DC is full of good food and bars. Like anywhere else, it’s also full of bad food and bars. These were some of my highlights but it’s not an exhaustive list, I was there a week and we didn’t eat out loads, but we did do delivery pizza from the punningly named We, the Pizza and I liked the sausages and peppers topping best!

Wisdom

This is one of Matt and John’s local bars. There is a huge range of gin and they make their own tonic.  They also have just started a gin club. Well worth a visit.

Green Hat

I really wanted to go and visit this distillery and I’m so glad I did. They’re open to visitors on Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm and they are really friendly and into what they do. Green Hat is unusual for a gin maker in that it makes it’s neutral grain spirit from Virginia wheat. As a gin it’s a lighter and not so juniper lead. They also make a winter and summer version but the regular Green Hat is a perfect summer gin and good with soda water as well as tonic.

Union Market

We were so near here, when we went to Green Hat that Matt and his cousin, Elizabeth decided that we should visit here. Union Market used to be a wholesale market and fell into disuse in the 1980’s.  It’s now a place to buy food and eat and shop. The closest description I can come up with is Borough Market except you know, indoors and more fancy! I really liked Union Market and wish that I’d had a bit more time to explore it and maybe buy stuff. As it was, we ate a knish at Buffalo and Bergen and drank a gin rickey (made with Green Hat!). I also bought some lovely slate coasters at Salt and Sundry. Next time, I’ll need a bigger suitcase!

Sona Cremery and Wine Bar

This was somewhere I really wanted to visit and as luck would have it is just around the corner from Matt and John’s house in Capitol Hill. Matt and I had a very civilised plate of cheese and a couple of glasses of wine.

I really wanted to go back for the mac and cheese, although that didn’t happen, I do want to go back when they start making their own cheese!

The Gibson

Matt’s favourite place for cocktails. Lovely. I had a Sazerac, a perfect Manhattan and a Remember the Maine and then I fell over! Well worth a visit.

Den of Thieves

This place gets a mention as it where we waited before our spot at Gibson was ready. I loved Gibson but would have been happy to spend more time here. It was very quiet but when we passed it after 11pm, it was heaving as the DJ had arrived.