Washington, D.C./Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a venerable neighborhood just east of the Capitol building, best known as the main residence in the city for the legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government, and for the staffers who run the place. Time permitting, you should make an effort to see not just the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court steps, and the Library of Congress, but head further east to see this beautiful neighborhood, and to have a nice meal on Barracks Row while listening to the politicos chatter away. The Hill extends several miles east of the Capitol to RFK Stadium and the Anacostia River.

Understand

Capitol Hill, just east of the National Mall, plays a central role in the country's political life, as two of the three branches of the federal government—the legislative and the judicial—are located here. The government spills far over into the neighborhood, as this is the favorite residential section of town for congressional staffers, and any other type of politico you can imagine. Streets are abuzz with intense political debate, and you'll encounter this head on when visiting a neighborhood bar or restaurant.

Capitol Hill is worth exploring regardless of your interest in politics, though. It is a beautiful historic neighborhood of 18th- and 19th-century rowhouses in a wide range of architectural styles, and a wandering stroll from the Capitol to Barracks Row along residential side streets is a nice way to take in this quintessentially Washingtonian neighborhood. The upscale dining scene is one of the best in D.C., particularly along Barracks Row (centered on 17th century U.S. Marines barracks at 8th and I St) and along Pennsylvania Ave. North of the Capitol Grounds is grandiose Union Station, which is both a major point of entry into the city, and also a historical landmark in its own right, with a beautiful, gilt main hall. The other big historical attraction is the huge Eastern Market, which is a fine place to browse, admire, or grab something good to eat.

Get in

By Metrorail

For more information on riding the Metrorail in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get_around.

The Blue, Orange, and Silver lines have stations just south of the Capitol Grounds at Federal Center SW and Capitol South. Further from the city center Eastern Market and then Stadium-Armory can be reached on the same line. Eastern Market is the most convenient stop for exploring the Capitol Hill neighborhood, as well as the eponymous market and Barracks Row. Stadium-Armory is closest to the DC Armory and Congressional Cemetery.

The most prominent stop is certainly at Union Station, on the Red Line, which is an easy walk from the Capitol, and is right by the Amtrak/MARC/VRE train station.

By train
  • 🌍 Union Station (Amtrak code WAS, ZWU  IATA), 40-50 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 202 289-1908. The central train station for the city, and trains come and go primarily along the Northeast Corridor, although you can likely find a train heading in any direction, the majority of which are operated by Amtrak. (updated May 2019)

Union Station is also the end point for the MARC Trains heading north through the Capital Region of Maryland to Baltimore. Since the MARC serves primarily commuters, train departures and arrivals are concentrated at the beginning and end of the work day.

By bus

The following are the main bus routes operating in these neighborhoods, along with links to timetables and route maps. For more information on riding buses in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get_around.

By car

Street parking is not too hard to find on side streets once you get far enough east of the Capitol Building, and away from Eastern Market and Barracks Row. The traffic patterns are disastrously convoluted, though—even by D.C. standards. Main east-west routes run along Constitution and Independence, as well as Pennsylvania and Maryland Ave. Coming from Anacostia, the main bridges are at Pennsylvania Ave and E Capitol St. There are no main roads heading north-south throughout the area, only the complex diagonals.

See

The main attractions on Capitol Hill are all concentrated in the U.S. Capitol Complex, grounds managed by the Architect of the Capitol, covering roughly the three blocks east of the National Mall. These include the Capitol Building and its grounds, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and congressional office buildings.

