Washington, DC a travel guide to bargains

Welcome to Washington, DC – the nation’s capital is a city of many public museums and monuments, but also hidden treasures that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether you’re in Georgetown, downtown, or even Northern Virginia, and whether you’re on your own, hanging out with friends, or planning a romantic date, we’ve got suggestions for restaurants, bars, and activities that will adapt to your needs. we have a limited budget.

To start, we list restaurants that offer great value to accompany exceptional food. Then there are some bars with great deals that you’d be crazy not to try. We share some activities that go beyond visiting the capitol building. We’ve also combined some of our favorite ideas to create a “cheap date” guide that will make you look anything but; ideas that will help you impress your girlfriend (or boyfriend) without emptying your wallet.

Restaurants

Miss Saigon (3057 M St NW, Georgetown) – This Vietnamese restaurant is among a few similar ones, but none as good, just as you enter Georgetown. Look around the menu and you can find a hearty serving of meat, vegetables and rice for between $10 and $12. Our favorite is the Caramel Ginger Chicken in a Crock Pot, but if you want to read the entire menu, you can check it out here thanks to DC Menus!

Tom Sarris’ New Orleans House (1213 Wilson Blvd, Arlington): Get off the subway at the Rosslyn stop and walk one block south to find the best prime rib in town. Dinner entrees are $10-$15, depending on how much meat you want, but you also get unlimited trips to the salad bar, and it’s no ordinary salad bar. The steamboat shaped bar has over 30 salad dressings, 7 dressings and lots of hot bread. Be careful or you won’t be hungry when your rib slate arrives. You would really be missing out on great value for an excellent cut of meat. The atmosphere is certainly memorable too. There are no windows inside, allowing the ornate décor to make you think you’re actually on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Bangkok Bistro (3251 Prospect St NW, Georgetown) – Find all the classic Thai fare at this Georgetown hotspot. Start with a Thai iced tea for a sweeter, creamier version of traditional (they add half and half). Then you can choose from one of multiple dinner entrees for under $10, and they all start with a salad and your choice of mandarin orange vinaigrette, peanuts, or creamy garlic dressing (I suggest the peanuts, it’s in a Thai restaurant) . If you feel like splurging, try sharing the Sweet Surrender (coconut fried shrimp). Want something that’s not too crazy? The Thai BBQ Chicken has received rave reviews. And of course, if you don’t know what to choose, you can’t go wrong with Pad Thai.

Ollie’s Trolley (12th and E St NW, Downtown): If you’re downtown and craving greasy treats, Ollie’s is the place to go. Easily spotted by the bright red and yellow decor on the windows and the cutout of the happy chef welcoming you, the atmosphere inside is just as relaxed and fun. The famous “Olliefries”, fries with Ollie’s secret seasoning, are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Pair them with a meaty burger and a thick milkshake, all for under $8.

special drinks

Rock Bottom (4238 Wilson Blvd, Ballston Mall, Arlington) – It sure is a chain, but its selection of craft beers and nightly specials make it the local hangout. Get there early on Wednesday nights to take advantage of $1 pints! But be prepared, because at 6:00 pm, the bar will be packed. Four “usuals” and four specials provide enough selection for all palates, from light drinkers to dark drinkers and everyone in between. And as strange as drinking in the mall may sound, we can’t complain, it just makes it so much easier to get there! You can park in the Ballston Mall garage or take the subway to the Ballston exit, which takes you directly to the mall.

Tom-Tom (The Strip at Adams Morgan): Adams Morgan can offer great deals during the week, and Group Therapy is one of the best. This Thursday night special offers four beers and four (small) shots for only $10! As an added bonus, this bar features several old-school Nintendos and Super Nintendos for those who want to recapture a bit of their youth.

Tombs (Prospect and 36th Sts NW, Georgetown) – Located in the basement below 1789, this pub, popular with the Georgetown University crowd, offers relatively cheap beer and some great deals on food. Busch light is always $1.60 for a cup and $7.00 for a pitcher. Drink prices go up from there. For those with more sophisticated tastes, come to the Tombs on Sunday nights for half-price bottles of wine. (This special is also available at Clyde’s on M Street in Georgetown, which is under the same management.) If you’re hungry, stop by between 3-5pm or after 10pm. and snacks.

Morton’s (3251 Prospect St NW, Georgetown & 1050 Connecticut Ave, Downtown): Believe it or not, everyone can afford to drink at Morton’s, if you go on the right day! Every Monday is “Mortini Night” at this world-famous steakhouse. While this place would normally blow the budget, stop by the bar from 5-7 p.m. Call (202) 342-6258 (Georgetown) or (202) 955-5997 (Downtown) for more information.

