Your insider guide for both trendy and classic spots to eat, shop, and play in the DC area. Read More Here. Built after the Civil War to fulfill Pierre L’Enfant’s grand plan for Washington, the traffic circle then called Pacific Circle—later renamed for Union general Samuel Francis Du Pont—b egan shaping the Dupont Circle neighborhood that we know today. Over the decades, the area expanded with an influx of embassies, shops, restaurants, and residences. Meanwhile, its neighbor to the east, Logan Circle, experienced a similar bout of development as Victorian rowhouses sprang up and nearby14th Street cemented itself as a major retail destination. Both areas took a hit after the 1968 riots but bounced back, thanks in part to a surge of LGBTQ+ residents. Today, they’re among the city’s buzziest neighborhoods, with plenty of places to eat, shop, and have fun. Here are some new spots as well as old favorites.   Eat and Drink Gemini location_on 1509 17th St., NW language Website Photograph courtesy of Gemini. Probably DC’s only pasta restaurant with no chairs, Gemini is one-of-a-kind in more ways than one. It’s a natural-wine shop, an ice-cream parlor, and a sourdough-pizza place, but it truly shines with pastas such as Greek gnocchi, called gkogkes, in tomato butter and small plates like roasted Japanese sweet potato with feta. Gemini, which opened in 2023, has an undeniable pedigree, too: It’s run by chef Johnny Monis, who was behind Komi and Little Serow, two of the most beloved and distinctive Washington restaurants of the past few decades.   Kayu location_on 1633 17th St., NW language Website Photograph by Rey Lopez. Last year, chef Paolo Dungca announced the closure of his hip, modern Filipino restaurant on H Street. Less than two months later, Kayu was back with a cozy new dining room in Dupont Circle. Try Dungca’s decadent cassava cake topped with crab fat, jamón Ibérico, and trout roe; chorizo sliders with pickled papaya; or the grilled half chicken with spicy vinegar.   Casamara location_on 2002 P St., NW language Website Photograph courtesy of Scale Hospitality. Chihuahua-born chef Christian Irabién opened one of DC’s best Mexican restaurants in 2023. Amparo Fondita feels buzzy and cool at dinner—look for ceviches or aguachiles, plus festive large plates like chile en nogada—but we also recommend the set lunch, inspired by the quick multi-course comida corrida tradition in Mexico City.   Mikko Nordic Fine Food location_on 1636 R St., NW language Website Photograph courtesy of Mikko Nordic Fine Food. Opened in 2018 by the former executive chef for the ambassador of Finland, Mikko Nordic Fine Food embraces hygge, the Scandinavian term for a feeling of cozy contentment. You’ll find Danish open-faced sandwiches with gravlax or shrimp on rye bread, Swedish pancakes, and hearty main courses like chicken schnitzel with caper butter. It’s also a good place to stop for just a hot toddy, hot chocolate, or glögg (mulled wine).   Alfreda location_on 2016 P St., NW language Website Photograph by John Rorapaugh/Leading DC. Fine-dining chef Russell Smith aimed to perfect a New York–ish style of thin-crust pizza when he opened Alfreda in 2024. What he came up with is a laid-back neighborhood spot with indulgent yet simple pies. The Alfreda—with crushed tomato, fresh and aged mozzarella, romano, oregano, and black pepper—is somehow more than the sum of its parts.   Pappe location_on 1317 14th St., NW language Website When a team of Indian chefs opened Pappe in 2018, it was the only Indian restaurant along 14th Street. It also helped usher in a boom in creative yet traditional South Asian restaurants that has made DC’s Indian food scene even more exciting. Some of the best dishes on the menu are kissed by an open-fire grill: Tellicherry lamb chop, chicken tikka masala, and fresh naan. Pappe’s particularly powerful vindaloo is another specialty.   Sura location_on 2016 P St., NW language Website Photograph by Rachel Paraoan. Drawing inspiration from Bangkok’s buzzing Chinatown, Andy and Billy Thammasathiti opened Sura in 2022. They describe the underground space as an “izakaya” or tavern, and serve great drinking food, such as sesame chips with peanut-curry/pork dip, spicy duck laab, and wok-fried pork-belly rice. Wash it all down with house cocktails, beer, or sake.   