Known as Washington’s cultural center at the turn of the century, U Street has long been a backbone of the city’s homegrown jazz, arts, and civil rights movements. Once bearing the scars of riots and protests, today it has regained its rightful place as the street to showcase DC’s vibrant cultural life, from music and food to activism and art.

Though weekends on U Street are dominated by fun seekers from outside the neighborhood, locals have the run of the area most other days and nights. Longtime neighborhood restaurants know their regulars by sight and greet them by name.