What are the best things to do in Georgetown’s historic neighborhood? Read on to discover the best shopping, dining, art, and more in one of the most beautiful parts of our nation’s capital.
I grew up in a small town in New Jersey. My earliest hometown memories include Pizza Hut, Friday night high school football games, and hanging out at Dairy Queen. I never gave much thought to my hometown as a destination; it was just where I happened to grow up.
Fast-forward thirty years to Washington, D.C. My new hometown is a pretty impressive destination, worthy of many posts about history, culture, arts, and restaurants. There are endless things to do. Where to start? Georgetown is likely my most indispensable locale. Keep count as I outline 21 of my favorite haunts in one of DC’s prettiest and most historic neighborhoods.
Things to do in Georgetown: Feed Your Soul
Georgetown is a college, pedestrian, shopping, eating, and drinking neighborhood. The streets teem with life at all hours. Late morning, post-Soul Cycle (#1), students line up at South Block (#2) for an Açai Bowl. Kids run amok around Georgetown Waterfront Park along the Potomac River. Tourists snake out the door and up the street at Georgetown Cupcakes (#3). Politicians hold court at Cafe Milano (#4) late into the night.
There’s much history to be discovered while weaving around the narrow streets. Most of Georgetown is laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid, and many Federal-style historic homes have bronze plaques that display the names and dates of former historical residents.
Things to do in Georgetown: Get historic
Being a historical neighborhood, it’s understandable that the building codes are restrictive. There are strict rules about what can and can’t be done to the architecture. Some of the streets have the original cable car tracks and cobbled pavement. While pretty, they make for bumpy driving and a downright nightmare for stilettos. Women, be warned.
The two main thoroughfares of the neighborhood are Wisconsin Avenue and M Street. Lined with lamp posts of overgrown baskets of flowers, they make the streets even lovelier to roam.
Lately, more chain stores have descended upon the area. Apple, Vuori, and Lulu Lemon are a few heavy hitters. But the inherent charm is still preserved. For every chain store, there’s still at least one independently owned boutique to complement it.
One store with a long family history is The Phoenix (#5), located on upper Wisconsin Avenue. Samantha Hays Gushner is the third-generation owner, and the boutique has been in her family since 1955. Ms. Gushner says, “The Phoenix is a thoughtfully curated, sustainable lifestyle brand in a space that inspires creativity and wanderlust.” I couldn’t have said it better, Samantha.
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Things to do in Georgetown: Get baked
Along the C&O Canal, just south of M Street, lies the best-kept caffeinated secret in town. Baked & Wired (#6) (don’t be fooled, there’s no Wi-Fi) draws a local crowd due to its small-batched baked goods and decadent roasts. Lattes, Americanos, espressos, and cappuccinos are all made with loving care by baristas devoted to their craft.
The homemade ‘Hippie Crack’ granola is as addictive as its name implies. The same goes for the oversized cupcakes that compete with nearby Sprinkles and Georgetown Cupcakes. Size-wise, and with creative varieties like Pretty Bitchin’, Uniporn, Dirty Chai, and Texas Sheet Cake, they certainly know their demographics’ tastebuds.
Latte in hand, I often walk down the canal path or along the waterfront of the Potomac River. There’s always something different to see as homeowners tirelessly care for their window boxes and gardens. Climbing roses, hydrangeas, and clematis grip the walls for dear life. The brickwork alone would make most builders swoon. A heavy hit of a high-gloss black shutter contrasts sharply against the rich red or charcoal walls.
Things to do in Georgetown: Take a Culture Break
Blues Alley Jazz Club (#7) lies in a back alley between Wisconsin Street and K Street. It was founded in 1985 by the larger-than-life jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Decades later, this supper club is going strong. A friend and jazz talent, Eric Felten, and his 14-piece band (#8) often perform there. We make sure to catch his show each December. It’s the ultimate festive kick-off to the holidays and within striking distance of one of our favorite bistros, Chez Billy Sud.
A few doors down, Hinckley Pottery (#9) is a DC fixture started by owner and uber-talented ceramicist Jill Hinckley. Her Blues Alley location is a former stable dating back to the early 1900s. It’s an artist’s paradise, with high ceilings, natural sunlight, and space to get lost on the wheel for a few hours.
The front of the studio acts as a showroom where you can peruse ceramics created by Jill. Jill is often at the wheel, demonstrating to her lovingly called ‘weirdos.’ I’m proud to be one of those weirdos at her weekly workshop.
Things to do in Georgetown: Lunch at the Waterfront
For many years, the Georgetown Waterfront (#10) had been an underutilized space and a culinary wasteland for anyone other than a college student on a beer budget. Recently, it added some notable gems. Arguably the best is the high-end seafood restaurant Fiola Mare (#11).
The customer service at Fiola Mare is superlative. The seafood, (lobster ravioli being a must-eat), is worthy of a special occasion dinner. My husband often indulges with the decadent Bomboloni, ricotta donuts accompanied by a gooey maple dipping sauce, and vanilla chantilly.
The golden-lit Key Bridge in the distance punctuates the Potomac River view. Often, we see Marine One swoop overhead. Given the choice, a long, leisurely, rosé-infused lunch would be my ideal way to start the weekend.
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Most diners would walk into Fiola Mare and choose a stool at the pretty, airy front bar. However, fewer know about the smaller back bar tucked away towards the end of the dining room. It’s our favorite cocktail spot, with Memorial Bridge and The Kennedy Center lit up nearby—a quintessential DC view to go with a Mint Julep.
