Swank and style: Everyone’s talking about the 14th Street scene's restaurants, bars and shops.
The Scene: The restaurant’s namesake is Catalan for honeycomb, which also served as the inspiration for the brightly colored and earthy decor. Have a glance (and a feel) of the moss-covered wall and order Bresca’s signature drink, the Bee’s Knees, which is served in a bee-shaped glass. There are also comfy window seats adorned with plush pillows – just note that these are in high demand.
Insider Info: Ratino is a Michelin-starred chef who also happens to have a green thumb. Many of the herbs and floral garnishes found on Bresca’s ornate dishes are grown in the restaurant’s rooftop garden.
Bresca, 1906 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
In 2012, local food writer and entrepreneur Amanda McClements opened Salt & Sundry, a stylishly curated kitchen, home and gift store with locations in Union Market and on 14th Street. “We’re taking the intimidation factor out of decor by showing a laid-back, casual way to pull your space together,” says McClements. “I love highlighting the work of talented small makers from DC and beyond.”
The Scene: Design-forward locals love the elegant-meets-funky collections of dinnerware and handmade furniture set inside this bright, airy space. Craft cocktail enthusiasts will also dig the unique barware and small-batch, locally made ingredients for sale.
Insider Info: There’s no need to leave Fido outside while you’re perusing Salt & Sunday’s offerings, as dogs are welcome inside.
Salt & Sundry, 1625 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Pearl Dive is a palace indeed, boasting a Gulf-style bar and a dedicated fishmonger. This high-value restaurant from Chef Jeff Black devotedly serves up sustainable American seafood, including highly select oysters, rotating based on freshness. Start with a dozen Black Salts on the half shell – these plump alluvial oysters are specially grown in Virginia for Mr. Black. Don’t miss the gumbos, po’ boys, grilled fish or duck confit (still waterborne, fewer gills).
The Scene: For all the new upscale restaurants nearby, Pearl Dive has been a popular mainstay, mixing jorts and Chanel jackets. Festivities at the bar overflow onto the sidewalk patio, where the raw bar has a second window.
Insider Info: Happy hour means oyster mania, a must-do for half-priced local oysters on the half shell.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, 1612 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
After you've had your fill of bivalves and po' boys at Pearl Dive, continue your 14th Street adventure upstairs with creative cocktails at Black Jack and TILT Side Bar. Get comfy in the lounge-style seating at Black Jack while enjoying daily food and drink happy hour specials and sipping on the popular Twisted Sister, starring a delightful mashup of gin, Pimm's, ginger beer, bitters and cucumber water in a mason jar. For a true throwback, the rear portion of Black Jack houses TILT Side Bar, a neon-lit bar with a separate cocktail menu that will make you feel as if you're in an ‘80s-themed pinball machine.
The Scene: With happy hour Wednesday through Sunday, you can find Washingtonians young and old enjoying Black Jack's dynamic craft cocktails. For the cinephile in your life, movies are often projected on to the the exposed brick walls behind the bar.
Insider Info: The shareable cocktails at TILT – multiperson drinks served in ‘80s-themed vessels – are a must-try for larger groups.
Black Jack & TILT Side Bar, 1612 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
This vintage venue best known for landing up-and-coming alternative artists hasn't missed a beat. Black Cat is truly in tune with the indie and underground scene, and has certainly anchored 14th Street since before its boom. It’s also home to events like monthly DJ-led dance parties and sci-fi happy hours. What’s more, there’s room enough for two simultaneous concerts, one at the intimate ground-level Backstage (where there’s often no cover) and a headliner at the upstairs Mainstage. In between, visit the Red Room Bar for its hipster vibe, game machines and never-crowded atmosphere.
The Scene: Feel free to have a drink up and down 14th Street before lining up outside for a show, but there’s more than enough going on inside the Black Cat (pinball, two stages, cheap beer, fantastic crowd) to warrant making a night of it here.
Insider Info: Check out all the shows on its calendar.
Black Cat, 1811 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
A chic indoor-outdoor set-up, stylish decor and primo location make this restaurant and wine bar a hot spot. If you have to wait for a table, saddle up to the bar to peruse the list of Spanish and South American tempranillo, garnacha and malbec varietals. A range of affordable tapas and paella options round out the perfect Catalonian-inspired evening.
The Scene: Young professionals, late-night adventurers and date-night seekers all converge at Barcelona for brunch and after-dinner drinks.
Insider Info: Cozy up at Barcelona, where you can enjoy blankets, heat lamps and a fireplace on its patio. Go light with cava and Spanish cheeses or heavy with a Rioja and paella – either way, you’re in for the royal heat treatment.
Barcelona, 1622 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
After doing some serious world travel with her husband, owner Rose Previte decided to get in the business of serving up street food from every corner of the globe. Compass Rose is no street-style stall, however. Cozy and warm, outfitted with vintage furnishings and unique fixtures, it’s an intimate sanctuary just made for sharing some almost-unpronounceable but certainly delish dishes.
