
Dinner: Colada Shop in Dupont Circle
Another order from the mobile restaurant. A fun little spot to hangout. We ordered: Spinach & Cheese Empanada (9/10), the best part was actually the cilantro dip, Colada Shoop Cuban (6/10) very average for a Cuban, and Chinola Passionfruit adult fruit pouch (8/10).
Then off to the airport. I was happily surprised with how much there was to do and see. You can call me a D.C. fan.
and-adventures.com 