Arlington (Virginia)/Rosslyn–Ballston Corridor

The dense Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is a series of five "urban villages" following Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards west from Rosslyn, just across the Potomac from Georgetown. This area has seen massive redevelopment since the 1980s. While Rosslyn is largely offices and hotels, and depopulated at night, the pricey high-rises and group houses to the west are home to the largest concentration of restaurants, bars, and entertainment in Arlington— and to the young professionals who patronize them. The corridor is literally a textbook case of transit-oriented development, with the thriving neighborhoods of Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square, and Ballston clustered around their eponymous Orange/Silver Line Metrorail stations. At the center is the shopping and restaurant district of Clarendon, which was Arlington's "downtown" until the 1960s.

The 5 stops of the combined Metro Orange/Silver Line is the spine of the corridor, providing transit to downtown Washington, D.C. to the west, and Tysons, Reston, Falls Church, and Fairfax County to the east. The Rosslyn station is also served by the Blue Line, which provides access from Crystal City and Alexandria.

• Theodore Roosevelt Island

  phone: +1 703 289-2500
  address: George Washington Memorial Parkway N
  A lovely nature walk though this small national park gives one glimpses of both the area's natural woods and the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) waterfront. Also includes a surprising monument to President Roosevelt. While it is a part of Washington, D.C., the island is only accessible by a footbridge from Arlington.

• Observation Deck at CEB Tower

  phone: +1 703 423-0600
  address: 1201 Wilson Blvd
  On the 31st floor of the tower, this is the best view of Washington, D.C. and a great place to take a selfie with the Washington Monument!

• Ice Skating @ MedStar Capitals IceplexYear-round ice skating rink built for the Washington Capitals professional hockey team. Public skating is offered every day; check the web site for schedules. Children's and youth lessons are also available.

• Ballston Quarter

  address: 4238 Wilson Blvd
  Better known for its two indoor skating rinks, cheap parking, and multiplex cinema.

• Market Common Clarendon

  phone: +1 703 807-2922
  address: 2800 Clarendon Blvd.
  This outdoor shopping plaza includes an Apple Store, Barnes & Noble, and Crate & Barrel among others, and is just down the block from a variety of specialty retailers and neighborhood restaurants.

• Arlington Farmers Market

  phone: +1 703 228-7872
  address: N. Courthouse Road and N. 14th St.
  Arlington's largest farmers market, with about three dozen vendors, and the only one that operates year-round.

• Ben's Chili Bowl

  phone: +1 703 649-5255
  address: 1725 Wilson Blvd

• Delhi Club

  phone: +1 202 527-5666
  address: 1135 N Highland St

• Guajillo Mexican Grill

  phone: +1 703 807-0840
  address: 1727 Wilson Blvd
  Mexican food, including some great mole. The food is always fresh and wonderful. The place is difficult to spot and parking can be a problem.

• Il Radicchio

  phone: +1 703 276-2627
  address: 1801 Clarendon Blvd
  Italian food.

• Kanpai Restaurant

  phone: +1 703 527-8400
  address: 1401 Wilson Blvd
  A family-owned sushi restaurant.

• Me Jana

  phone: +1 703 465-4440
  address: 2300 Wilson Blvd
  Upscale Lebanese cuisine (mostly mezzes) in a trendy, casual dining room, and accompanied with a fine selection of Lebanese wines.

• Mele Bistro

  phone: +1 703 527-8400
  address: 1723 Wilson Blvd
  Italian food.

• Piola Pizzeria

  phone: +1 703 528-1502
  address: 1550 Wilson Blvd
  Based in Treviso, Italy, this small but international chain serves great, vaguely Neopolitan style pizzas. Later at night it morphs into an attractive lounge playing house and trance. Happy hour (M-F 4:30PM-8PM) offers free bar snacks and $4 sangria.

• Pho 75

  phone: +1 703 525-7355
  address: 1721 Wilson Blvd
  The "go to" Vietnamese restaurant in the area by many locals, it has great pho in a modest setting. Cash only.

• Quarterdeck

  phone: +1 703 528-2722
  address: 1200 Fort Meyer Dr
  Freshly steamed Maryland blue crabs and other seafood. Paper on the tables, buckets full of crabs, pitchers of beer, and an elbow-deep mess of Old Bay seasoning.

