The Wharf in Washington, D.C., is a vibrant waterfront destination that seamlessly blends modernity with charm. With its lively atmosphere, it's perfect for a date night or a casual stroll along the scenic Potomac River. Visitors can indulge in an array of amazing restaurants, cozy hotels, and unique gift shops, along with delightful spots for sweets. Whether you're in the mood for brunch, sailing, or simply enjoying the euphoric experience of being by the water, there's something for everyone here. Plus, with venues like The Anthem hosting various concerts and a plethora of top bars, the Wharf is an ideal spot for an incredible outing. read more

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Came here for a show at Union Stage during a staycation in DC. It was a short walk from our hotel (20min). The area has been gentrified from the former Wharf area I visited back in the day. There was an impressive amount of restaurants, hotels, and concert venues in the area. We entered Union Stage for our concert. The upstairs area had a bar area and a e had to descend downstairs to the concert hall venue. We grabbed a quick bite of snack options at the bar area and a drink: the snack was tasty, the drink ok, but overpriced, and the service good. The ambiance of concert venue was moody and dark, but in a good way, enough for you to enjoy the atmosphere while taking in the show. Note: the venue is standing room only, so make sure you were comfortable shoes. All in all, we enjoyed the concert and look forward to coming back and exploring more of the concert/food options here. read more

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The Wharf DC is a remarkable waterfront city. Located in the heart of SW DC, The Wharf is an excellent stop on the itinerary for tourists and locals. Steeped in American history from early Native American inhabitants and European settlers, to post-Civil War era and Reconstruction, The Wharf's rich history runs concurrent with America's most notable events and pivotal eras from its birth to present. I remember the old Wharf and SW Waterfront and what it meant to me and the community. Captain White Seafood, Phillips Seafood, the night clubs (H2O, Zanzibar, etc.), they all are fond memories of the old SW Waterfront. The Municipal Fish Markert (better known as The Wharf to DC natives) was the premier destination to purchase bushel crabs, steamed seafood, and fresh seafood that you otherwise couldn't get at your local grocery store. However, the current Wharf is one heck of a consolation. The one-mile stretch of waterfront has something for families, date night, and leisure. Here you can find high-end hotels, diverse dining options, pharmacies, breweries, an open-air fish market, concert hall, outdoor entertainment, a marina, yacht club, water excursions, spas, and early childhood development facilities, just to name a few of the anchors. The open-air fish market, Jessie's Seafood, is the nation's oldest continuously operating open-air fish market and the last of the seafood vendors to occupy The Wharf. Getting here: The Wharf is one of the most accessible neighborhoods in D.C.. The DC Metro system and VRE connect virtually the entire National Capital Region to this city within a city. It is in close proximity to L'Enfant Plaza Metro, VRE Station (L'Enfant Plaza), Union Station Metro, Federal Center SW Metro, Waterfront Metro, Smithsonian Metro, and Reagan International Airport. You'll also appreciate the abundance of underground garage parking and street parking. Street parking is limited and adherence to parking laws is strictly enforced. The Water Taxi connects The Wharf's Transit Pier provides access to Georgetown Waterfront (Washington Harbor), National Harbor, MD, and Alexandria Waterfront. One thing to note: The Wharf gets insanely crowded on weekends and during warmer months when outdoor activities are hosted and people are out long into the night. Consider taking public transportation or prepare to park in the underground garage. If visiting D.C., put The Wharf on your itinerary for at least a 1/2 day of activities or in the least, lunch/dinner and entertainment. For locals, The Wharf is the place to enjoy some of the best the city has to offer. read more

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The wharf outdid it another year... bloomaroo at the wharf. Dancing, music, events for family and cherry blossom views. read more

The Wharf DC - Wharf Bloom aro - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Quick take: Very beautiful Wharf Nice waterfront and walking area. A lot of eateries to choose from. read more

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Beautiful river views. Well paved walkways with frequent benches to rest. It is kept clean and well maintained. There are dozens of restaurants and bars. They are all tourist prices though. If you visit, be prepared to spend at least $25 for a decent meal, more for table service. It is accessible via the nearby waterfront metro stop. I had a great time with friends as long as you know what to expect read more

We caught Secret Society band at The Wharf on the Pier and they were CRANKIN'. (Shhh...don't tell my daughters I still say "crankin" or I'll lose my cool Mom card.) I'm a sucker for live old school R&B, and this band had the whole crowd groovin' in rain and thunder and all. The setup is pretty dope: a wide visible stage, wooden ledges and tables if you forgot your chair, and plenty of spots to grab food, drinks, or a slushie to stay cool in this unbearable heat. Even when the skies opened up, no one left! Overachievers had umbrellas; the rest of us took shelter under a tree and kept dancing. If you spot a sweaty crew singing their hearts out on IG... yeah, that was us. Can't wait to do it again! The Wharf needs to bring Secret Society back this fall! read more

