I almost wanted to label this post, “unconventional 48 hours in Washington, D.C.” because my time spent down there wasn’t exactly filled with the typical tourist attractions that D.C. is known for. Rather, I was there to celebrate my twin best friends’ 30th birthday (one is a resident of D.C. and the other frequently visits), and I therefore had the opportunity to see the city through a local’s eyes. My in-laws also happened to be in D.C. for the weekend, so Matt did make it to a museum with his mom, the New Museum, and reported back that it was awesome. For one thing, this trip made me appreciate how much D.C. has to offer (you seriously could spend a week there) and made me want to start planning another trip!
WHERE WE STAYED:
You all may remember back to our wedding weekend where we picked the Hotel Monaco in Philadelphia for our wedding guests to stay. Matt and I fell in love with the fun design and overall atmosphere of the Kimpton property and when I discovered they had a Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C., I knew I had to check it out. This hotel in particular is filled with an elegance-meets-whimsy style and is nestled blocks away from some of the most distinguished sites in the nation’s capital. While we didn’t have time to eat at their restaurant, Dirty Habit (it looked really cool though), we did spend a little time in the large outside courtyard, which was filled with several fire pits to keep you warm. On Saturday afternoon we took advantage of the free happy hour the hotel offers each day in their lobby – nothing like coming back to your hotel from a busy day to some snacks and wine! Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend this hotel for your next D.C. getaway (they are dog friendly as well).
WHERE WE ATE:
If you are looking for a historic spot that can easily sit a large party this place is great! It was actually walking distance from our hotel and and steps away from the White House. We came here for the my friend’s big birthday dinner (they were able to accommodate 20+ people) and the food was delicious (the crab cake was unreal, almost zero filler and all meat). A few local readers had actually recommended this place as well when I was asking for things to see, do and eat in D.C., so I was really happy I had the chance to check it out!
Oyamel –
Great Mexican restaurant for delicious tacos (and pretty unique – the bartender was really the grasshopper!) and appetizers. The atmosphere is fun and vibrant, and it’s conveniently located to a lot of the sites. Definitely worth a visit.
WHAT TO DO (DAY TIME):
Georgetown –
One of my favorite areas to walk around in D.C. is Georgetown. There is so much character and charm here. There is also some great shopping, which is naturally how my girlfriend and I spent our afternoon. Just recently Tuckernuck opened a store here, so I was excited to get to shop their online store in person.
New Museum – I have to admit I truly am not a museum gal, but actually bummed I didn’t get to check this one out. Both my girlfriend who lives in D.C. as well as Matt and his Mom who checked it out this weekend said it was an incredible experience. Your tickets last for two days, which allows you to go back and explore more, as the museum is apparently quite large.
Also located in Georgetown, this bar offers two things I love: bowling and bocce ball. I loved the concept of having both to give everyone in group something fun to do.
Dolcezza –
The perfect pairing of coffee and gelato! My day was pretty much made when we stumbled upon this gem.
Walk Around the Monuments –
I did do one traditional thing while in D.C. and that was walk around the monuments. It was a beautiful day out, and close by to our hotel, so we took some time to walk around and enjoy the culture of the city.
WHAT TO DO (NIGHT TIME):
Masa 14 –
We came here on Friday night as everyone was getting into town. This spot is perfect to grab a few drinks and a small bite to eat (very yummy Latin Asian cuisine). While we hung down in the lower level, the upstairs was more of a nighttime club scene with great music for dancing and a fun vibe.
DuPont/Adams Morgan –
This area in particular is what happens to be more of the night scene in D.C. The streets are lined with different bars, which makes popping in and out pretty seamless. After dinner Saturday night we did some bar hopping here (but I didn’t catch the names of the various bars)!
WHAT I WORE:
