Stop Over Washington, D.C.: "There's Inspiration Around Every Corner Here"

She's a social media star – Washington native Jade Womack has 135,000 followers on Instagram alone. She tells them about her favorite morning drink – a Halawa Honey Latte with tahini at Palestinian café Yellow – and how she loves hunting for vintage fashion at Eastern Market on Sundays. "When people think of Washington, D.C., they immediately picture the White House or political series like 'House of Cards,'" Jade says. "But D.C. is so much more than politics: it's an incredibly young and multicultural city. Around 60 percent of the roughly 700,000 residents aren't originally from here – which creates a unique mix of ideas and cultural influences."

Yoga at the National Zoo

Ever since she started her mission to make the unknown known by uncovering D.C.'s hidden gems, Jade has been constantly discovering new sides to her city. "I recently joined a yoga session inside the panda house at the National Zoo and saw a performance by a Cambodian ballet ensemble at a local café. There's inspiration around every corner here."

Like in her favorite museum, The Phillips Collection, the first modern art museum in the US. "The founder was friends with artist Mark Rothko, so you'll find some of his most iconic works there, as well as crowd-pleasing impressionist pieces," Jade says. Or at the National Museum of American History. "The permanent exhibition Entertainment Nation is all about American pop culture. You can see Joe Louis's boxing gloves and Prince's guitar. And in the First Ladies section, you get to see what the wives of US presidents wore to their husbands' inaugurations."

3 Favorite Tips 

1) Explore the world of air and space travel at the National Air and Space Museum. 

2) Enjoy a Lychee Martini at the Silver Lyan, a former bank. 

3) Experience the culinary skills of Kevin Tien at the Moon Rabbit Vietnamese restaurant. 

For lunch, Jade recommends The Occidental, just a stone's throw from the White House. "It's a classic American fine dining restaurant dating back to 1906. After a lengthy renovation, it reopened in early 2025 – and now the velvet chairs and antique chandeliers bring back all the retro glamour of the JFK and Truman eras," she explains. "Save room for dessert! The pink champagne cake with a glass of bubbles is a must. At lunchtime, it's where Washington's who's who meets for business."

Afterwards, a walk through the embassy district around Dupont Circle is worth it, with its grand diplomatic buildings. Or head to Georgetown, one of her favorite neighborhoods in the city. "Georgetown feels like a small town within D.C., full of historic buildings and unique shops such as The Phoenix, the oldest boutique in the city, or Arcay, a family-owned chocolate shop with Latin flavors like passion fruit or lime. M Street is considered one of the best shopping streets in the US – you can easily spend half a day there. And nearby there are some of the most beautiful homes covered with wisteria and gardens too!"

Another charming neighborhood, Mount Pleasant, has Bold Fork Books, a bookstore that exclusively sells cookbooks. "Kamala Harris has picked up books for friends here. And once a month, they host a cookbook club, where people cook dishes from the huge collection."

Photos: Greg Kahn | Hair and makeup: Anita Bahramy/T.H.E. Artist Agency | Wardrobe styling: Pascale Lemaire/T.H.E. Artist Agency | Clothing: Ruth Shaw Boutique | Producer: Carsten Kalaschnikow

About

Born and raised in Washington, D. C., Jade Womack is still constantly uncovering new corners of her hometown. She shares her top insider tips on her online platform, "Clockout DC."