Washington, D.C./Near Northeast

The boundaries of Near Northeast are North Capitol St to the west, Florida Ave to the north, F St to the south, and 15th St to the east. The neighborhood is just south of Gallaudet University.
The Atlas District refers to H St NE between North Capitol St and 15th St NE. This is the most popular part of the neighborhood for visitors due to its bars, restaurants, and shopping. It is named after the Atlas Theater (opened in 1938), now the Atlas Performing Arts Center, at 1338 H St NE. Compared to other nightlife-centered neighborhoods, the Atlas District attracts a slightly older, more eccentric and artsy, more local, and almost certainly less drunken crowd.
NoMa refers to the area just north of Union Station, near the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metrorail Station.

History

Near Northeast has long since been a popular area for immigrants to settle. By the 1950s, it had become predominately African-American. The neighborhood suffered some of the biggest damage during the 1968 riots that left 1,200 buildings in the city destroyed and, like many areas of eastern D.C., it was reduced to urban blight for decades.
However, since the turn of the century, efforts have been made to revitalize the neighborhood and make it a destination for locals and visitors. In 2004, under new ownership, the Atlas Theatre underwent a $22 million renovation. In 2006, Joe Englert, a local entrepreneur, purchased 8 properties on H St NE between 12th St NE & 14th St NE and converted them into top destination restaurants, bars, and concert venues. In 2012, Union Market, a warehouse-style indoor market just west of Gallaudet University, was renovated and re-tenanted.

By Metrorail

For more information on riding the Metrorail in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get around.
The Red Line stops at Union Station and NoMa–Gallaudet U, both of which are a short walk from the nightlife in the Atlas District.

By streetcar

The DC Streetcar operates from Union Station down H St NE, through the heart of the Atlas District. The service runs every 10–15 minutes Mondays through Saturdays.

By bus

For more information on riding buses in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get around. The following bus lines that are useful when visiting Near Northeast:

• X2 runs along H St every 15 minutes during the day, but every 30 minutes after 10PM, all the way to the East End.
• B2 is useful for going to the National Arboretum or to Capitol Hill.
• 90, 92 runs from Near Northeast to the nightlife-centered U St in Shaw as well as to Anacostia.

By car

A car is not necessary to visit Near Northeast, but it is the most convenient option, provided you trust yourself to navigate all the treacherous twisting diagonals. Routes US-1 and US-50 are both quick options to head east out of the city towards I-495 Capital Beltway.

By bicycle

A bicycle is a great option for visiting the areas that are hard to reach by Metrorail. For information on bike-sharing programs in the Washington DC area, see Washington DC#Get around.

• Gallaudet University

  phone: +1 202 651-5050
  address: 800 Florida Ave NE
  Gallaudet is the world's only university where all classes and services are tailored to the needs of the hearing-impaired. Aside from being the principal institution for teaching and learning American Sign Language, the campus includes several buildings of fanciful North American High Gothic architecture and is a National Historic Landmark District. The most famous building is the campus' centerpiece, Chapel Hall. Guided tours are available, but unless you give three days notice, the tours are given in ASL. Self guided tours are also available.

• National Arboretum

  phone: +1 202 245-2726
  address: Entrances: 3501 New York Ave NE & 2400 R St NE
  The park's sprawling acres of carefully manicured gardens and its wide collection of trees from around the world are fantastic for getting away from the urban world and for a picnic. There are several attractions within the park worth seeking out, including the original columns from the Capitol Building's first incarnation, now standing alone mimicking Roman ruins, a Japanese garden, and a great bonsai collection. This is the best place in the city to enjoy the cherry blossom season—you can stroll serenely around the trees, while inwardly chuckling at the uninformed hordes sweating it out at the sardined Tidal Basin. They are not exclusively of the sakura variant downtown. Rather, there is an extensive collection of over 30 different flowering cherry trees, making for an excellent scavenger hunt!

• National Public Radio Headquarters

  address: 1111 North Capitol St
  Tours offered every weekday at 11AM (advanced registration required). Lobby has wall panels detailing NPR's history, a scrolling news ticker, and a nice gift shop.

• Atlas Performing Arts Center

  phone: +1 202 399-7993
  address: 1333 H St NE
  First opened in 1938, the Atlas Theatre was an old movie palace that was transformed into an arts center and performance venue in 2004 via an extensive $22 million renovation. Performances run throughout the whole year, and vary from drama to musical to cabaret to dance. The building also houses a public art gallery.