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Cute area that you must visit if you love seafood. I see that people actually dock their private boats nearby. Retail and wholesale seafood are sold in this wharf. The part that is "The Wharf DC" has popular restaurants like "Rappahannock Oyster Bar" and has new clean glass structures that are very much instragrammable. Definitely a great place to go for a date. The not-so-sparkling-new section is bustling. Seafood vendors sell their raw wares for people to take home. A great place to shop when you have a party or just love seafood. One vendor sells cooked/ready-to-eat foods. read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have never been here before despite being in DC several times for work. I was attending the Nationals game close by and heard there was a rally for the Capitals at the Wharf. I made the short trip over and walked around. You can walk right by the water and enjoy the nice breeze as it comes in. There are several high end residential buildings and restaurants here. As expected, plan to spend a good amount of money unless you are going to the Shake Shack nearby. I ordered a pie from Union Pizza for about $10. It was a good pizza pie but not the greatest in the world. I also picked up some gelato nearby and enjoyed that thoroughly. The Capitals rally was going on in the Transit Pier. It was fun to be in a large crowd of like minded fans enjoying the hockey game. Unfortunately the Capitals did not win so everyone was sad. The music was good and they were serving frozen coffees with Jameson. If you can't get a good win at the game you can at least enjoy some alcohol by the water. read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a great experience! Great setting along the street. We sat outside which may have been the highlight of the experience. We were a group of 5 and we started with for different appetizers. All four very good yet the tuna/avocado dish being the favorite. For the first time ever, I had She-Crab soup which was creamy and spectacular. A bit like a bisque. And to top it off, great service. You should go if you get a chance and you need to sit outside. read more

I went to the wharf to watch the Mardi Gras parade. It was well advertised with lots of information on what to expect, timelines, and directions. The parade itself was fun and exciting but smaller than I expected especially for the number of people that came out to watch. Instead of floats, businesses used golf carts. There were several groups that performed, mardi Gras dancers, and lots of local businesses. The band that they had afterward was perfect for the occasion and had everyone dancing. My critiques would be to have more music throughout, have more drink stations, and I wish the restaurants would have more pop-up stations out front. If you are looking to go next year, make sure you make a reservation if you plan on dining inside! read more

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Hold on, who's Birthday is it? It my Birthday. Where did you go? I went on a pink boat with my family, just use and partied like it was 1999. Look at the photos. Our Captain was cool. My Sister's, Brother and prepared a wonderful food spread. charcuterie board and sandwiches. When we got home they sang Happy Birthday to me. It was an amazing time. I had. read more

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Overall (A+) Check this place out if you are in DC. It's a fun way to take a break from museum scene. They have a nice boardwalk with plenty of food options. We liked the seafood market the best and got some Yummy soup. Super affordable also. We will visit and get some soup everytime we are in town Note in the pic lobster bisque from the lobster restaurant- avoid that place. It's expensive and not good. Go straight to the seafood market read more

The Wharf DC - Clam chowder and lobster bisque. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lots of fresh seafood. They also clean and debone for you free of charge if you tip. Good restaurants in the area. Worth a visit! The chowder was 10/10. read more

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The Wharf has a little bit of everything! Met a friend (who arrived via Water Taxi from VA) for dinner before a show at Arena Stage. We managed to check out Politics & Prose, but were too full from our dinner to enjoy donuts or s'more's. Great are to wander about and explore with everything from campfires to great restaurants to history lessons. read more

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Simply one of my favorite areas to visit when I'm in DC. I love the vibe here. There's tons of restaurants and things to do. You can walk along the pier and swing on the swings. Sometimes there's pop up stands that sell different things. In the winter there's a Christmas village and it's festively decorated. It's just gorgeous and it's a great place to grab a drink and simply people watch. Of course because of the area, it is pricey. But there's tons of restaurants here! read more

Visited during the Cherry Blossom Festival and it was our first time at the Wharf. Super cool area and we loved walking around, listening to the musicians, and stopping in at different places for drinks. The view was gorgeous and it was great to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine. Pro tip: Make a reservation to eat dinner in one of the many restaurants (The Irish pub looked especially great), but as it was during the cherry blossom festival everything was completely booked up and we couldn't get in anywhere. We'll definitely come back to this beautiful area on our next trip to DC. read more

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OK, first of all let me say this has also been the first time I have been to the wharf and it seems like a pretty nice place for the most part. They have a lot of food options, beautiful views so the ambience is nice and everybody here seems to be pretty nice. Only thing is I wish it had more shopping options, but I guess being that it's new that it probably will in the future Would like to come try it out next time I am here but overall really nice place to walk around and have dinner so if you're in the area, check it out beautiful area. read more

