Waterfront - Washington, DC Area Guide

In his original plan for DC, Pierre L’Enfant’s envisioned Waterfront as a critical extension of both Capitol Hill and the National Mall, part of the central fabric of the District. The neighborhood never quite materialized that way. As a swampy, low-lying area, it quickly became one of the least desirable quadrants, even for industrial use.

By the time the 1920s rolled around, conditions had improved, and immigrants and transient workers flocked to there to find affordable housing. In the 1950s, the construction of the I-395 overpass further cut off Southwest from the District as a whole, and the area remained poor and largely forgotten. During the early years of the 21st Century, developers who recognized the potential of waterfront views and a central location began efforts to revitalize the area, with their sights set on a future of luxury condo buildings and a thriving residential community.

Despite the neighborhood’s checkered past, various famous residents have called it home, from government types like Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and David Souter, to musicians Marvin Gaye and Denyce Graves.

With the National Mall at the northern edge of the neighborhood, residents have access to legendary museums and monuments. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum are even free of charge.

Waterfront offers a variety of hidden good-food gems. Start with neighborhood favorite Masala Art, an Indian restaurant that celebrates the creative expression of spice blends, or masalas. Best to come early or late: a pre-theater menu features appetizer, main course, and dessert, and late night specials at the bar include two-for-one appetizers and drinks.

Later in the evening, head to Cantina Marina for a taste of points farther south. Touted as “a place that you’d expect to find in Miami,” this waterfront bar specializes in cheap beer and margaritas, served to a soundtrack of Jimmy Buffett.

The Metrorail’s Green Line runs through the neighborhood, its Waterfront station providing a reliable means of transport until midnight on weekdays and 3 a.m. on the weekends. L’Enfant Plaza Station, just a stop north of the Waterfront station or a 15-minute walk, provides immediate access to the Blue, Orange, Silver and Yellow Lines.

Several bus lines also run through the area, with routes 70 and 71 stopping at L’Enfant Plaza before continuing south to Waterfront. For those who prefer to propel themselves through the streets, Capital Bikeshare maintains stations at the Waterfront Metro and 6th and Water St SW.

As in most of the District, on-street parking is scarce, though if you must travel by car, the south end of Water Street SW (near the Maine Avenue Fish Market) offers metered parking spaces.

Fans of baseball flock to open-air Nationals Park at the south end of the neighborhood, where over 40,000 spectators can take in game, hot dog in hand. A bit farther west, the Southwest Waterfront Park features a tree-lined promenade and the Titanic Memorial, a granite sculpture commemorating the men who put the lives of women and children ahead of their own when the RMS Titanic sank in 1912.

Young families find plenty to entertain them, too. The Southwest Playground Project at 3rd and I Street brings together community volunteers to maintain a safe, public place for children to play--all next door to a branch of the public library.

Though several chain grocery and drug stores provide a convenient source of everyday items for shoppers, seafood lovers will rejoice at the Maine Avenue Fish Market. One of Waterfront’s main attractions, the market, also known as the Wharf, has operated continuously since 1805. There’s a palpable authenticity to the place, where fishmongers shout daily specials over the roar of traffic from the I-395 overpass above.

Fashion mavens and other shopaholics should look elsewhere in DC to get their retail fix. Development has not yet made the area a shopping destination, though the upshot is fewer crowds on the streets and a more tranquil area in which to live.