Washington, D.C./Shaw

Shaw includes the sub-neighborhoods of Logan Circle, Truxton Circle, and the U Street Corridor. It is bounded by 15th St NW, Florida Ave (formerly Boundary St), North Capitol St, and M St NW.
Although it has a diverse population, Shaw is distinctive from the adjacent areas due to its African-American heritage. It is popular due to its jazz clubs, bars, high-end bars and lounges, and for the marvelous food, including Little Ethiopia.
The neighborhood, named after Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, was first developed starting in 1865 when the end of the Civil War led to a huge increase in demand for new housing in Washington, D.C. The extension of streetcar lines in the early 1900s up 7th St and 14th St also spurred additional development.
Because Shaw was not affected by covenants that prohibited property sales to African Americans, Shaw became the center of African-American culture in Washington and was home to many black-owned businesses, entertainment venues, and other institutions. It was the birthplace of jazz great Duke Ellington, who lived on the 1200 block of T St. It was the center of Washington's music scene and includes the historic Howard Theater (opened in 1910), Lincoln Theatre (opened in 1921), and Bohemian Caverns jazz club (opened in 1926).
Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968, riots broke out at the intersection of 14th St & U St. The riots resulted in significant damage to 1,200 buildings and resulted in thousands of permanent job losses. With the introduction of crack cocaine in the 1970s and 1980s and the subsequent flight of residents and businesses from the area, Shaw succumbed to urban blight. The entire neighborhood was considered to be unsafe due to rampant prostitution and drug use.
However, beginning in the early 1990s, a wave of gentrification restored the area. In 1986, the Reeves Center, a municipal office building, opened at the intersection of 14th St and U St, bringing thousands of jobs to the area. The Shaw-Howard University Metro Station opened in 1991. In 2000, a Whole Foods supermarket opened at the intersection of 14th & P Street and quickly became one of the retailer's highest grossing stores. Between 2000 and 2002, Harrison Square, the first large scale residential development in the area in a long time, was constructed. Since then, dozens of upscale businesses have opened and thousands of apartments have been constructed. Houses at Harrison Square, which cost $200,000 in 2000-2002, are now selling for $900,000.
The U Street Corridor is a vibrant collection of boutique shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and art galleries along U St NW between from 9th St and 18th St. The corridor first became commercially significant when a streetcar line operated along U St in the early 20th century. It was known as Black Broadway due to the number of live music and performance venues.
Logan Circle, named after Civil War general John A. Logan, is a traffic circle as well as a historic district whose commercial area centers around 14th St. The beautiful Victorian-style buildings in this area were less affected by the riots and this area now features some very trendy restaurants and bars.
The 14th Street Corridor runs between Logan Circle and U Street. While not considered a neighborhood per se in the same sense as the U Street Corridor, it is equally vibrant in terms of commercial destinations.

By Metrorail

For more information on riding the Metrorail in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get around.
Shaw is serviced by the following Metrorail stations on the green and yellow lines

• U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/CardozoHas entrances at the southeast corner of 13th St & U St, and on 10th St, south of U St.

• Shaw-Howard UniversityHas entrances at 7th St & S St and 7th St & R St.

By bus

The following are the main bus routes operating in Shaw, along with links to timetables and route maps. For more information on riding buses in Washington DC, see Washington DC#Get around.

• Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square Circulator Bus ($1) is a limited-stop/express bus that runs Su-Th 7AM-midnight, F Sa 7AM-3:30PM. In Shaw, it stops on 14th St & U St and 14th & P St. It runs from McPherson Square, near the West End, and goes north through Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan and then on to the Woodley Pak-Zoo Metro Station in Upper Northwest.
• X3 is a very convenient express route heading west from U St/Cardozo through Adams Morgan to area in Upper Northwest including Woodley Park, the National Zoo, and Tenleytown.
• #52, 53, 54 run along 14th St from the National Mall up to the Columbia Heights Metrorail Station.
• #S1, S2, S3, & S4 run along 16th St from the National Mall to Silver Spring.

