John & Monika’s guidebook
Places to eat
There are many great places to eat within easy walking distance from our home. Here are a few of our recommendations:
Evening Star Cafe
2000 Mt Vernon AveGreat place for a romantic dinner.
Del Ray Café
205 E Howell AveFrench bistro famous for their brunch!
Junction Bakery & Bistro
1508 Mt Vernon AveExcellent bakery and cafe for breakfast and lunch.
Holy Cow
2312 Mt Vernon AveBest burgers in Del Ray! Great place to grab a quick bite.
There is a wonderful bar and restaurant in the back of this iconic cheese store. Great place to get a glass of wine and nibbles.
28 locals recommend
Cheesetique Del Ray
2411 Mt Vernon AveThere is a wonderful bar and restaurant in the back of this iconic cheese store. Great place to get a glass of wine and nibbles.
Because who doesn't want breakfast all day? New restaurant with great food and service.
Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar
1501 Mount Vernon AvenueBecause who doesn't want breakfast all day? New restaurant with great food and service.
Stracci Pizza
Fantastic pizza, but always crowded. Worth the wait!
Places to drink
Local bars within walking distance
Great local bar with excellent food, just down the street from us. Check to see if the upstairs lounge is open for live music, pool table, shuffleboard and video games!
6 locals recommend
Majestic Lounge
2000 Mt Vernon AveGreat local bar with excellent food, just down the street from us. Check to see if the upstairs lounge is open for live music, pool table, shuffleboard and video games!
Fun outdoor bar for relaxing summer evenings. Great nibbles and people watching. Try the bourbon slush!
11 locals recommend
The Front Porch
2006 Mt Vernon AveFun outdoor bar for relaxing summer evenings. Great nibbles and people watching. Try the bourbon slush!
Kaizen Tavern
1909 Mt Vernon AveCozy bar with sushi and tacos. Nice outdoor seating, too!
Great pizza and beer. Large bar area for watching sports. Trivia competitions on Monday nights!
23 locals recommend
Del Ray Pizzeria
2218 Mt Vernon AveGreat pizza and beer. Large bar area for watching sports. Trivia competitions on Monday nights!
Great place to watch sports at the bar. You can eat their award winning BBQ, or order hamburgers from the Holy Cow menu!
14 locals recommend
Pork Barrel BBQ
2312 Mt Vernon AveGreat place to watch sports at the bar. You can eat their award winning BBQ, or order hamburgers from the Holy Cow menu!
Desserts!
Places to go for a special treat!
Milwaukee custard and great cookies! The cobbler of the day with a scoop of custard is my favorite!
39 locals recommend
The Dairy Godmother
2310 Mt Vernon AveMilwaukee custard and great cookies! The cobbler of the day with a scoop of custard is my favorite!
Junction Bakery & Bistro
1508 Mt Vernon AveGreat baked goods and coffee!
Entertainment
Places to go for music or a show.
Washington DC's hot new music venue. A great place to catch the larger acts with plenty of dining nearby. Easy Lyft ride from Del Ray.
75 locals recommend
The Anthem
901 Wharf St SWWashington DC's hot new music venue. A great place to catch the larger acts with plenty of dining nearby. Easy Lyft ride from Del Ray.
The iconic music venue in Alexandria. Intimate, with general admission seating (get there early) good food and great acts. You could walk but you are better off getting a Lyft.
41 locals recommend
The Birchmere
3701 Mt Vernon AveThe iconic music venue in Alexandria. Intimate, with general admission seating (get there early) good food and great acts. You could walk but you are better off getting a Lyft.
Casino and concert venue across the river from Alexandria. Take the water taxi during the summer months.
359 locals recommend
MGM National Harbor
101 MGM National AveCasino and concert venue across the river from Alexandria. Take the water taxi during the summer months.
Amazing home of a "physical theater" company. Famous for their unique interpretations of Shakespeare and other classics.
13 locals recommend
Synetic Theater
1800 S Bell StAmazing home of a "physical theater" company. Famous for their unique interpretations of Shakespeare and other classics.
Modern, intimate theater in the Shirlington shopping district. Great place for a dinner and a show within easy Lyft distance.
28 locals recommend
Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell AveModern, intimate theater in the Shirlington shopping district. Great place for a dinner and a show within easy Lyft distance.
Shopping
Places to go to shop till ya drop!
Dozens of independent stores as well as some of the large chains line King Street from the Metro station all the way down to the waterfront. Plenty of restaurants, bars and coffee shops to refuel at along the way!
9 locals recommend
King Street
King StreetDozens of independent stores as well as some of the large chains line King Street from the Metro station all the way down to the waterfront. Plenty of restaurants, bars and coffee shops to refuel at along the way!
The best place to get your mall on in the metro area. The people watching is fabulous!
319 locals recommend
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
1100 S Hayes StThe best place to get your mall on in the metro area. The people watching is fabulous!
Iconic high end shopping in Washington DC. You could spend the whole day here exploring.
664 locals recommend
Georgetown
Iconic high end shopping in Washington DC. You could spend the whole day here exploring.
Need to hunt for bargains? This national outlet chain is located just across the river from Alexandria. All the big outlets are there.
219 locals recommend
Tanger Outlets National Harbor
6800 Oxon Hill RdNeed to hunt for bargains? This national outlet chain is located just across the river from Alexandria. All the big outlets are there.
Nature
Places to get outside!
Oronoco Bay
North Union StreetWalking paths along the Potomac. Very near the King Street shopping district.
Incredible woodland park in the Potomac River with shaded walking paths and water views. You can cross over the Francis Scott Key Bridge and have lunch in Georgetown when you are done.
165 locals recommend
Theodore Roosevelt Island Park
Incredible woodland park in the Potomac River with shaded walking paths and water views. You can cross over the Francis Scott Key Bridge and have lunch in Georgetown when you are done.
Walk around the Jefferson Memorial, and enjoy the famous cherry trees in the spring.
123 locals recommend
Tidal Basin
20245 National DrWalk around the Jefferson Memorial, and enjoy the famous cherry trees in the spring.
There are numerous parks with fabulous views of the Potomac River on the drive from Alexandria to Mt. Vernon. Pack a picnic lunch and walk along the trail until you find a spot or bench that suites you!
George Washington Memorial Parkway
George Washington Memorial ParkwayThere are numerous parks with fabulous views of the Potomac River on the drive from Alexandria to Mt. Vernon. Pack a picnic lunch and walk along the trail until you find a spot or bench that suites you!
A wide open park at the end of the National Airport runways. Best place in the world to watch jets take off and land over head! Plenty of space to eat a picnic lunch by the Potomac River.
88 locals recommend
Gravelly Point Park
George Washington Memorial ParkwayA wide open park at the end of the National Airport runways. Best place in the world to watch jets take off and land over head! Plenty of space to eat a picnic lunch by the Potomac River.
Basics
If you need supplies during your stay.
Planet Wine
2004 Mt Vernon AveA great wine store around the corner on Mt. Vernon Ave.
Pharmacy, food and everything else you can think of. Easy walking distance on Mt. Vernon Ave.
10 locals recommend
Walgreens
615 King StPharmacy, food and everything else you can think of. Easy walking distance on Mt. Vernon Ave.
Support the little guy! Stacy has just what you need to battle a head cold!
Neighborhood Pharmacy-Del Ray
2204 Mt Vernon AveSupport the little guy! Stacy has just what you need to battle a head cold!