'''Adams Morgan''' is a district of Washington, D.C., encompassing the distinct neighborhoods of Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Mount Pleasant.
Understand
Neighborhoods
'''Adams Morgan''' is best known for the nightlife district from 18th Street and T Street, NW, to just north of 18th Street and Columbia, NW.
'''Columbia Heights''' and '''Mount Pleasant''' are in Washington, D.C.. They are divided by 16th St. NW, the home to many of the city's churches. The main commercial areas are, respectively, 14th St. NW (an urban redevelopment area full of high-rise apartments and shopping centers) and Mount Pleasant Street NW (a historic and largely El Salvadorean main street in crunchy Mount Pleasant). Columbia Road, the main street in nearby Adams Morgan, connects the two areas. The center of Columbia Heights is the <b>Tivoli Theatre</b>, home of the GALA Hispanic Theatre.
Columbia Heights is marked dramatically on its southern border by the <b>Fall Line</b>, which runs along Florida Avenue. This steep escarpment divides America's Piedmont Plateau from the Tidewater region of Virginia. The hill on 13th Street north of Florida Ave., near Cardozo High School produces especially dramatic views overlooking U Street and Downtown Washington D.C.
This natural formation is also responsible for the dramatic terraces and fountains of <b>Meridian Hill, aka Malcolm X Park</b> which, aside from restaurants and bars, is the major point of interest.
Get in
By '''Metro''': the closest stop is '''Woodley Park/Adams Morgan''' on the Red Line, which is actually a good ten minute walk from Columbia and 18th street. Access is possible also from '''Dupont Circle''' (Red Line) or '''Columbia Heights''' (Green or Yellow Lines).
By '''bus''': the '''42''' bus arrives right at the 18th and Columbia intersection.
See
'''Meridian Hill Park''', between 15th & 16th Streets, north of W Street, NW. This park has 18th century European-style terraced landscape and stunning cascading waterfall. Also known as Malcolm X Park.
Do
Buy
Eat
There is one particular specialty in Adams Morgan, and that is the '''Jumbo Slice pizza'''. Various take outs along the 18th St nightlife strip, between Columbia Rd and Florida Ave serve huge, greasy slices of pizza on the cheap to hungry drunks until 4AM. There are different opinions about which of the jumbo slice pizza places is best, with the three most well-known being Pizza Mart (2445 18th St NW), Jumbo Pizza (2341 18th St NW), and Pizza Boli's (1511 U St NW).
Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant offer very different fare, most notably Salvadoran cuisine provided by the area's enormous Salvadoran community. There is one word that you will know after a visit, and that is ''pupusa''. Pupusas are thick corn maize tortillas stuffed with soft cheese, cheese + loroco (a Salvadoran flower), squash, pork, or refried beans, then topped with pickled cabbage and hot sauce. Pupusas revueltas include more than one filling (adding bacon to the cheese pupusas is never a bad idea). They are not healthy, but they are delicious. Pupusas in D.C. are serious business; they are always cooked to order, and will take a good fifteen minutes to prepare. Spanish is awful handy as well (''dos pupusas con queso, por favor''). Aside from pupusas, most dishes on offer are not terribly exciting—unless, that is, you see a Salvadoran soup on the menu, which should be considered a requisite order for serious foodies.
Beware Mexican food served here in the Salvadoran restaurants, or anywhere in D.C., as there is virtually no Mexican immigrant community to speak of. With the single exception of Taqueria D.F., the Mexican dishes are inauthentic rubbish—stick to the Salvadoran entrees.
Alberto's.
Buffeto.
'''Pasta Mia''', 1790 Columbia Road NW, ''+1 202'' 328-9114. Rustic, wonderful homestyle pastas. Watch out for the lines around the block.
'''Amsterdam Falafelshop''', 2425 18th Street NW. Cheap, good falafel with a killer fixings bar. Good fries as well. Cash only, although they do take Euros. Open very late.
Ercilia's Restaurant. 070 Mt Pleasant St NW. 1 202 387-0909. -W 8AM-10PM, Th-Sa 8AM-11PM. 1.50-9. Mount Pleasant's nomination for friendliest Pupuseria in town. It's not just a take-out, there is a nice little restaurant inside, so you can sit back, linger over tasty soups or snack on ''yuca frita''. As a special added bonus, the staff here speak English.
Don Juan Restaurant. 660 Lamont St NW. 1 202 667-0010. 1AM-2AM daily. 1.50-6. Don Juan is far less accessible to non-Spanish speakers, but the pupusas are some of the best in town. The atmosphere is a little weird, with a big disco ball complimenting the big flat-screen tv, and cheap plastic chairs in this basement hole-in-the-wall, but that can heighten the experience with the right attitude.
Don Jaime Restaurant. 209 Mt Pleasant St NW. 3-12. An odd mix of Salvadoran and American diner food on offer, this is an especially good place for brunch. It's very accessible to non-Spanish speakers, and has a bar. The owner is exceptionally friendly.
Gloria's Pupuseria. 411 14th St NW. 1 202 884-1880. AM-11PM daily. 2-9. This is the best known of all the pupuserias in D.C., but its quality thankfully has not yet declined.
