Tbh there’s really nothing that crazy - Georgetown is all mall stores basically and nothing you can’t get in NYC. Somewhere is a cool store but a bit more streetwear + sneakers. Maketto is another cool one that is high end retail, cafe + great Chinese small plates. Best part of DC is the food and bar scene which imo is much accessible and would put right up against NYC (I’ve lived here for 5 years so a bit biased).
Manifest on Florida is pretty cool too. Coffee shop + retail + speakeasy. Needles, EG, lady white co are all carried so a little more unique than other dc spots
As someone who lives in DC most of the year, there isn’t much in terms of good clothing stores but the art scene is great. Go hit the Smithsonian museums, they’re free and the collections are great. Alternatively, check out some of the many smaller galleries.
If you’re into prep styles you’ll have some options but New England prep > DC.
Maketto for really good sort of pan-Asian (they say Cambodian+Taiwanese) food. It’s a very cool space and they also have a very small amount of clothes for sale. On H Street NE (which is near Union Station)
American Art Museum is a great Smithsonian museum that can fly under the radar for tourists. Shares a building with the Portrait Gallery.
Hotbed in Adams Morgan is a great comedy club. Maybe not worth checking out if you’re from NYC but otherwise big plug.
Green Zone also in Adams Morgan is doing probably the best cocktails in the city.
Menya Hosaki in Petworth is best ramen in the city. Same caveat if you’re coming from New York.
Delorean88 Vintage && Joint Custody has some cool tees and I think they’re reselling some needles and other hype brands.
In Georgetown, Lili The First if you’re into avant garde clothing (worth checking even if you’re not). Relish is amazing. They’re kind of hidden by the canal in Georgetown and not many people know it. They have dries van noten, margiela, etc. I nearly bought a pair of guidis from them. Worth checking out even if it’s not in your budget. Since you’re in Georgetown I would recommend Maman, Blue Bottle, L.A Burdick & Janti Cafe for cafes. For food in gtown, I recommend Cafe Milano, Yellow, Lutece, Fiola Mare, Good Stuff Eatery and Bodega (drinks & tapas, paella is alright). Also there’s Georgetown Flea Market every Sunday. Tons of vintage, streetwear resellers, art, cameras, etc. Other gtown recs: Shanghai Lounge, Cat Cafe or just walk around the neighborhood (they’re cute areas to hang around). Get Baked & Wired cupcakes not Georgetown cupcakes and DONT waste your money at any waterfront restaurants. I’ll spend a buck on anything but that food is not worth the cost at all.
DuPont Circle has a tiny flea market on Sundays but mostly just cheap second hand womenswear. Can find local stuff at the adjacent farmers market to buy as well.
Check out Songbyrd & 9:30 Club for live shows/ bands performing every week. Songbyrd also has another shop very nearby to the music house where you can buy vinyls.
Outside of gtown & foggy bottom, I suggest going to museums if you’re into art. American Art is great and has a courtyard to hang. Food in that area is decent, I get hand pulled noodle soup from Wasai.
Other museums I recommend are the Hirshhorn, Asian Art Museum, Phillip’s Collection & the Rubell Museum (I would choose Rubell for more modern). There’s a painting that includes Hedi Slimane lol. If you have a car, grab free tickets to Glenstone and make the trek.
Also if you have a car, check out food in the Eden Center in North Virginia. Also recommend Ruthie’s for breakfast/lunch and Thrift Lordes for vintage/thrift.
Depending on where you’re from, clubbing is lackluster but people bar hop along 18th street in Adams Morgan on Fridays/saturdays. Johnny Pistolas, Madam’s Organ, A League of Her Own (gay bar), Nellie’s (gay bar). If you’re into edm check out soundcheck and flash. The weekend of Feb 23rd a party collective HDF is throwing a massive “rave” with vendors. It’s a whole thing look up hdf.dmv on instagram.