By car

Driving is definitely not recommended if you are not familiar with the area. The main streets are 14th St, R St, 9th St, 7th St, and Florida Ave. North Capitol St is a good and relatively uncongested artery heading north towards Maryland and the I-495 Capital Beltway. Avoid driving on U St, because it is one of the most congested streets in D.C. On-street parking is possible on the quieter side streets any time of the week.

• African-American Civil War Memorial

  phone: +1 202 426-6841
  address: 925 Vermont Ave NW
  The nation's only monument to African American Civil War soldiers. More than 209,000 names of the United States Colored Troops who fought in the Union Army are inscribed on 157 burnished stainless steel plaques. Arranged according to regiment, the names include those of the 7,000 white officers who served with the African American troops. At the center of the plaza encircled by the inscribed names is a sculpture, The Spirit of Freedom, by artist Ed Hamilton.

• House of the Temple

  phone: +1 202 232-3579
  address: 1733 16th St NW
  A Masonic temple, the headquarters of the Scottish Rite, and a prominently featured location in Dan Brown's 2009 novel, The Lost Symbol. It's almost absurdly grand, pretty easily outshining the similar Supreme Court Building in Capitol Hill, and there's nary a Washingtonian around who hasn't at some point walked by it, surprised by this enormous but unidentified building. The interior is a wild Orientalist fantasy in way that only the Masons could bring to life, and is open to the public for guided tours.

• Thurgood Marshall Center

  phone: +1 202 462-8314
  address: 1816 12th St NW
  A Shaw landmark, built as the local YMCA in 1912, and designed by one of the nation's first black architects, W. Sidney Pittman. The name comes from the fact that Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall was a frequent visitor to the Y, and that he wrote portions of his opinion for the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision here. On the first floor, the Shaw Heritage Trust maintains an exhibit portraying the living history of African Americans in the Shaw Community.

• Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site

  phone: +1 202 426-5961
  address: 1318 Vermont Avenue NW

• Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

  phone: +1 202 426-5961

The Greater U Street Heritage Trail is a self-guided walking tour with downloadable audio that will have you visiting major sights in the neighborhood.

Theatre

• Howard Theatre

  address: 620 T St NW
  A historic theater, opened in 1910 and extensively renovated in 2012 after decades of vandalism, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

• Lincoln Theatre

  phone: +1 202 328-6000
  address: 1215 U St NW
  Native Washingtonians Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey performed in the Lincoln Theatre. The theatre also hosted shows by Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Billie Holliday and Sarah Vaughn.

• Studio Theatre

  phone: +1 202 332-3300
  address: 1501 14th St NW
  The Studio Theatre can lay claim to being the vanguard of D.C. Theatre. It's spacious, modern, comfortable, and puts on absolutely top-notch contemporary dramatic performances. If what's playing here appeals to you at all, make a night here a priority.

• Theater J

  phone: +1 202 777-3210
  address: 1529 16th St NW
  Theatrical troupe that performs works related to Jewish culture.

• Constellation Theatre Company

  phone: +1 202 204-7741
  address: 1835 14th St NW
  Small theatre company that performs at Source Theater.

Comedy

• Washington Improv Theater

  phone: +1 202 204 7770
  address: 1835 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
  Hosts hilarious paid improv shows throughout the year, plus the pay-what-you-want "Harold Night" improv shows every Tuesday night.

U St is the place for the more funky, local, boutique shopping, although discounts are hard to come by.
The art galleries on 14th St have the most exciting contemporary exhibits in the city.
If you are up for some seriously exotic shopping, head to Little Ethiopia on 9th Street, south of U St, to sample the various Ethiopian stores and food markets.
The Whole Foods Supermarket on 14th St & P St is one of the highest grossing Whole Foods in existence.

Fashion

• Funky women's dresses, tops, rompers & colorful jewelry.

• Lettie Gooch

  phone: +1 202 332-4242
  address: 1921 8th St NW #110
  Funky women's dresses, tops, rompers & colorful jewelry.

