Exciting Things to Do in Adams Morgan DC - 2021
When visiting or moving to the nation’s capital, checking out the things to do in Adams Morgan DC should be high on your priority list.
Washington DC has a lot more to offer than monuments and government buildings. Adams Morgan DC is a great example of this, especially if you enjoy all things eclectic and diverse.
From a plethora of daytime activities to the vibrant nightlife, there’s always something fun to discover–and with the legalization of cannabis, you can take your adventure to a whole new level.
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Adams Morgan Washington DC, we got you covered with some of the area’s top food hot spots, shopping, nightlife, and more.
Adams Morgan Things to Do for Fun
Adams Morgan is a hip little spot complete with historic row houses and a wide range of independently-owned shops.
From tasty food options to unique stores, there’s something for everyone. It won’t take you very long to find what are sure to become some of your new favorite places.
Adams Morgan Food Hot Spots
One of the best-known areas of Adams Morgan is 18th Street. It’s home to a diverse mix of music venues, bars, shopping, cafes, and restaurants.
Your list of things to do in Adams Morgan wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the local food hot spots, and this place has tons. The only question now is, where do you start?
You’ll definitely want to stop at the Line Hotel, one of the most upscale and well-known hotels in DC. It contains a variety of dining options, including two restaurants from Michelin Award-winning Chef Erik Bruner-Yang, Brothers and Sisters, and Spoken English.
Brothers and Sisters features a wide-ranging menu with options such as chewy knife-cut noodles with sausage, fried calamari kakiage, and farro congee with short rib and black garlic.
Spoken English is a standing-only restaurant with unique selections like wagyu short rib, gourmet grilled cheese, and a whole duck feast.
The Line isn’t the only place for food-related things to do in Adams Morgan DC. There’s Tryst Coffeehouse, which serves up delectable coffee and offers all-day brunch and lunch menus with options for everyone.
You also might want to consider stopping by Perry’s, a long-standing favorite featuring Japanese cuisine, or Smoke & Barrel, a perfect spot for beer and barbeque.
Adams Morgan Shopping Areas
For those looking to indulge a little, there are plenty of Adams Morgan shopping hot spots to investigate.
If you have a flair for fashion, take a peek inside Meeps. It’s a trendy vintage clothing store filled with items from the 70s and 80s. It also has a dedicated space inside for local artisans to sell their clothing and accessories.
If books are more your thing, you’ll want to head to Idle Time Books. This long-standing shop has a vast assortment of new and used, recent, and out-of-print books to investigate. There’s also plenty of CDs, records, and so much more.
Speaking of records, you’ll find plenty of used vinyl shops in Adams Morgan. Smash Records features indie and punk selections, while Som Records has a mix of intriguing new releases, used records, and rare finds.
Adams Morgan Shops for Weed – Legalized
If Adams Morgan was hip before, the availability of weed (and the ability to smoke it legally) has made it even more so.
It’s become a popular activity to head to a local dispensary before heading out to explore all that Adams Morgan has to offer.
With the rising popularity of cannabis, the number of shops has increased. One of Adams Morgan’s best, however, is Gifted Curators.
No trip to this hip part of Washington DC is complete without a stop here. It’s one of the most popular spots for visitors and residents alike, one of the main reasons being because it’s more than just a place to get legally blazed.
Many people who frequent Gifted Curators come because it’s a fun place to be. You’d be surprised how much time you can pass shopping around and having conversations with both staff and other visitors. It won’t take you long to discover why people love this place and keep coming back for more.
Adams Morgan Art Walk
One of the best features of Adams Morgan is how culturally diverse it is. It attracts artists of all kinds who settle in the area and put their work on display.
Whether you’re an artist yourself or you enjoy unique and eclectic pieces, then you’ll want to take some time to explore the Adams Morgan Art Walk.
As one of the top things to do in the area, the Adams Morgan Art Walk provides you with a new way to experience art. The area essentially turns into an outdoor art museum that you can explore simply by walking along the streets.
Various shops throughout Adams Morgan feature artwork from the DC area’s best artists. As you traverse the self-guided tour, you get to learn more about the area, its entrepreneurs, its activists, and more.
Discover Adams Morgan DC Nightlife
When the sun goes down, the Adams Morgan nightlife heats up.
From the hippest nightclubs to the most laid-back bars, the Adams Morgan DC nightlife scene is one of the most diverse you’ll ever experience. Here, we’ll offer up some of the hottest Adams Morgan night life spots.
Adams Morgan Clubs
For those that want to dance the night away, there are several unforgettable Adams Morgan clubs. Both residents of DC and visitors alike fill up the local bars and clubs after the sun sets, offering up a diverse party almost every night.
First up, we’ve got Grand Central, a venue that offers a sunken dance floor, main bar, and upstairs lounge. It’s open seven days a week and features nightly happy hours, drink specials, and a live DJ Thursdays through Saturdays.
If you enjoy blues, you won’t want to miss Madam’s Organ. An Adams Morgan landmark, Madam’s Organ offers live music, dancing, stiff drinks, and soul food every night.
Or, if you prefer to make your own music, you can always swing by Muzette, DC’s first private-room karaoke bar. You can rent rooms by the hour and enjoy some incredible Korean food while you sing the night away with friends.
Hopping Around Adams Morgan Bars and Clubs
One of the best things about Adams Morgan DC nightlife is that you don’t have to settle in one place all evening.
Instead, you can hop around from one place to another at your leisure. The area is set up perfectly for such activities. It’s almost as if Adams Morgan transforms at night. It’s still bustling, but the energy is very different from what it is during the day.
You can experience the nightlife in an entirely different way with a joint. Before you head out, grab some prerolls from Gifted Curators. Depending on where you go, there are places in Adams Morgan that will let you light up where smoking is acceptable.
What to Do In Adams Morgan with Kids?
While Adams Morgan might be best known for outstanding nightlife and legal weed, that doesn’t mean it’s not a family-friendly location. If you have kids, there are still plenty of things to do.
The Adams Morgan Art Walk is always a great option. The artwork on display isn’t only for adults. Kids of all ages will love to see the unique murals and other pieces showcased by the shops in the area.
Another option to consider is taking the kids to one of the parks in the area (or surrounding areas). Younger children can burn off some energy on the playground at the Marie Reed Learning Center. There are plenty of slides, swings, and things to climb. Or, you can take them to Kalorama Park, a small park on Columbia Road and Kalorama Road.
If you come during September, specifically during the second weekend, you and the family can experience Adams Morgan Day.
This family-friendly annual celebration features art, music, and a variety of other activities for people of all ages. You can listen to live music, play games at the kids zone, visit vendors along the Artisan Stroll, and enjoy specials from businesses throughout the area.
Adams Morgan Things to Do - Checklist
There’s no shortage of things to do in Adams Morgan.
From checking out the Adams Morgan Art Walk to doing a little shopping to experiencing the bustling DC nightlife, there’s something in this diverse area for everyone.
With the increasing acceptance and accessibility of legal weed here, you can now take your activities to the next level by smoking a little weed from Gifted Curators beforehand.
Whether you prefer daytime activities or indulging in the Adams Morgan nightlife, you’ll be hard-pressed to get bored. It’s definitely an area you don’t want to miss.