Activities

National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Woodley Park) – Home to DC’s famous giant pandas and a host of other exotic creatures, a trip to the National Zoo promises some adventure and exercise without costing you a dime. Admission to the zoo is free (or at least already paid for through your federal taxes), and parking is $4 for the first hour, $12 for two or three hours, and $16 for more than three hours. You can also take the subway – use the Cleveland Park subway stop on your way and the Woodley Park stop on your way out so you never have to walk uphill. From April to October, the buildings are open from 10 am to 6 pm; From November through March, they close at 4:30 pm The zoo is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and take a break from the hectic pace of DC.

Drug Enforcement Agency (700 Army Navy Drive at Hayes Street, across from Pentagon City Mall, Arlington) – This little museum offers a surprising amount of information about, yes, drugs. Most of the exhibit explains the history of drugs in the United States, from the introduction of morphine, heroin, and cocaine in the 19th century to modern techniques for fighting drug trafficking. The most intriguing part, however, is near the end, where you can learn how to make crack (an amazing tidbit that I didn’t expect the government to be so forthcoming with)! There is no admission charge, but the museum is only open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Dulles Airport, Chantilly, VA) – This off-site extension of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) offers advantages that a downtown mall location doesn’t fit. See an SR-71 Blackbird, the Enterprise Space Shuttle, and an Air France Concorde all in one place. You can also climb the observation tower and watch planes depart and land at Dulles International Airport. Doors are open from 10 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week. Admission is free, but it costs $12 to park. You can also take the NASM shuttle from the mall museum for $12/ride (or less if you buy more tickets). The shuttle runs every hour and a half from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ice Skate on the Downtown Mall (700 Constitution Ave, in the Sculpture Garden, Downtown): A fun way to get outside on a wintry day, the National Gallery of Art maintains an ice rink in the mall from November through mid-November. of March. . Skating for two hours is $7 ($6 with a student ID); if you don’t have ice skates, you can rent them for $3; and it costs $0.50 to rent a locker for your shoes and purses (plus a $5 deposit). The skating rink is easily accessible from the Archives-Navy Memorial and Gallery Place subway stops.

Canoe the Potomac (Jack’s Boats, 3500 K St NW under Key Bridge, Georgetown) – Take K Street to the end, just under the Key Bridge, and you will see a cabin on your left called Jack’s Boats. Here you can rent a canoe or kayak, depending on your energy level, and spend a warm day floating down the Potomac. You can also paddle out to Roosevelt Island for a little exploring and appear lost by venturing off the beaten track. Prices at Jack’s Boats range from $8 for an hour to $25 for the whole day, and be sure to bring cash as they don’t accept credit cards.

Bike Along the C&O Canal (Fletcher’s Boathouse, 4940 Canal Rd at Reservoir Rd, Georgetown): If you want to get a little off the beaten path, Fletcher’s Boathouse offers the best rates for bike rentals ($8 for 2 hours or $12 per day ) ) and also access to the best route – right along the C&O Canal. You and your partner can take the road north into the desert and admire the beautiful scenery you wouldn’t expect to find so close to the city (I suggest early fall, when the leaves begin to change) and a story. of the “locks” that guided ships through the canal; or south into the heart of DC and cycle past the monuments and stop on a patch of grass near the Potomac to admire the view. Not that you want to go in the dead of winter, but Fletchers is only open March through fall. Get directions here.

cheap dates

Benihana (M Street and Wisconsin, on the ground floor of Georgetown Park Mall, Georgetown): Although this Hibachi restaurant is usually a place that can get quite pricey, it offers a great early bird special before 7:30 p.m. Unlike the Most early bird specials, this one offers a lot of great food and very few seniors. For $12.95, you can choose from several entrees that the chef will grill right in front of you, as well as a soup, salad, and appetizer. Tropical drinks can be more expensive, but they can be a fun splurge. If you happen to still be hungry after dinner, try the tempura ice cream for dessert.

Chef Geoff’s (13th St NW between E and F Sts, Downtown or 3201 New Mexico Ave, near American University) – Another place with great deals for early risers is Chef Geoff’s. Here you can get a 3-course “Theatre Special” downtown every day from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm for only $23.95; or you can get the same offer, but dubbed the “Sunset Special,” for $19.95 at the location near American University. Why the price difference? The menu selection and atmosphere at the downtown location are a bit more upscale. Check out the possibilities for each 3-course meal here. They offer a huge variety, from pork chops and salmon to fish and chips and pizza.

Thomas Sweet’s (3214 P St NW, off Wisconsin Ave, Georgetown): If you’re looking for a good casual date or first date, but don’t want to ask someone special out for another cup of coffee, try getting an ice cream at Thomas’ Sweet’s. Sweet is in Georgetown. Their ice cream is served in the White House, making this place a DC landmark that offers a great selection and decent prices. Lines can be long, but this can be perfect for spending some time talking with your date.

National Mall (Downtown): While it may sound cliché, a trip to the National Mall and the monuments can be a great thing to do with a date. During the day, pack a picnic lunch, grab some ice cream from the many street vendors, enjoy throwing a Frisbee, or just sit back and people watch. At night, the monuments are illuminated and can be a great place for a romantic stroll.