Food destinations within easy reach of Washington DC, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Washington DC. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Steamed Maryland blue crab by the bushel and Chesapeake oysters
Annapolis on a day trip from Washington DC is the Maryland capital on the Chesapeake Bay, a 45-minute drive east where Cantler's Riverside Inn and Boatyard Bar and Grill serve steamed blue crab.
Famous for: Lexington Market crab cakes and Faidley's lump-meat crab
Baltimore on a day trip from Washington DC is the Maryland city north of DC where Lexington Market since 1782 holds Faidley's lump-meat crab cake counter, the canonical Mid-Atlantic crab cake.
Famous for: Three-Michelin-star tasting menu at the Inn at Little Washington
Little Washington Virginia on a day trip from Washington DC is the village 1.5 hours west where Patrick O'Connell's Inn at Little Washington holds three Michelin stars and a Virginia-rural fine-dining destination.
Famous for: Monticello AVA wineries and farm-to-table downtown
Charlottesville on a day trip from Washington DC is the Virginia university town in the Monticello American Viticultural Area, with 30 wineries within 30 minutes including Barboursville and King Family.
Famous for: Wineries, breweries, distilleries within 45 minutes of DC
Loudoun County on a day trip from Washington DC is the Northern Virginia wine region 45 minutes west of the city, with 40 wineries marketed as DC's Wine Country and home to Stone Tower and Bluemont.
Famous for: Cobblestone-street oyster houses and Federal-era taverns
Old Town Alexandria on a day trip from Washington DC is the cobblestone Federal-era riverfront 20 minutes south on Metro, where Hank's Oyster Bar and Restaurant Eve serve Chesapeake-leaning menus.
Famous for: Hard cider, apple orchards, Mid-Atlantic farm produce
The Shenandoah Valley on a day trip from Washington DC is the Virginia orchard region 1.5 hours west, with Bold Rock Cider, hard cider tastings and pick-your-own apple orchards in the autumn.
Famous for: Eden Center pho, banh mi and Vietnamese diaspora food court
Eden Center on a day trip from Washington DC is the Falls Church Vietnamese-American complex since 1984, the third-largest Vietnamese-diaspora retail hub in the United States with 120 shops.
Peak food season in Washington DC is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Washington DC rewards trust.