Columbia Heights DC - Washington, DC Area Guide

Between 1881 and 1882, Senator John Sherman started developing a subdivision of Washington and called the area Columbia Heights. The neighborhood in the 1900s was a result of the development that transformed the area's suburban character into a more urban and densely populated community. The nearby Museum of Unnatural History and Howard University Museum serve this neighborhood. Columbia Heights has a growing art culture with beautiful murals that line the streets. The nearby District of Columbia Arts Center features an art gallery that rotates shows by local artists and special events, even offering avant-garde poetry nights.

Although chain restaurants and fast food options are available in Columbia Heights, the ethnic eateries afford locals a bright spot for dining opportunities. Thip Khao provides authentic laotian cuisine that residents highly recommended. The diverse menu includes traditional sticky rice, papaya salad and Moak Pah Flounder that receives constant praise. Los Hermanos features authentic Dominican inspired menu items. This restaurant has an open-floor format that blends Latino culture with a casual dining environment. Regulars recommend the Mangu Tres Golpes, which is known to be flavorful and enjoyable. Nightlife in Columbia Heights includes a diverse number of entertainment destinations, such as beer gardens, dance clubs and cocktail bars. For the hipsters out there, check out the Red Derby which almost never runs out of PBR and has a great rooftop deck. Zeba Bar is a hookah lounge with outdoor seating and a menu of cocktails. On weekends you'll find a live DJ and a reasonably sized dance floor. Another bar, Kangaroo Boxing Club, provides a casual place to grab a drink or eat dinner for couples looking for a quieter night out. The interior resembles a small-town pub, however, the drink selection and menu items beat regular bar fare any day.

As the 13th most-walkable neighborhood in Washington, residents of Columbia Heights perform most of their errands on foot, though the numerous bike lanes can be very convenient for those looking to go out of the neighborhood. There is also a Capital Bikeshare station that helps biking remain an effective way to reach most destinations. Columbia Heights provides excellent transit options and public transportation. Two Metrorail subway lines and 13 Metrobus lines service the neighborhood. For those looking for four wheels instead of two, car-sharing services such as RelayRides, Hertz On Demand and Uber, also serve this area for residents without a personal vehicle. ZipCar is also an option. Local taxis also run regularly on the main streets of Columbia Heights, and nearby Georgia Ave and 16th St offer a direct way out of the city.

Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, sits on 12 acres of land. The center of the park incorporates a long, beautiful cascading waterfall. There you can job by statue of Joan of Arc and listen to the African Drum Circle. This family friendly park has walking trails, bicycle paths and open area ideal for exercise. Festivals and events include the Sunday Drum Circle and Columbia Heights Day. The annual Columbia Heights Day starts in early October and consists of a street festival with music, yoga workshops, eating contests and much more.

The cost of living in Columbia Heights sits two percent higher than the rest of Washington. On public transportation, a one-way, single fare costs $1.75 on Metrobus and Metrorail lines. A one-bedroom apartment costs $1,450 on Clifton Street and can reach as much as $2,000 between 16th Street and 14th Street; the median rental rate is $1,158 in Columbia Heights. If you have a car, expect to street park it or have to pay a monthly parking fee. Gas generally comes in at 4 percent higher than the national average. Residents can expect to pay up to $5 for a 16 ounce glass of domestic beer at a local bar, though going out during happy hour makes that price go down a little.

Columbia Heights houses the DCUSA Shopping Mall that provides popular department stores and retailers. DCUSA prevails as the largest retail development in the Washington city limits. Popular stores include Bed, Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Target and Marshall's. Most residents use this mall for home essentials and clothing items, though Target does have a fresh foods section. Residents will also find the nearby Giant Food Supermarket useful for groceries. For a farmer's market, all the locals head to the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace, which opens every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., April through December.