• Read Wall

  phone: +1 202 332-4242
  address: 1921 8th St NW #105
  Men's formalwear and custom tailoring.

• Violet Boutique

  phone: +1 202 621-9225
  address: 1924 8th St NW #115
  Women's clothing and styling services.

Galleries

• Adamson Gallery

  phone: +1 202 232-0707
  address: 926 N Street REAR NW, Suite #2
  A smaller gallery focused on contemporary photography and digital prints.

• Gallery Plan B

  phone: +1 202 234-2711
  address: 1530 14th St NW
  A delightfully casual space, with exhibitions that tend towards the quirky and humorous.

• Hemphill Fine Arts

  phone: +1 202 234-5601
  address: 1515 14th St NW, Suite 300
  The block's swankiest gallery, which usually exhibits contemporary works by more established artists.

• Long View Gallery

  phone: +1 202 232-4788
  address: 1234 9th St NW
  Art exhibits & events in an industrial-chic space with exposed brick walls & a courtyard.

• Transformer Gallery

  phone: +1 202 483-1102
  address: 1404 P St NW
  A non-profit gallery whose mission is to provide opportunities for emerging artists, focused on new, experimental works.

Other

• Lee’s Flower Shop

  phone: +1 202 265-4965
  address: 1026 U St NW
  Opened in 1945, this family owned business is one of only 3 businesses on U St to survive the 1968 riots.

Shaw is famous for its African food, particularly Ethiopian. Little Ethiopia, on 9th St just south of U St, has the best Ethiopian restaurants outside of Addis Ababa. While the number of Ethiopians in the D.C. area has been debated, D.C. is widely considered to have the largest number of Ethiopian ex-pats anywhere in the world and Shaw is the epicenter of their community. To brush up on your Ethiopian dining etiquette, see Washington, D.C.#Eat.
Shaw is also known for its soul food diners, many of which have been in D.C. much longer than most residents. You won't find the best soul food in the world here, but the feel of these restaurants, which are sometimes covered wall-to-wall in pictures of famous celebrities that visited decades ago, give you a unique peek into the history and culture of D.C.
As noted below in the Drink section, Shaw also has many independent chic cafes that serve sandwiches at low prices.

Budget

For the cheapest options, try one of several Mediterranean or pizza hole-in-the wall restaurants.

• Ben's Chili Bowl

  phone: +1 202 667-0909
  address: 1213 U St NW
  A mainstay since 1958 and one of the few businesses in the area to survive the 1968 riots, this restaurant is a city landmark. It's been patronized by President Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, and every recent city mayor. In fact, you might find future mayoral candidates bivouacked here, in hopes of showing that they are "of the people." It's a down-home, low-maintenance, diner-style restaurant known for serving D.C.'s best half-smokes and for its friendly staff. Take a peek inside so that you can say you've been here, but if want something fancier, look next door for Ben's Next Door, which is a nice bar/restaurant opened in 2008 by the same owners to capitalize on their fame.

• Chix

  phone: +1 202 234-2449
  address: 1121 14th St NW
  Cheap chicken, with beans, rice, and vegetables.

• The Codmother

  phone: +1 202 265-0709
  address: 1334 U St NW
  Fish and chips and a basic beer selection in a basement.

• The Greek Spot

  phone: +1 202 265-3118
  address: 2017 11th St NW
  Good, cheap greek food.

• Judy Restaurant El Salvadoran & Mexican Food

  phone: +1 202 265-2519
  address: 2212 14th St NW
  You don't come for the ambiance or the service but the food is great & cheap.

• KoChix Wings

  phone: +1 202 232-3468
  address: 400 Florida Ave NW
  A hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves excellent chicken wings.

• SUNdeVICH

  phone: +1 202 232-7108
  address: 1314 9th St NW
  Creative sandwiches in a converted garage.

• The Mediterranean Spot

  phone: +1 202 232-7108
  address: 1501 U St NW
  A hole-in-the wall restaurant with good food.

