Local tips for a great time in Takoma Park
Local eat and drink
Our ethnically diverse local population means that Takoma Park and neighboring Langley Park and Silver Spring offer an impressive array of dining options. And unlike downtown DC, you'll rarely have to wait very long for a table or pay more than $10-20 for your entree. I encourage my guests to be adventurous and try something new while you're here - all the restaurants below are top-notch!
You've probably never had Burmese food before, but if you like Thai, Indian, or Chinese food, you'll probably love this cuisine that combines elements of all three. Try the Noodle #1 or Chicken #11, and order your food "medium" unless you've grown up eating super spicy Asian food - the spice heat here is for real.
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Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe
930 Bonifant StYou've probably never had Burmese food before, but if you like Thai, Indian, or Chinese food, you'll probably love this cuisine that combines elements of all three. Try the Noodle #1 or Chicken #11, and order your food "medium" unless you've grown up eating super spicy Asian food - the spice heat here is for real.
This is a socially conscious local restaurant and book store chain with lots of farm-to-table offerings for all kinds of diets, from the most ferocious carnivore to vegans to folks with a gluten allergy. This is one of the few places in the area you may have to wait for a table during the busy dinner and Sunday brunch rushes. Table service ranges from OK to not great depending on how busy they are, but if you find a seat at the bar they'll take good care of you. The acoustics in the main dining room are terrible, so don't plan on having a lot of conversation during a busy time if anyone in your group strains to hear in a noisy crowd. Off nights and Saturday afternoons are great times to go.
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Busboys and Poets
235 Carroll St NWThis is a socially conscious local restaurant and book store chain with lots of farm-to-table offerings for all kinds of diets, from the most ferocious carnivore to vegans to folks with a gluten allergy. This is one of the few places in the area you may have to wait for a table during the busy dinner and Sunday brunch rushes. Table service ranges from OK to not great depending on how busy they are, but if you find a seat at the bar they'll take good care of you. The acoustics in the main dining room are terrible, so don't plan on having a lot of conversation during a busy time if anyone in your group strains to hear in a noisy crowd. Off nights and Saturday afternoons are great times to go.
You'll know you've found an authentic all-vegetarian South Indian buffet as soon as you step inside this place and see the primarily Indian dining crowd. Prices are extremely reasonable, and when the weather's nice you can walk off all the delicious food you (over-)indulged in by heading back to the house on foot - at about 3/4 of a mile it's a 15-20 minute walk.
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Woodlands Restaurant
10151 New Hampshire AvenueYou'll know you've found an authentic all-vegetarian South Indian buffet as soon as you step inside this place and see the primarily Indian dining crowd. Prices are extremely reasonable, and when the weather's nice you can walk off all the delicious food you (over-)indulged in by heading back to the house on foot - at about 3/4 of a mile it's a 15-20 minute walk.
Locally-owned Latin and Mexican restaurant with amazing food. Their vegetarian offerings even received a stamp of approval from my healthy vegetarian friend who typically avoids Mexican food because the vegetarian options are too starchy and greasy for her. Sit at the bar or one of many tables. If you call in a pick-up order (301-608-2121) they'll have it ready within 10-15 minutes. Extremely reasonable prices. Live music some nights.
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El Golfo Restaurant
8739 Flower AveLocally-owned Latin and Mexican restaurant with amazing food. Their vegetarian offerings even received a stamp of approval from my healthy vegetarian friend who typically avoids Mexican food because the vegetarian options are too starchy and greasy for her. Sit at the bar or one of many tables. If you call in a pick-up order (301-608-2121) they'll have it ready within 10-15 minutes. Extremely reasonable prices. Live music some nights.
Starbucks
3100 14th St NWIf you like Starbucks, this is the closest one to the house.
Great coffee shop with a roof deck that serves alcohol, too. Comfy lounge seating everywhere, free WiFi, and delicious baked goods and light fare.
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Kaldi’s Social House
918 Silver Spring AveGreat coffee shop with a roof deck that serves alcohol, too. Comfy lounge seating everywhere, free WiFi, and delicious baked goods and light fare.
This West African restaurant is a pleasant walking distance from the house and has a lovely atmosphere. For those new to African cuisines, traditional southern comfort food is heavily influenced by West African cooking traditions and you may be surprised to find familiar dishes here under new-to-you names. They open at 9:30 on weekdays and 10 on weekends with coffee and treats and stay open for dinner until 10 on weekends and midnight on weekends. Brunch is available on Sundays from 10:30 to 3. They have a full service bar, with happy hour Monday-Friday from 4 to 7 and half-priced wine bottles on Tuesdays. The owner is vegetarian and the menu easily accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs.