Capitol Complex
  • 🌍 Capitol Building, ☏ +1 202 226-8000. M-Sa 8:30AM-4:30PM. The center of the legislative branch of America is home to the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as numerous impressive paintings, statues, historical exhibits, and one magnificent dome. The visitor center features an exhibition of the history of the Capitol and of Congress. Tours of the Capitol building are free and can be arranged online or by same-day walk-in and start from the visitor center. You may not bring food or drinks inside. Only the smallest and thinnest bags will be allowed. If lines for security are long, an alternative is to use the tunnel from the Library of Congress. When you are looking at this beautiful structure, remember that it was built during the era when slavery was legal in D.C., and enslaved laborers were used in the original construction that was completed in 1800 and the expansion that took place in the 1850s. The impressive rotunda is where deceased former presidents and other distinguished individuals granted the privilege by the U.S. government lay in state. Free. 
  • 🌍 Library of Congress, 10 1st St SE, ☏ +1 202 707-8000. M-Sa 8:30AM-4:30PM. Founded by the third U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson, this grand building, also called the Jefferson Library, has the largest collection of books in the world. The most popular points of interest are the massive main reading room and Great Hall. On the Winter and Summer solstices, the Great Hall is filled with an odd silver glow that gives the impression you are surrounded by floating clouds, and this makes those days the most crowded. The main reading room is known as the Sacred Room, and is absolutely stunning. You must be 16 or older to use the reading rooms and have a reader identification card, which can be obtained by presenting a driver's license/passport and completing a self registration form. Guided tours will not bring you into the reading room, but will take you up in the dome, where you can see the room in its full glory. There are also a number of rotating exhibitions from the Library's vast collection on display at any one time, as is a Gutenberg Bible. Free. 
  • 🌍 Supreme Court, First St & Maryland Ave NE, ☏ +1 202 479-3211. M-F 9AM-4:30PM. The home of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, charged with interpreting the Constitution and protecting equality and justice for all. The Neoclassical building, just opposite the Capitol, was constructed in 1935; until then, the Court met in various locations in the Capitol. The imposing facade, with its lofty portico, Corinthian columns, and wide marble staircase, is familiar from TV news as the place where spectators, protesters, and journalists gather to witness the defining rulings of our generation. The court is in session from October to April, with oral arguments heard M-W. If you want to see an argument, you have two options: line up in front of the building to hear the entirety of the day's arguments, but there is another line, often shorter, for those who only wish to hear a three-minute sampling of the case. The rest of the year, public lectures are held every hour in the courtroom. The spiral staircases on the sides of the court room are beautiful and impressive parts of the building not to be missed. Other things to see, besides the courtroom itself, are the Great Hall, with its long line of busts depicting former Chief Justices, and the Lower Great Hall below it, where you can watch a short film about the Court and see a stone and aluminum sculpture of the legendary Warren Court, as well as a statue of John Marshall, the Chief Justice who established the Supreme Court as we know it. Free. 
  • 🌍 United States Botanic Garden (U.S. Botanic Garden), 100 Maryland Ave SW, ☏ +1 202 225-8333. 10AM-5PM daily. The national conservatory is one of the least visited attractions around the Mall, and that is one of the best reasons to visit. The botanical collection is extensive, the climate is often a welcome respite, and the catwalk through the leaf canopy in the jungle room is a favorite. Bartholdi Park, south of the conservatory, is small but majestic, centered around the Bartholdi Fountain. Free. 

Capitol Grounds monuments
  • 🌍 Statue of Freedom. A classical female figure stands prominently atop the Capitol Building's dome. Her right hand rests upon the hilt of a sheathed sword; her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with 13 stripes. Her helmet is encircled by stars and features a crest composed of an eagle's head, feathers, and talons, a reference to the costume of Native Americans. She would, no doubt, be an iconic emblem of America, were it not so hard to make her out without binoculars. 
  • 🌍 Peace Monument. A monument in memorial of U.S. naval deaths at sea during the Civil War stands at the northeastern end of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, bearing an assembly of four statues. Grief weeps over History at the top. Facing outwards is Victory, holding a laurel of victory, and flanked by young Mars and Neptune. Facing the Capitol is the statue of Peace, holding an olive branch, and surrounded by symbols of prosperity. 
  • 🌍 James Garfield Monument. In tribute to the tragically slain president, the statue's base is surrounded by three statues of a student, a warrior, and a statesman, representing his distinguished academic, military, and political careers, which preceded his short tenure as the nation's leader. President Garfield is best known for holding the nation's second shortest presidency of little more than six months, ended by his assassination in 1881. 
  • 🌍 Robert Taft Memorial and Carillon. Grandson of the 27th president William Howard Taft, Senator Robert Taft's had a distinguished career of his own in the United States Senate. At the memorial his figure stands in front of an enormous carillon tower with 27 bells. The bells ring every quarter-hour, although the best time to visit is undoubtedly the Fourth of July, when the bells ring to the tune of the "Star Spangled Banner" at 2PM. 
  • 🌍 Ulysses S Grant Memorial. Grant's monument occupies the single most prominent location on the Capitol Grounds, directly over the reflecting pool. His statue emphasizes his cool, calm demeanor in the midst of battle—he is flanked on both sides by artillery and cavalry units clearly in the heat of battle. Grant's tenure as president was marked by corruption and alcoholism. He is better remembered as the Union General-in-Chief during the Civil War, and indeed the monument is solely dedicated to that image. 
  • 🌍 National Japanese American Memorial To Patriotism During World War II. 

