Your insider guide for both trendy and classic spots to eat, shop, and play in the DC area. Read More Here. Formerly an industrial shipyard that revolved around fishing, Southwest DC was once home mainly to working-class Washingtonians—including European immigrants and Black Americans. That held t rue until the late 1950s, when the federal government demolished residences across the neighborhood to build offices and make way for the construction of I-395. The area has long been considered a beacon of arts and culture (it’s where Marvin Gaye grew up, after all)—a reputation solidified after the arrival of Arena Stage in 1961. But it’s taken on a whole new identity since the early 2000s, when District officials set in motion plans to create a waterfront hub. After more than $3.5 billion in investment, the Wharf as we know it today was born—packing in new restaurants, retail, housing, and hot spots across two redevelopment phases, completed in 2017 and 2022. Here are some of our favorite places to eat, shop, and play—both old and new—in this thriving neighborhood.   Where to Eat Capitano location_on 975 Seventh St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Capitano. The all-day eatery Capitano arrived at the Canopy Hotel in March, nodding to the “coastal” Wharf scene with a seasonal menu inspired by the seaside villages of Northern and Southern Italy. Executive chef Sean Lewis-Velasquez reimagines traditional dishes using local ingredients—think scampi made with lump crab. Other highlights include a six-hour-braised beef ragu served with housemade cavatappi and an array of Neapolitan pizzas. A robust cocktail menu pays homage to various regions of Italy: The gin-and-grapefruit Calabria is garnished with a smoke bubble, while the Sicily blends vodka and blood orange with bubbles and Luxado cherries.   Dōgon location_on 1330 Maryland Ave., SW language Website Photograph by Scott Suchman. Chef Kwame Onwuachi, who had last graced the Wharf with the beloved Kith/Kin, made a splash when he returned to DC with his new Afro-Caribbean fine-dining spot, Dōgon, in 2024. Not only has it remained a high-ranker on our 100 Very Best Restaurants roundup—a testament to its spectacular hoe crab and curried branzino—but last year the New York Times declared it one of the 50 best places in the nation to eat.   Jinya Ramen Bar location_on 675 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Jinya Ramen Bar. The Los Angeles–based franchise Jinya Ramen Bar added a Wharf location to its fast-growing DC-area portfolio last August, moving into the roomy indoor-outdoor space formerly occupied by Lucky Buns. While rice bowls and side orders (miso-glazed eggplant, fried octopus over egg tartare, salmon-poke tacos) dot the menu, customizable ramen is the star: Choose from a variety of long-simmered broths and wheat noodles—thin, medium, extra-thick, or spinach—to build your own soup. Or order a chef’s specialty, such as the signature tonkatsu topped with braised pork belly and a seasoned egg.   Willowsong location_on 801 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Willowsong. Chef Jeffrey Williams had big shoes to fill when he opened Willowsong at the InterContinental Washington D.C. last February, taking over the previous home of Kith/Kin and, later, Moon Rabbit. He’s pulled it off thanks to a focus on quirky American cuisine made with regional ingredients. Housemade pasta dishes—such as squid-ink crab orecchiette and creste di gallo topped with oxtail and broccoli rabe—headline the menu, along with locally sourced meat dishes such as a Virginia Wagyu-beef cheeseburger and grilled Pennsylvania pork chops paired with nectarine jam.   Del Mar location_on 791 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph by Scott Suchman. A multi-time honoree on our 100 Very Best Restaurants list, chef Fabio Trabocchi’s Spanish dining room, Del Mar, dishes up our favorite paella in town—and it doesn’t skimp on the lobster, prawns, mussels, and monkfish. Soft Andalusian bread topped with nori crème fraîche and caviar and blue-crab stuffed piquillo peppers are other bites worth splurging for.   Pink Tiger location_on 751 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph by Evy Mages. Like its predecessor, Kaliwa, which closed in late 2024, Pink Tiger serves Southeast Asian cuisine—this time with an American twist. Filipino chef Joseph Castro, previously of Mussel Bar, heads up the menu, which stays true to classics like pad Thai and garlic noodles but plays around with gochujang short ribs and bacon-and-Brussels-sprouts fried rice. For some novelty, choose from a variety of pre-sliced steak cuts and cook them to your liking on a 700-degree tableside lava stone. Jam to live music until 2 am Thursday through Saturday, sipping coconut margaritas and Gorgonzola-stuffed olive martinis—or skip the alcohol and order off the mocktail list, dominated by Aplós’s hemp-based, zero-proof spirits.   Fogo de Chão location_on 698 Maine Ave., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Fogo de Chão. The second area location of the Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão touched down at the Wharf in late 2024. Founded by brothers Arri and Jair Coser in Porto Alegre back in 1979, it stays true to its roots with its churrasco experience—the South American tradition of barbecuing meats tableside over an open flame. Herbivores have a seat at the table, too, with such veggie options as parm-crusted cauliflower steak in basil sauce and chimichurri-marinated seared tofu. Finish with a papaya-vanilla ice-cream blend or truffle-like brigadeiros in a chocolate cookie crust.   Jessie Taylor Seafood location_on 1100 Maine Ave., SW language Website Photograph by Elvert Barnes/Flickr. Family-owned Jessie Taylor Seafood has been a Wharf neighborhood fixture since 1939. While the seafood market’s staggering retail selection is the main draw—take your pick of whole fish, filets, oysters, squid, scallops, and so much more—you can opt to have your fresh blue-crab purchase cooked and seasoned onsite for a boardwalk snack.   