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Mansa Kunda Restaurant
8000 Flower AveThis West African restaurant is a pleasant walking distance from the house and has a lovely atmosphere. For those new to African cuisines, traditional southern comfort food is heavily influenced by West African cooking traditions and you may be surprised to find familiar dishes here under new-to-you names. They open at 9:30 on weekdays and 10 on weekends with coffee and treats and stay open for dinner until 10 on weekends and midnight on weekends. Brunch is available on Sundays from 10:30 to 3. They have a full service bar, with happy hour Monday-Friday from 4 to 7 and half-priced wine bottles on Tuesdays. The owner is vegetarian and the menu easily accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs.
70-year-old American gastropub with a 10-page whiskey menu and an 8-page microbrew menu, including a wide selection of ciders and lambics. Burgers are half-price on Monday nights and whiskey is 20% off on Wednesdays. Don't leave without trying their loaded tots, far and away the best food on the menu. Service can be slow on Friday and Saturday nights when they're busy. Opens at 4 every day and stays open til 1 on weeknights and 2 on weekends.
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Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia Ave70-year-old American gastropub with a 10-page whiskey menu and an 8-page microbrew menu, including a wide selection of ciders and lambics. Burgers are half-price on Monday nights and whiskey is 20% off on Wednesdays. Don't leave without trying their loaded tots, far and away the best food on the menu. Service can be slow on Friday and Saturday nights when they're busy. Opens at 4 every day and stays open til 1 on weeknights and 2 on weekends.
Carry-away alcohol
Montgomery County, MD doesn't allow alcohol sales at groceries or convenience stores, so you'll have to visit a specialty store even for beer and wine. Here are the most convenient local options:
This is the closest liquor store to the house. Selection is limited and it looks a little rough, but it's safe.
University Liquor Inc.
7925 New Hampshire AvenueThis is the closest liquor store to the house. Selection is limited and it looks a little rough, but it's safe.
This is a large, friendly liquor store where you can find a wide variety of hard-to-locate items like Crabbie's ginger beer and many kinds of hard cider. Feels closer to visiting a county ABC store or a Total Wine than a neighborhood liquor shop.
Fine Beverage Depot
6333 New Hampshire AveThis is a large, friendly liquor store where you can find a wide variety of hard-to-locate items like Crabbie's ginger beer and many kinds of hard cider. Feels closer to visiting a county ABC store or a Total Wine than a neighborhood liquor shop.
Parks & Nature
Down in the stream valley the air stays cool even in DC's hot and humid summers. Roads are closed to cars on weekends to allow cyclists full right of way, though there are a few parking lots left acceptable at the upper end of Beach Drive. Good hiking trails and some historic battlement ruins. Many picnic sites along the main road through the park. Access to the National Zoo from inside the park. Take the 50s buses from Takoma Metro or the S buses from Silver Spring Metro and get off at Aspen St to find a trail head into the park at 16th and Whittier St.
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Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWDown in the stream valley the air stays cool even in DC's hot and humid summers. Roads are closed to cars on weekends to allow cyclists full right of way, though there are a few parking lots left acceptable at the upper end of Beach Drive. Good hiking trails and some historic battlement ruins. Many picnic sites along the main road through the park. Access to the National Zoo from inside the park. Take the 50s buses from Takoma Metro or the S buses from Silver Spring Metro and get off at Aspen St to find a trail head into the park at 16th and Whittier St.
You can pick up this 10-mile paved trail a short walk from the house by crossing the street and following Garland Ave to the foot of the hill, or plug the intersection of Maplewood Ave & Sligo Creek Parkway into Google Maps to pick up the trail a bit further north. There's a large picnic pavilion area with a playground near the Garland Ave entrance, and an even larger playground area with a few picnic tables about 15 minutes' walk north from Maplewood. The long, mostly flat trail connects Wheaton Regional Park about 8.5 miles to the north with the Northwest Branch Trail about 1.5 miles south of my home. I recommend using Google Maps to plan your hike as there are places at the northern end of the trail that require you to leave the park and walk through residential streets to pick the trail up again, and these "detours" are not well-marked and can give the impression the trail has terminated.
For the most avid hikers and explorers, the 7-mile Northwest Branch Trail can also be picked up at its northernmost point from the other side of Wheaton Regional Park and followed south until you reach a large park area that runs under the US-1 overpass near Bladensburg. The large park area is actually made up of several smaller parks and you'll find the Prince Georges African American Museum and Cultural Center just a few blocks away.
