The Wharf DC

A very lively place on the Potomac with several opportunities to have fun. They restaurants, an ice-rink, boating, the famous fish market and just relaxing by the water. The place used to be a hotbed for drug dealers and aggressive pan handlers. However, most of the residents were residents were “relocated” by the DC Government and was developed at a cost $3.5Billion. It was formally opened in 2017 and has been a huge success. Great place to spend a day. Parking is a hassle but it’s metro accessible and there run free shuttles. Very prominent police presence, conveys strong sense of safety

recently visited The Wharf in Washington, DC, for the Annual Holiday Boat Parade, and it was an unforgettable experience! The Wharf truly knows how to capture the festive spirit and transform the waterfront into a vibrant holiday haven. The atmosphere was electric, with holiday lights reflecting off the water, creating a magical ambiance. The boat parade itself was spectacular—each vessel decked out in dazzling lights and creative decorations, sailing by in a cheerful procession that delighted everyone. It was clear that a lot of effort and creativity went into the designs, making the event both entertaining and heartwarming. What really stood out was how well-organized everything was. The Wharf offered plenty of spots for viewing the parade, so I never felt crowded or rushed. The festive music, street performers, and the aroma of seasonal treats added to the charm, making the event more than just a parade—it was a full-on holiday celebration. I also appreciated the range of activities available before and after the parade. The pop-up shops and local vendors had unique holiday gifts, and the fire pit stations were perfect for staying warm while sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine. The Wharf’s restaurants and bars were bustling but accommodating, and I enjoyed some delicious food while taking in the festive energy. The fireworks display at the end was the cherry on top—a vibrant, colorful show that lit up the night sky and brought the evening to a perfect close. Overall, I highly recommend visiting The Wharf during the holiday season, especially for the boat parade. It’s a fantastic place to celebrate, enjoy good food and drinks, and make wonderful memories. I’m already looking forward to next year’s festivities!

The Wharf is located on the southern side of the National Mall by the river. It spans a few blocks and has quite a lot of things inside it, primarily bars and restaurants. The fish market is also here. The restaurants here are on the expensive side so great if you are going for a celebration. There are also quite a few things to look at around the Wharf as well. There was a Christmas tree on the dock and there was also a torch and seating at another. I thought it was a nice place to walk around and explore.

A serene part of DC, loaded with fun activities and pulsating movement in all directions, during weekends and holidays. It offers a view of the Reagan International Airport's landing and takeoff activities and one of the best places for relaxation you can find in the city. The Water Taxi rides are great for the day but even better are the cruises, lasting between one to two and half hours with music and good food. It's your best bet for any celebration. Simply addictive.

Very busy on a Saturday as you’d expect. Great for people watching and soaking in the atmosphere. Check out the happy hour prices for a small reduction in some bars. Lots of choices for food and drink, not particularly cheap. Use the free shuttle to get to/from L’Enfant Plaza.

Have really enjoyed our stay here. Loads of food places, clean, you can have a nice walk on the front. Christmas vibes close to all the attractions and the train station. For example, a taxi from the train station to The Wharf is roughly $12. Would recommend a visit

It is a nice pedestrian walk with manyPlaces to drink or eat something. wants to skate in ice here you have a very good rink and for 20 dollars they rent you skates .In summer the environment is amazing with many outdoor activities.

A wonderful place to take a stroll by the water, offering scenic views and a relaxing atmosphere. There’s a lot of public seating available, making it easy to stop and enjoy the surroundings. The area also features a wide variety of restaurants, catering to different tastes and preferences, making it a great spot to spend time, whether you’re looking for a peaceful walk or a bite to eat.

It's a lively area with a waterfront featuring numerous restaurants and shops. Strolling around the harbor and promenade is enjoyable in the morning, especially when it's not too crowded. It's conveniently located near tourist attractions, which makes it accessible. However, finding parking can be challenging, and the parking garage is quite expensive. The sunset is stunning, and the area has live music venues and a concert hall, making it a lively area year-round.

As we all know, this area has changed dramatically over the past 5 to 10 years. Things are still going and things are still changing. I really do like the area. It's a great area to visit tons of shops and stores and restaurants just about anything you can think of. It's great to visit if your, if you're visiting if you just wanna try something different.

One of my favorite experiences in DC! A huge waterfront spot with plenty of entertainment and food options. Most restaurants have no wait and are easily grab and go so you can find an outdoor seat by the water. Others might have a few mins of a wait for a table but you can add your name down and walk around and explore while you wait so either way it's a win! I love how they have all sorts of cuisines and plenty of dessert spots--boba too! Such a lively summer spot to hang with friends and pets or indulge in happy hour.

Lots of restaurants, hotels & bars on the new waterfront area the wharf. Kayaks, water taxi's, bikers & runners are enjoying the hot afternoon. The architecture is new & very interesting. Fountains for children to play on, art, yachts ... A lot to see & eat; great for people watching.

We love visiting the wharf. So much to see and do here. There are a bunch of shops and restaurants and boats available to take visitors to neighboring areas.

GREAT AMBIANCE VARIETY of food options Wonderful place for a stroll or to kill time Felt safe and comfortable Dog friendly. Plenty of PAY options, limited street parking (free on weekends?) Public bathrooms were clean and well lit (along the "alleyway"): at 7p there were two workers inside, which made it feel safe Brief visit from northern MD. Attended a show at the arena stage..across the street from the wharf (my second show) First time I parked for $25 in a garage, this time I got lucky and found free Saturday parking on the street 4p end of show we were able to walk along the wharf happy to find there are a variety of food options. Mexican, Italian, middle eastern, Gordon Ramseys Fish and chips as well as Hells Kitchen, and lots more Still winter, there's a small ice skating rink, and we were able to sit around a fire pit (manned by a local worker) -and purchased ($5) SMORE making bags(a long wooden stick, XL marshmallow, a piece of chocolate, and 2 graham cracker) to enjoy while sitting Rounded the evening w a bubble tea, and stuck our head in at a new place "Lip Lab"...where apparently you can reserve and pay for the pleasure of concocting your own lipstick/gloss! Heading back to the car, we took note of a VERY busy karaoke bar: $100/hr up to 15 in a room (mental note to return to sing our hearts out!) Def a place I'd return to...seemingly at any season you can find enjoyment.

This is a vibrant and vital area along the waterfront with restaurants, shops, music venue, hotel and more. We've tried several restaurants in the past few years and they are trendy and fun. This area gets pretty crowded and parking is difficult (large parking garage but fills up). If you want to see and be seen, this is definitely the area to be.

Outdone this year DC Wharf! The Bloom-A-Roo fireworks and music stands were phenomenal. The food offerings and activities for families were well thought out and spaced alongside the wharf.

We spent the day at the warf in DC. We booked a dinner cruise that leaves from there and decided to make a day of it. First of all the parking here comes at a premium. We parked in Garage 3. You can download an app that lets you see the available parking. If you park 4 or more hours, you will spend about 40 bucks. This is a bustling little tourist trap. I would characterize it as DCs riverside food court. Sure, people dock their yachts there, but it is predominantly restaurants. The warf walkway runs along the Potomac and is nearly a mile long. It is fairly shaded with trees and benches to sit and take in the view. I wish there were more specialty shops and fewer restaurants. The prices here are what you would expect at a tourist destination.

My husband and I spent the day here while visiting Washington DC and waiting for our dinner cruise to depart. This place is right along the Patomac, with many restaurants and shops to enjoy. There is a large fish market adorned with catches fresh from the ocean. There are many shady places to sit if you need a break, and many beautiful boats in the harbor. The Wharf is a tourist trap and a favorite with the locals as well. There are parking garages and expect to pay an ample amount for parking for the day.

While it definitely feels like a part of town where everything old has been torn down and shinier, taller new things put up in their place, the Wharf is a place for a walk or a meal. The Municipal Fish Market is still there (and worth a visit), but almost everything else in new (development began in earnest in the early to mid-2000s, I believe). There's a water taxi, dozens of restaurants, shops, marina access, piers (at least one with swings), a music venue, and some green space. Worth a visit for a walk, a meal, and views.

Very gorgeous river side. Only down side is having to pay for parking. Amazing in the summers too, the Hilton doesn't movie night at their roof top. And the deck allows weddings to be done there also

I bought a place a block away so I'm probably not the most impartial observer. It has a LOT of tourists and high-end restaurants and they're all priced as expected. That being said, it's a great place for strolling along the water or having a few cocktails and dinner.

What a beautiful space - on the water, with waterside pathways and several piers/docks to explore - some with sculptures and seating avd family swings and small craft rentals and more... all with views and vibes... Countless restaurants and bars and businesses - some quite affordable for a pricey area and some quite pricey in a pricey area. Just a lovely place to connect with the world or with others, and to simply be (and also eat, drink, and be merry!)

A cool place to hang out for the summer since there are a lot of restaurants and shopping. Parking might be a challenge but it's easy to get to on foot.

I had an incredible experience at The Wharf, particularly during the event held for Pride Month. The atmosphere was so lively, and everyone seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves (which I was told is the norm even when there's not an event going on). The venue itself is beautiful, perfect for a leisurely stroll, especially when the weather is nice. There's also a plethora of restaurants nearby where you can grab food to-go as you walk or people watch. The Pride event had fireworks and various musical performances further adding to the ambiance. There's also a super cute fire-pit where you can make s'mores. This place is not only suitable for kids during the daytime but also offers fantastic nightlife.

I was fortunate to stay at the Hyatt right on the Wharf. Beautiful location right at the water with many tasty restaurants. I often had walks and grabbed a cup of coffee on the way back to the hotel. I felt safe walking around at night and having dinner with my colleagues. Nightlife appeared to be fun vibes with several folks celebrating bachelorettes, birthdays, etc. Family and dog friendly.

My family and I were recently in town for a couple days and to the wharf to walk around and have dinner. There were many options for places to eat from fast food to fine dining and everything in between. We also loved the swings on the pier where we got to swing and was the night sky. Also there is a cute water fountain that the kids can run and play in on a hot day/night.

Really nice (and new) area of DC, right on the water!! This area was really planned out well, with the majority of the shops on the boardwalk (with a view of the water). This area is small (won't take long to walk from one end to the other), but packed with activities. The Wharf includes restaurants, bars, a concert venue (the Anthem), hotels, bakeries, and a fishing pier (fresh seafood). It is a very touristy area, but it's worth a stroll when the weather is nice. Several of the bars and restaurants you can sit outside at, right on the water (e.g. Watering Hole). You can also take a water taxi from this area to Georgetown or Alexandria. At night there is a large fire pit with a s'mores truck nearby; make your very own s'mores (with marshmallows or Peeps). Note that the parking is very difficult in this area. Street parking is hard to find, and the parking a garage is EXPENSIVE. Your best bet is to take a taxi or ride share. Despite that, definitely recommend visiting the Wharf.

The Wharf is where to go for holiday fun...restaurants, shows, beautiful Christmas decorations, marshmallow roasting, etc. If you can get past the traffic and find a good parking spot, it really is a lovely area,

I thoroughly enjoyed the Waterfront. It was my first time visiting and actually walking the boardwalk. I didnt realize there were so many places to eat, drink and be merry. For someone who is allergic to shellfish, i still found plenty of options to chose from. The boardwalk was pretty busy, but i had that expectation because it was a gorgeous day. I would def like to go back when the sun is beating you down. Our goal for the day was to find some good food and bar hop. And we did just that! There are indoor bars and outdoor bars so you can choose where you want to be based on the weather. Great scenery for pics and I even saw that you can take some water tours. This is definitely a popping area and highly suggest to visit at least once. Its great for a date night or hanging out with friends!

Beautiful place to visit. There are a ton of restaurants! We checked out Kaliwa...which was pretty tasty. Great photo opportunities and they even do movie nights on Thursday nights in the summer and live music other nights. This is great for a date night, girls or guys nights or family. It meets all categories. It is a must if you are in the area!