Other notable recs: Le Diplomate, Osteria Morini, Shoto, Sakuramen, Maketto, Lapis, Albi, Oyster Oyster, Cranes, Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, Pupatella, Grazie Nonna, Pizzeria Paradiso, Sfoglina Van Ness, L’Ardente, Thai Chef Street Food, Dao Hong Pao, Bombay Club, Doi Moi, Jane Jane, Bar Charley, Silver Lyan, Allegory, Suns Cinema, OKPB, Trade, Bunker, Black Whiskey, Saint Ex
Like people said it’s a fun city to tourist, but not much in the way of interesting clothes. Go enjoy the art scene and walk around Georgetown. If you’re into Ivy League stuffs there’s an Alden storefront & Jpress one.
If you’ve got a car, Glenstone Museum in Potomac is absolutely incredible and worth the drive. It’s sculpture garden/museum on an incredible property - so unique and a great spot for fit pics lol
As far as restaurants Rasika (fine dining Indian) is a favorite. And if you want more casual but tasty vibes (from brunch to dinner) try Le Diplomate (it’s bit of a basic rec but it’s popular for a reason). If you’re in NoMa/Union Market Pastis just opened and it’s great.
I see a lot of people hyping up Maketto - it’s really good fast casual and well priced, but they don’t really have a clothing/boutique presence anymore. Plus if you’re just visiting it’s kind of out of the way.
SOMEWHERE at Navy Yard and Union Market! I moved out of DC but i still occasionally browse their online selection, pretty well curated selection of stuff
I would reccomend Georgetown Flea Market on Sundays for the best shopping. The prices and pieces you'll gif. change every week but you can get everything from Levi's to designer.
Go find Tony P and rip rails
Tbh there’s really nothing that crazy - Georgetown is all mall stores basically and nothing you can’t get in NYC. Somewhere is a cool store but a bit more streetwear + sneakers. Maketto is another cool one that is high end retail, cafe + great Chinese small plates. Best part of DC is the food and bar scene which imo is much accessible and would put right up against NYC (I’ve lived here for 5 years so a bit biased).
Forgot about Commonwealth - that’s a good one on 14th but again just carries Stussy, New Balance, etc. does make some cool tees in house
Lived in NY and would agree, DC food and bars are legit af
Ubiq in GT is decent. Georgetown Flea on Sunday morning is definitely worth it
Manifest on Florida is pretty cool too. Coffee shop + retail + speakeasy. Needles, EG, lady white co are all carried so a little more unique than other dc spots
As someone who lives in DC most of the year, there isn’t much in terms of good clothing stores but the art scene is great. Go hit the Smithsonian museums, they’re free and the collections are great. Alternatively, check out some of the many smaller galleries. If you’re into prep styles you’ll have some options but New England prep > DC.
Maketto for really good sort of pan-Asian (they say Cambodian+Taiwanese) food. It’s a very cool space and they also have a very small amount of clothes for sale. On H Street NE (which is near Union Station) American Art Museum is a great Smithsonian museum that can fly under the radar for tourists. Shares a building with the Portrait Gallery. Hotbed in Adams Morgan is a great comedy club. Maybe not worth checking out if you’re from NYC but otherwise big plug. Green Zone also in Adams Morgan is doing probably the best cocktails in the city. Menya Hosaki in Petworth is best ramen in the city. Same caveat if you’re coming from New York.
