Anacostia waterfront neighbourhood built around Nationals Park and Audi Field: Bluejacket brewery, The Salt Line oysters and the city's newest restaurant rows.
The Salt Line in Washington DC is the Navy Yard New England-style seafood room overlooking Diamond Teague Park, with Connecticut-style lobster rolls.
Signature: Lobster roll, Oysters by the dozen
Order: The hot Connecticut-style lobster roll on a butter-toasted bun; the menu favourite since opening.
Tip: Patio runs from April to October and faces the Anacostia Booking recommended for weekends.
Albi in Washington DC is Michael Rafidi's Michelin-star Navy Yard Levantine wood-fire dining room on 4th Street SE, a one-Michelin-star kitchen with a James.
Signature: Wood-fire kebabs, Manakish flatbread
Order: The hummus and the wood-fire shish barak (lamb dumpling); the editorial standout of the menu.
Tip: The tasting menu Yellow Door dinner is the chef's signature ticket; book the upstairs Yellow Door room directly.
The Anthem is the I.M.P. flagship at The Wharf that opened October 2017, a $60 million venue that scales from 2,500 seated to 6,000 standing for arena-grade touring rock, pop and hip-hop.
Tip: Doors typically 19:00, headliner around 21:00. The standing-room floor fills early; the side-balcony tickets are the easier sit-down option.
Pearl Street Warehouse at The Wharf is the Union Stage Presents listening room that opened October 2017, booking Americana, rock, country, soul and Go-Go acts most nights of the week.
Tip: Reserved seating in front, general admission at the back. The diner-style menu runs through the show and the burger sticks the late-night order.
Whiskey Charlie on the 10th floor of the Canopy Wharf hotel pairs an outdoor deck with an indoor lounge called The Cabin, with marina-line views of the Potomac and the city's monument cluster.
Tip: Strict 21+ door. Weeknights are the easier walk-in; reserve via OpenTable for weekend sunset windows on the deck.
12 Stories tops the InterContinental at The Wharf with a near 360-degree view of the Potomac, the Kennedy Center and the monument core, run by Gerber Group out of New York.
Tip: Reserve a window seat through the Gerber Group site for sunset; the bar walks in easier Monday to Thursday before 19:00.
Officina Terrazza is Nick Stefanelli's third-floor Rome-style rooftop at The Wharf, with fire pits, an indoor and outdoor flow, an expansive Champagne list and Italian small plates.
Tip: Year-round terrazza; the indoor side stays warm in winter. Reserve via OpenTable for the river-view tables on weekend nights.