• Uncle Chips Cookies

  phone: +1 202 999-4990
  address: 1514 North Capitol Street NW
  Delicious cookies and brownies and amazing sandwiches with fresh ingredients.

Mid-range

African

• Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

  phone: +1 202 798-6762
  address: 1334 9th St NW
  With the entrance hidden in the basement, this gem can be tricky to find, but the number of Ethiopian ex-pats inside will tell you that you are in the right place.

• Dukem

  phone: +1 202 667-8735
  address: 1118 U St NW
  The Ethiopian cuisine here is solid, if of variable quality. But the real reason to come is for the daily late-night live Ethiopian music—likely the best you'll experience outside of Ethiopia. A real hub for the local Ethiopian community. Full bar.

• Etete

  phone: +1 202 232-7600
  address: 1942 9th St NW
  Nice ambiance, excellent service, and top-notch quality for all the favorite dishes.

• Habesha Market And Carry-out

  phone: +1 202 232-1919
  address: 1919 9th St NW
  A restaurant and a market. Try the spicy beef stew, sambusa, and spicy lentils.

• Lalibela

  phone: +1 202 265-5700
  address: 1608 7th St NW
  Named after a town in Ethiopia famous for its rock churches, the food is authentic and delicious. Pleasant outdoor seating remedies the dark interior, and is indeed the main reason to come here as opposed to the otherwise superior options on 9th St.

• Queen of Sheba

  phone: +1 202 232-7788
  address: 1503 9th St NW
  Open since 2006, Queen of Sheba prides itself on serving fresh authentic Ethiopian food. Popular among the local Ethiopian population.

• Sumah's West African Restaurant

  phone: +1 202 462-7309
  address: 1727 7th St NW
  A hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves huge portions of very tasty West African food. If you ask Sumah, he'll let you sample everything before you order. Make sure to wash it down with delicious homemade ginger beer. Try the cassava leaves or okra sauce with beef and chicken or the peanut butter and potato sauce with chicken.

• Uptown Ethiopian Fusion Cuisine

  phone: +1 202 232-1608
  address: 1608 7th St NW
  Ethiopian & Italian food with televisions playing sporting events.

Soul food diners

• Busboys & Poets

  phone: +1 202 387-7638
  address: 2021 14th St NW
  Somewhere between a cafe, a bookstore, and a bar, Busboys & Poets principally serves up hearty portions of leftist politics. Poetry readings and political rants grace the stage, while the food is basic pizza, burgers, some down-home cooking, and sandwiches filled with things like falafel and hummus. Cool place to hang out if you share the vibe. Weekly open-mic poetry nights are held at each location. 4 locations in the DC area.

• Florida Avenue Grill

  phone: +1 202 265-1586
  address: 1100 Florida Ave NW
  A famous D.C. establishment serving soul food since 1944. This is another rare business to have survived the 1968 riots, as the owner fended off rioters with his gun. The food, service, and ambiance are all below average, but it's worth stopping in to see the pictures on the wall of celebrities that visited the diner when it was in its heyday and get a feeling for the history.

• Oohs and Aahs

  phone: +1 202 667-7142
  address: 1005 U St NW
  A nationally-acclaimed soul food diner that opened in 2003 and is very popular among the late-night crowd. Try the collard greens, sweet yams, potato salad, and mac n' cheese.

• Torrie's Restaurant

  phone: +1 202 462-3700
  address: 700 V St NW
  Like the Florida Avenue Grill, this is another soul food diner that doesn't have the best food, but it is worth a visit for the experience. The steak & egg breakfast, chitlin's, and fried chicken livers rank among the most popular dishes.

Other

• Al Crostino

  phone: +1 202 797-0523
  address: 1926 9th St NW
  Excellent Italian food.

• Barcelona

  phone: +1 202 588-5500
  address: 1622 14th St NW
  A popular wine, sangria and tapas bar.

• BKK Cookshop

  phone: +1 202 791-0592
  address: 1700 New Jersey Ave NW
  A Thai noodle restaurant.

