U Street
U Street
4
About
The U Street Corridor is home to some of DC's iconic foods. Ben's Chili Bowl, home of the half-smoke, is there plus an area referred to by some as "Little Ethiopia" due to the large number of Ethiopian restaurants.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park
How to get there
- U St • 4 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,496 within 3 miles
Attractions
888 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
78 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
28
Average
21
Poor
3
Terrible
2
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Pusztabaer
Crailsheim, Germany56 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
The reputation of U Street is better than the original. There are a few run-down shops, but no charm. It also smells of garbage. If you have time, you can take a look around Logan Circle. It's worth taking a walk.
Written April 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SueFee
Sterling, VA12,499 contributions
The U Street Corridor is worth a visit because, among many reasons, it is home to two foods that DC is known for. Ben's Chili Bowl, a DC institution established in 1958, serves half-smokes which were created in DC. In addition, some refer to the area on U Street east of 13th Street and in the 1900 block of 9th Street as "Little Ethiopia". In that area, are 10 Ethiopian restaurants.
Also, near Ben's Chili Bowl is the Lincoln Theater. Built in 1922, it was once the center of DC's African-American cultural renaissance with many famous entertainers performing there. Today, the theater is beautifully restored and often puts on plays sponsored by Arena Stage.
Also, near Ben's Chili Bowl is the Lincoln Theater. Built in 1922, it was once the center of DC's African-American cultural renaissance with many famous entertainers performing there. Today, the theater is beautifully restored and often puts on plays sponsored by Arena Stage.
Written March 29, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve K
Asheville, NC173 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
This area has evolved over the years from being rough and decrepit to now being where the action is! In the past, Ben's Chili Bowl was about the only reason to visit this area. Now, there are numerous top notch restaurants, shops, theater, and more. At 14th and V you have Bus Boys and Poets and Eatonville. Further down by Logan Circle you have Le Diplomate which is one of the top restaurants in the Citi. On U St. itself you have several terrific restaurants and music venues including Flash, Lost Society, Marvin, Twins Jazz,and the U Street Music Hall. There are restaurants galore including Doi Moi, Etete, Oohs and Aahhs, Pearl Dive Oyster Bar, and many more. The area is also home of the Lincoln Theater and Source Theater which is an old venue but puts on top notch productions. Parking can be a challenge but there is a green line metro stop right on U St. Whatever your taste, there is something for you on U St.
Written June 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonymousmice
1 contribution
U street probably represents DC's worst. The buildings are run down, and with the exception of Ben's Chili, the area lacks goodness. It's your typical poor, rundown urban quarter with homeless folk harassing tourists everywhere.
Written January 1, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prawet J
Washington DC, DC12,762 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
U Street corridor has become the hot spot for nightlife in D.C. in recent years. The main center of U street stretch from 15 street to 9 street (a block up and down of each street except more on 14). There plenty of places to eat and drinks during the day time and plenty of different types of entertainments at night through early morning. However, the entertainments tend to gear to younger crowd (20+ to 30+). Old and run down building were rehab for both commercial and residential purpose. The good old Lincoln Theater was revived back to live theater, and the famous Ben's Chili adds to place to go. In addition to eating and entertainment, there are shops for all types of people. Also don't for get the African American Museum and the African American Soldiers Memorial. U street is easily accessed by public transportation.
Written December 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WDC2012
District of Columbia74 contributions
May 2013
This used to be one of the worst areas of DC, but voila! There's been a renaissance and this area has come back big time. Interesting and varied restaurants, clubs, bars and even a place where you can read and hear poetry (Busboy & Poets). Music is a big deal now and you can catch jazz (Bohemian Caverns the best spot) at several places and live music at several clubs. A favorite restaurant next door to the famous Ben's Chili Bowl, is "Next Door" one of the few places in DC that serves delicious and rarely served "kale" -- the other is B Smith's at Union Station. This is an area where you can come for dinner and party all night.
Written May 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jaseaton
Silver Spring, MD2,753 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
It took a little over 40 years after the riots which ensued when Martin Luther King was assassinated, but the ruined stretches of U St. and environs have come back with a vengeance: numerous upscale restaurants, shops and things to do. It's a happening place that would have been a little sweeter if so many of the original al population hadn't been priced out and forced to relocate.