Other attractions
  • 🌍 Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St SE. All sorts of notables from American history found their final resting place here, from composer John Sousa to FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover. The cemetery hosts regular yoga classes in the summer as well as a monthly book club. 
  • 🌍 National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave NE (Next to Union Station), ☏ +1 202 357-2700. 10AM-5:30PM daily. The Smithsonian's own philatelist Shangri-La has one of the world's largest collections of rare stamps, as well as exhibitions of how mail has been delivered throughout history, and other ways that the mail shapes culture. Free. 
  • 🌍 Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, ☏ +1 202 289-1908. Not just a train station or metro stop, the grandiose 1908 Beaux Arts building by legendary American architect Daniel Burnham makes it worth a look—the ceremonial entrance is stunning. Open long after the museums close, it contains shops and restaurants. A large monument to Christopher Columbus stands outside the building. 
  • 🌍 National Guard Memorial Museum, 1 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 202 789-0031. M-F 9AM-4PM. Free. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, 144 Constitution Ave NE, ☏ +1 202 543-2240. Free. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Holodomor Genocide Memorial, 1 Massachusetts Ave NW. (updated Jan 2022)

Do
  • 🌍 Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E Capitol St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-7077, fax: +1 202 544-7420. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. A library, performance venue, and a museum all rolled into one. The library is the single most impressive feature—it houses the largest collection of the Bard's works in the world—although the library itself is geared towards researchers, not travelers. The Shakespearean performances here are top-notch, and occasionally outshine the bigger Shakespeare Theatre Company in the East End (although the performances here can be more uneven). There are also frequent lectures, musical performances, etc., which can be a good excuse to visit. The small museum has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and an Elizabethan garden in the back, and is nice to visit combined with a performance. Plays: $20-50 (occasional student discounts). 
  • 🌍 DC Armory, 2001 E Capitol St SE, ☏ +1 202 608-1100. Opened in 1941, this is an auditorium, arena, big top and ballroom that can hold 10,000 people. It features events such as games of the DC Rollergirls. 
  • 🌍 RFK Stadium, 2400 E Capitol St SE, ☏ +1 202 547-9077. Opened in 1961 as the home of the Washington Redskins, this stadium has suffered wear and tear and is no longer in use. However, small annual festivals and events are held in its parking lot, including the Shamrockfest Irish music festival every March and the DC World Reggae Festival every August. Plans are in the works to demolish the stadium. 

Buy

Union Station and Eastern Market are big shopping destinations in the city. Union Station includes a big shopping mall with plenty of high end and mid-range stores, while Eastern Market is much more offbeat, and geared to a lazy day of browsing. Outside these two heavyweights, Capitol Hill is an unorthodox shopping destination, but it does have a relatively small collection of unique and offbeat shops dispersed throughout the neighborhood, especially on Pennsylvania Ave near the Library of Congress and by Barracks Row.

  • 🌍 Eastern Market, 306 7th St SE, ☏ +1 202 698-5253. Tu-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 7AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. D.C.'s biggest public market has been housed since 1873 in a 19th century brick building, just a few blocks from the Capitol. The market is open every day, but weekends bring an additional influx of vendors ranging from local farmers to antique furniture. The market burned down in 2007, but reopened in June 2009. 

Books
  • 🌍 Capitol Hill Books, 657 C St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-1621. M-F 11:30AM-6PM, Sa Su 9AM-6PM. Housed in a small, old rowhouse next to Eastern Market, this bookstore is a local favorite, jam-packed with used books on every imaginable subject. For a delightful surprise, be sure to open the cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. 

Gifts
  • 🌍 Groovy D.C., 323 7th St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-6633. M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-6PM Su 11AM-5PM. This is a very eclectic gift shop with unique gift cards, gags, and other arts & crafts. It's a little on the expensive side. 
  • 🌍 Hill's Kitchen, 713 D St SE, ☏ +1 202 543-1997, . Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM. A collection of high-end kitchen gadgets, cookware, and appliances, with also some gift and seasonal items. The upstairs hosts classes in cooking skills. 

Eat

Barracks Row, on 8th St SE, has classy restaurants that cater to repeat diners and to a sophisticated crowd.