• Rays the Steaks

  phone: +1 703 841-7297
  address: 2300 Wilson Blvd
  One of the DC area's best steak houses, this no-frills steak house offers some of the best steaks at a reasonable price in the DC area. Parking can be a problem at times.

• Ted's Montana Grill

  phone: +1 703-416-8337
  Ted's is a classic American restaurant serving authentic American cuisine in the style of a 1890s eatery. Featuring bison and beef steaks and burgers, it offers a great made-from-scratch experience.

Bars

• Barley Mac

  phone: +1 571 800-3070
  address: 1600 Wilson Blvd
  Craft cocktails and good whiskey in an industrial chic setting. Bar food.

• Clarendon Ballroom

  phone: +1 703 469-2244
  address: 3185 Wilson Blvd
  Known for its large dance floor and (seasonal) rooftop deck.

• Continental Modern Pool Lounge

  phone: +1 703 465-7675
  address: 1911 Fort Meyer Dr
  A weird little 1960s-looking, orange-colored pool hall and bar just across the Key Bridge. They also have shuffleboard, darts, and Nintendo Wii!

• Galaxy Hut

  phone: +1 703 525-8646
  address: 2711 Wilson Blvd
  Northern Virginia's hipster refuge has a fun jukebox, a fantastic draft beer selection, and perhaps the most laid back atmosphere on the Wilson Blvd corridor. Live indie rock Su-M.

• Heavy Seas Alehouse

  phone: +1 202 879-4388
  address: 1501 Wilson Blvd
  Arlington branch of the popular Baltimore brewpub, offering house-brewed beers as well as a menu focusing on locally caught seafood.

• Quinn's On The Corner

  phone: +1 703 640-3566
  address: 1776 Wilson Blvd
  A sports bar focused on good whiskey.

• Whitlows On Wilson

  address: 2854 Wilson Blvd
  Casual neighborhood bar offering great specials during the week and a popular brunch on the weekends.

Cafes

• Oby Lee

  phone: +1 571 257-5054
  address: 3000 N Washington Blvd
  Coffee, wine, and crepes.

• Clarion Collection Arlington Court

  phone: +1 703 524-4000
  address: 1200 N Courthouse Rd
  A high-end Clarion near the Arlington County courthouse, with free WiFi, free breakfast buffet, and 24-hour fitness center. Offers a free one-mile shuttle; it's a shame that anything interesting is at least two miles away.

• Courtyard Arlington Rosslyn

  phone: +1 703 528-2222
  address: 1533 Clarendon Blvd
  complimentary shuttle service to the DC metro.

• Highlander Motel

  phone: +1 703 524-4300
  address: 3336 Wilson Blvd
  Family-owned 44 unit motel.

• Hilton ArlingtonMostly oriented towards business travels; it offers substantial discounts over weekends and holidays.

• Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Courthouse Plaza

  phone: +1 703 528-4444
  address: 1333 North Courthouse Rd
  Adjacent to the Court House Plaza restaurants and nightlife

• Holiday Inn Arlington @ Ballston

  phone: +1 703 243-9800
  address: 4610 N. Fairfax Dr

• Holiday Inn Rosslyn @ Key Bridge

  phone: +1 703 807-2000
  address: 1900 N Fort Myer Drive

• Hyatt Centric Arlington

  address: 1325 Wilson Blvd
  Renovated; walking distance to local businesses and Georgetown.

• Key Bridge Marriott

  phone: +1 703 524-6400
  address: 1401 Lee Highway
  Offers river and city views with renovated meeting facilities.

• Red Lion Hotel Rosslyn/Iwo Jima

  phone: +1 703 524-5000
  address: 1501 Arlington Blvd
  For once, a hotel with an attraction in the name isn't lying to you—it really is just about a block from the Iwo Jima Memorial. That does place it a little out of the way, but it's not a long walk to the Rosslyn station. Renovated, heated indoor pool, free WiFi, meeting rooms.

• Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn

  phone: +1 703 812-8400
  address: 1651 N Oak St
  An all-suite hotel with free WiFi, free hot breakfast, free evening buffets M-W, and a dessert buffet Th.

• Westin Arlington Gateway

  phone: +1 703 717-6200
  address: 801 North Glebe Road