Travel Guide: One Day in Washington D.C.

I had to travel to Washington D.C. for two nights earlier this year for work as part of my Virginia to South Carolina roadtrip, and with just two nights there and one full day, I was keen to at least see some of the city.

I arrived late at night on the Monday, so my trip really began around 4am on the Tuesday morning when jetlag woke me.

Thanks to jetlag I saw a surprising amount of the city, and I went to some really amazing food places too!

So, let me tell you what you need to do with just one day/24 hours in Washington D.C.

Where to stay: St Regis Washington D.C.

I recommend staying at the St Regis Washington D.C., undoubtedly one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, and the perfect position to see all the main sights. It’s super close to the White House and the best restaurants and bars in D.C.

If you need something more mid-range, Moxy Washington D.C. is also great – the Moxy brand is one of my favourites in Marriott’s portfolio! They’re really contemporary, clean, and comfortable hotels, but very reasonably priced.

Things to do in Washington D.C.

My colleagues gave me some great tips about where to go and what to see in Washington D.C. and one of them even kindly took me for a fancy dinner and drinks in the city on my second night in D.C., which was so much fun!

Although I was working most of the time I was in Washington D.C., because of the jetlag I woke up crazy early in the morning so had a few hours to actually explore the city.

Breakfast at Bob & Edith’s diner, Arlington

I started my one day in Washington D.C. with a delicious classic diner breakfast Bob & Edith’s diner over in Arlington.

It’s your typical American diner with friendly service and proper comfort food. Think pancakes, waffles, hash browns, bacon etc.

I’d heard really good things about Bob & Edith’s, and as it was reasonably close to our office I figured I’d check it out. Honestly it was exactly what I needed!

I still had loads of time before work though because I’d woken up so early, so I got an Uber over to Lincoln Memorial!

Lincoln Memorial

Seeing Lincoln Memorial in person was so wild.

Like I couldn’t believe I was actually there?! It felt so humbling. It was a lot larger than I thought it would be, and a really quiet, peaceful experience inside the memorial even though there were loads of renovations going on.

Also, you know how in political action movies set in D.C., you always see people jogging in the park?

WELL IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. There were actually joggers eeeeverywhere!

Reflecting Pool & Washington Monument

After Lincoln Memorial I walked along the reflecting pool, and up through the park towards the WW2 memorial and Washington Monument.

What struck me, was how quiet it was in the park?

There’s a huge ring-road going around the outside, and yet the trees blocked out all the traffic noise.

It was super peaceful and just really relaxing wandering through the park. I really enjoyed it and I think it really helped the jetlag to be out in the fresh air and nature.

The White House

It’s at Washington Monument that you can divert to your left and walk over to The White House. But, the St Regis is opposite the White House, so if you stay there you can see it any time you leave the hotel.

United States Capitol Building

From there, continue your walk through The National Mall park and up towards the United States Capitol building.

Lunch at Sonoma

From there, head to Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar for lunch.

It’s a super cute restaurant that specialises in local, fresh and sustainable ingredients. It got lots of thumbs-ups from my colleagues!

Visit D.C.’s Museums

While I had to work in the afternoon, you can check out the nearby museums: the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Womens in the Arts, and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

Then get an Uber over to Arlington Cemetery to pay your respects to President John F. Kennedy.

Drinks at Zaytina by José Andrés

Enjoy pre-dinner drinks at Zaytinya by José Andrés. Their Mediterranean-inspired cocktails are incredible!!

I loved the ‘Pomono’, which was a combination of Ouzo, lemon, pomegranate, and Moroccan mint.

The bar is inside a restaurant, and is a super cool space. It’s very chic and modern, with really friendly staff and knowledgeable bar staff who can help you choose the right cocktail or glass of wine!

Dinner at Cranes

Make sure you book a table at Cranes, a restaurant and sake lounge focusing on Japanese x Spanish cuisine, for dinner.

This beautifully designed restaurant has a super interesting menu and my colleague and I really loved their tasting menu and cocktails (total bill was around $150 per person, but it was 100% worth it).

The food is very varied and everything was really, really delicious. A very interesting concept that we both thoroughly enjoyed.

Drinks at Old Ebbitt Grill

Finish the evening with late night drinks at the beautiful Old Ebbitt Grill just round the corner from the St Regis.

Established in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill is Washington’s oldest saloon! It’s part of Clyde’s Restaurant Group which is one of the big restaurant groups in D.C. owning thirteen restaurants and bars across the city.

One Day in Washington D.C., Completed

And that’s a wrap! Congrats on completing one day in Washington D.C.!

I really enjoyed my time in the D.C. and think this guide gives a good taste of the city.

There’s so much to do there, you could easily spend a few days or a weekend exploring, but if you have a layover or are only there for a day or two, this really does cover the main attractions and sights – plus, plenty of good food!!