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When traveling to a new city and wanting to get a taste of the local scene, bypass the Michelin-starred restaurants and head to the places where the locals go: the bookstores, the coffee shops, and the neighborhood watering holes.
Sometimes you get lucky and you can find a coffee shop within a well-curated bookstore or bar within a music recording studio, as is the case in Washington, DC. Here are 3 food establishments in DC better known for their other businesses but the food and drink don’t play second fiddle:
- Kramerbooks and Afterwords. The local institution located in Dupont Circle is worth visiting if you love a well-curated independent bookshop and a great place to grab a Bloody Mary at the bar or coffee and a bite to eat at the café. A full menu at the café features salads, house specialties such as chicken pot pie, and burgers and sandwiches. Cocktails and seasonal drafts can be found on the cocktail menu. Don’t be surprised if you happen to be looking at the shelves alongside a politician or author as the spot is popular with the locals and well-read. It was founded in 1976 and said to be among one of the first bookstores to marry the concept of a café and bookshop in one location, influencing bookstore owners around the country to add a coffee shop to their business menus.
- National Gallery of Art. Located among many other museums along popular Constitution AVE, the National Gallery of Art is home to pieces from Jackson Pollack to Claude Monet. Locals and visitors can, and do, spend hours taking in the exhibits. When it’s time for a break, head to the Garden Café in the West Building which feels like a private and hidden oasis from the hustle and bustle of the museum. The café offers a full lunch menu every day of the week which includes a rotating selection of salads, entrees such as fresh ricotta tortellini and European desserts including chocolate pot de crème with whipped cream. The Gallery Café also is the only place on the National Mall where one can score a seasonal brunch buffet with their museum visit on weekends.
- Songbyrd Record Café and Music House. Take your karaoke to the next level and head to the recording booth at this Adams Morgan outpost. Songbyrd offers a selection of records and a café features a full espresso bar and serves breakfast fare, sandwiches and salads throughout the day. A bar and restaurant offers music lovers options come happy hour on weeknights and starting at 11:00 a.m. on weekends.
To bring home a piece of DC with you, check out Shop Made In DC, also in Dupont Circle and just a couple of blocks away from Kramerbooks. Grab some syrups form True Tonics or some specialty teas from Dorpare Teas and then stay for some Laoban dumplings from the café.
