Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Georgetown's picturesque Victorian streetscapes make it D.C.'s most famous neighborhood, with five-star restaurants in historic row houses and casual cafés sandwiched between large national chain stores.
At its beginnings in the mid-1700s, Georgetown was a Maryland tobacco port. Today, the neighborhood is one of D.C.'s premier shopping districts, as well as a tourist and architectural attraction. And while recent additions to the neighborhood seem more apt to be chains, there are some standout local restaurants that cater to the budgets of college students, middle-income travelers, and D.C.'s well-heeled elite.
Skip the chain bakeries and head to Baked & Wired for their legendary cupcakes (the red velvet is a must), savory scones, and chocolate chip cookies. Any D.C. native will tell you this is one of their favorite spots! Also, coffee lovers will be pleased with all the options on the menu.
Inside a picturesque blue Georgetown row house, you will find Café Georgetown, a chic, European-inspired café serving pastries such as carrot cake and baklava. The café has an extended coffee and tea menu, but what guests come for is the exquisite latte art. If you're visiting during cherry blossom season, a cherry blossom latte is a must! At $7, they are pricier than your average latte, but they are worth the splurge.
Eat tasty pastries and sandwiches with a purpose—the sales of this bakery support veteran and military spouses' entrepreneurship programs. This quaint bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, sandwiches, and coffee.