Kinfolk Southern Kitchen location_on 685 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Kinfolk. Step into Kinfolk Southern Kitchen, the Wharf’s first barbecue joint, and the large wood-fired oven is the first hint that this place doesn’t play when it comes to meat—including halal options like beef rib and smoked-chicken tandoori. The menu is a trip across the American South, from chicken-sausage gumbo to fried blue catfish, which means there’s also plenty of barrel-aged liquor to go around: Order a pitcher of Bowman Brothers old-fashioneds or Jack Daniel’s Manhattans.   Where to Shop Farmers Market SW location_on 608 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Diverse Markets Management. After a ten-season run near the Waterfront Metro station, Farmers Market SW moved to M Street Landing at the Wharf in April, bringing vendors that offer fresh produce, meat, dairy, and hot prepared meals. Visitors can also find local products from businesses including District Pop Gourmet, Spice Haven, and Plant Bazaar DC. The market is open every Saturday from 9 to 1 through November 21.   Shop Made in DC location_on 10 District Sq., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of Shop Made in DC. Entrepreneurs Stacey Price and Michael Babin cofounded Shop Made in DC in 2017 to support the city’s prolific maker movement. Their chic Wharf outpost carries artisan-crafted goods such as candles, artwork, jewelry, household items, pottery, and all manner of DC-themed knickknacks. It also hosts cultural events and pop-ups that celebrate the city’s creative spirit.   Cordial at the Wharf location_on 70 District Sq., SW language Website Craft is the name of the game at Cordial at the Wharf, an emporium of fine wine, beer, and spirits curated by wine-industry professional Chuck Waldmann. The extensive collection spotlights “local, artisanal libations” over well-known brands. Cordial also hosts in-store tastings to introduce new local and international beverages.   Things to Do Arena Stage location_on 1101 Sixth St., SW language Website Photography by The Washington Post/Getty Images. Having just celebrated its 75th anniversary, Arena Stage is not only a mainstay of our theater scene but a world-renowned institution. Among its many original productions, it launched the world premiere of Tony Award–winning Dear Evan Hansen in 2015. From June 12 through August 9, it’ll host CrazySexyCool, the TLC musical.   Wharf Boathouse location_on 710 Wharf St., SW language Website Take to the water at the Wharf Boathouse, which boasts enough activities to enjoy the Potomac River a different way every time you visit: via canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and more. Offerings include themed kayak tours, sculling, and boat rentals for large groups. And bring your furry friend—dogs are welcome onboard.   Pendry location_on 655 Water St., SW language Website The sleek Pendry hotel at the Wharf crafts a luxury experience with its seasonal Boozy Tea series, a tea-based cocktail service that tweaks tradition. Bites include mini lobster cobbler, Key-lime cheesecake, and a star-spangled-themed doughnut from Astro Doughnuts. Afternoon tea is available for both hotel guests and non-guests, at $80 a person.   Lip Lab location_on 20 District Sq., SW language Website Lip Lab customers can create their own custom lip color, in an engraved case. Photograph by Evy Mages. An answer to the perennial search for the perfect lipstick shade, the custom beauty bar Lip Lab began as a “retailtainment” offshoot of the now-defunct brand Bite Beauty. The Wharf location, which opened in 2023, is one of two outposts in DC. Starting at $45, beauty lovers can reserve a solo session or book a party to make their own lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, or cheek stick in a custom color, with an engraved case.   InStyle Nail Bar location_on 980 Maine Ave., SW language Website With its contemporary, upscale ambience, InStyle Nail Bar brings a full suite of salon offerings to the Wharf, including manicures, pedicures, massages, and body waxing. The pedicure menu offers a variety of foot baths, with scents such as milk and honey, lavender, and lemon-lime, plus scrubs that use volcano crystals or heated basalt stones. There are also mani-pedi selections for kids 12 and under.   Spa at the Wharf location_on 801 Wharf St., SW language Website Photograph courtesy of the Spa at the Wharf. At the tranquil Spa at the Wharf in the InterContinental hotel, you’ll find facials enhanced with IV hydration therapy, deep-tissue massages, packages for couples retreats, and full-body services that include exfoliation and scalp treatments. Spa bookings are available without a hotel reservation.   The Anthem location_on 901 Wharf St., SW language Website Photography by Editorial RF/Getty Images. Owned and operated by the company behind DC’s 9:30 Club, the Anthem hosts indie- and alternative-music concerts at the Wharf. The 6,000-person hall has a fun summer lineup of notable artists including Jack White, Social Distortion, and Robyn.   What’s Selling At the Southwest Waterfront, homes include a mix of new and old—from historic townhouses blocks from the Wharf to high-end condos in the thick of the action. Here’s what’s sold recently. Photograph by Chris Petracco. $322,000 An 800-square-foot condo in the Town Square Towers with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a terrace, and parking. $650,000 A two-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse-style unit at the Carrollsburg community with 2,595 square feet across three levels, a variety of outdoor spaces, and parking. $812,500 An ultra-wide townhouse between the Wharf and Navy Yard with three bedrooms, a living room with a gas fireplace, and a kitchen that opens to a patio. $1,000,000 A never-before-listed one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit at the waterfront Amaris, featuring luxury appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a terrace. $1,250,000 Less than two blocks from the Wharf, a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom, four-level townhouse with heated foyer floors, an updated kitchen, and a loft space.   This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Washingtonian.The post Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play in The Wharf and Southwest Waterfront first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less