Skip to main content
Penn Quarter in Washington

Things to Do in Penn Quarter, Washington

Ford's Theatre, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum anchor this stretch of downtown between Pennsylvania Avenue and Chinatown.

Ford's Theatre, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum anchor this stretch of downtown between Pennsylvania Avenue and Chinatown.

  • Ford's Theatre MuseumFord's Theatre MuseumTheater
  • FiolaFiolaItalian
  • Silver LyanSilver LyanCocktail Bar
Plan Penn QuarterFree and No sign-up

By TripSapien · Updated September 3, 2026

Top things to do in Penn Quarter

  • Ford's Theatre Museum in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Ford's Theatre Museum

    4.7 · 8.4k
    Theater

    The site of Lincoln's assassination, this historic theater offers nightly performances & tours.

    Every day
    8:30 AM – 5 PM
  • National Portrait Gallery in Penn Quarter, Washington

    National Portrait Gallery

    4.8 · 13.6k
    Art Museum

    Major, free-admission museum with art works portraying influential Americans throughout history.

    Every day
    11:30 AM – 7 PM
  • U.S. Navy Memorial in Penn Quarter, Washington

    U.S. Navy Memorial

    4.7 · 1.1k
    Historic Landmark

    Massive outdoor memorial pays tribute to Americans serving at sea, including the Navy & Coast Guard.

    Every day
    9:30 AM – 5 PM
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Smithsonian American Art Museum

    4.8 · 3.8k
    Art Museum

    Art museum & National Portrait Gallery housed in the third-oldest federal building in the capital.

    Every day
    11:30 AM – 7 PM

Where to eat & drink in Penn Quarter

  • Fiola in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Fiola

    Michelin
    Italian· $100+

    With stone walls, seasonal arrangements and Warhol-esque prints, this DC powerhouse is equal parts retro glitz and country lodge. Before even crossing the threshold, diners are met by gracious servers. While they may rhapsodize about…

    Mon
    Closed
    Tue–Fri
    5 PM – 9 PM
    Sat
    5 PM – 9 PM
    Sun
    Closed
  • Silver Lyan in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Silver Lyan

    Top 500 bar
    Cocktail Bar· $30–70

    An acclaimed cocktail bar by Mr Lyan, located in a historic bank vault at Riggs Washington DC.

    Mon
    Closed
    Tue–Thu
    5 PM – 12 AM
    Fri
    5 PM – 1 AM
    Sat
    4 PM – 1 AM
    Sun
    5 PM – 11 PM
  • barmini in Penn Quarter, Washington

    barmini

    4.8 · 646
    Cocktail Bar· Más de $100

    Swanky craft-cocktail bar with innovative, technology-driven menu & white-on-white furnishings.

    Mon
    Closed
    Tue–Fri
    5 PM – 11:30 PM
    Sat
    5 PM – 11:30 PM
    Sun
    Closed
  • Rania in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Rania

    Michelin
    Indian· $$$$

    This fine dining concept seems fit for a queen, and good thing too, since Rania translates to "queen" in Hindi and Sanskrit.

    Website
  • Minibar by José Andrés in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Minibar by José Andrés

    Michelin ★★
    Fine Dining

    Mr. Andrés' wild culinary ride through molecular-gastronomy. One of DC's two Michelin star restaurants. This six-customer, two-chef restaurant, serves a 30-course meal of everything from cotton candy foie gras to lobster injection to beet…

    Website
  • Oyamel in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Oyamel

    4.5 · 8.1k
    Mexican· $20–70

    This well-liked mainstay of DC Mexican cuisine comes courtesy of Spanish Chef Jose Andres, whose typical dedication to flavorful cooking and high-quality ingredients still draws brisk business.

    Mon–Thu
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
    Fri
    11:30 AM – 11 PM
    Sat
    11 AM – 11 PM
    Sun
    11 AM – 10 PM
  • Jaleo in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Jaleo

    4.5 · 6.1k
    Tapas· $50–100

    Chef José Andrés has opened locations of this tapas hangout from Las Vegas to Chicago to Dubai, but it all started here inside the Beltway.

    Mon–Thu
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
    Fri
    11:30 AM – 11 PM
    Sat
    11:30 AM – 11 PM
    Sun
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
  • Café Riggs in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Café Riggs

    4.5 · 1.1k
    American· $20–80

    Inspired by the bustling brasseries of Europe, Cafe Riggs offers grace and modernity in a very polished setting.

    Mon–Thu
    7 AM – 11 PM
    Fri
    7 AM – 12 AM
    Sat
    7 AM – 12 AM
    Sun
    7 AM – 11 PM
  • Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza - Washington D.C. in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza - Washington D.C.

    4.7 · 4.3k
    Pizza· $20–30

    With partial and full restaurant buyouts, our team is happy assist in your planning.

    Mon–Thu
    11:30 AM – 9 PM
    Fri
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
    Sat
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
    Sun
    11:30 AM – 9 PM
  • Succotash in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Succotash

    4.5 · 5.0k
    American· $$

    Chef Edward Lee's classy eatery melds Dixie & Asian flavors in an inventive menu.

    Mon–Fri
    11:30 AM – 10 PM
    Sat
    11 AM – 10 PM
    Sun
    10 AM – 10 PM
  • Rice Bar Market Place in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Rice Bar Market Place

    4.7 · 1.6k
    Korean· $10–20

    A Washington, D.C. restaurant that offers a gastronomic journey to savor the vibrant flavors of Korean cuisine, specializing in bibimbap.

    Mon–Fri
    11 AM – 7 PM
    Sat
    11 AM – 7 PM
    Sun
    Closed
  • Rasika in Penn Quarter, Washington

    Rasika

    4.3 · 4.0k
    Indian· $30-90

    Polished restaurant & lounge serving contemporary Indian food, wine & cocktails.

    Mon–Thu
    11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5 PM – 10 PM
    Fri
    11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5 PM – 10:30 PM
    Sat
    4:30 PM – 10:30 PM
    Sun
    11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM

More about Penn Quarter

José Andrés runs Jaleo, Oyamel, and barmini here, with Woolly Mammoth staging original plays nearby.

Planning time in Penn Quarter?

Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs before you go.

Penn Quarter map

Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

Map of Penn Quarter with pinned top attractions (1 through 10)
  1. 1Ford's Theatre Museum
  2. 2Fiola
  3. 3Silver Lyan
  4. 4National Portrait Gallery
  5. 5U.S. Navy Memorial
  6. 6barmini
  7. 7Rania
  8. 8Minibar by José Andrés
  9. 9Oyamel
  10. 10Jaleo

Other areas in Washington

Ready to plan Penn Quarter?

Turn these Penn Quarter picks into a day-by-day Washington plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.

All things to do in WashingtonAll Washington neighborhoods →Browse all destinations →Multi-city itineraries →