Foggy Bottom has a lot to offer, but after hopping to different Welcome Week events, try to leave the GW bubble. The Hatchet compiled a guide to help you find a neighborhood to match your mood.
Dupont Circle
About 20 minutes by foot
Head to Dupont Circle and the surrounding area for the restaurants, such as the late-night favorite Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café, outdoor reading spots around the circle’s fountain and museums like the Phillips Collection, an internationally recognized hub for modern art. Its cobblestone sidewalks are also home to several foreign embassies that extend along Massachusetts Avenue.
U Street Corridor
About 25 minutes from the Foggy Bottom Metro station to the U Street Metro station
Grab some food and listen to local artists perform at the Busboys and Poets restaurant in a neighborhood that was once home to the nation’s largest urban black community, or watch bands perform at the Black Cat or 9:30 Club. A nine-block stretch features eating options including Ben’s Chili Bowl and U-Scream Ice Cream & Treatery. Check out Junction and Dr. K’s Vintage at 15th and U streets for vintage clothing steals.
Eastern Market
About a 15-minute ride from the Foggy Bottom Metro station to Eastern Market Metro station
Looking for a fresh escape? Eastern Market, an outdoor market in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, offers fresh fish, produce and flowers at their indoor venues on weekdays, and on Sundays outdoor vendors sell handmade arts, crafts, jewelry and collectibles. This is the perfect place to find a quirky gift or something to spice up your dorm. The District’s oldest continually operating fresh food public market, built almost 140 years ago, Eastern Market also offers cultural and community events that are open to the public.
Adams Morgan
About a 20-minute commute by foot and bus
Known for its nightlife and bar scene, Adams Morgan can also offer an afternoon of exploring for those under 21. It features a variety of ethnic restaurants, ranging from Dutch to Palestinian. Looking for a lively study spot? Visit Tryst to enjoy coffee and a bite from their all-day brunch menu, or visit the neighborhood’s staple, Jumbo Slice Pizza. Adams Morgan’s colorful buildings also house plenty of other coffeehouses, bookstores and specialty shops, and the neighborhood hosts an annual street festival called Adams Morgan Day in September.