Great place for a stroll in good weather, love the restaurants and shops, the swings and the boardwalk. It's a tiny bit of a walk from the metro, I haven't tried the parking below ground. So much to see, a festive place, everyone is there for a good time.

Haven't been here for a while and found the waterfront further expanded now the massive construction towards the navy yard is pretty much finished. The mostly new glass and steel commercial and residential buildings are still empty but the area is much nicer with more room to walk and places to sit and rest. Winter afternoons would be a good time to come and enjoy the sunshine as the boardwalk is west facing.

Had an absolute blast at The Wharf! Since I visited during February and it was still cold, I can only imagine what the summer will be like! When I stopped by The Wharf, it was beautiful! There's shops, restaurants, lovely buildings, and the water! They even had a pop-up s'mores station (line was too long to get one). I had the pleasure of enjoying the last part of the Mardi Gras festivities with the band playing, amazing fireworks, and an all around nice vibe. I ate at MI VIDA and it was so good. I would love to return. It was really fun, and it looks like there's lots to do!

On our first evening in DC, we took a walk along the wharf. As with any waterfront area, tourists go ga-ga over the wharf, and while it's a pleasant stroll, it's not anything special, and I wouldn't go out of my way to see it if I were pressed for time. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant called Bistro Du Jour and had a nice seafood dinner of salmon and mussels, delicious bread and butter (it was so good!), and lots of wine. [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; Washington, DC 2022]

On our Uber ride in from the airport, I spied big new condo buildings here and yelled out "DEVELOPMENT!" And yes, The Wharf is developed for better and worse. I'm not local, but locals and tourists usually view these projects differently. Our party of two adults and two teens found ourselves returning to The Wharf area often, as our night bike tour started and ended here; and it was a good place for a meal at the Irish pub restaurant one night, and eats on the (relatively) cheap another night, strolling along the pier, and Ben & Jerry's both nights! Lots of restaurants here, lots of places to get a drink, one public bathroom facility on one far end only, and lots of Insta moments. It's out of the way for public transportation, and we usually found ourselves riding rented scooters here, then trudging back to L'Enfant Plaza Metro to head out. Room for improvements, but liked The Wharf.

It's easy to forget you're in the city, while visiting the Wharf. Every trip to the Wharf feels like a water-front vacation! It's a greta places to grab a snack or take a walk with friends. Their annual Cherry Blossom festival (Bloom-a-palooza) is especially impressive. In my opinion, it's D.C.'s best cherry blossom festival (festival, not blossoms/trees). Some of the restaurants at the Wharf are very pricey, so if you're looking for the best deal, make sure you take a look at the menus first. Some of my favorite places on the Wharf are: - Fat Fish Rolls & Twists: Their poke nachos are amazing! Fat Fish's portions and prices are also among the best at the Wharf! - E-Tea: It's hard to find good bubble tea in DC, but E-tea is definitely the best that I've found in the area. They have a great variety and good prices. - Jessie Taylor Seafood: You cannot skip Jessie Taylor!!! If you're looking for fresh seafood, look no further! You can get pick up all of your favorites (live) to cook at home, or you can order a bite to eat at their prepared seafood bar. Nara-Ya: I haven't dined at their restaurant, but they have some great quick-bite options at their water-front stand.

Ate at taco place. The Wharf has a Nice vibe and would be a good place to hang out with group of friends before a night out or after a night out. Not sure it's really a big "destination" place, although there was a good bookstore there.

How dare I have not reviewed this place before?! I've come here so many times but last weekend was my first time staying here. Did a little staycation at the Canopy Hotel with a friend from Chicago. We had not seen each other since pre covid! This was a perfect location for us. There's so much to do here. It's literally a whole vibe out here!! Loved 12 stories, Moon Rabbit, Whiskey Charlie, Hanks, Brighton, District Doughnut! We enjoyed the views and got tons of IG worthy pics! Perfect for people watching and a day and/or night date. They have water taxis that leave from here and go to Georgetown or the National Harbor! I highly recommend. My only "negative" is the parking. It's hard to come by and the garage is expensive. Just uber or lyft!