• Chaplins' Restaurant & Bar

  phone: +1 202 644-8806
  address: 1501 9th St NW
  A 1920s-themed Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar famous for ramen noodles.

• DC Noodles

  phone: +1 202 232-8424
  address: 1412 U St NW
  Thai noodles in both traditional and contemporary variations.

• El Sol Restaurante

  phone: +1 202 815-4789
  address: 1227 11th St NW
  Arguably the best tacos and Mexican food in DC.

• Fainting Goat

  phone: +1 202 735-0344
  address: 1330 U St NW
  Extensive menu with plenty of pictures of goats on the walls!

• Mason Dixon Biscuit Company

  phone: +1 202 849-3518
  address: 1819 7th St NW
  Voted best biscuits in America. Also serves fried chicken.

• San Lorenzo

  phone: +1 202 733-3849
  address: 1316 9th St NW
  Tuscan food.

• Supra

  phone: +1 202 733-3849
  address: 1205 11th St NW
  Georgian food, including khachapuri.

• The Dabney

  phone: +1 202 450-1015
  address: 122 Blagden Alley NW
  Mid-Atlantic food in a former row house.

• Tiger Fork

  phone: +1 202 733-1152
  address: 922 Blagden Alley NW
  Hong Kong/Chinese food.

• Tortino

  phone: +1 202 312-5570
  address: 1228 11th St NW
  Great Italian food.

Splurge

• Le Diplomate

  phone: +1 202 332-3333
  address: 1601 14th St NW
  A wide selection of French cuisine. A favorite among locals. Despite the large size of the restaurant, you will need reservations during busy times.

• Thai X-ing

  phone: +1 202 332-4322
  address: 515 Florida Ave NW
  Some of D.C.'s best Thai food served in one of the most unusual restaurants in the city. There is one cook, Taw Vigsittaboot, and this is basically his house. Fortunately he's expanded a bit to include his front yard, where there are a few tables on the street. Because he is the only cook and everything is cooked to order, expect a long wait—bring good interlocutors, a book, or a laptop; there is free WiFi. You'll need to make reservations relatively far in advance for weekends. Taw has also changed the weekend menu to a noticeably more expensive chef's choice prix fixe, which has allowed him greater creativity—and that's decidedly a good thing.

Cafes

Shaw is popular for its non-chain cafes, each with its own unique character, although the vibe is almost always hip and liberal.

• Big Bear Café

  phone: +1 202 643-9222
  address: 1700 1st St NW
  Technically just outside Shaw in the neighborhood of Bloomingdale, this hipster café has a unique vibe - covered in moss and grape vines!

• Calabash Tea & Tonic

  phone: +1 202 525-5386
  address: 1847 7th St NW
  A large selection of flavorful teas and vegan food.

• The Coffee Bar

  phone: +1 202 733-1049
  address: 1201 S St NW
  Opened in 2012, this coffee shop prides itself on the best coffee and knowledgeable baristas. Try the honey badger.

• Compass Coffee

  phone: +1 202 251-7402
  address: 1535 7th St NW
  Fair trade coffee in a well-designed and comfortable space.

• Kafe Bohem

  phone: +1 202 735-5895
  address: 606 Florida Ave NW
  A café with a relatively large food menu, specializing in Czech cuisine. The coffee served in porcelain cups.

• La Columbe

  phone: +1 202 289-4850
  address: 1219 Blagden Alley NW
  A trendy place popular on the east coast. The exposed brick walls give the feel of a hipster coffee shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

• Uprising Muffin Company

  phone: +1 202 290-1196
  address: 1817 7th St NW
  "Taste the Revolution" is the motto here. Excellent muffins, coffee, people and just overall cool vibes.

Bars/lounges

Shaw has several very classy bars. These are not the places where you will find cheap beer.

• A&D Neighborhood Bar

  phone: +1 202 290-1804
  address: 1314 9th St NW
  Eclectic snacks and cocktails.

• Black Jack

  phone: +1 202 319-1612
  address: 1612 14th St NW"
  An extremely popular bar with a great selection of beers and cocktails.