Mallard location_on 1337 14th St., NW language Website Shrimp n’ grits at Mallard. Photograph by John Rorapaugh/LeadingDC. Former Vidalia chef Hamilton Johnson opened Mallard in 2024 just off Logan Circle. Dishes such as pimiento cheese with Ritz crackers and chow chow; Sea Island pea dip; shrimp and grits with country ham; and blue-catfish schnitzel draw from Johnson’s South Carolina roots, as does the vintage-Americana decor.   Onggi location_on 2100 P St., NW language Website Named after the earthenware pots that Koreans traditionally use to ferment kimchi, Onggi opened last year. Delicate side dishes such as marinated perilla leaves, mountain vegetables, white-pear kimchi, and stir-fried anchovies are refined, but there are also bigger flavors, including kimchi-pork stew, grilled short ribs, and bone broth with noodles. A jeongsik set-lunch special—your choice of stew or protein such as grilled bulgogi or mackerel, accompanied by three sides and multigrain rice—is an affordable way to taste the products of Onggi’s kitchen.   Shop and Things to Do Solid State Books location_on 1809 14th St., NW language Website Photograph by Gwen Hunter. In addition to a wide-ranging selection of reads, Black-owned Solid State Books offers mindfulness workshops, craft circles, and monthly book clubs—themes include romance, mystery, and LGBTQ+. For $50, you can secure a yearlong membership, which grants access to discounted books and event tickets at both the Logan Circle store, which opened in late 2023, and the original location on H Street, Northeast.   Backcountry location_on 2108 14th St., NW language Website Utah sporting-goods retailer Backcountry chose Logan Circle as the site for its first Washington-area store in 2023. Shoppers can find apparel and equipment for skiing, cycling, camping, and more, including products from outdoor lifestyle brands like Patagonia, the North Face, and Sorel.   Plntr location_on 1825 18th St., NW language Website Photograph by Farrah Skeiky. Netflix-loving locals might remember when Plntr was featured as a date spot in the 2024 DC season of Love Is Blind. The plant boutique, which opened in Dupont in 2020 and expanded to Crystal City last year, offers all kinds of greenery—plus accessories, gardening supplies, and repotting services. It also hosts floral arrangement and other craft classes, including card-making and even an herbal-tea-making intensive.   Puppy Sphere location_on 1638 R St., NW language Website Photograph by Puppy Sphere. Puppy Sphere, a chain of puppy yoga studios, brought its adorable operation to Dupont Circle last spring. A $60 ticket gets you access to a 45-minute beginner-friendly yoga class followed by a half-hour snuggle session with pups from local breeders and rescue groups, plus sparkling mocktails.   Glowbar location_on 1450 P St., NW language Website The second DC location of the buzzy facial haven Glowbar arrived in Logan Circle last winter. Facials are performed by licensed aestheticians, who customize services to each client’s skincare needs using techniques like dermaplaning, chemical peels, and LED light therapy. A $65 monthly membership fee includes one facial each month, plus exclusive merch and discounts on Glowbar’s skincare line.   Shinola location_on 1631 14th St., NW language Website Photograph by Joy Asico. Shinola brought its selection of leather-bound timepieces to Logan Circle in 2015, marking the Detroit brand’s third flagship location. In addition to its signature watches, collections include artisan bags, jewelry, and even pet accessories.   Secondi location_on 1702 Connecticut Ave., NW language Website Owned and operated by its founder, Caitrine Callison, since 1986, Secondi is widely recognized as DC’s longest-standing women’s consignment shop. The racks boast a staggering selection of secondhand designer finds—think Gucci bags, Christian Louboutin heels, and David Yurman jewelry—for a fraction of their original price.   Salt Sundry location_on 1625 14th St., NW language Website Salt Sundry for home goods. Photograph Courtesy of Salt Sundry. Founder Amanda McClements expand-ed her do-it-all housewares shop, Salt Sundry, to Logan Circle in 2014, two years after opening her original Union Market location. Shop her selection of goodies by local and artisanal makers, including candles, jewelry, leather goods, handmade ceramics, and decor.   Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market location_on 1600 20th St., NW language Website Photograph by Mariah Miranda. The Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market has been a weekend tradition since 1997. Every Sunday from 8:30 to 1:30, more than 50 farmers and artisans gather to sell the fruits of their labor. Along with produce, local businesses offer coffee beans, baked goods, condiments, and more.   Studio Theatre location_on 1501 14th St., NW language Website Photograph courtesy of Studio Theatre. Known for its intimate 200-person auditorium, Logan Circle’s Studio Theatre has been a cornerstone of DC’s performing-arts scene since it opened in 1978. On the marquee this spring: Purlie Victorious, a Tony-nominated satirical comedy about a reverend who travels through Jim Crow–era Georgia to save his father’s church.   Black Cat location_on 1811 14th St., NW language Website Photograph by Claire Packer. In a city that’s full of music venues, the Black Cat still stands out more than three decades after its founding by former Gray Matter drummer Dante Ferrando. Upcoming headliners include British punk rockers Mclusky, the twee pop band Heavenly, and indie pop singer-songwriter Ritt Momney.   Phillips Collection location_on 1600 21st St., NW language Website Photograph by Mariah Miranda Photography. Founded by art collectors Duncan and Marjorie Acker Phillips more than a century ago, the Phillips Collection houses nearly 6,000 works by artists including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Through early May, visitors can see the exhibition “There Somewhere,” a video installation showcasing the work of artist Peter Campus.   Anderson House location_on 2118 Massachusetts Ave., NW language Website In the early 1900s, American diplomat Larz Anderson and his wife, Isabel, threw their share of soirees at what’s now the historic Anderson House. Today, the Gilded Age mansion is overseen by the Society of the Cincinnati and operates as a museum for the public to tour. Artifacts from the couple’s many extravagant trips abroad remain on display, from Asian ivories to French home furnishings.   Dupont Underground location_on 19 Dupont Cir., NW language Website Photograph by Camila Obscura. Dupont Underground opened in 2016, reimagining a deserted streetcar station into a nonprofit cultural hub. The space hosts a wide variety of programming, including poetry readings and fashion shows. Coming this spring: an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire featuring only four actors and no set or props.   Mary McLeod Bethune Council House location_on 1318 Vermont Ave., NW language Website Photograph courtesy of Mary McLeod Bethune Council House. Mary McLeod Bethune used her Logan Circle home as headquarters for the National Council of Negro Women, an organization she founded in 1935 to advocate for the interests of Black women. Today, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House is recognized as a National Historic Site. Visitors can take guided tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.   What’s Selling The historic neighborhoods of Dupont and Logan circles–epicenters of DC life–are dotted with old condos, townhouses, and a few luxury buildings. Here’s what’s sold in the past few months. Photograph by Photography by Derek Vee. $365,000 A 600-square-foot condo in Logan Circle’s 1225 Lofts building with one bedroom, one bathroom, and large windows. $675,000 A 1908 Dupont Circle condo with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, and lots of natural light. $900,250 A two-floor loft in the St. John’s Wood building in Logan Circle with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, high ceilings, a private balcony, and two assigned parking spaces. $1,440,000 A Dupont Circle townhouse, built in 1885, with three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a den, two fireplaces, a backyard, and a separate two-bedroom apartment. $2,012,000 A late-1880s three-story townhouse in Logan Circle with 2,760 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, five fireplaces, and a deck.   This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Washingtonian.The post Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play in Dupont Circle and Logan Circle first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less