D.C. - Downtown

Welcome to D.C. - Downtown

Lively urban center with lots of landmarks and businesses

Downtown D.C. is the capital city’s bustling urban core. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the city to the east of the White House, this vibrant district is packed with museums and galleries along with scores of businesses, premier hotels, and some of the capital’s best shopping and dining. Downtown D.C. used to be solely comprised of businesses and cultural institutions until building projects in recent decades more than doubled its housing options.

Unlike most major cities, Downtown D.C. has very few high-rise buildings. Rules in place since the 1890s have restricted building height to maintain the city’s distinctive European character. Downtown D.C. features a multitude of architectural styles from attractive row houses to elegant Federalist and Neoclassical office buildings. More recent additions to the neighborhood include contemporary apartment and condominium complexes offering chic living spaces in an unbeatable central location.

What to Love

• Bustling urban setting
• Lots of shopping, dining, and entertainment options
• Stylish contemporary condominiums
• Cultural attractions and well-known landmarks

People & Lifestyle

Downtown D.C. features many public parks and paved squares, the largest being Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue. Downtown D.C. is also home to the sprawling park area of the National Mall. From snapping a selfie outside of the White House to dining at some of the capital’s most revered restaurants, Downtown D.C. is packed with things to see and do. Teeming with businesses and employment opportunities, Downtown D.C. is an enticing work/live/play neighborhood at the heart of the capital.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Downtown D.C. is a hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Old Ebbitt Grill is a longtime cornerstone of the downtown dining and nightlife scene. First opened in 1856, Washington’s oldest saloon is a popular lunchtime and evening hangout for lawmakers and lobbyists. This iconic Victorian tavern offers sophisticated fine dining and specialties such as expertly shucked oysters on the half shell, gourmet burgers, pan-seared seafood, and jumbo lump crab cakes. On the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving, stop by for the Oyster Riot, where over 1,000 attendees enjoy a banquet of oysters and gold medal-winning wines from the International Wines for Oysters contest. Rasika is a creative contemporary Indian restaurant founded by a ten-time James Beard Restaurant of the Year Award nominee. This refined modern restaurant also boasts a temperature-controlled wine cellar. Zaytinya has an innovative tapas menu with small plates inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean cuisine of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. Other leading downtown restaurants include the Jefferson Hotel’s Michelin-starred Plume and the James Beard Award-winning French and American bistro Central Michel Richard. The W Hotel’s rooftop POV cocktail lounge has great drinks and unparalleled views over the capital. The large and glitzy Park at 14th lounge and club offers an exceptional dinner service and late-night partying. Other nighttime entertainment options include concerts at DAR Constitution Hall and The Hamilton Live. CityCenterDC is an upscale shopping center with dozens of high-end fashion brands and trendy eateries.

Things to Do

Downtown D.C.’s most famous address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Head here for White House Tours and exhibits on the Presidents who have lived here at the White House Visitor Center. The National Mall stretches over two miles to the south of the White House and west of the U.S. Capitol. This iconic landscaped park is home to landmarks such as the Washington Monument and world-class museums, including the National Gallery of Art. The impressive collection at the National Gallery includes works from Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh. Other Downtown D.C. museums include the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Geographic Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Downtown D.C. hosts many events throughout the year, including the colorful springtime National Cherry Blossom Festival. This festival begins with Japanese and American dance performances at the Warner Theater then continues for almost a month. Highlights include a parade with floats, huge balloons, and marching bands. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival takes place on the National Mall in the weeks before the Fourth of July. This celebration of living culture from around the world features representatives from more than 90 countries engaging in a wide variety of cultural demonstrations and performances.

Schools

Downtown D.C. is served by the District of Columbia Public Schools District.

• Acton Academy, Montessori, PK
• Howard University, Private, Higher Education
• George Washington University, Private, Higher Education