The first finds on Capitol Hill in Washington DC

Aaron & I took a trip to Washington DC this last spring, it was a great time for a mom & son to spend time together. While we were there we found some very eclectic fun places to eat, all of them a bit off the beaten path but accessible via the Metro and short walks. As a family we find ourselves always on the hunt for great coffee houses, being coffee addicts finding a great cup of coffee is not just something we enjoy, but often times is a necessity to maintaining civility and stamina on a trip. Our trip to DC wasn’t any different and after visiting several coffee houses in the city we found a couple worth mentioning along with some truly great places to eat.

Often a trip to DC means spending all your time in the mall area eating overpriced tourist food but with a little planning, a Metro map and an adventurous spirit we found some really wonderful fun neighborhoods with interesting shops, beautiful buildings, great outdoor markets and wonderful people. Next time you travel to our nations capitol take some time and check some of these unique eating establishments along with their delightful neighborhoods.

One of our first finds happened as a result of our search for a coffee house we had heard about in the Capitol Hill area. Peregrine Espresso on 660 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC 2000 It’s located is a really fun area just off Capitol Hill, the Eastern Market is held on this street and while returning for our second coffee fix we stumbled upon this wonderful market. It is part farmers market, part wonderful art show…not the ticky tacky stuff of flea markets but really great art. Peregrine is a small, busy, very modern coffee house that just happens to make amazing coffee. We tried several of their drinks from straight shots of espresso to mochas and lattes. Each drink reflected true skill and commitment to fine caffeinated beverages.


Our search for Peregrine lead us to our next truly great find. Just around the corner from the coffee house we noticed a boulangerie that was always packed. It was light and airy with long communal tables that friends and strangers shared. It had the look of a typical European Patisserie that you find on almost every corner and it called us to come join in the feast. Turns out they are actually started in Brussels and there are several located throughout Europe, Washington DC and New York City. As we passed the windows the food looked amazing so we ventured back into this fun neighborhood to give La Pain Quotidien 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
at 7th Street Washington, D.C. a try. We knew we were in the right place when there was an appetizer of a basket of artisan breads and French jams on the menu! They were wonderful, as was our meal. Fresh, locally grown food that tasted as if it was from your garden. I had a beautiful salad and quiche, Aaron tried a sandwich with local organic turkey that looked wonderful. The menu reflects their philosophy about food “Nothing but the finest ingredients make it to our communal table—farm fresh produce, fragrant herbs, artisanal cheeses and, of course, our handmade organic breads.”

Need I say more?

Both these great finds can be found just off the Metro: Eastern Market stop.