Downtown DC
NW
OVERVIEW
AT THE HEART OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL, Downtown DC is where all aspects of life in the District coalesce: business and recreation, hospitality and tourism, culture and entertainment. Here, global and national interests intersect with local enterprise. As the third-strongest office market in the U.S. shakes off the effects of the pandemic, signs of fresh energy in Downtown DC abound, including new museums and destination dining, the stunning revitalization of historic Franklin Park, and multiple residential projects in development — the first housing built in the central business district in over a decade.
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Download Neighborhood ProfileNeighborhood Features
Dining, Shopping + Entertainment
- 130 destination restaurants, including Centrolina, minibar, and Shoto
- 67 destination retailers
- 13 museums, including the soon-to- open Capital Jewish Museum
- 8 theater and performance venues
- Capital One Arena
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Innovation + Tech
With dozens of coworking locations, an Apple flagship store, and the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center, Downtown DC’s reputation as a technology hub is further supported by a collection of innovators including Google, Facebook, FiscalNote, Social Tables, and Eaton Workshop.
Employment Hub
The DowntownDC BID is home to nearly a quarter of the District’s jobs with employment estimated at 182,300.2 The neighborhood attracts talent from across the metro region and is highly accessible with seven Metrorail stations covering all six lines, Metrobus and DC Circulator stops, and 30 Capitol Bikeshare stations.
New Retail, Services + Entertainment
Noteworthy recent additions to the Downtown DC commercial landscape include entertainment venue The Escape Game, a Canali clothing store, fast-casual eatery Bindaas by award-winning DC restaurateur Ashok Bajaj, and restaurant/theater/event space Carlyle Room & Brennan’s Bar.




DowntownDC Business Improvement District
DowntownDC Retail Strategy Manager