A Washington D.C. Travel Guide: Quick Weekend Trip

For some reason, over the course of my career the place I get sent to most often for work trips is Washington D.C. While I’m definitely no expert, I have found some restaurants and fun things to do. So, here’s a quick D.C. travel guide for a short weekend trip.

Places to Eat

Chloe

A friend recommended I try Chloe for brunch and she was so right. It’s all small plates, so it’s a different sort of brunch experience, but oh so good. We sat on the patio and had mimosas with barely-there OJ. Highlights: blackberry pound cake, amazing cauliflower with tahini, and scrambled eggs with mushrooms and goat cheese. Yum!

Proof

This is a nicer restaurant I went to years ago and still one of my more memorable dining experiences. Very cool vibe with wine bottles littering the walls and great food. Although I’m sure the menu has changed over the years, I distinctly remember how good the duck was.

Milk Bar

A few years ago, at Thanksgiving, my mom made a dupe of Milk Bar’s crack pie. The whole family fell in love, so I was pumped to discover a location right near my hotel. Sadly, this discovery was made right before I left town or I surely would have tried more. I wound up getting a piece of their birthday cake and it was as good as the hype. Definitely stop in if you’re in D.C. – or one of the other cities where they have shops!

Magnolia Kitchen and Bar

I’ve been to a couple restaurants in Dupont Circle, but I think this one is my favorite. It, like many others in the area, has a charming patio where you can watch the bustle of people over a lovely champagne cocktail. I had a simple grilled chicken sandwich that ended up being wonderful as well as pimento cheese, because, why not. Another good spot in this area is Darlington House.

 

Things To Do

Full disclosure, typically I don’t have a ton of free time when I’m in town – mostly just enough to grab a few good meals. So, my list of things to do is admittedly small. But, the things I have done, I’ve really enjoyed.

Shop Dupont Circle, Specifically, Tabletop D.C.

D.C. has some great neighborhoods, but Dupont Circle has become a go-to spot for me to visit, primarily because my favorite little shop is right in the heart of it. It’s called Tabletop D.C. and it has the best, most creative gifts for anyone you could think of. There are tons of other shops and restaurants in this area. And when I was there Friday evening, they had a band playing in the middle of it so you could enjoy the music while walking around or patio dining.

Walk the National Mall

I’ve never had time to hit any of the museums in D.C., and to be perfectly honest, that’s not really my scene anyway. But, every visit I enjoy a good walk or run through the National Mall. For those unfamiliar with D.C., this isn’t a mall for shopping, rather is home to many of the area’s monuments, memorials, museums, etc. You can head north a bit to see the White House too.

Go to a Rooftop Bar

The W on 15^th Street has a great rooftop bar called POV that provides stunning views of the Washington Monument and the city. It does get busy, so make reservations and go for a drink as the sun is setting!

Check Out The Wharf

I didn’t spend much time here, but I did check out a concert at The Anthem which is in The Wharf area. My local coworker tells me this is a cool spot. It looked a little touristy, but seemed to have lots of options for eating and lounging. Hometown friends, it kind of reminds me of Newport.

 

What are your favorite things to do in D.C. for my next visit??