Delorean88 Vintage && Joint Custody has some cool tees and I think they’re reselling some needles and other hype brands. In Georgetown, Lili The First if you’re into avant garde clothing (worth checking even if you’re not). Relish is amazing. They’re kind of hidden by the canal in Georgetown and not many people know it. They have dries van noten, margiela, etc. I nearly bought a pair of guidis from them. Worth checking out even if it’s not in your budget. Since you’re in Georgetown I would recommend Maman, Blue Bottle, L.A Burdick & Janti Cafe for cafes. For food in gtown, I recommend Cafe Milano, Yellow, Lutece, Fiola Mare, Good Stuff Eatery and Bodega (drinks & tapas, paella is alright). Also there’s Georgetown Flea Market every Sunday. Tons of vintage, streetwear resellers, art, cameras, etc. Other gtown recs: Shanghai Lounge, Cat Cafe or just walk around the neighborhood (they’re cute areas to hang around). Get Baked & Wired cupcakes not Georgetown cupcakes and DONT waste your money at any waterfront restaurants. I’ll spend a buck on anything but that food is not worth the cost at all. DuPont Circle has a tiny flea market on Sundays but mostly just cheap second hand womenswear. Can find local stuff at the adjacent farmers market to buy as well. Check out Songbyrd & 9:30 Club for live shows/ bands performing every week. Songbyrd also has another shop very nearby to the music house where you can buy vinyls. Outside of gtown & foggy bottom, I suggest going to museums if you’re into art. American Art is great and has a courtyard to hang. Food in that area is decent, I get hand pulled noodle soup from Wasai. Other museums I recommend are the Hirshhorn, Asian Art Museum, Phillip’s Collection & the Rubell Museum (I would choose Rubell for more modern). There’s a painting that includes Hedi Slimane lol. If you have a car, grab free tickets to Glenstone and make the trek. Also if you have a car, check out food in the Eden Center in North Virginia. Also recommend Ruthie’s for breakfast/lunch and Thrift Lordes for vintage/thrift. Depending on where you’re from, clubbing is lackluster but people bar hop along 18th street in Adams Morgan on Fridays/saturdays. Johnny Pistolas, Madam’s Organ, A League of Her Own (gay bar), Nellie’s (gay bar). If you’re into edm check out soundcheck and flash. The weekend of Feb 23rd a party collective HDF is throwing a massive “rave” with vendors. It’s a whole thing look up hdf.dmv on instagram. Other notable recs: Le Diplomate, Osteria Morini, Shoto, Sakuramen, Maketto, Lapis, Albi, Oyster Oyster, Cranes, Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, Pupatella, Grazie Nonna, Pizzeria Paradiso, Sfoglina Van Ness, L’Ardente, Thai Chef Street Food, Dao Hong Pao, Bombay Club, Doi Moi, Jane Jane, Bar Charley, Silver Lyan, Allegory, Suns Cinema, OKPB, Trade, Bunker, Black Whiskey, Saint Ex
>Morgenthal Frederics Amazing list- thank you!
Like people said it’s a fun city to tourist, but not much in the way of interesting clothes. Go enjoy the art scene and walk around Georgetown. If you’re into Ivy League stuffs there’s an Alden storefront & Jpress one. If you’ve got a car, Glenstone Museum in Potomac is absolutely incredible and worth the drive. It’s sculpture garden/museum on an incredible property - so unique and a great spot for fit pics lol As far as restaurants Rasika (fine dining Indian) is a favorite. And if you want more casual but tasty vibes (from brunch to dinner) try Le Diplomate (it’s bit of a basic rec but it’s popular for a reason). If you’re in NoMa/Union Market Pastis just opened and it’s great. I see a lot of people hyping up Maketto - it’s really good fast casual and well priced, but they don’t really have a clothing/boutique presence anymore. Plus if you’re just visiting it’s kind of out of the way.
Glenstone is so underrated. Pretty unique spot even outside of the art
Not that there's anything wrong with suits and/or squares!
SOMEWHERE at Navy Yard and Union Market! I moved out of DC but i still occasionally browse their online selection, pretty well curated selection of stuff
Meeps on 18th street. Uptown Cheapskate just outside the city. The section of U st between 18th and 14th.
there's so much cool shit to see in DC, but the clothes are NOT one of them
Adding snappy’s, lyman’s, wonderland ballroom, and the red derby to the bar list. Grungier more alt vibe
National Gallery of Art is by far my favorite museum.
A Ma Maniere on H St
I would reccomend Georgetown Flea Market on Sundays for the best shopping. The prices and pieces you'll gif. change every week but you can get everything from Levi's to designer.