Barracks Row was the first commercial center of the city, getting plenty of business from the nearby navy yard and large Marine Corps base. It’s gone through lots of phases: a jobs center during WWII, a site of devastation and grief after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, and in the ‘70s, an LGBTQ center. What’s it all about now? Well, here are some spots worth visiting.
☕ First coffee:
Try As You Are, an insanely fun, new queer bar that doubles as a café and lunch joint during the day. I love their tea lattes and breakfast sandwiches (which they can make totally vegan, wild). Alternatively, there is a Call Your Mother right down the block which never disappoints.
🍴 Where to eat:
It’s never too hot for ramen and Kaiju has the best spicy tonkontsu in the area, along with funky ramens and taiyaki. The unexpected ambiance has neon lights, action figures, and early 2000s music. For something more formal, Rose’s Luxury and its Michelin-starred sister Pineapple & Pearls are out of this world.
🎭 What to do:
Head to a show! Miracle Theater is a historic, single-screen movie theater and venue where you can catch local performers or the latest blockbuster. For a different type of show, check out Crazy Aunt Helen’s famous drag brunches and competitions.
Ramen at Kaiju. (Halah Flynn, Hey DC reader)
🍸 Where to drink:
We looove the Betsy, a rooftop gin bar with Belgian cottage-core vibes and gorgeous drinks. The Mcclintock Forager, with blueberry ice, cardamom, and lemon, is a must-have. For the complete opposite vibe, go to TKYO SPEAKS, a hidden bar under Kaiju with Tokyo-inspired cocktails and decor. It's open till 3 a.m.
