Shop, Drink and Eat in Adams Morgan
I love to travel, so while I wish my siblings lived closer to me, a perk of the distance between our homes is that I get to explore cities like Washington, DC which I probably won’t frequent without family based there. My sister lives in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, which as an outsider I know best for it’s hard partying bar scene reputation.
While one night we did partake in some cocktails and people-watch with the full intention of harshly judging outfits and behavior, that’s not what I want to share with GAT readers. The real fun of the area comes from knowing a local who has walked the streets of Adams Morgan in daylight hours finding the best spots for brunch, a stiff drink, or sandwiches to take along to a concert in the park.
The first night I arrived we wanted to dive into sister girl-talk over a well crafted cocktail for which she led us to Jack Rose Dining Saloon. Expecting to grab a beverage upstairs in the more casual bar area we found a special beer and cigar event which filled the place with people and smoke. In an effort to hear one another speak we instead opted for the quieter bar area off to the side of the dining room on the main floor. I felt the drink menu was heavy with manly cocktails that could put hair on your chest from the whiskey and scotch but we found a couple menu items that were lady-like and beautifully shaken or stirred by the skilled moustachioed bartender.
Not inviting the rowdy college crowd from down the street, at least not into the dining room, Jack Rose was a cool spot for a couple drinks on a humid August evening. With walls lined with spirits found across the globe, a serious drinker can comfortably ignore the drink menu and instead pick their poison literally off the wall while I was happy to pick a new-to-me concoction off the smart drink list. Something for everyone, and not an undergrad in sight.
Top to Bottom: Le Croque Monsieur, Eggs Norwegian, and Yogurt Parfait
The Sunday morning hang over cure of a Bloody Mary and fries is available all over DC – they do brunch well – but in Adams Morgan the only spot worth grabbing a table at is L’Enfant Cafe & Bar. A small corner spot with a new larger outdoor seating area, as well as cozy indoor space, has a menu that fulfills its French ancestry by offering a killer Le Croque Monsieur and a champagne hollandaise sauce on eggs benedict dishes. When it started to rain mid-brunch we moved inside and finished our meal in a tired, but satisfied haze.
Oh, by the way: L’Enfant Cafe offers La Boum Brunch on Saturdays where the blinds are pulled down tight, girls come out to dance and it becomes one big house party. On my next visit to DC I’ll save an afternoon for this 21+ brunch.
Let’s be honest: When it comes to shopping in the District, there’s only one place to go for fabulous high-end women’s clothing, furniture and accessories, with excellent service, and it isn’t far from Adams Morgan – MULEH. (If you can’t get to DC but live in New York there’s a new location there also.)
Muleh
1831 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
Accessorize: With the beautiful items available now at Muleh
Cylinder Blouse in Fuchsia by Vivienne Westwood
Bryn Women’s Bag in Petrol Velvet Printed Grain by Mulberry
Chiquita Stool in Red by Kenneth Cobonpue
