7 local wonders in Northwest Washington D.C.
A Behind-the-Scenes Guide to DC’s Art and Music

Busboys and Poets has been a D.C. fixture almost from the moment it opened its doors in 2005; there are now eight locations in the region. The original is located just off U Street, which was once known as “Black Broadway,” and includes a little bit of everything: a restaurant, a bar, a coffee shop, a bookstore and a space for events, including open mic nights and voter registration drives. Its commitment to social change can also be seen in the mural of liberation leaders that fills one wall of the dining room. The artist is Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallah, but you won’t find a signature—like liberation, he says, it remains a work-in-progress.

It’s hard to miss Brookland Arts Walk. The facade of the massive brick complex is painted with towering white letters that spell out “BROOKLAND.” The beacon for arts lovers is easily spotted from the Metro stop just steps away and from the Metropolitan Branch Trail, a cycling path that runs through the center of the city. Home to 27 studios, the Arts Walk comes alive on Saturdays, when many of the creators open their doors to the public, showing off calligraphy and watercolors (Check out Right Place Studio), ceramics (Silo Ceramics and Kuzeh Pottery), vintage clothing and paper goods (Analog), and reimagined second-hand furniture (Tim Kime Art/Transformation Junkies).

One afternoon each spring, the Northwest neighborhood of Petworth becomes D.C.’s biggest and most exciting (and free!) music venue. The Petworth Porchfest began in 2021 as a way to safely reconnect with neighbors and support the local artists who were struggling in the pandemic. That year, scores of homes and businesses turned their porches and yards into stages for nearly 100 local musicians; by 2023, that number had almost doubled, filling the streets with music—from jazz and bluegrass to indie folk, bachata, and funk. Watch the Petworth Porchfest website for the next event date.

In the enormous backyard of St. Vincent Wine, it’s hard to tell if you are in D.C. or New Orleans. The casual wine bar, modeled after NOLA’s beloved Bacchanal, has the laid-back vibe of the Southern city, courtesy of the extensive bottle list and a lineup of local acts four nights a week. Monday nights, trumpeter Joe Brotherton channels the Big Easy with his gypsy jazz trio, while Sundays are all about soul. If you are looking for something more intimate, hide away at the cozy upstairs cocktail bar, or grab wine-to-go from the bottle shop.

The 35-foot mural of a barely covered woman—“The Madam”—on the wall outside the Adams Morgan dive bar Madam’s Organ was wildly controversial when it was first displayed. Now it’s hard to imagine the neighborhood without its red-headed mascot or the bar that’s been a fixture on 18th Street for more than 30 years. Inside, the three-level bar resembles something of a yard sale with alcohol, decorated with an ever-evolving assortment of newspaper articles, antique paintings, taxidermy and other unexpected finds. And there’s always music–blues, funk, R&B, Latin and more seven nights a week. 

Until 2016, this space on 18th Street NW in Adams Morgan was the iconic, half-century-old dive bar Millie & Al’s. Now Code Red is bringing an even more retro vibe to the storied building, starting with the 800-plus-pound custom steel door at the entrance. A peephole grate in the center is a throwback to the era of Prohibition, and you still won’t get in without a password. Inside this modern speakeasy, you’ll find vintage 1920s decor, cocktail classics—like the Last Word, made with D.C.’s own Green Hat gin—plus a seat reserved for Ernest Hemingway, complete with a typewriter.

You will never want for something to read at Lost City Books; there are an estimated 12 tons of new, used and rare books on the shelves at this indie Adams Morgan spot. But that’s not the only thing that draws people into the welcoming space, which includes a cozy children’s corner, a no-cell-phone policy, and a shop dog—a German Shepherd named Thea. Lost City Books also hosts author events, live music, and a monthly calendar of book clubs for those who want to discuss everything from romance novels (the “Meet Cute” club) to world literature (“In Translation”).