• Cafe Saint-Ex

  phone: +1 202 265-7839
  address: 1847 14th St NW
  The contemporary American Bistro upstairs (with good food but spotty service) is complemented by a very popular bar/lounge downstairs, where DJs spin bossa, downtempo, French lounge, 70s funk, etc. DJs usually spin starting at 10PM Tu-Sa, but check the website for details.

• ChurchKey

  phone: +1 202 567-2576
  address: 1337 14th St NW, 2nd floor
  Beer selection is the primary reason to come here, with 50 craft brews on tap and 500 bottles of beer on the wall. It's a really classy, stylish bar, but it's so crowded that you won't be able to sit, much less chat with the friendly and very knowledgeable bartenders (M-W nights are best). Happy hour is busy and a good time to meet people. Downstairs is Birch & Barley, which serves the full beer menu and has excellent contemporary American dinner plates. Since you can reserve a table downstairs, that can be a good bet if you don't want to brave the crowds upstairs.

• Cork Wine Bar

  phone: +1 202 265-2675
  address: 1720 14th St NW
  A fancy little wine bar that specializes in French and Italian wines, particularly in more offbeat wines, and the food is superb. Try the rosemary chicken liver bruschettas with a shallot marmalade, or perhaps a chili mint roasted eggplant.

• Dacha Beer Garden

  phone: +1 202 524-8790
  address: 1600 7th St NW
  A popular Bavarian-style beer garden where you can eat and drink outside on picnic tables when the weather is nice.

• The Gibson

  phone: +1 202 232-2156
  address: 2009 14th St NW
  According to legend, Mr. Gibson asked the bartender to serve him "an improvement upon the perfect martini." The wise bartender opted not to tamper with the simple perfection of gin and vermouth, but rather replaced the olive garnish with a small slice of onion. Thus was the Gibson born. Its namesake bar is D.C.'s favorite unadvertised speakeasy—you ring the buzzer next to an unmarked black door to get in. Although, the Gibson has a strict policy of not allowing more people inside than there are seats (no standing), so if you plan a weekend visit, you should definitely make a reservation before 5PM. It's beautiful inside, dimly lit and elegant, and the cocktails are renowned as some of the city's very best, mixed by true experts. The ambiance is very sexy and it is a popular date spot.

• Ivy & Coney

  phone: +1 202 670-9489
  address: 1537 7th St NW
  A popular sports bar where they root for teams from Chicago and Detroit.

• Local 16

  phone: +1 202 265-2828
  address: 1602 U St NW
  The (affordable) food is hit-or-miss, so focus on the (expensive) rooftop bar with outdoor heaters for the winter, brought to you by the owners of the über-cool 18th Street Lounge. Popular with those wanting to dance or meet singles. Happy hour runs weekdays 5:30PM-8PM, and the house DJs spin F-Sa 10PM-1AM.

• Marvin

  phone: +1 202 797-7171
  address: 2007 14th St NW
  Named after D.C.-native Marvin Gaye, this is a wildly popular bar and only slightly less popular soul food restaurant. The second floor is almost always hopping, with regular DJs inside, and a fabulous outdoor rooftop in the back, with its own bar well stocked with craft beers.

• Nellie's Sports Bar

  phone: +1 202 332-6355
  address: 900 U St NW
  A fun sports bar with a rooftop deck. Features karaoke, trivia night and drag queen brunch, along with several happy hour specials. Especially popular among the gay crowd.

• Right Proper Brewing Company

  phone: +1 202 607-2337
  address: 624 T St NW
  Homemade beers and southern-style food in a very trendy industrial-style space.

• The Saloon

  phone: +1 202 462-2640
  address: 1207 U St NW
  A laid-back neighborhood bar with an emphasis on conversation over good beer. One of the few bars in the area that has the music turned down. You will find a wide variety of quality European beers, but you won't find many mass-produced beers such as Bud or Miller.

