You’re not interested in mere food and drinks; you seek a culinary and mixology experience on every trip.
Your first stop in the District won’t likely be the National Gallery of Art. So for Saturday lunch, make your way to Teaism’s Penn Quarter location for a pot of oolong and salmon ochazuke soup. If experiential learning is your thing, head next to The Jefferson Hotel for its How to Pair Wine and Food Like a Sommelier event from 2:30 to 4 p.m. In the private cellar, you’ll get hands-on experience with fine wine and a selection of artisanal cheese, both included in the $75 per person fee. Take your new pairing skills and slight buzz with you around the corner to the National Geographic Museum or walk down 16th Street toward the National Mall for sightseeing. Keep an eye on the Food Truck Fiesta website for the location of a DC food truck for a curbside dinner.
When you finish your outdoor meal, go to Gibson on U Street for a cocktail experience that will surely wow you. But call ahead to reserve a two-hour spot at this highly sought-after speakeasy. Half the tables are reserved for walk-ins, but don’t risk being placed at the end of a long waitlist.
The nondescript building and lack of signage outside give Gibson a speakeasy vibe. (HINT: Not the yellow one.)
If the cocktails at Gibson put you in a dancing mood, go to DC’s other hidden gem: Eighteenth Street Lounge (also known as ESL), run by DJ duo Thievery Corporation. Count on a solid DJ performance and a fun, young-professionals-kick-back atmosphere.
If you wake up hungover on Sunday or just want a good all-inclusive brunch, Masa 14 is a must. With bottomless cocktails – like the Lychee Bellini, Masa Mimosa (blood orange and mango puree) and Rye Bacon Bloody Mary – and delicious all-you-can-eat Latin-Asian fusion small plates, the $35 per person price tag makes this meal a steal of a deal. Afterward, go do more of the touristy items on your list before your next stop on Culinary Road.
You’re thirsty again. I’m surprised. Lucky for you, Churchkey is armed with 555 beers, which breaks down to 500 bottles, 50 drafts and five casks. It’s a beer snob’s heaven. The food menu, which changes often, is fit for a bar (read: small), but tasty and different (fried mac & cheese balls, anyone?). But if you’re more interested in a full-scale dinner while still having access to all the beers Churchkey has to offer, head downstairs to its sister restaurant, Birch and Barley. And since tomorrow is a big day being July 4 and all, this is our last Sunday stop suggestion.
With 50 craft beers on tap and five casks, Churchkey is a beer lover’s dream.
Now you’ve powered through the weekend, fuel up at Good Stuff Eatery with “Top Chef” contestant Spike Mendelsohn’s delicious creations. Try a Prez Obama Burger (applewood bacon, onion marmalade, Roquefort cheese and horseradish mayo sauce) with hand-cut fries and a handspun toasted marshmallow milkshake.
For more to do in DC, check out these other suggestions:
The Outdoorsy Sportster
Museums are interesting for you, if it’s winter. When the sun’s shining you’d rather be active outside.
The Touristy Tourist
With Lonely Planet in your bag and a 24- or 48-hour tour bus ticket, you’re determined to see all and do all in DC.
The Cultured Artist
The crowd you associate with and the vibe you’re used to won’t be found among thousands of sweaty tourists on the National Mall.
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