What an amazing area. If you are a out of towner, make sure you visit the Wharf. Lots of restaurant, shops, bars. A MUST.

So if you ever look up things to do in Washington DC, District Wharf should be on the list and I would recommend this place for anyone that enjoys eating some tasty and employable seafood! You can pick from a variety of sit-down restaurants and also quicker options. Some places might want you to pre-order if you are picking it up so I would suggest just coming here and seeing what you exactly want and make a list. I wanted to try the different types of soups such as the Maryland soup and also the gumbo soup plus of course the new England clam chowder. I guess I'm a soup type of person. But overall within the 9 days that I was very, I got to try each flavor I wanted! Super happy and this place is a wonderful stroll during the day and the evening!

An interesting walkway along the Potomac in DC. It has lots of good but very overpriced places to eat. The Wharf is also the site of many annual festivals. Good place to launch a boat. Very good sites along the water. Around here there's events for the National Cherry Festival. It can get pretty busy with everything that's going on. There's other activities the rest of the year. In other times, the area is popular for boating. There's lots of concerts in summer. Just coming to walk along the water is pretty fun. Maybe it's fun to look at but things are expensive though. All the restaurants are overpriced. These places are pretty average mostly so it's not even worth it most times. Better to bring your own food. This area also gets very crowded if anything is going on, and not just for Petalpalooza. All those concerts cause massive crowds. These also cause even more parking problems, which are already bad to begin with. Come look around when it's quiet and it's a lot better. The restaurants will still be expensive but you can actually move around here. It gets expensive to park so avoid it. It has a few bus stops along the main road. This is also pretty close to the Waterfront Metro station.

First night together in a long time with my colleagues after a few years apart and we had a free night to start with our meeting for the evening being cancelled. After jumping around at sights in the city we decided to find a place to hang out for the night and made our way here. Talk about a vibrant place to just walk about and enjoy yourself. Doesn't matter what you are wanting to do you can show up here and have yourself a good time. Our main objective was to find something to eat, have a drink and just hang out. We were able to accomplish all three. Doesn't matter what type of food you are looking food you can find it here. You can also say that for drink and hangout spot. We walked about for a bit and took it all in before we all noticed a grumble in our bellies started to get louder than the crowds. Some, if not most of these places were jampacked with customers. The night that we were here was late March and it was warmer than usual. It was nice to be able to walk around here without having to worry about anything but a breeze. Right on the water and people buzzing around. It was totally a great night to be out and a great venue to take it all in.

This is a waterfront area that has , restaurants, shops, spas, hotels, apartments and entertainment. Parking can be tricky and expensive. I paid $12 to park for an hour. Other prices were $6 for and half an hour, and $20 for 2 hours. And if you go past your time, they will tow you. On one end they have a fresh seafood market, but I cannot vouch on how fresh the seafood is. There is also a place to get cooked seafood on that side as well. The wharf has some upper end/classy restaurants like Cantina Bambina, Hank's Oyster Bar, Pearl Street Warehouse, and Whiskey Charlie. They also have a donut shop, and a pretzel shop. There is a cool place that lets you make s'mores on an open camp fire. The shops are mostly spas or places to pamper yourself. The Wharf is a very secure place. There was security all around while I was there. You can catch the Water Taxi here and they have a music venue. This place is ok. But I like the National Harbor much better. They have better restaurants, better shops, better parking options, a better atmosphere, and a lot more to do. It is definitely one of DC's must see places, but I have done it, checked that box off and got the t-shirt.

A must see if you are in DC. Lots of eateries, live music, drinks, views, crowds and seafood. Beautiful waterfront area lovely during the day and equally nice in the evening.

Pretty nice place. Specially in DC, now giving us the option to visit a nice place. We ate at the stakehouse and the food was extremely delicious and deserved a 5 star. The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because of parking and extremely high prices.

