Make your first stop Yellow, which opened in December 2022 thanks to chef Michael Rafidi of Michelin-starred Albi. Yellow started as a pop-up concept but is now independent, with a full coffee bar and Levantine-inspired menu that will make it impossible to choose between a savory and sweet pastry. (Za’atar and labne croissant, or orange blossom croissant, or halva chocolate chip cookie? One of each, please!) Don’t skip the baklava, which is packaged in small to-go tins and makes a great gift.
After a satisfying breakfast, you’ll have plenty of energy to go on a Georgetown Heritage C&O Canal tour, which returned in 2022. These hourlong tours of the first mile of the canal are offered during the warmer months. You’ll learn all about the history of the canal, guided by experts fully dressed in historical garb.
On your way to lunch, you’ll have a hard time stopping yourself from poking into one of Georgetown’s many new boutiques, like Le Labo, known for signature fragrances; Gorjana, a celebrity-loved handmade-jewelry shop; and Glossier, the Millennial-pink skin care shop.
Stroll back up Wisconsin toward the bright-blue exterior of Lutèce. Matt Conroy, former chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant Oxomoco in New York, and his wife, pastry chef Isabel Coss, opened this “French neo-bistro” in August 2020. The intimate space and cozy bar will lure you in, but for those who prefer outdoor dining, rest assured there are several individual, well-appointed greenhouses. Everything here is top-notch, from the mezcal-smoked salmon on buttery brioche, to the French omelet stuffed with Boursin, to the caramelized grapefruit dessert.
When you’re in need of a coffee fix, look no further than L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates. This café-meets-fine-chocolate shop, where all chocolates are made by hand, opened in February 2020. Order a hot (or iced) chocolate, both of which are decadent and thick, and don’t skip the warmed-up Burdick cookies. Meanwhile, explore the cases of artfully designed bonbons and shelves of hot chocolate mixes, gift boxes, marzipan, and more.
What better way to end your day than with a (grown-up) drink? If you prefer spirits, head to The Fountain Inn, which was founded in 1783 as a tavern and has been “reborn as a rare spirits tasting room [and] bar” as of March 2022. According to the inn, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson visited this tavern, and it is believed to have “hosted the debate between Thomas Jefferson [and] John Adams during the controversial and pivotal election of 1800 and may well have been ‘the room where it happened.’” (Hamilton, anyone?)
If Champagne and wine are more your speed, wander a bit off the beaten path to sommelier-owned caviar bar and Michelin Guide French restaurant Apéro, which opened in May 2021. No matter what you desire, there is a menu for you here — day café, brunch, dinner, caviar, cocktails, or wine — and both the indoor living room–like space and the patio are exceptionally cozy. Sounds like the perfect date night to us.
Iconic Spot: DC’s Oldest House
It’s hard to miss the Old Stone House as you’re strolling down M Street; nestled between modern, high-end shops, this historical building “is the oldest structure on its original foundation in the city of Washington, DC,” according to the National Park Service. Built circa 1766, it is now operated by the NPS as a museum. The front room is a gift shop (perfect for DC-themed and/or history buff gifts), and the backroom (previously the kitchen) holds the exhibit. The upstairs is closed to the public, but there is a lovely, small garden behind the house and visitors are welcome to walk the grounds. 3051 M St. NW, Washington DC
Feature image courtesy Washington.org
This story originally ran in Northern Virginia Magazine’s March issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
