DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : Around Capitol Hill

Bustling with the business of government , Capitol Hill is also a destination for shopping, entertainment, food and drink, or simply strolling its handsome neighborhood streets. Approached from the west, the area begins with the meticulously landscaped US Capitol complex, which, in addition to the Capitol itself and its giant staff office buildings, includes the splendidly renovated US Botanic Garden, the stately Supreme Court Building, and the three buildings of the Library of Congress. Union Station, to the north, is filled with diverse shops and restaurants and is one of the finest railroad terminals in the world. Farther to the east, beyond the Capitol, lies the residential area, containing streetfuls of pleasing East Coast domestic architecture. Eastern Market on 7th St, SE, serves as a community center, and a pleasant walk farther to the east leads to Lincoln Park, with its outstanding memorial statues (see Best of the Rest), beginning at 11th St.

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A Day Around Eastern Market

Morning

Before a day of shopping, begin with a bit of history at the Library of Congress , a handsome example of the Italian Renaissance style, with unsurpassed interiors. The first tour is at 10:30am.

Turn right to East Capitol Street, right again, and continue one block to the Folger Shakespeare Library and Theater . The Elizabethan theater is enchanting, and the material displayed is both rare and fascinating.

Walk east to 7th Street and turn right. A little over two blocks farther on is Eastern Market . On weekends it is surrounded by arts and crafts vendors and flower stalls. The Market Lunch inside is a great choice for lunch.

Afternoon

If you visit the market on a Saturday, spend the afternoon at the Capitol Hill Flea Market, across the street from Eastern Market. It features 100 or more vendors selling antiques, Oriental rugs, fabrics, fine art photographs, jewelry, and other items. If the flea market is closed, walk a block south of Eastern Market and visit Woven History and Silk Road (311–5 7th St, SE Map Q4 202-543-1705 Open 10am–6pm daily) for its fabrics, rugs, and crafts from Asia and South America.

To return home, turn right and the Eastern Market metro stop is straight ahead of you.
Alleys and Carriageways

The alleys of Capitol Hill were notorious in the 19th century for their squalid and cramped residences. Today, those sites have been turned into charming little homes.
America

An enormous restaurant with an enormous menu – over 100 entrées – spread over three stories of Union Station and on to a walkway in good weather. Traditional American fare, such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to New American cuisine.
Bartholdi Park and Fountain

Another oasis for Capitol Hill visitors, this immaculate park is bursting with flowers and ornamental plants. Its symmetrical design radiates out from the fine Gilded Age cast-iron Bartholdi Fountain, a three-story high construction of supple human forms, European-style lights, and a non-stop flow of water.
Bread and Chocolate

A restaurant and bakery with great sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts.
Bullfeathers

Popular with politicians, this bar has a better-than-average selection of salads, sandwiches, and hamburgers. Crowded at weekday lunchtimes.
Café Berlin

A German restaurant in a townhouse setting. Wiener schnitzel , pork loin with sauerkraut, and other hearty dishes. The desserts are tempting.
Christ Church

This elegant church, built in 1805, had many prominent parishioners, including presidents Madison and Monroe.
Dubliner Pub

An Irish pub with free-flowing pints and good solid food: try filet of salmon, lamb with mustard crust or the shepherd’s pie. Outdoor patio in summer. Irish music from 9pm.
Eastern Market

Completed in 1873, Eastern Market has been an important element in the history of Capitol Hill. Designed by a prominent local architect, Adolph Cluss, in an Italianate style, the market symbolized the urbanization of the city at the end of the Civil War. Since then, it has served as a meeting place for residents, and recently as a focal point in the revitalization of the area. The market has been repeatedly threatened with closure.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under $30
- $30–$50
- $50–$75
- $75–$100
- over $100