Written May 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cante87
Albuquerque, NM236 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
First came to this area as a chaperone on a school trip to DC and NYC. We stopped at Ben's Chili Bowl and one of the long time employees gave our group a brief history of the area including the rise and fall and rise again and all of the changes that have taken place. Just recently traveling alone I visited again. The funny thing is that I found myself Googling things like "U Street safe at night?" I didn't realize I was carrying so many ideas about this area from the 1990s around in my head. If you have any fears about checking this area out...day or night, forget them. This ain't the 90s anymore.
I wanted to see the African American Civil War Museum and walk through Howard University, the museum was closed for a special event, but I still spent time in the area. U Street is filled with restaurants and bars and some shops. There is a place called Ooohs and Ahhhs that serves soul food, but looked pretty dirty to me so I passed by. The bar called Solly's is supposedly a hipster dive bar, but unless you like a swarm of fruit fly dangling in the air just over your head and uneven bar stools with ripped upholstery is your thing, I'd keep walking. There are two gay bars on U heading towards Howard. One is called Nellie's and is two stories with small outside area on the second floor. It's billed as a sports bar. Seems to attract different types at different times. On Sunday Morning when I walked by it was filled with African American women hooting and hollering about something. About a block away is the bar called Town, that has a more club like feel with two levels and an outdoor patio area. Around 6:30 on a Friday it looked like they were gearing up for some sort of BBQ dinner type thing. U Street and the area just south of it has a huge gay population...lots of the two daddy or two mommy types pushing strollers and coming out of Brownstones.
Local friends of mine (Black and White and in their 20's) think of the U Street area as a cool place to party. Older types, like myself can appreciate the history and architecture and some fine dining and music options. The Howard Theater hosts a music/brunch every Sunday starting at 11:30 or 12:30 it's $45 and can be jazz or gospel or another genre so call ahead. When I went without calling there was a Baptist Church service going on. I was invited to stay. That was a cultural experience for me to experience.
I wanted to see the African American Civil War Museum and walk through Howard University, the museum was closed for a special event, but I still spent time in the area. U Street is filled with restaurants and bars and some shops. There is a place called Ooohs and Ahhhs that serves soul food, but looked pretty dirty to me so I passed by. The bar called Solly's is supposedly a hipster dive bar, but unless you like a swarm of fruit fly dangling in the air just over your head and uneven bar stools with ripped upholstery is your thing, I'd keep walking. There are two gay bars on U heading towards Howard. One is called Nellie's and is two stories with small outside area on the second floor. It's billed as a sports bar. Seems to attract different types at different times. On Sunday Morning when I walked by it was filled with African American women hooting and hollering about something. About a block away is the bar called Town, that has a more club like feel with two levels and an outdoor patio area. Around 6:30 on a Friday it looked like they were gearing up for some sort of BBQ dinner type thing. U Street and the area just south of it has a huge gay population...lots of the two daddy or two mommy types pushing strollers and coming out of Brownstones.
Local friends of mine (Black and White and in their 20's) think of the U Street area as a cool place to party. Older types, like myself can appreciate the history and architecture and some fine dining and music options. The Howard Theater hosts a music/brunch every Sunday starting at 11:30 or 12:30 it's $45 and can be jazz or gospel or another genre so call ahead. When I went without calling there was a Baptist Church service going on. I was invited to stay. That was a cultural experience for me to experience.
Written May 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HelenaGuerra
Washington DC, DC13,761 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
This area is very interesting and is changing fast. It used to be mainly african american, then the Ethiopians moved in, now latinos and whites are making this one of the most mixed neighborhoods in the city, second only to columbia heights. Come for the entertainment options, particularly at night, or for some restaurant sampling (ethiopian is a must try in the area). We did once a walking tour tracing out the history of african american U street, back when Duke Ellington was jazzing in many of the clubs that used to line up the street. The murals on the wall next to Ben's chili bowl are beautiful.
Written September 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris R
Washington DC, DC111 contributions
Oct 2012
To me the attractions are some of the stores, but mainly Ben's Chili Bowl. It's surely worth one visit while you're in DC.
And it sure helps that the metro station is right across the street.
And it sure helps that the metro station is right across the street.
Written March 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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