The Scene: Compass Rose sits just a hop east on T Street in an unassuming converted townhouse, all exposed brick and mood lighting. Groups of hip twentysomethings and couples converge in this chic, casual atmosphere.
Insider Info: The dish to order? Khachapuri, made famous by its inclusion on many DC “best-of” lists. It’s an import from Georgia, a masterfully rich bread-cradled boat of just-runny cheese and a liberal helping of butter, topped with an egg cracked directly into the warm embrace by your server tableside.
Compass Rose, 1346 T Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
The brightly colored Colada Shop is a photographer’s dream. This Cuban cafe-bar combo is packed with pastel hues and good vibes, which extend to the dog-friendly patio. Reasonably priced empanadas and sandwiches bring to life diverse flavors and are best paired with a bold Cuban coffee by day and a cocktail by night.
The Scene: Depending on the time of day, you might find friends grabbing a post-Soul Cycle cafe con leche and avocado tostada or an after-work mojito.
Insider Info: Colada Shop’s rooftop garden is the place to be. Guests will enjoy Caribbean-themed happy hour specials complete with cocktails and empanadas.
Colada Shop, 1405 T Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
This classic 14th Street establishment dishes out delectable Italian dishes including burrata, calamari antipasti and homemade pizzas and pastas. An extensive wine list includes 100 available by the bottle – many of which are made from Italian grapes – and select cheeses and cured meats are made in-house.
The Scene: The cozy 100-seat spot is spread over two floors of a former rowhouse on the corner of 14th and T streets. A meal under the Edison bulbs on the outdoor patio – a tough seat to come by in the District – makes for the perfect people-watching/dining activity.
Insider Info: Talk about classy: the 15-seat bar on the main floor is made of Carrara marble and hand-painted Italian tile.
Lupo Verde, 1401 T Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Runway-ready and famous-name boutiques have opened, along with fellow vintage and consignment shops, but Miss Pixie’s stands apart. Redecorate your entire home with antiques, black-and-white postcards, sterling silver, and most-adorable teacups. Unsurprisingly, the inventory changes constantly, so each time visiting is a new shopping experience.
The Scene: All kinds of strollers appear here; young couples putting together their first place, families with kids, and the just-moved-in look for ways to make their abodes unique.
Inside Info: Grab an adorable mini cookie at the register while you shop. It’s a sweet way to peruse the many wares.
Miss Pixie’s 1626 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Affordable, succulent South American chicken in the front and 60-plus whiskeys in the back. That’s the name of the game at Chicken + Whiskey, a fast-casual hybrid. An array of savory sides like fried plantains and chunky guasacaca (a Venezuelan, guacamole-like sauce) are waiting to be paired with rotisserie chicken, slow-roasted to perfection over wood charcoal for 12 hours.
The Scene: Après-dinner, walk through the rear refrigerator door (seriously!) and you’ll stumble upon a not-so-secret, wood-paneled bar that touts two-ounce pours and reasonably priced cocktails. There’s also an impressive vinyl collection that DJs spin from on select nights.
Insider Info: A menu standout is the pollo frito sandwich, which features cassava-crusted chicken breast, Amarillo-mango mayonnaise, Greek yogurt mustard sauce, bacon and smoked Gouda on a jalapeño cheddar brioche bun.
Chicken + Whiskey, 1738 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
We’ll have a heavy pour of Hemingwayesque 1920s Paris, please. A veteran spot in the scene, Pilar is a wonderland of shimmering chandeliers, gilded decor and exposed that transports quaffers to an earlier time. Cocktails are strong and meticulously poured. Splendid for a date along the sensuous wooden bar.
The Scene: Few would bat an eye at impeccably dressed patrons going to, or coming from, a night out. Take note of artwork covering every wall and corner.
Inside Info: Attempt to snag one of the few outdoor tables and pair good drinks with a way to take in the entire scene. The downstairs can get crowded, but the smaller upstairs is a bit more intimate.
Pilar, 1833 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
These two bars, located around the corner from each other at P and 14th, come to the area courtesy of co-founder Ed Bailey, who helped make DC’s gay nightlife scene what it is today from his days as a DJ. Number 9 is decked out in mirrors and leather banquettes downstairs, has a tiny, great-for-people-watching patio, and music-video-playing TVs upstairs. Trade opened in 2015 to much fanfare and is still highly popular, with its tall wood-backed booths, offbeat paintings and rooster-print wallpaper.
The Scene: Number 9 may be slightly more formal, but only because the lighting and setting is less dim than Trade, which has a few darker corners in which to canoodle.
Inside Info: 9’s happy hour is two-for-one from open until 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; Trade offers something called Huge Happy Hours, in which cocktails are given generous pours into tall pint glasses from opening until 8 p.m. daily. All beer and wine is just $5 during the same time frame.
Number Nine, 1435 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; Trade, 1410 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
No single adjective can describe DC’s 14th Street scene. This strip of activity changes by the day, making it one of the most dynamic, vibrant, and energetic corridors in the District. For more adventures, you should also check out more things to do in Logan Circle and nearby U Street.