Union Station has much cheaper options. The cafeteria food on the bottom level is best for the cheapest and quickest meals. The main level includes many popular national chains such as Chipotle, McDonald's, Chop't, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Pizzeria Uno, Pret A Manger, Roti Mediterranean Grill, Shake Shack, and Subway.

Budget
  • Bistro Italiano, 320 D St NE, ☏ +1 202 546-4522. M-F 11AM-2PM, 5PM-10PM; Sa 5PM-10PM. If you come to this neighborhood restaurant, everyone will necessarily assume that you are a local. It's your traditional Italian-American checkerboard tablecloth restaurant, and only a little larger than a hole-in-the-wall. The food for the price in this neighborhood is exceptional. $8-15. 
  • Good Stuff Eatery, 303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 543-8222. M-Sa 11:30AM-11PM. Flagship location of the soon to be franchised burger joint. Renowned locally for its handmade burgers, handcut fries, handspun ice cream. $8-15. 
  • Jimmy T's Place, 501 East Capitol St SE, ☏ +1 202 546-3646. Tu-Su 6:30AM-3PM. A 1930s-type Capitol Hill greasy spoon diner and a must visit for the charm alone. Cash only. $5-15. 
  • Mangialardo's, 1317 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 543-6212. M-F 7:30AM-3PM. It's far from the action and has limited hours, but this deli has served classic Italian subs to locals for about 55 years, who will universally tell you these are the best sandwiches in the city. Order the "G-man" if you want a local favorite. $4-6.50. 
  • Pete's Diner, 212 2nd St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-7335. 5AM-3AM daily. Somehow there's a little greasy spoon next to the Library of Congress. The prices are extremely low, the waitresses are friendly, and the diner food is certainly adequate. $3-6.50. 
  • The Pretzel Bakery, 257 15th St. SE, ☏ +1 202 450-6067. M-F 7AM-5PM, Sa Su 8AM-5PM. Delicious pretzels & breakfast sandwiches. $2.50-10. 
  • Tune Inn, 331 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 543-2725. Beer & comfort food in a space adorned by taxidermy. 

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Ambar Capitol Hill, 523 8th St SE, ☏ +1 202 813-3039. Great Balkan food. 
  • Cafe 8, 424 8th St SE, ☏ +1 202 547-1555. Su-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. The mezzes oddly enough are overshadowed by the great kabobs (especially the Iskender, and good Iskender is hard to find outside of Turkey). The Turkish very thin take on pizza—pides, are also a hit, and a cheaper option. $9-20. 
  • Cafe Berlin, 322 Massachusetts Ave NE, ☏ +1 202 543-7656. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM. Dinner is overpriced and not in the same league as other options on the Hill. Lunch (before 4PM), on the other hand, is a steal. And the back patio is a wonderful place to drink a few draught German beers on a warm day. $8-30. 
  • Joselito Casa de Comidas, 660 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 930-6955. Spanish dishes and tapas including salt cod, Iberian ham, and fried anchovies. 
  • Las Placitas, 1100 8th St SE, ☏ +1 202 543-3700. M-Th 11:30AM-10:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-10PM. Well above par Salvadoran and Mexican cooking, with very fresh ingredients. On weekends, it gets very crowded, but if you can get a table, it remains a fun spot for a meal. $10-20. 
  • Sushi Capitol, 325 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 627-0325. Reservations are recommended due to the small space. Try the $50 omakase for two, which includes the chef's choice of sushi, sashimi and rolls. 

Splurge

The high-end restaurant scene in Capitol Hill is one of the city's best. Reservations are a must at most high-end restaurants.

  • Belga Cafe, 514 8th St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-0100. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-9:30PM. One of the neighborhood's longest running favorites on Barracks Row serves perfectly fine Belgian cuisine, and has at all times at least five fine Belgian beers on tap (and a host more besides). Reliable food, best for dinner, and pricey. $20-50. 
  • Charlie Palmer's Steakhouse, 101 Constitution Ave NW, ☏ +1 202 547-8100. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; dinner: M-F 5:30PM-10PM, Sa 5PM-10:30PM. Right across the street from the Capitol Building, the views are fantastic. Charlie Palmer is a national celebrity chef, and his steakhouse vies with two others for the title of the city's favorite steak. On the scale of the three, it sits comfortably between trendy and traditional. Don't worry if you don't like steak, as this is an all-around outstanding restaurant, with a variety of excellent American dishes. $35-85. 
  • Rose's Luxury, 717 8th St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-1244. Tasting menu: $135. Rated as one of the best restaurants in the city. In a converted townhouse. Portions are generally shared among your party, "family style". Roof garden available for large groups. Tasting menu: $135. 
  • Sonoma, 223 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 544-8088. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; dinner: M-Th 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-11PM, Su 5PM-9PM. Italian-inspired cooking with the California philosophy of simplicity, fine (Californian) wines, and local ingredients. This restaurant has excelled in this category, and packs in serious foodies into a crowded, but very trendy space—reservations are a must every day of the week. The lounge upstairs is similarly beautiful and fashionable (and crowded), with a fireplace and big windows. $20-45. 

