With a diverse range of retailers and suppliers providing a wide array of artisan food products, Union Market is every foodies heaven. Everything from gourmet coffee, specialty ice-cream, gelato, artisanal bread, baked goods, florists, delis, food stalls and much more are available here. A great place to pick up local products and souvenirs, Union Market is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. While wandering around the huge warehouse, you may stumble across local artists displaying their work. While it is accessible via Metro, driving here is a better option, especially in the evenings.
A landmark in the city, the Eastern Market is a bustling marketplace where one can find everything from hats and scarves to decorations, photographs, poultry, produce, fruits and vegetables. A hub of activity, it is centered around a historical building that used to be the site of the old market. Today, the market has overflowed onto the roadside as well, with vendors displaying their goods to daily shoppers. On Saturdays, there are often events and cultural performances here along with a flourishing flea market.
Kramerbooks and Afterwords was the first to set up shop in Dupont Circle. This bookstore and cafe is always crowded, particularly on weekends when singles who would rather skip the bar scene flock to this surprising hot spot. Live music is an added feature of this cozy literary joint. The cafe is a full-service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The entrees are traditional American dishes, like chicken and lamb chops.
Chinatown is a neighborhood of the hustling and the bustling city of Washington, DC. From coffee houses to hole-in-the-wall restaurant to unique boutiques, you have it all in this place. After under-going major renovations in 2006, this district has become one of the hip and happening spots. Movie theaters and high-end shopping boutiques attracts young and chic crowd. True to its name, most of the businesses have Chinese signs and feature Chinese products. You can see the blend of tradition and modernity in this uber cool area.
Tysons Corner Center is one of the largest malls in the DC Metro area. The mall features six anchor stores, almost 300 shops, an impressive selection of restaurants to dine in, and a luxury Hyatt Regency Hotel; the center offers a premium shopping experience. You'll discover high-end boutiques along with inexpensive stores, ensuring that you'll find something for any budget. If you get tired of shopping, you can visit the 16-screen theater at the mall. Stop by the mall and be dazzled at the variety of options to indulge in this shopping destination.
With cute boutiques, great restaurants, amazing nightlife spots, and tourist attractions like the African-American Civil War Memorial, U Street is a wonderful neighborhood in the city. A portion of this nine-block district is part of the larger Shaw District, but U Street is unique because it was once the cultural center for African Americans in the city and the area remains important to this day. U Street is known for its cultural vibe, you'll discover artistic murals lining the neighborhood as well as top jazz venues and theaters.
'Tiny Jewel Box' are the last words one would use to describe this store, which dubs itself 'a Washington treasure'. It contains several floors, each devoted to particular merchandise. The top floor is reserved for customers with private appointments. The jewelry here is exquisite and of the highest quality, as are the myriad crystal objects like the delicate vases and candlesticks. The exquisite antique and vintage jewelry is sure to make you sigh with longing. Among these timeless pieces are stunning creations by designers Paul Morelli and Alex Sepkus. Precious coffee mugs and children's sweaters are available too. The place also has an impressive selection of watches that are sure to delight those with a discerning taste.
Although you have to ring a doorbell to gain entry, you should not be intimidated by Betsy Fisher. This light-filled boutique features creative clothing and accessories for day and evening. Beautiful dresses, ranging from the funky to the elegant, are the store's bread and butter and rightfully hang on the front racks near the door. Betsy Fisher sells one-of-a-kind items as well as name-brand labels such as Nicole Miller, Max and Co. and Easel. Buyers can be assured no one else will be wearing the same thing.
The Chocolate Moose, situated behind the White House, is a great place to shop for chocolates and cute little gifts. You can find contemporary jewelry and accessories, cool gift items and games, many types of toys. There are also handcrafted things, home decor, household products and equipment, cookbooks and drinks books. The store keeps on updating their stock of products with fresh and new designs. You can't miss out on picking up some of the delicious chocolates and candies at the Chocolate Moose. The appearance of the store itself is so inviting that one just can't walk away without stepping in and having a look at the tons of little quirky items inside!
With its funky shops and trendy restaurants and bars, Dupont Circle is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Washington. Its cosmopolitan air draws visitors both young and old. Once a neighborhood of old money and the nouveau riche, Dupont Circle today is home to artists, intellectuals and young professionals. The neighborhood's turn-of-the-century mansions and brownstones, formerly home to prominent families, today house art museums, restaurants, embassies and fun shops. Dupont Circle is also home to the Phillips Collection, one of the city's foremost art museums with paintings by Renoir, Degas and Cézanne.