Capitol Hill

Welcome to Capitol Hill

Vibrant urban village surrounding the United States Capitol

Capitol Hill is an urban village surrounding the U.S. Capitol. The neighborhood has a small-town feel with lots of pocket parks and neighborhood markets. Capitol Hill features many 19th and early-20th-century row houses lining streets that formed the centerpiece of Pierre L’Enfant’s original 1791 master plan for D.C. There are also newer townhouses and condominium developments. Capitol Hill is packed with attractions and amenities, from Michelin-starred restaurants to world-famous landmarks, such as the U.S. Capitol Building and the Library of Congress.

This lively neighborhood offers some of D.C.’s finest restaurants alongside bustling taverns and Irish pubs where politicos and journalists socialize after work. Rose’s Luxury is one of many fine restaurants lining Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row. This innovative eatery earned a Michelin star for its sublime pasta and exquisite desserts. Acqua Al 2 is the D.C. offshoot of one of the most revered restaurants in Florence, Italy. Acqua Al 2 serves the same delicious and authentic Tuscan cuisine as its Florentine counterpart. 

Eastern Market is a cornerstone of the neighborhood with vendors selling gourmet foodstuffs, including organic meats and poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables, premium olive oil, honey, deli sandwiches, rotisserie chickens, and artisanal cheeses.

District Wharf runs for one mile along the Washington Channel, and while not located on Capitol Hill, it is adjacent to it. Here, upscale boutiques and exceptional restaurants may be enjoyed. Del Mar, a sophisticated Basque tapas restaurant and wine bar, was named one of D.C.’s best restaurants by Conde Nast Traveler.

The U.S. Capitol Building is the heart of both the Capitol Hill neighborhood and D.C.’s original L’Enfant Plan. This iconic 1800s building is the home of the United States Congress, where visitors can tour its interior and see Congress in session. The Capitol Building lies at the eastern end of the National Mall, a landscaped park that runs for two miles and includes famous sites such as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and numerous museums belonging to the Smithsonian Institution. The SmithsKonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex, containing 19 distinct museums and nine research centers. 

Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals play their home games at Nationals Park a short distance south of Capitol Hill. The historic Union Station is one of the world’s busiest transport hubs. It also has scores of shops, restaurants, and cafés. 

City parks located within the neighborhood include Lincoln Park, Seward Square, and Stanton Park. All three of these relaxing green spaces were established in the L’Enfant Plan. 

Public tours are available at the Library of Congress, the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States and the largest library in the world. 

Capitol Hill is also home to the Folger Shakespeare Library. This library contains the world’s largest collection of printed Shakespeare works as well as staged theater performances of plays written or inspired by the Bard. Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has three cutting-edge performance venues staging a variety of classic and contemporary plays.

Capitol Hill is served by the District of Columbia Public Schools District.