I never realized this was here!! There is plenty parking and easy to walk to the waterfront. It is a very nice place and atmosphere. Lots of places to eat to satisfy any palette!! Most of the restaurants had outside eating. Outside bars were along the way. Plenty of benches and chairs to sit and enjoy the views. Not real big but a nice size. You can actually take a water taxi to the National Harbor and back! My favorite part was the fresh seafood market! I've never seen the sizes of some of the fresh shrimp they sell!! You can also purchase the seafood already steamed and seasoned along with shucking your oysters for you!! Very tasty too!! I will definitely return here!!

Beautiful location with lots of great food options and shopping. Great place to just chill and chat. Highly recommend visiting! I frequent this location often and never get tired of it

Cool place to stroll and look at the boats in the yacht clubs/marinas. There are some cute shops and some restaurants to pop into. Note that the water taxis have a large time lag (and will not sell tickets 10 minutes before they depart). You can (if you can make the connection) get to Georgetown and Alexandria.

We had just finished at the museum of the Bible and were looking for a place to eat. Walked over to the wharf and found a great selection of restaurants and lounges to enjoy. There is ice skating and several Christmas trees . A perfect end to the day. This feels very similar to George Town wharf area but also has greasy seafood fish monger as well.

Where to start.... So many options to eat, beautiful scenery and great place to just sit and watch the River. Apparently this spot is kinda new. Friends who lived here about 6 years ago did not know much about it. This was a favorite spot of ours for our recent trip to DC. We flew into Regan and took the metro to L'efant plaza. From there we took a short walk through the food court and up the stairs to the Hilton (DC National Mall/Wharf) This is where we stayed and was a great hub for everything DC! The Wharf was just a short walk from the hotel. We felt safe and enjoyed not having to rent a car! We visited the Wharf twice during our stay. We enjoyed the restaurants and watching the boats go up and down the river. There is a fish market that is a great place to get fresh seafood..... we will eat here again!

The Wharf to me is a place for strolling, photos, and enjoyment. Yes, the garage is pricey and some of the restaurants too. There is variety though. For me, visiting the Wharf is just that...a visit to take in the scene. Its not an experience destination unless you're going to Anthem or there's a seasonal event. The piers are beautiful, there are the swings perfect for family, friends, or a date, and events too. There are places for quick bites and plenty of opportunities for Insta/TikTok content. As I shared earlier, the transit situation could be better but all in all, a nice spacious place to visit and enjoy the water in an otherwise bustling and busy DC.

Super fun atmosphere. Shake shack was good. I would go back for sure. The line to get into the 12 stories was really long. I wouldn't necessarily try that.

Fun for the whole family! Beautiful place, with many options for food and entertainment. Highly recommend checking this place out if!

Ate at The Grill....food was great, service was great & definitely will go back next time I'm in DC.

Nice area to walk around site see, grab a drink, meal, snack, etc. Also a Nice spot to grab fresh fish, have it cleaned and cut into filets, or chopped. Really enjoyed watching the operation of this establishment. There are several fresh fish, crab, oyster, seafood, etc shops to pick from.

I personally try to avoid the tourist spots and this is one of them. I ate at one of the pubs, which will remain anonymous. The food was disappointing. My personal server was nice, but everyone else seemed put off with their job. The wharf is just a deck on water with overpriced spots. If you want good food on the water try the one downtown. Views are of the Theodore Island and downtown. Plus, there are a lot of party boats coming and going with all walks of life! The wharf seems to be more where yachts are stored. I know we all have different preferences, so just want to share my personal preference. One may like the wharf better with it's more relaxed vibe. If you go, try to take some snacks for the ducks. And be prepared to pay $3 for a bottle water.

A great way to get away from all the history of DC but still be close enough to see some of it like the Jefferson Monument and eyesight of Washington Monument. This is a modern pier with great modern restaurants. After 2 days of history it was great to see some new things. Well constructed with great views. Get some food and walk the marina area with some great high class hotels. Then get back to the history portion of DC but enjoy this fabulous respite.

Very nice peaceful and serene atmosphere. Perfect for board walking, people watching and entertainment. Plenty of restaurants, dessert parlors and entertainment (after hours) venues to relax. The only downfall is parking. Parking can be painfully tedious but is worth the wait. Street parking is metered, ends at 10pm and free on Sundays. Garage parking overnight starts at $38.