• Solly's Tavern

  phone: +1 202 462-2640
  address: 1942 11th St NW
  Somewhat resembling a dive bar, this venue is famous for its weekly Kostume Karaoke on Thursdays, in which costumes are provided for patrons to be less self-conscious when they sing to a drunken crowd.

• PUB - Pop Up Bar

  phone: +1 202 316-9396
  address: 1839-1843 7th St NW
  A pop up bar owned by Drink Company that sports a different theme every few months. Examples include a cherry blossom theme in the spring. Also has a decent selection of local beers.

Music venues

Live music finds its home in Shaw, particularly around U St. The Black Cat and the 9:30 Club are two of the city's most prominent music venues, playing host to plenty of national acts of all types, drawing varying crowds.

• 9:30 Club

  phone: +1 202 265-0930
  address: 815 V St NW
  Check the calendar as the top shows sell out fast. This standing-room-only 1,200 person venue boasts top-notch lighting and sound systems, and expensive booze. The place is small enough where you are going to have a great view no matter where you are standing.

• Black Cat

  phone: +1 202 667-7960
  address: 1811 14th St NW
  Plays host to some big names, but usually features indie-rock and underground hip hop. The sound system certainly suffers compared to the 9:30 Club, but the cost is lower, and there's more to do here: in addition to the live music, they have another room for DJs and dancing, one for shooting pool, and another for a vegetarian cafe!

• DC9

  phone: +1 202 483-5000
  address: 1940 9th St NW
  DC9 is almost always a hit. Live music is the staple at this medium-size, medium-dive club, and includes national and (usually) local acts, usually indie-rock. The clientéle is pretty hipsterish, but not at all judgmental—it's a great place to let loose and get your dance on at the regular dance parties (or the after-show late-night dance parties), regardless of whether you know what you're doing. DC9 has some incredible drink specials on quality brews too.

• Twins Jazz

  phone: +1 202 234-0072
  address: 1344 U St NW
  Great jazz and blues shows. The sets are long, the performers are top-notch, the audience is sophisticated, and the Ethiopian food is good.

• U Street Music Hall

  address: 1115 U Street NW
  500-person capacity room with a great sound system that features both DJ and live performances.

• Velvet Lounge

  phone: +1 202 462-3213
  address: 915 U St NW
  Probably D.C.'s diviest venue for music—to the point where you might legitimately worry about falling through the floorboards of the tiny performance space. Shows are often local, and in addition to the standard indie rock, punk, and dance music, feature D.C.'s premiere experimental acts. Su-Th there's no cover to enter the downstairs bar, so you can sample the music first to see if you want to pay to go upstairs.

Nightclubs

The clubbing scene in Shaw is not as popular, nor as trendy, as those of nearby Adams Morgan or Dupont Circle but there are still several good options.

• Flash

  phone: +1 202 827-8791
  address: 645 Florida Ave NW
  Features a rooftop dance floor. The music is generally deep house and other electronica.

• Pure Lounge

  phone: +1 202 290-7058
  address: 1326 U St NW
  A high-end nightclub and lounge.

• Tropicalia

  phone: +1 202 629-4535
  address: 2001 14th St NW
  A great place for dancing, although, depending on your taste, you'll either love or hate the music.

• Vegas Lounge

  phone: +1 202 483-3971
  address: 1415 P St NW
  A great place to dance to Motown and pop.

Most accommodation options in Shaw are in the southwest section of the neighborhood, close to Dupont Circle, the East End, and within walking distance of the National Mall, while other options are further east, close to the convention center. In addition to large hotels, there are a couple small B&B options, although they have much less amenities to offer.

Budget

Hostels

• DC International Hostel

  phone: +1-877-889-6499
  address: 1610 7th St NW
  Basic hostel. It is best to make reservations by phone.

• DC Lofty

  phone: +1 202 506-7106
  address: 1335 11th St NW
  Dorm bed: From $30

• Duo Housing

  phone: +1 202 808-2195
  address: 1223 11th St NW
  A popular, clean hostel with a "no-shoes inside" policy.

