White House Visitor Center - Downtown - Washington, DC
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DC’s cosmopolitan downtown neighborhood offers a mix of in-demand restaurant options, high-end shopping and plenty of must-see museums.
Before heading over to snap a selfie in front of the White House (or take a tour), stop in at the White House Visitor Center. Open seven days a week, the center offers up an insider’s view of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with a virtual touchscreen tour of the White House, more than 90 artifacts from the White House collection and a 14 minute film about the president’s residence. The White House Historical Association gift shop also offers great collectibles, including the coveted official White House ornaments.
Famed financier and one-time U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon offered to donate his expansive art collection to launch a national art museum that would rival those of other great cities around the world during then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. Roosevelt agreed and in 1937 the National Gallery of Art was officially established. Today, the museum is home to great works like Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de Benci (the only da Vinci in the Western hemisphere), Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer Aged 14 and Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait. The museum consists of an East and West building—connected by a concourse walkway-turned-artwork with Leo Villareal’s mesmerizing Multiverse.
Palmer Alley
One of downtown’s hottest destinations is CityCenterDC. The massive, mixed-use development takes up several city blocks and boasts a Rodeo Drive-worthy amount of luxe labels. Window shop or break out your credit card for brands like Gucci, Hermes, Kate Spade, Christian Dior and Allen Edmonds. You’ll be hearing the soundtrack to Pretty Woman in your head the whole time.
The Daughters of the American Revolution headquarters doubles as a music venue in Downtown DC. The calendar is usually jam packed with performances by touring musicians, comedians and special events – check it out here. The first floor of the building also houses a museum (open Monday-Saturday) dedicated to the history of the American Revolution.
Locals and visitors alike can enjoy St. Regis’ afternoon tea ritual in the hotel’s grand lobby. From 2-5 pm daily, guests dress in their most proper clothes and sip tea and sample finger sandwiches. Teas from Harney & Sons Tea Company are served, while sandwiches like the Scottish smoked salmon with hackleback caviar and creme fraiche are whipped up by the hotel’s Chef de Cuisine, Gyo Santa. If you’re in a celebratory mood, add a Champagne pairing with a glass of Ruinart Rose.
There’s more to CityCenterDC than shopping. It’s also a dining destination with in-demand restaurants like Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Centrolina and Fig & Olive.There's also the luxurious Conrad Washington, DC, where Top Chef alumni Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are making diners rethink seafood at Estuary.
Downtown DC’s National Museum of Women in the Arts is the world’s only major museum solely dedicated to recognizing women’s creative contributions to the art world. The museum houses an impressive collection, including works by Frida Kahlo, Mary Cassatt and Sarah Bernhardt. The museum also hosts ongoing female-focused programming and lectures related to the gallery’s latest exhibition. Make sure to check out all of NMWA's events and the particularly impressive gift shop.
A historic lunchtime fave, Old Ebbitt Grill is an iconic DC spot, which first opened in 1856. Sit at the bar (look up to see an array of stuffed animal heads) and have the bartender help you spot famous DC politicos while you wait for your table.
Downtown DC keeps thumping well into the night with hot nightlife options. Head over the Park at 14th for four floors of dining, dancing and VIP bottle service, or catch a concert at The Hamilton Live, where an underground concert hall hosts concerts most nights of the week.
While Eaton Washington DC is technically a 200-plus room hotel, it defies the standard definition with a cinema, a progressive-minded coworking space and four unique food and drink establishments. If it’s rooftop vibes you’re looking for, head to Wild Days for Asian-inspired tacos (short rib tacos with kimchi and puffed rice, anyone?) best paired with live music. There’s also Allegory, a sleek, dimly-lit cocktail bar with an extensive drink list.
The headquarters for National Geographic Magazine and TV is located in downtown DC and the office building is one wild place. The first floor houses a museum dedicated to all things adventurous. Rotating exhibits and a 3D movie screen with special engagements make this under the radar museum worth checking out.
Now that you have seen what there is to do Downtown, read up on other things to do throughout the District.
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