Enjoy a variety of experiences in this vibrant District neighborhood
After breakfast, take a tour of President Lincoln’s Cottage. We bet you didn’t know that for over a quarter of his presidency, Abraham Lincoln lived on a hilltop in Northwest DC. Here, he visited with wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated men, women and children and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. Tours are guided and space is limited, so you’ll want to book your visit in advance.
Walk around the neighborhood and check out all of its residential developments — single-family homes, rowhouses and a number of condos. Then, visit the Adams Memorial, commonly known as the Grief Statue, by Augustus St. Gaudens in Rock Creek Cemetery. Henry Adams commissioned the memorial two years after the suicide of his wife in the winter of 1884. The figure symbolizes "the acceptance, intellectually, of the inevitable.” Find some reflection and solace in Petworth.
Loyalty Bookstore
At this neighborhood bookstore, owners Hannah Oliver Depp and Christine Bollow focus on curating titles, stationery, home goods and programming that reflect the colorful and diverse Petworth neighborhood. If you're looking for a particularly fun way to engage with a new book from a writer in the BIPOC, queer or disabled community, check out Loyalty's stacked calendar of events or consider its quarterly Leap of Faith surprise box.
This historic library hosts more than just books – you can do arts and crafts or enjoy family storytime. We recommend choosing one of your favorite novels and taking it for a read at Grant Circle. The park within the circle is owned and administered by the National Park Service and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Petworth Cigars’ storefront on Georgia Avenue has been in the family for 45 years. Dyane Johnson, a DC native, lovingly converted it from salon to boutique cigar shop in hopes of creating a community-driven space for the neighborhood to come together and enjoy a selection of tip-top products. Its Cigar 101 classes and pairings are great opportunities to expand your knowledge about the nuances and history of cigars – and the Petworth neighborhood.
Timber Pizza Co.
From pop-up dining destinations to buzzworthy restaurants and local watering holes, there's a restaurant for everyone in Petworth. Discover the best places to eat in the neighborhood and find out where you can get wood-fired Neapolitan pies, try "New Japanese" fare, get a book with your booze and much more.
By now, you’re probably ready for a post-dinner drink. Head to any one of Petworth's low-key neighborhood drinking holes for craft cocktails, brews or natural wines. At Red Derby, for instance, you'll find crews of locals perched on the rooftop drinking canned beers and playing board games.
Room 808
Room 808 is a comedy club that feels like your artsy friend's living room. Five nights a week, you can find up-and-coming comedians performing from a patterned rug at the front of the space. Not only is it a uniquely intimate experience, Room 808 is also one of the best deals in town: pay approximately $10 a ticket and bring your own food and drink.
Looking for your next adventure? Check out all of the neighborhoods in the District.
