Washington, DC: Shopping and Food

Ginkgo Gardens is one of the few garden shops in DC. Throughout residential neighborhoods, small front gardens prevail. The shop specializes in plants and accessories for these diminutive urban spaces. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the shop boasts a shade house, a small nursery yard, and an interior shop.

Ginkgo Gardens shop.

Also in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is the Eastern Market. The oldest market in DC, it is both indoor and outdoor. On weekends it becomes a bustling open air flea and a green market called the Farmer’s Line where artisanal farmers display and sell their wares. There are plenty of small restaurants with outdoor seating in the immediate neighborhood as well as the opportunity to buy from a local farmer and head to the closest nearby park or bench for a spontaneous picnic.

The farm-to-table restaurant scene in DC is alive and well with one of the most interesting being Table. Located in a renovated industrial building in the rapidly gentrifying Shaw Historic District, it features deceptively simple seasonal food that is imaginative and beautifully prepared and presented. There is a rooftop deck with a green wall and palette inspired white décor, as well as street side dining areas. Advanced reservations are highly recommended and can be made through Open Table.

This article is part of the Garden Destination: Washington, DC article.