Excellent beer selection local to DC Fun outside vibe Highly recommended for a water side brew read more

One of my favorite experiences in DC! A huge waterfront spot with plenty of entertainment and food options. Most restaurants have no wait and are easily grab and go so you can find an outdoor seat by the water. Others might have a few mins of a wait for a table but you can add your name down and walk around and explore while you wait so either way it's a win! I love how they have all sorts of cuisines and plenty of dessert spots--boba too! Such a lively summer spot to hang with friends and pets or indulge in happy hour. read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wonderful place to walk around and see various fresh fish. We thought it was a restaurant to sit down. But I got some raw oysters to take back to hotel. read more

We spent the day at the warf in DC. We booked a dinner cruise that leaves from there and decided to make a day of it. First of all the parking here comes at a premium. We parked in Garage 3. You can download an app that lets you see the available parking. If you park 4 or more hours, you will spend about 40 bucks. This is a bustling little tourist trap. I would characterize it as DCs riverside food court. Sure, people dock their yachts there, but it is predominantly restaurants. The warf walkway runs along the Potomac and is nearly a mile long. It is fairly shaded with trees and benches to sit and take in the view. I wish there were more specialty shops and fewer restaurants. The prices here are what you would expect at a tourist destination. read more

The Wharf DC - The marina - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I love the wharf even if it is only a few times I visit. Food is good with options nearby or at the market to sample fresh seafood everyone is polite with service and helpful. Beautiful area and recommend everyone visit when in town and locals read more

Lots of restaurants, hotels & bars on the new waterfront area the wharf. Kayaks, water taxi's, bikers & runners are enjoying the hot afternoon. The architecture is new & very interesting. Fountains for children to play on, art, yachts ... A lot to see & eat; great for people watching. read more

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My husband and I spent the day here while visiting Washington DC and waiting for our dinner cruise to depart. This place is right along the Patomac, with many restaurants and shops to enjoy. There is a large fish market adorned with catches fresh from the ocean. There are many shady places to sit if you need a break, and many beautiful boats in the harbor. The Wharf is a tourist trap and a favorite with the locals as well. There are parking garages and expect to pay an ample amount for parking for the day. read more

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This is a vibrant and vital area along the waterfront with restaurants, shops, music venue, hotel and more. We've tried several restaurants in the past few years and they are trendy and fun. This area gets pretty crowded and parking is difficult (large parking garage but fills up). If you want to see and be seen, this is definitely the area to be. read more

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From out-of-town travelers: The Wharf DC is a good place to check out for nice views of the water and to walk. We first saw the Wharf when we were on the Potomac water taxi. It was night time, so as we approached the Wharf, all the lights looked pretty and the place was abuzz with activity on a Friday night. We came back during the day and explored on foot. Good for families - saw a bunch of groups with kids. Plus, if you just want to walk around and take in the sights, it's free to go there. read more

While it definitely feels like a part of town where everything old has been torn down and shinier, taller new things put up in their place, the Wharf is a place for a walk or a meal. The Municipal Fish Market is still there (and worth a visit), but almost everything else in new (development began in earnest in the early to mid-2000s, I believe). There's a water taxi, dozens of restaurants, shops, marina access, piers (at least one with swings), a music venue, and some green space. Worth a visit for a walk, a meal, and views. read more

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As we all know, this area has changed dramatically over the past 5 to 10 years. Things are still going and things are still changing. I really do like the area. It's a great area to visit tons of shops and stores and restaurants just about anything you can think of. It's great to visit if your, if you're visiting if you just wanna try something different. read more

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Lovely area for dining, shopping or just walking around. There are chairs along the Wharf to sit in to rest, read, or look out onto the water to just reflect. Last time I went I dined at Gordon Ramsey Fish and Chips. Had time permitted I would have eaten at Hell Kitchen. read more

The food was delicious, I love prawns. The server was wonderful and I definitely want to visit again if I can in the future. (This visit was in fall 2019) read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I bought a place a block away so I'm probably not the most impartial observer. It has a LOT of tourists and high-end restaurants and they're all priced as expected. That being said, it's a great place for strolling along the water or having a few cocktails and dinner. read more

The Wharf DC - Patio of the wharf from Hank's Oyster bar during Mardi Gras parade. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Along with Georgetown this might be my new favorite place in DC. Lately, I've been working hard to find the local areas away from the tourist zones and this is yet another place that just fits. I love the seating, access to the water, lots of restaurants and bars music and entertainment. What a fun and awesome place to visit! We came by like at least 3x during our visit because we liked it so much and we'll definitely be back on our next trip to DC. It's convenient to get to by subway or metro bus with many nearby stops! read more