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Things to do in Georgetown: Walk it out
Many homes display American flags that sway in the breeze. Others have window boxes overflowing with lush red and pink roses. In May, the lollipop-lookalike allium tower over the gardens like sentries. Many historic homes boast old-fashioned, yet modernized, period lantern lighting, flames flickering as they may have done 100 years ago.
I’ve lived here for over ten years, yet there is something new to see each day. Churches of every denomination find peace in the side streets. Colorful doors, each making a statement. Ancient, ivy-covered walls and stonework in all colors and levels of distress catch the eye. Walk the backstreets of Georgetown and stumble upon Dumbarton Oaks (#12) along the way.
Things to do in Georgetown: Head To Wisconsin
Starting at Wisconsin and K Streets NW, I often grab a Kale Caesar at SweetGreen (#13). Then, I work my way up the street for an oat milk cappuccino at Compass Coffee (#14). I continue north and head toward the art galleries at the top of Georgetown.
Avant-garde galleries and home decor studios line Wisconsin Avenue, with windowfronts filled with paintings, sculptures, and multi-media art. Window shopping is one of my favorite Georgetown pastimes.
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Things to do in Georgetown: See stars (and politicians)
Georgetown caters to a college and post-college crowd, which means many loud, jam-packed bars. That said, there are a few spots to enjoy a civilized cocktail and dinner. Michael Mina, the celebrity chef, has a fantastic steakhouse in the Four Seasons Hotel on M Street called Bourbon Steak (#15).
While most hotel bars don’t draw locals, we often find ourselves there with friends. The drinks are inspired, and the service is what you would expect from a hotel of that caliber. Bourbon Steak also has a fabulous, if pricey, menu.
Cafe Milano, a DC institution on Prospect Street NW, has attracted the DC elite and politicians for decades. The established sentiment is deeply ingrained. Any night, you could see Former Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Former US Senator Al Franken, or a Saudi Prince. The old-world and old-school maitre d’ knows exactly how to run the show, a ballet of political precision.
Dining, au français
Off of the canal is Chez Billy Sud (#16), another taste of Europe in America. The convivial dining room draws a local crowd. Chez Billy Sud’s outdoor patio adjacent to the restaurant is idyllic in the summer, with warm lighting and intimate tables.
Brendan L’Etolie’s southern French menu is steeped in traditional fare, like escargots, paté, and mussels. The wine list compliments the food, Bordeaux, Cahors, and Burgandy, just waiting to be decanted. Inside, the long dining room is lined on one side by a tall, cushioned banquette, while small tables fill in the remainder of the space. Stepping inside Chez Billy Sud feels like getting out of the city for a few hours.
Georgetown can’t have enough French restaurants. My current go-to for lunch or brunch is Lutèce (#17), a bistro on Wisconsin Avenue. With its simple, modern cuisine in a simple, intimate setting, Michelin-starred chef Matt Conroy and his wife and Pastry Chef Isabel Coss create a place worthy of starting or finishing a day in Georgetown. My favorite dish is the traditional French Omelette with mushroom fricassée, Boursin, and sabayon, but the entire menu is equally tempting.
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Things to do in Georgetown: M and Wisconsin
Another back alley behind M Street has an impressive grouping of design boutiques and eateries. Cady’s Alley (#18) is accessed down a set of steps discreetly hidden between 33rd and 34th streets on M Street. A few of my faves include Contemporaria, a high-end, modern furniture shop, and Kafé Leopold (#19), an Austrian brunch/lunch spot and bakery where we have a glass of wine or pilsner on the sun-drenched patio.
Georgetown has more to do than eat, drink, and shop. The Old Stone House (#20) dates back to 1765. It’s known to be the oldest unchanged historic home in Washington, D.C. Currently, it’s a house museum with a pretty, if tiny, garden and a magnificent magnolia tree that blooms every April.
The Key Bridge Boat House lies along K Street and the Potomac River and is a place to rent stand-up paddle boards or kayaks. One of the most unique nights in the nation’s capital was renting kayaks on July 4th to watch the fireworks launched over the Kennedy Center. Every motorboat, canoe, and kayak claimed the ‘best seat in the house, ‘ all sharing the Potomac River for a festive, pyrotechnic night.
Beyond (the Grave) in DC
Maybe you’ve seen all there is to see in Georgetown and are looking for something truly off-the-beaten-path to round out your trip to the Nation’s Capital? Join a DC Ghost Tour (#21) and get to know the deep, dark, and chilling past of Washington DC. With multiple locations within the Beltway and more than enough haunted hotels, pubs, and streets to prowl, this just might be the highlight of your DC vacation.
Hometown High
As I think back to my Jersey hometown and how it shaped me as a kid, I can’t help but wonder how DC will shape mine. Growing up in a large city versus a small, ‘everyone-knows-your-story’ town are two ends of a spectrum. I guess we’re all a product of our hometown. While I’m sure my kids will be running for the door as I did, I hope they take a moment at some point to appreciate where they grew up.
Somehow, I doubt it.
Looking for more to do in and around Georgetown?
Click below for direct access to some of the best tours in the city!
Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour
Historic Georgetown: History, Gossip & Architecture Tour
Washington Private Tour of Basilica, Cathedral and Embassy Row
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What To Do in Georgetown: My Interactive Map