• Langston Golf Course

  phone: +1 202 397-8638
  address: 26th St & Benning Rd NE
  Given its obscure location, you might assume this would be an empty 18 holes, but you'd be wrong—it's no secret to the locals. Langston's public course offers the most challenging and interesting 18 inside the Beltway, including an infamous shot 200 yards out to an island on the Anacostia River. It opened in 1939 as a segregated African-American golf club named after John Mercer Langston. It has since attracted a good amount of African-American celebrities —Joe Louis was a big fan and booster. Much better than the other D.C. golf course, Rock Creek Golf Course.

• Angelika Pop-Up

  phone: +1 571 512-3311
  address: 550 Penn St NE, 20002
  Since its opening in 1989, the Angelika Film Center in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood has become a cultural institution – one of the most well-known and highest-grossing dedicated arthouses in the US; it's now open in DC as well, with an exclusive microcinema experience. The Cafe and Concession area offers beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, popcorn, hotdogs and other snacks.

• The Daily Rider

  phone: +1 202 396-0704
  address: 600 H St NE
  A stylish bike and bike repair shop.

• Fatty's Tattoos & Piercings

  phone: +1 202 452-0999
  address: 516 H St NE
  A cool tattoo shop. It is worth a look inside just to check out the artwork!

• Union Market

  address: 1309 5th St NE
  A warehouse-style indoor market featuring 40 boutique shops and plenty of food options. A must-visit if you are in the area!

Budget

• Dangerously Delicious Pies

  phone: +1 202 398-7437
  address: 1339 H St NE
  A slice of one of their savory pies (like the wonderful steak, mushroom, and gruyère) can be enough for dinner, really, so this qualifies as a prime cheap eats spot on H St (or an inebriated after-bar indulgence). Among the dessert pies, it would be a shame not to try the strawberry rhubarb! An import from Baltimore, Dangerously Delicious has flourished here, and is probably the best bakery for pies in the immediate D.C. metro area. Look for pies by the slice out of their food truck downtown, too.

• Horace & Dickie's Seafood Carryout

  phone: +1 202 397-6040
  address: 809 12th St NE
  Fish fry. The king of late night drunken eating in the Atlas District. Try the fried whitefish sandwich.

• Sticky Rice

  phone: +1 202 397-7655
  address: 1224 H St NE
  A stylish sushi restaurant by day and crowded bar by night, the biggest draw here is the sushi. The rolls are big, inventive, and jaunty—and reasonably priced. If you are here for a couple beers, definitely order a bucket of tater tots. Thursday nights have karaoke at 10:30PM, while F-Sa nights have DJ dance parties.

Mid-range

• Ethiopic

  phone: +1 202 675-2066
  address: 401 H St NE
  Trying Ethiopian food is a must in D.C. and this is as good of a place to do it as any! If you don't mind raw meat, try the raw kitfo - with a little extra spicy red powder on the side.

• Granville Moore's

  phone: +1 202 399-2546
  address: 1238 H St NE
  A popular Belgian gastropub with great seafood, salads, and sandwiches. Over 50 beers available. Try the Belgian mussels and fries.

• Indigo

  phone: +1 202 544-4777
  address: 243 K St NE
  A great Indian restaurant where you are encouraged to write on the wall!

• Le Grenier

  phone: +1 202 544-4999
  address: 502 H St NE
  A 2-level French bistro with great food. The exposed brick gives the restaurant a lot of character!

• Smith Commons

  phone: +1 202 396-0038
  address: 1245 H St NE
  A chic multi-level restaurant in a converted warehouse.

• Toki Underground

  phone: +1 202 388-3086
  address: 1234 H St NE, 2nd floor, with the door marked only by a symbol just left of The Pug's entrance
  A popular Taiwanese-style ramen house (think noodles with eggs) run by culinary ninja Erik Bruner-Yang. Try the buttermilk cookies that come with a shot of milk or any one of the 5 eclectic cocktails on the menu.

The Atlas District offers D.C.'s most eclectic, most unique, most off-beat nightlife. This isn't simply a strip full of hipsters lounging in dives—the different venues, bars, and lounges all have a very strong sense of individual character. Since many venues are on H St NE between 12th St & 14th St, you can have a very easy one-night crawl! Most of the restaurants become bars later on in the night as well.

• Biergarten Haus

  phone: +1 202 388-4053
  address: 1355 H St NE
  Great selection of German draughts served in 1 liter mugs. In good weather, the outdoor courtyard and the roof deck are very crowded. If the courtyard is too crowded, the indoor section is also a great place to have a drink. The food is not up to par with the rest of what is on offer, but even low quality German food will go well with some good beer. Trivia on Tuesday evenings.