Hotels

• Cardozo Guest House

  phone: +1 202 328-3510
  address: 13th & T St NW
  A beautiful 4-guestroom house with comfortable rooms, most with shared bathrooms. No breakfast, no kitchen, no internet, and no TVs or phones. This isn't a typical B&B as no breakfast is served and sometimes your only company at the guesthouse may be other guests. What you do get, however, is to spend your time on a quiet street in a lively neighborhood with plenty of entertainment and restaurants. 2-night minimum stay.

• Comfort Inn Downtown DC/Convention Center

  phone: +1 202 682-5300
  address: 1201 13th St NW
  A simple 2-star hotel that is a great value for the money. Breakfast and WiFi is included.

• District Hotel

  phone: +1 202 232-7800
  address: 1440 Rhode Island Ave NW
  Fairly bare-bones, they still find their color TV to be tout-worthy, and the breakfast gets hate mail, but if you can get a low rate here, the price is hard to beat.

• Embassy Inn

  phone: +1 202 234-7800
  address: 1627 16th St NW
  A small hotel run by the same management as the District Hotel (see above).

Mid-range

• CAMBRiA Washington DC Convention Center

  phone: +1 202 299-1188
  address: 899 O St NW
  An all-suite hotel with a rooftop deck and an indoor pool close to the convention center.

• Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington

  phone: +1 202 265-8000
  address: 1475 Massachusetts Ave NW
  Breakfast is included daily and a basic dinner is also included on some nights.

• Kimpton Rouge Hotel

  phone: +1 202 232-8000
  address: 1315 16th St NW
  Boutique hotel with large rooms a short walk from Dupont Circle, with a red theme throughout the hotel. Bar/restaurant located on the premises. 24-hour fitness center. Happy hour of red wine, red beer, and red juice served M-F.

• Washington Plaza Hotel

  phone: +1 202 842-1300
  address: 10 Thomas Circle
  A 3-star chic hotel in a 1962 building designed by Morris Lapidus. Includes an outdoor pool and a lobby bar with a fireplace.

Splurge

• The Darcy Hotel

  phone: +1 202 232-7000
  address: 1515 Rhode Island Ave NW
  A large upscale hotel that caters particularly to business travelers and lobbyists, as it is a few blocks from K Street and a couple more from the White House.

• Holiday Inn Washington DC - Central / White House

  phone: +1 202 483-2000
  address: 1501 Rhode Island Ave NW
  Old reliable. A big upscale chain close to the White House, with a big underground parking garage. Nothing unique about it, but you know you'll be taken care of.

• Mason & Rook

  phone: +1 202 462-9001
  address: 1430 Rhode Island Ave NW
  This boutique hotel has sort of a Hollywood-retro-pop art thing going on and very international clientèle—a fashionable small hotel in a fashionable location. You'll probably want to dress fashionably to fit in at the lounge. Not a typical "Washingtonian" experience, but D.C. really has little to do with that stereotype anyway.

As in many nightlife-centered neighborhoods of Washington, DC, Shaw has a significant problem with muggings, particularly around the bars and the public housing projects.
Avoid walking on dark side streets; even some more well-traveled areas like 9th St and parts of Florida Ave can get a little too quiet after midnight.
Drunken club-goers stumbling out of venues on U St, or concert venues such as the 9:30 Club and Black Cat are often targeted for petty theft. Keep an eye on your belongings, and remember to refocus your alertness upon leaving the club.
Vagrants, while annoying, will usually stop bugging you if you keep up your pace and just give them a polite smile and a "sorry."
Smash-and-grab robberies of parked cars are more common than you'd like.

There are plenty of cafes that have free WiFi. If you need to use a computer terminal, visit the neighborhood library.

• Shaw Watha T. Daniel Library

  phone: +1 202 727-1288
  address: 1630 7th St NW

• Dupont Circle and 18th St in Adams Morgan are both within easy walking distance for additional nightlife, bars, and cafes. Near Northeast has more choices as well but is further away.
• If you want to delve further into D.C.'s African-American history, cross the river to Anacostia!