Drink

There are plenty of bars in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, most of which are concentrated around the West side of the Capitol, and on the Eastern Market/Barracks Row strips. Catering to a diverse crowd of overworked hill staffers, lobbyists, lawyers, lawmakers, Marines from the nearby Barracks and neighborhood locals, there's something for everyone.

  • Barrel, 613 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 543-3622. A rustic whiskey bar that serves southern food. 
  • Boxcar Tavern, 224 7th St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-0518. A narrow tavern with a Victorian London ambiance. 
  • Mr. Henry's, 601 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 546-8412. M-Sa 11:15AM-midnight, Su 10AM-midnight. Once the regular home to Roberta Flack, this place has seen some famous clientele—Burt Bacharach, Carmen McRae, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Ramsey Lewis, and Johnny Mathis were all fans. The live music continues upstairs, but for the most part this is just a nice dive pub, particularly gay/lesbian-friendly, and a block off Eastern Market. 
  • Trusty's, 1420 Pennsylvania Ave SE, ☏ +1 202 547-1010. M-Th 4PM-2AM, F 4PM-3AM, Sa 10AM-3AM, Su 10AM-2AM. Trusty's is as about as local as you can get on the eastern side of Capitol Hill. A true neighborhood dive bar, and removed from the rowdy Eastern Market/Barracks Row scene, Trusty's is generally populated with long-time and new neighborhood residents alike, most of whom know each other and the bartenders. It's a good place to get a feel for people who actually live in the area, and the burgers, cheesesteaks, and chili are amongst the best in the city. Drafts and cocktails are served in mason jars, and cans of Tecate and PBR are always on special. Most importantly, it's one of the last places in the city purporting to be a dive bar that actually still has dive bar prices. Food: $6-12. 
  • Tunnicliff's Tavern, 222 7th St SE, ☏ +1 202 544-5680. M-Th 11AM-2AM, F 11AM-3AM, Sa 9AM-3AM, Su 9AM-2AM. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary, this is just a good bar. Prices are cheap, it's right by Eastern Market, wooden interior, and there's patio seating. The menu offers decent Cajun cuisine. Dogs are allowed on the patio and they come in droves. 
  • Union Pub, 201 Massachusetts Ave NE, ☏ +1 202 546-7200. A sports bar with many televisions and a craft beer selection. 

Sleep

Hostels

Mid-range

Splurge
  • Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave NW, ☏ +1 202 737-1234. The hotel occupies a full city block in the heart of Capitol Hill, between the Capitol and Union Station, and has a lovely, large, plant-filled atrium. Avoid the absurdly overpriced hotel restaurant, unless you're in the mood for a $10 bowl of cornflakes. $250-450. 
  • 🌍 Phoenix Park Hotel, 520 N Capitol St NW, ☏ +1 202 638-6900. Hotel of the Irish! Rooms are furnished in an 18th-century Irish Manor style, Irish entertainers are at the Dubliner bar, and it's also right next to Union Station. $220-500. (updated Jul 2019)

Connect

Most cafes and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi. Otherwise, the two public libraries in the neighborhood offer public terminals and free WiFi, or you could just enjoy the public WiFi on the steps of the Capitol Building!

Go next
  • The obvious destination is just west of the Hill, the National Mall, and the proximity is one of the main reasons to stay on Capitol Hill in the first place.
  • For a change of pace from Capitol Hill nightlife, consider heading just north to Near Northeast to have a beer at one of its very offbeat bars and clubs.
Routes through Capitol Hill
East End ← Waterfront ←  W  E  → Anacostia → Largo
East End ← Waterfront ←  W  E  → Anacostia → New Carrollton
Gaithersburg ← East End ←  W  N  → Near Northeast → Wheaton


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