Columbia Heights

The newly restored Columbia Heights pulses with energy. One of DC’s early streetcar suburbs, Columbia Heights is a thriving hilltop neighborhood with unparalleled views of the city, ethnic and soul-food eateries, unassuming taverns and funky bars, indie shops and leafy parks. One of the most bustling neighborhoods in the city, the action can be found on 11th, 14th and 16th streets starting at U Street NW where the streets are alive with young professionals and stroller pushing families. Soak up the vibe at a buzzy pit stop on 11th Street, browse the curio-filled stalls at the Saturday Farmers Market near the Metro Station on 14th then cruise over to 16th Street where embassies fill the once abandoned buildings with towering turrets and stained glass and the Mexican Cultural Institute displays a mural of the country’s history painted within the grand mansion listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Relax alongside the fountains and historic figures of Joan of Arc at Meridian Hill Park, where locals gather every Sunday for a lively afternoon drum circle. Slip away to the neighboring Mount Pleasant, the heart of the Latino community, a culturally diverse yet quaint enclave on the western edge of Columbia Heights. Vintage storefronts, taco-serving cafes, dive bars and Salvadoran markets line the streets that lead to the renowned National Zoo.

Metro: Columbia Heights metro station is 3 miles north of the National Mall (and 1 mile north of U Street). A walker’s paradise, very bikeable and a mecca for all transportation, Columbia Heights is serviced by its own Metro station for the Yellow and Green lines. Metro buses run north and south along 14th and 16th Streets and the Circulator bus runs east and west throughout the city.