Need some ideas for getting off the Beaten Path? Check out our suggested itineraries for a day "off the Mall."
 

Morning: Grab a light bite at Cafe Tatte at City Center. They specialize in pastries and cafe fare. Take a walk through Palmer Alley, which is always dressed up, no matter the season!  

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Next, head up to the DC History Center, a free museum in a historic building that features focused exhibitions on DC history on the 2nd floor (the first floor is an Apple store, don't worry if you're confused!). 

 

Lunch: Head north on 9th Street and take a left on N Street to the entrance of Blagden Alley, where you'll find local bakery and flour mill Seylou. They have a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, and other light bites that are all made in-house. 

 

Wander around Blagden Alley Historic District, admiring the restored buildings and variety of murals that abound on every corner of this hidden gem. 

 

2pm - Historic Alleyways Walking Tour with Off the Mall Tours. Now that you've walked through the alleyways, you can learn the history of DC's unique alley system, who used to live there, what purpose the buildings served in the past, and how they are used today. 

 

Late afternoon/Evening: Check out the NCO Art Gallery, featuring Cuban artists, in an old Glass Factory. 

 

Dinner: DC is known for its Ethiopian, and one of the best is Cher Cher. Even though it is reasonably priced, it has a Michelin star rating, and is in an adorable old classic rowhome. Reservations encouraged! 

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Want somewhere cool for a nightcap? ESL on 9th Street can be either cheap or pricey, up to you! This space was originally in Dupont Circle, and was the home club of the Thievery Corporation, an EDM collective in Washington, DC. 

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Closest Metro Station at End: Mt. Vernon - 7th St - Convention Center on Green Line

Morning: Café Georgetown offers elevated coffee drinks, delicious pastries, including gluten-free options, and a light, sweet and savory menu. N Street was the main drag on which some of the most influential movers and shakers of Cold War Georgetown lived.

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Tudor Place - Head to Tudor Place, the former home of Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis Peter. Timed entries for the museum begin at 10am and are a $10 suggested donation. The gardens, however, are free. 

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Lunch at Greco -  This casual Greek spot was once the infamous Au Pied de Cochon, a student hangout that was open all hours, and was also the scene of a Soviet Spy escape! 

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2pm - Socialites and Spies of Georgetown Walking Tour. An ill-fated artist, an Ambassador's wife, a Baroness, and a codebreaker.....What do they all have in common? They were part of the most exclusive club of power-players in Cold War DC.   Tour runs approximately 2 hours and begins in front of the M.M. La Fleur Boutique at 1344 Wisconsin Avenue NW.         

                   

Cocktail Hour at Clyde’s of Georgetown – Clyde's has been a popular watering hole ever since the 1960s. Frequented by artists, students, lawyers, and a host of  locals.. They have their famous oyster happy hour from 3 – 5pm, which would pair wonderfully with a dry martini.

 

If you are up for a little more walking after a cocktail, M Street has plentiful shopping. It will also help you work up an appetite for dinner!  If shopping isn’t your thing, take a stroll along the C and O Canal toe-path.

 

Dinner: Martin’s Tavern - Martin’s Tavern is the longest running family-owned restaurant in Washington, DC. Founded in 1933, the restaurant was popular with socialites, politicians, and where JFK proposed to Jackie. It was also a popular drop site for spies who were passing off sensitive intelligence. Reservations highly recommended.

 

Still feel like continuing your night? Check out The Alex, a speakeasy in the basement of the Gregory Hotel. Or, if you’ve imbibed enough for the night, there’s nothing like a stroll on the Georgetown Waterfront.