• H Street Country Club

  phone: +1 202 399-4722
  address: 1335 H St NE
  Possibly the street's most eclectic venue: upscale Mexican cuisine in the dining room via a nationally acclaimed chef, an impressive cocktail menu via a nationally acclaimed mixologist, and then an outrageous mini-golf course, along with pool tables, shuffleboard, skee-ball, etc. The golf course is a work of art, full of random Washingtonian references and inside jokes (like Marion Barry's Awakening on hole eight). It can also be extremely crowded, and best played on a weeknight or otherwise very early in the evening. Alcohol is served on the course, so it's open only to people aged 21+.

• Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar

  phone: +1 202 636-0050
  address: 1104 H St NE
  A New Orleans theme bar with over 50 beers available in bottles. Has a haunted house feeling and shows football games of the New Orleans Saints on TV. Cash Only.

• The Pug

  phone: +1 202 636-0050
  address: 1234 H St NE
  A small, boxing-themed dive bar. "No idiots. No politics. No specials".

• Rock and Roll Hotel

  phone: +1 202 388-7625
  address: 1353 H St NE
  This is not actually a hotel - it's H Street's biggest performance venue/nightclub in a former funeral home. In addition to the main downstairs area, the upstairs is a pretty terrific place to hang out, shoot some pool, get some drinks, or play the piano-if you can hear yourself over the blaring rock music. The atmosphere is a fun mix of metal and Western.

• Vendetta

  phone: +1 202 399-3201
  address: 1212 H St NE
  A quirky 2-level Vespa-themed bar that includes bocce courts and eclectic pasta dishes!

Cafes

• Sidamo Coffee & Tea

  phone: +1 202 548-0081
  address: 417 H St NE
  Ethiopian coffee and gourmet teas. Free WiFi.

Budget

There are several budget and mid-range hotels along US-50/New York Avenue NE just north of Gallaudet University and the National Arboreteum. These hotels mostly cater to motorists entering the city via US-50. Some of these hotels offer free shuttle buses to Union Station and are cheap options for those who are driving to D.C. but don't want to actually drive in the city. However, many are close to a noisy rail line and are quite dingy so be sure to check online reviews prior to booking.
In addition, there are several nicer and more expensive hotels just northeast of Union Station.

Budget

Hostels

• City House Hostel

  phone: +1 202 370-6390
  address: 506 H St NE
  A hostel not far from Union Station. Free wireless internet, plus plenty of books, board games, and video games in the common areas. 14 night maximum stay per calendar year.

• Capitol City Hostel

  phone: +1 202 387-1328
  address: 2411 Benning Rd NE
  A basic hostel. It is not accessible by Metrorail, but it is the cheapest accommodation option in the area. You must have proof of travel; locals are not allowed to stay here.

Hotels

• Howard Johnson Inn Washington DC

  phone: +1 202 546-9200
  address: 600 New York Ave NE
  This hotel is dingy but it is cheap and within walking distance to the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metrorail Station.

• Kellogg Conference Hotel @ Gallaudet University

  phone: +1 202 651-6000
  address: 800 Florida Ave NE
  With 17,000 square feet of meeting space, this hotel caters to conferences.

• Motel 6 Washington DC

  phone: +1 202 544-2000
  address: 1345 4th St NE
  Very basic low-end hotel. Free WiFi and morning coffee.

Mid-range

• Courtyard Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol

  phone: +1 202 898-4000
  address: 1325 2nd St NE

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Washington, DC/New York Avenue

  phone: +1 202 266-3000
  address: 2305 New York Ave NE
  A roadside hotel. Free shuttle bus to Union Station.

• Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/U.S. Capitol

  phone: +1 202 408-4870
  address: 1225 1st St NE

• Hyatt Place Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol

  phone: +1 202 289-5599
  address: 33 New York Ave NE

• Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington DC NoMa Union Station

  phone: +1 202 393-8001
  address: 501 New York Avenue NE
  Suites offer a full kitchen complete with a microwave, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a two-burner cooktop and utensils. Free, full hot breakfast each morning, and complimentary evening social available Monday through Thursday. 24-hour on-site convenience store with a variety of snacks, chilled meals and sundries. Complimentary shuttle to Union Market, Union Station and NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro.

• Hampton Inn Washington DC NoMa Union Station

  phone: +1 202 393-10001
  address: 501 New York Avenue NE, 20002
  Complimentary shuttle to the NoMa-Gallaudet Union Metro station, free WiFi, free hot breakfast or opt for a free Hampton On the Run® Breakfast Bag, available Monday to Friday. Indoor heated pool, whirlpool 24 hour fitness center.

The NoMa Business Improvement District offers free outdoor WiFi in the area just north of Union Station. In addition, most restaurants and cafes offer free WiFi.

Besides the obvious trip south to Capitol Hill, you can also head north on the Red line to Brookland, the "Little Vatican" home to the Catholic University and the stunning National Shrine.