Pollo Campero. 229 14th St NW. 1 202 745-0078. ttp://www.campero.com/. 0AM-9PM daily. 4-8. Nostalgic Guatamaltecos take note—Pollo Campero and D.C. get along quite nicely! A Guatemalan fast food chain offering fried chicken which is of significantly higher quality than the garbage you would get at a KFC or Popeye's, along with Central American sides and drinks. It's hardly the best food in the area, but it is fast food, and a fun experience.
El Pollo Sabroso. 153 Mt Pleasant St NW. 1 202 299-0374. -Sa 10:30AM-9PM, Su 11AM-8PM. 5-11. Peruvian roast chicken, with its spices and green salsa, is ''good''. This is the place in the city to get it, with a side of fluffy Spanish rice, yucca, fried plantains, etc., and washed down with some fruit ''licuados'' or ''horchata''. As already said, it's a Peruvian place so skip the pupusas.
El Tamarindo. 785 Florida Avenue NW. 1 202 328-3660. ttp://eltamarindodc.com/. -Th 11AM-3AM; F 11AM-5AM; Sa-Su 10AM-5AM. This Salvadoran place offers solid food and solid drinks at reasonable prices, in a nice, comfortable dining room.
Taqueria Distrito Federal. 463 14th St NW. 1 202 276-7331. ttp://taqueriadf.com. u-W 8AM-9PM, Th-Sa 8AM-11PM. D.C.'s sole authentic Mexican food is served out of this tiny hole-in-the-wall. The tacos are surprisingly good, even compared to those you would get in a city with a large Mexican community, and you won't go wrong with any of the available fillings. Their ''menudo'', available only on weekends, is likewise excellent.
Tonic. 155 Mt Pleasant St NW. 1 202 986-7661. ttp://tonicrestaurant.com/mp/. -Th 5PM-2AM, F-Sa 5PM-3AM, Su 5PM-2AM. Don't let the Mount Pleasant location fool you, this bar/restaurant serves American cuisine, mostly upscale comfort food. The interior is lovely, and full of interesting and friendly people. It's easily one of the best places in this part of town to have a late meal with a big group over several bottles of wine.
Drink
There are too many to list here, especially as new bars and clubs seem to crop up weekly; so you'd be well-served to do your own reconnaissance up and down 18th Street. Start with The Reef, Adams Mill, Chief Ike's, or Asylum if you'd like something lively but low-maintenance—many have sidewalk or rooftop patios in the warmer months. Into something a bit more trendy? Check out Felix Lounge and Spy Lounge for martinis, or Metropolitan for champagne-based cocktails. Whatever your tastes, be sure to stop by the legendary Madam's Organ.
Angles Bar and Billiards. 339 18th St NW. Another fine spot for fleeing the nightclubbers.
Bourbon. 321 18th St NW. ttp://www.bourbondc.com. -Th 6PM-2AM, F-Sa 6PM-3AM; brunch: Sa-Su 11AM. The Adams-Morgan branch of the original Glover Park location offers a very wide selection of its namesake liquor. Try the low-fat alternative grilled ostrich burger if you are feeling a little adventurous.
Brass Monkey . 317 18th St NW. ttp://www.brassmonkeysaloon.com/. Four bars in one, Karaoke bar in the basement name Peyote grill, Dance floor with cocktail tables on the second floor. The third floor bar has pool tables and old rusty/ic couches, then there is the upstairs bar which is really divey and has a roof attached where you can go in the warm weather. Go for a crazy drunken night, but don't expect much class. Sloppy and fun if your in the right mood.
Chloe. 473 18th St NW. ttp://www.chloedc.com. Adams Morgan takes a stab at high end nightclubbing.
Madam's Organ. 461 18th St NW. ttp://www.madamsorgan.com. u-Th 5PM-2AM, F-Sa 5PM-3AM. over: usually $3. Live music every night - mainly blues but also jazz and folky stuff. Tuesday night is acoustic Delta blues. It has an atmosphere, with its stuffed animals, appliances and nick-nacks hanging from the walls and ceiling.
Millie & Al's. 440 18th St NW. Adams Morgan can be a bit much at times, too many shiny nightclub shirts, too many silly cocktails. Seek refuge at this dive bar that has been on 18th St for over 30 years. Try the pizza and don't miss $1 beers on Wednesday. Beware that it is often extremely crowded with the very drunk and very young.
Pharaoh's Rock N' Blues Bar & Grill. 817 Columbia Rd NW. Live blues at the weekend
Reef. 446 18th St NW. Multilevel bar with rooftop deck offering great views of the neighborhood. As its name suggests, there is an aquatic theme, and aquariums separate booths on the second floor.
Tryst. 459 18th St NW. ttp://trystdc.com. Very hip cafe/bar that has good food as well. The atmosphere is very friendly and encourages you to just hang out for a while. Free wireless during the week.
Sleep
'''Adams Inn''': a Bed & Breakfast located short walking distance north of the 18th and Columbia intersection. Inexpensive and international, Adams Inn is not a bad place to spend a few nights. A few cautions: shared bathrooms, few amenities (no TV, etc.), and breakfast never changes.
Washington Marriott Wardman Park. 660 Woodley Road, NW Washington, District Of Columbia 20008. 02-328-2000. ttp://www.wardmanparkmarriott.com/. :00PM. 2:00PM. Situated on 16 acres of gardens, this hotel has hosted a long list of U.S. presidents, dignitaries and other VIPs. A huge hotel, the Marriott has 1,316 guestrooms and suites, including 125 VIP suites, as well as an outdoor heated pool.
Contact