GREAT AMBIANCE VARIETY of food options Wonderful place for a stroll or to kill time Felt safe and comfortable Dog friendly. Plenty of PAY options, limited street parking (free on weekends?) Public bathrooms were clean and well lit (along the "alleyway"): at 7p there were two workers inside, which made it feel safe Brief visit from northern MD. Attended a show at the arena stage..across the street from the wharf (my second show) First time I parked for $25 in a garage, this time I got lucky and found free Saturday parking on the street 4p end of show we were able to walk along the wharf happy to find there are a variety of food options. Mexican, Italian, middle eastern, Gordon Ramseys Fish and chips as well as Hells Kitchen, and lots more Still winter, there's a small ice skating rink, and we were able to sit around a fire pit (manned by a local worker) -and purchased ($5) SMORE making bags(a long wooden stick, XL marshmallow, a piece of chocolate, and 2 graham cracker) to enjoy while sitting Rounded the evening w a bubble tea, and stuck our head in at a new place "Lip Lab"...where apparently you can reserve and pay for the pleasure of concocting your own lipstick/gloss! Heading back to the car, we took note of a VERY busy karaoke bar: $100/hr up to 15 in a room (mental note to return to sing our hearts out!) Def a place I'd return to...seemingly at any season you can find enjoyment. read more

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My family and I were recently in town for a couple days and to the wharf to walk around and have dinner. There were many options for places to eat from fast food to fine dining and everything in between. We also loved the swings on the pier where we got to swing and was the night sky. Also there is a cute water fountain that the kids can run and play in on a hot day/night. read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a beautiful venue! I came here as a suggestion from a DC native, after having some free time from a work trip, and boy am I glad I listened. I can only imagine what this place looks like during the day. It's so beautiful with huge yachts and boats on the water and a boardwalk to enjoy the stunning view of the water and all the amazing restaurants that are located here. So many couples on dates, people enjoying great food and different events like dance classes, music festivals and more. I didn't get to try any of the restaurants but enjoyed walking around and enjoying the sites. They had these swings that over lined the ester for people to rest and enjoy the view. The Warf is truly a foodies paradise with so many restaurants offering so many different cuisines. I can't wait to go back to DC and visit again in my free time. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed the Waterfront. It was my first time visiting and actually walking the boardwalk. I didnt realize there were so many places to eat, drink and be merry. For someone who is allergic to shellfish, i still found plenty of options to chose from. The boardwalk was pretty busy, but i had that expectation because it was a gorgeous day. I would def like to go back when the sun is beating you down. Our goal for the day was to find some good food and bar hop. And we did just that! There are indoor bars and outdoor bars so you can choose where you want to be based on the weather. Great scenery for pics and I even saw that you can take some water tours. This is definitely a popping area and highly suggest to visit at least once. Its great for a date night or hanging out with friends! read more

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Had an absolute blast at The Wharf! Since I visited during February and it was still cold, I can only imagine what the summer will be like! When I stopped by The Wharf, it was beautiful! There's shops, restaurants, lovely buildings, and the water! They even had a pop-up s'mores station (line was too long to get one). I had the pleasure of enjoying the last part of the Mardi Gras festivities with the band playing, amazing fireworks, and an all around nice vibe. I ate at MI VIDA and it was so good. I would love to return. It was really fun, and it looks like there's lots to do! read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really nice (and new) area of DC, right on the water!! This area was really planned out well, with the majority of the shops on the boardwalk (with a view of the water). This area is small (won't take long to walk from one end to the other), but packed with activities. The Wharf includes restaurants, bars, a concert venue (the Anthem), hotels, bakeries, and a fishing pier (fresh seafood). It is a very touristy area, but it's worth a stroll when the weather is nice. Several of the bars and restaurants you can sit outside at, right on the water (e.g. Watering Hole). You can also take a water taxi from this area to Georgetown or Alexandria. At night there is a large fire pit with a s'mores truck nearby; make your very own s'mores (with marshmallows or Peeps). Note that the parking is very difficult in this area. Street parking is hard to find, and the parking a garage is EXPENSIVE. Your best bet is to take a taxi or ride share. Despite that, definitely recommend visiting the Wharf. read more

On our Uber ride in from the airport, I spied big new condo buildings here and yelled out "DEVELOPMENT!" And yes, The Wharf is developed for better and worse. I'm not local, but locals and tourists usually view these projects differently. Our party of two adults and two teens found ourselves returning to The Wharf area often, as our night bike tour started and ended here; and it was a good place for a meal at the Irish pub restaurant one night, and eats on the (relatively) cheap another night, strolling along the pier, and Ben & Jerry's both nights! Lots of restaurants here, lots of places to get a drink, one public bathroom facility on one far end only, and lots of Insta moments. It's out of the way for public transportation, and we usually found ourselves riding rented scooters here, then trudging back to L'Enfant Plaza Metro to head out. Room for improvements, but liked The Wharf. read more

The Wharf DC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia