Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, Play in Union Market

Union Terminal Market opened in 1931, a centralized open-air marketplace where vendors sold fresh produce, meat, seafood, and more. Thirty years later, DC banned the outdoor sale of meat and eggs, which led to the development of a new indoor market in 1967. That venue and its surrounding neighborhood, known today simply as Union Market, has been through a lot: Aging infrastructure pushed many retailers to the suburbs in the 1980s, and a massive fire burned down much of the original warehouse in 2012. But thanks to an expansive rebuild-and-development initiative—including the arrival of La Cosecha, a first-of-its-kind indoor market celebrating the food and culture of Latin America, in 2019—the area is once again a hot spot for dining, shopping, and things to do. Here are some of our recommendations.

 

Where to Shop

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Secondhand News

Vintage Vintage Vintage

Even the building that houses Vintage Vintage Vintage is a throwback: Libby Rasmussen and Rajni Rao opened their secondhand shop in a nearly 70-year-old former bank last September, offering a brick-and-mortar space for more than a dozen independent sellers of antique gems and original designs. Not a thrift store but a “curated destination,” in the founders’ words, it offers clothing, accessories, and home goods dating as far back as the 1930s. To accompany the retail, Rasmussen and Rao host community events, including DJ sets, an annual bridal show, and recently a classic-car show. Customers can buy food and drink from local businesses during weekend pop-ups—vendors have included the sourdough bakery Breadscraps and the Vietnamese coffee brand Phê.

 

Extra Mile

FP Movement

FP Movement, the activewear label of the beloved women’s boho apparel brand Free People, opened in December. Exercise junkies can stock up on chic yet functional sports bras and compression leggings or shop by activity—breezy shorts for running, skorts for pickleball, and tanks made with ultraviolet-protection fabric for hiking. Even the less athletic can find treasures in the racks, from loungewear sets to everyday sneakers.

 

Making Scents

Olfactory NYC

The Union Market offshoot of Olfactory NYC  opened last summer, joining an existing area location in Georgetown. For $85 per scent, book an appointment with a store adviser, who will help you and up to seven friends craft your own personalized perfumes. Start by selecting a base fragrance and then choose what else to mix in—Madagascar vanilla and sandalwood, magnolia and orange blossom, or iris and cashmere are just a few options. You’ll perfect the formula by testing it on paper and skin, then name and label your creation to take home.

 

Welcome to the Jungle

Jungle & Loom

The woman-owned plant nursery Jungle & Loom started as a pop-up in 2018 and evolved into a neighborhood mainstay. It’s a place for houseplants and gardening supplies, sure, but you can also rent plants for special events. The shop offers private classes—think floral arranging, terrarium-building, or basic plant care—as well as scheduled public workshops, such as repotting demos and wreath-making tutorials. No green thumb? No problem. Art prints plus vintage rugs and glassware are among the other gift items and home decor.

 

Creation Station

District Candle Lab

The first location of District Candle Lab landed in Union Market over the summer of 2024. The make-your-own-candle shop, started by Ferzan Jaeger, a former NASA physicist and founder of the gift shop Olive & Loom, sells signature soy-wax candles. Or you can make an appointment to craft a custom scent—a candle or diffuser—as a solo activity or with friends. Another event opportunity in the same space: Fawne Charm Bar welcomes private groups to design their own jewelry.

 

Juices Flowing

Plant Magic Bottle Shop

Local holistic-health influencer Anahata Sabat opened Plant Magic Bottle Shop at the beginning of last year to expand DC’s nonalcoholic-beverage scene. She offers bottled mocktails and other zero-proof sips formulated with a variety of nootropics and adaptogens—such as lion’s-mane mushroom for focus, ashwagandha for relaxation, and cordyceps for energy. Other wellness goodies include bath salts, gluten-free cookies, and plant-based beauty products from brands like Silver Spring’s Skincando.

 

Things to Do

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Hot Wheels

F1 Arcade

Channel your inner Lewis Hamilton at F1 Arcade, a virtual-race space that opened its first DC location in the fall of 2024. Play on one of more than 80 driving simulators, individually or in teams of up to six. Then enjoy live DJs, sports watch parties, trivia, and a well-appointed bar.

 

Perfect Harmony

Sid Gold’s Request Room

Karaoke lovers can ditch the prerecorded playlist for a live soundtrack at Sid Gold’s Request Room. Tucked into an alley, this New York–born lounge arrived here in spring 2024, featuring a nightly pianist who accompanies each performer with music and backing vocals.

 

Farm to Table

FreshFarm Union Market District

FreshFarm Union Market District kicked off in 2023. Every Sunday from 10 to 2, April through November, shop a selection of produce, baked goods, small-batch coffee, handcrafted soaps, locally distilled liquor, and much more.

 

Artistic License

Chela Mitchell Gallery

Chela Mitchell Gallery, founded in 2021 by its namesake art adviser, launched its first exhibit last summer. A collaboration with DC rapper Shy Glizzy, “You See Where I’m Coming From?” invited Black artists to showcase work paying tribute to his creative journey.

 

Stage Dive

Songbyrd Music House

A live-music haven since 2015, Songbyrd Music House hosts artists from DC and beyond in its intimate 250-capacity venue. Upcoming acts include the buzzy musical duo 76th Street, Northern Virginia–bred hip-hop artist Bucky Malone, and British country-rock band Brown Horse.

 

Movie Magic

Angelika Film Center and Drive-In at Union Market

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The indie movie theater Angelika Film Center arrived at Union Market as a pop-up in 2014 and hasn’t budged. Screenings range from blockbusters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day to anime classics. Every summer, the Drive-In at Union Market hosts outdoor screenings. On the marquee this summer: F1 and Mean Girls.

 

Where to Eat

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Raising the Bar

Cowbell Seafood & Oyster Bar

Sara Quinteros and Reid Shilling brought oysters back to Union Market’s central bar in October—after Rappahannock Oyster Bar moved out—with Cowbell Seafood & Oyster Bar. While oysters are the main attraction, the raw bar also offers Baltimore canyon lobster, scallop crudo, and peel-and-eat shrimp. Its loyalty club—aptly named the Chesapeake Bay Blue Oyster Cult—includes invitations to events and drink deals for a $25 fee.

 

French Flair

Pastis

A New York City favorite founded in 1999, Pastis made its way to DC in 2024. The restaurant emulates a Parisian bistro in taste and decor: White tiles and a tin ceiling create an ambience for French classics like steak frites, boeuf bourguignon, and duck confit. Its selection of wines also adds to the atmosphere, with Pinots, Gamays, Sorelis, and Chardonnays from regions across France.

 

Street Style

Chai Pani

Meherwan Irani brought his James Beard Award–winning Indian spot, Chai Pani, to DC last August, led by longtime friend and fellow Beard winner Vishwesh Bhatt as chef. Chai Pani brings high-end ingredients and execution to Indian street-food favorites like sabudana vada tots, bhel puri, and chaats. Alongside specialty cocktails, including a cardamom old-fashioned, it serves nonalcoholic classics such as mango lassi, nimbu pani, and chai.

 

Saddle Up

Desert 5 Spot

Union Market marks the first area location for the country-western bar Desert 5 Spot, a New York and LA favorite. The September 2025 opening brought DC its first mechanical bull along with line dancing and karaoke. Southern classics on the menu include Nashville hot chicken, smoked brisket, waffle fries, mac and cheese, and coleslaw.

 

Family Dinner

Karravaan

Karravaan, a Michelin Guide restaurant that chef/owner Sanjay Mandhaiya opened in June 2025, takes diners on a journey through the Silk Road, combining Persian, Portuguese, Indian, and Turkish cuisines. The menu features small shareable dishes such as pork-lemongrass dumplings, chicken shawarma, and khachapuri, along with entrées meant to be shared family-style, including mushroom biryani, butter chicken, and sabzi tagine.

 

New Spin

Cordelia Fishbar

The team behind some of Washington’s most beloved restaurants, including Clyde’s, the Tombs, and Old Ebbitt Grill, opened Spanish-inspired Cordelia Fishbar in 2024. This spot departs from the company’s typical Americana and dedicates itself to Iberian fish preparation, powered by its Mibrasa Parilla grill and charcoal ovens import-ed from Spain. Try the signature whole charcoal-roasted turbot or indulge in the raw bar, which offers half-price oysters and shellfish towers during happy hour. Finish the night with seasonal sorbets, a lavender crème brûlée, or one of 16 international whiskeys.

 

Big Apple Offshoot

Minetta Tavern

Minetta Tavern, which was founded in New York City in 1937, expanded to DC in 2024, when the storied Parisian restaurant opened in a Union Market alley. Steakhouse favorites include grilled lamb chops, red snapper, and of course steak, alongside French bites like brandade croquettes, onion soup, and—controversially—foie gras. Upstairs, check out the Lucy Mercer Bar, named for FDR’s mistress, which is reservation-only with no phones allowed. There, indulge in small bites and high-end cocktails.

 

Carry a Tune

Singing Tiger

The owners of the pan-Asian restaurant and karaoke bar Singing Tiger were inspired by pop star Dua Lipa in aiming to combine an old-school vibe with the frenetic energy of a European club. The menu includes favorites from different Asian cuisines, including dan-dan noodles, bánh mì, and tonkatsu ramen. You can enjoy the fare from one of three karaoke rooms, which can be reserved for $80 to $100 an hour, depending on the night of the week.

 

What’s Selling

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The bustling Union Market district is largely commercial—anchored by its eponymous shopping and entertainment center—but townhouses, condos, and luxury buildings speckle the perimeter and surrounding neighborhoods. Here’s some of what’s sold in the past few months.

This article appears in the August 2026 issue of Washingtonian.