You might not think of Washington, D.C., as a foodie destination. We’re here to persuade you otherwise. Just ask Sharlette Williams, our D.C. Scavenger Hunt Coordinator Extraordinaire, who has a passion for discovering amazing gourmet destinations. (She’s at right, enjoying a crazy-good sweet potato cake from Oohh’s & Aahh’s.) And as you’ll see, she knows that sometimes a great meal is just one part of a larger adventure…
1. Beacon Bar and Grill: No one does Brunch and Happy Hour like D.C., where buffets and bottomless mimosas abound. Few places in the area do those better than Beacon Bar & Grill. The brunch selection is vast, with something for everyone, whether vegetarian, vegan or meat-atarian. If you can’t get a reservation for brunch, hit the rooftop Sky Bar for Happy Hour and enjoy the view.
2. Filomena Ristorante: This gem in historic Georgetown serves some of the best Italian cuisine in D.C. They combine great food with charm and service to create an endearing experience. If you visit at the right time, you might spot the dedicated ladies making fresh pasta right at the window as you enter.
3. District Taco: Ask anyone in the city where to get the best tacos in town and they’ll tell you District Taco. It started out in one little food truck and has now expanded to more than ten brick-and-mortar locations around the area. District Taco is proud of their super-fresh ingredients, many of which are locally grown. No matter where you are in the DMV (D.C., MD, VA) you won’t be far from one of their delicious tacos, fresh-made guacamole, and handmade tortillas fried up right in front of you.
4. Truckaroo: Nationals Stadium is not just a great place to see a baseball game, it also boasts a fun food experience. You can visit the Half St. Fairgrounds to tailgate before any game, but for one Friday a month you can experience Truckaroo, showcasing some of the city’s best food trucks. The event includes live music, drinks, and games.
5. Busboys & Poets: This local franchise provides food for the body and food for thought. Busboys serves up great dishes with stage performances, community events, and forums with authors from around the globe. If you are in the area on any fourth Monday, visit the Shirlington location to see our very own Hunt Host Slli’m Williams emcee his monthly spoken word open mic.
6. Bars, Pubs and Nightlife: With 20 colleges and universities in a city less than 70 square miles, D.C. boasts a formidable bar scene. Visit the Historic U St. Corridor, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, the H. St Corridor or Adams Morgan. Each area has dozens of great bars and little restaurants you can pop in and out of all night long. DC Reynolds is one amazing little sports bar that stands on its own, no bar hopping necessary. You’ve never had bar food done the way they do it here, with house-ground lamb and house-cured bacon.
7. Happy Hour on the Potomac: Hop on a Boomerang or DC Cruises boat in Georgetown or at the Wharf for a delightful Happy Hour cruise. Listen to the DJ spin tunes and enjoy the view of the monuments as they float past (OK, we’ve enjoyed a drink by this point).
8. Zaytinya: Delicious Mediterranean cuisine served tapas style. The small plates allow you to really explore the menu. The restaurant is just one block from the Verizon Center, so it’s a great place to grab dinner before seeing a concert or cheering on the Wizards or Capitals.
9. Roof Terrace Restaurant: A D.C. visit is not complete until you visit the Kennedy Center, which has hosted the most renowned artists and entertainers in the world. There’s no need to shell out hundreds of dollars: catch a free show at the Millennium Stage every night of the week at 6 p.m. Show up early and get a tour of the theater. While you’re there, have lunch or dinner at the Roof Terrace Restaurant, where you can enjoy delicious food and a 360-degree view of the nation’s capital.
10. National Harbor: How about a side of fun with your meal? There are some two dozen restaurants to choose from, and for dessert you can ride on the 180-foot-high “Capital Wheel” Ferris wheel, providing a gorgeous view of the Potomac River, Washington Monument, Capital Building, and Old Town Alexandria. If that’s not to your taste, there are tens of shops and the new MGM casino. You can even take a ferry across the river to Historic Old Town Alexandria. But let’s save that for a future top ten list…
Bonus Pick! Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts: You can almost literally taste victory on The Munch Around U Street Scavenger Hunt. Your team follows a trails of tricky clues to uncover the secrets of the U Street Corridor, while sampling tasty treats along the way. It’s just one of the many team building scavenger hunts offered by Watson Adventures, from tours in museums—such as the Museum of American History and the National Gallery of Art—to your favorite D.C. neighborhoods. On each hunt teams search for answers to tricky, humorous questions while exploring a great location. Check out the public hunt calendar or explore the options for private group hunts— for corporate team building, social outings, and school field trips. Find more fun in Washington, D.C.!