Located in the northwest corner of D.C., Georgetown has a restaurant perfect for any kind of eater. From Mexican to Italian to Indian food, M Street and Wisconsin Ave. are filled with the most appetizing aromas. Since the meals at Leo’s can get dull, many of us like to venture out into the surrounding neighborhood and city for a culinary adventure. Don’t worry about spending too much money; Georgetown has many affordable options that will satisfy all your cravings!
Caffeine Fix
Saxbys Coffee
Right outside of the front gates is Georgetown’s favorite coffee shop. In addition to your standard coffee options, Saxbys has many specialty drinks like their Milk & Honey Cold Brew, Frolatte, and Maple Vanilla Bourbon coffee. Make sure to check out their Instagram page for new items! While waiting in line, you’ll probably be tempted by their display of enticing pastries, muffins, and bagels. To go along with your caffeine, Saxby offers an array of breakfast sandwiches and customizable oatmeal to keep you fueled for your morning classes. In a rush? Avoid going at peak class transition times because the line can get quite long.
Compass Coffee
New to the neighborhood is Compass Coffee, an ideal study spot with its spacious atmosphere, numerous seating options, and, most importantly – many outlets. Compass stands out in Georgetown, especially because it’s located under the iconic Georgetown sign. It’s also one of the more affordable options in the area and they don’t charge extra for non-dairy milks! Next time you have a big exam coming up, I recommend snagging a table at Compass and enjoying their smooth and rich coffee, and heavenly pastries.
Breakfast & Brunch
Farmers Fisher Bakers
First Bake, the morning breakfast service at Farmers Fishers Bakers, is a bucket list item for Hoyas. Students can enjoy a morning stroll on the Georgetown waterfront then get a fairly priced breakfast before class. From 8:00AM to 10:30AM, Monday through Friday, students can purchase $1 donuts, $2.50 endless coffee, $2 toast and spread, and countless other inexpensive options! When making new friends on campus or celebrating a birthday, First Bake is a good place to meet up, while not spending a lot of money. What better way to start your day than eating a warm cinnamon roll next to the Potomac River?
South Block Juice Co.
Need to add some color to your Instagram or Snapchat story? South Block has the most aesthetically pleasing acai bowls, juices, and smoothies that taste just as good as they look. With many locations in the DMV area, Georgetown’s South Block is located in Grace Street Market, a lively retail space with a “hipster” feel. Along with South Block, there is Grace Street Coffee and SUNdeVich, a sandwich shop, which means you can spend your entire day in the area studying or doing homework. Pro Tip: You can turn any smoothie into a bowl if you ask!
Lunch & Dinner
Falafel Inc.
Located on Potomac St., Falafel Inc. is the perfect spot to grab a filling and flavorful meal without hurting your wallet. With any food purchase, you are also supporting the World Food Programme, delivering aid to refugees across the globe. Falafel is a Georgetown favorite not only because you are helping a great cause, but also because the prices are insanely low with their $3 falafel sandwiches, $4 bowls, and $3 Zaatar fries. Make sure you grab a few different self-serve sauces to get the full experience!
Chaia
Are you worried about finding some tasty vegan and vegetarian options in DC that don’t cost a fortune? Chaia is the place for you! This taco spot combines delicious and exceptional food with a fast casual atmosphere. While Chaia is known for their 3-for-$12 vegetarian tacos, they also have enchiladas, nachos, iced teas, and a few desserts. My favorites are the Chipotle Sweet Potato Hash taco or the Braised Mushroom one! The good thing is, you can try 3 different tacos at one time! P.S. Most menu items can be made vegan!
Sweetgreen
This list wouldn’t be complete without including the Georgetown student-created Sweetgreen. Hoyas benefit from Sweetgreen’s mission to provide healthy food during some of the unhealthiest years of a person’s life. Sweetgreen allows customers to customize their own salads, in addition to their standard menu items. My favorite thing about Sweetgreen is their seasonal menu, because every few months, I can add some new flavors into my life. I’d say the Guacamole Greens is my ride or die, maybe because it’s basically just a healthy taco.
Happy Hour
Mai Thai
From 3:30PM to 6PM on Mondays through Fridays, customers can indulge in $3 sushi rolls and other various appetizers, like spring rolls, for under $5. Mai Thai is a Georgetown classic and offers pretty inexpensive options, considering it’s a sit-down restaurant with huge portions. While primarily a Thai restaurant, Mai Thai also offers other delicious Asian cuisine, like curry and dumplings.
Flavio Restaurant
If the cheap prices don’t sell you on Flavio’s Happy Hour, the friendly and amicable staff definitely will! Flavio’s has a classic Italian ambiance, and a welcoming waitstaff that will make sure you are always satisfied. Happy Hour runs from 4PM to 7PM, Monday through Friday. While your more senior friends can enjoy $4 -$6 drinks, there is also a $6 selection of amazing Italian food, including calamari, margarita pizza, and cheese ravioli. It’s good to keep this place in mind for Parents Weekend or when you want to treat yourself to their full menu.
Late Night Bites
Epicurean and Company
Join the largest party at Georgetown every 2AM on a Friday or Saturday night at Epi! While Epi serves a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, it’s most notable for cheesy quesadillas, greasy pizza, and salty french fries after a night out. The changing buffet, sushi bar, and noodle station ensure a constant variety. Epi accepts Flex Dollars, which come with your meal plan; be careful not to spend it all too early, because Epi can get quite addicting (especially if you live in Darnall). Sadly, Epi is no longer open 24 hours a day, but it is still open at the time that really matters: all day Friday and Saturday and until 10:00PM on Sunday. If your stomach can handle a lot of dairy, be sure to try their decadent milkshakes!
Dessert
Baked & Wired
In the fight between Georgetown Cupcake and Baked & Wired, Baked & Wired usually comes out victorious. While a little bit more expensive, Baked & Wired cupcakes are the size of an actual slice of cake, if not bigger. A Baked & Wired cakecup is a great gift for a new friend or a treat to share while sitting at the Georgetown Waterfront. I’ve had a hard time choosing a favorite because there are so many mouth-watering flavors like German Chocolate, Red Velvet, Vegan Oreo, and Gluten-free Chocolate Chip. Cupcakes not your thing? Not to worry, Baked & Wired has a large selection of other baked goods, like brownies, cookies, lemon bars, and pies, as well as a changing drink and breakfast menu.
Thomas Sweets Ice Cream
Since it feels like summer from March to October in D.C., it’s always the perfect time for ice cream. While a little bit on the pricey side, the generous portions make up for it. With more than 40 different ice cream flavors, endless toppings, and other desserts like fudge and cookies, T Sweets will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth! It also has a variety of fat-free or sugar-free frozen yogurt flavors and sorbets for those who are lactose-intolerant or vegan. Popular flavors include Cookie Dough, Cookie Monster, Coffee Oreo, and Nutella with some more interesting flavors like Tiramisu and Eastern Chai. Don’t let the long line scare you, it’s worth the wait!