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Sligo Creek Trail
Sligo Creek TrailYou can pick up this 10-mile paved trail a short walk from the house by crossing the street and following Garland Ave to the foot of the hill, or plug the intersection of Maplewood Ave & Sligo Creek Parkway into Google Maps to pick up the trail a bit further north. There's a large picnic pavilion area with a playground near the Garland Ave entrance, and an even larger playground area with a few picnic tables about 15 minutes' walk north from Maplewood. The long, mostly flat trail connects Wheaton Regional Park about 8.5 miles to the north with the Northwest Branch Trail about 1.5 miles south of my home. I recommend using Google Maps to plan your hike as there are places at the northern end of the trail that require you to leave the park and walk through residential streets to pick the trail up again, and these "detours" are not well-marked and can give the impression the trail has terminated.
For the most avid hikers and explorers, the 7-mile Northwest Branch Trail can also be picked up at its northernmost point from the other side of Wheaton Regional Park and followed south until you reach a large park area that runs under the US-1 overpass near Bladensburg. The large park area is actually made up of several smaller parks and you'll find the Prince Georges African American Museum and Cultural Center just a few blocks away.
Turn left out of the driveway and take your first left at the bottom of the hill onto Long Branch Parkway. The misleadingly-named small street dead-ends after 2 blocks into a lovely paved walking trail along the Long Branch Stream, which you can follow a short distance to a playground area with picnic tables.
Long Branch Stream Valley Park
Long Branch TrailTurn left out of the driveway and take your first left at the bottom of the hill onto Long Branch Parkway. The misleadingly-named small street dead-ends after 2 blocks into a lovely paved walking trail along the Long Branch Stream, which you can follow a short distance to a playground area with picnic tables.
This is a huge county park, with over 500 acres of public space. 50 acres are devoted to the Brookside Botanical Gardens, with both indoor and outdoor gardens, a Japanese teahouse, an educational nature center, and a historic preserved log cabin owned by one of the area's earliest African-American landholders. The Gardens also host popular seasonal attractions like their winter string lights display and their summer "wings of fancy" live butterfly event. You'll also find a fishing lake, a sports pavilion and athletic complex, an ice rink, a horse stable, a huge picnic pavilion, a carousel, and in the summer you can take a ride on a miniature train the loops around the park (weekends only in April and October, all week long May-September). Plenty of parking is available, but you can also reach the park via the Sligo Creek Trail or Northwest Branch Trail if you'd like to make a day hike of it. Using Google Maps is recommended to make sure you find what you're looking for in this huge park!
Wheaton Regional Park
2000 Shorefield RoadThis is a huge county park, with over 500 acres of public space. 50 acres are devoted to the Brookside Botanical Gardens, with both indoor and outdoor gardens, a Japanese teahouse, an educational nature center, and a historic preserved log cabin owned by one of the area's earliest African-American landholders. The Gardens also host popular seasonal attractions like their winter string lights display and their summer "wings of fancy" live butterfly event. You'll also find a fishing lake, a sports pavilion and athletic complex, an ice rink, a horse stable, a huge picnic pavilion, a carousel, and in the summer you can take a ride on a miniature train the loops around the park (weekends only in April and October, all week long May-September). Plenty of parking is available, but you can also reach the park via the Sligo Creek Trail or Northwest Branch Trail if you'd like to make a day hike of it. Using Google Maps is recommended to make sure you find what you're looking for in this huge park!
Essentials
Lots of organic, free range, vegan, gluten-free, locally made, you get the drift. A little bit pricey as you might expect. You don't have to be a member to shop here.
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Takoma Park-Silver Spring Food Co-op
201 Ethan Allen AveLots of organic, free range, vegan, gluten-free, locally made, you get the drift. A little bit pricey as you might expect. You don't have to be a member to shop here.
Really big well-stocked grocery store. Not too much in the way of specialty items like organics and gluten-free/vegan items, but the the produce is high quality and the prices are good.
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Shoppers
6881 New Hampshire AveReally big well-stocked grocery store. Not too much in the way of specialty items like organics and gluten-free/vegan items, but the the produce is high quality and the prices are good.
On a nice day you can walk the half-mile here from the house in about 10 minutes.
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7-Eleven
8101 Fenton StOn a nice day you can walk the half-mile here from the house in about 10 minutes.
Lee's Cleaners
6762 Richmond HwyOrganic dry cleaner. Also does alterations and sewing repair.
This laundromat is well-reviewed and reasonably close to the house. Many bus lines will take you up Flower Ave to its location at the corner of Piney Branch.
Takoma Park Laundromat
8435 Piney Branch RoadThis laundromat is well-reviewed and reasonably close to the house. Many bus lines will take you up Flower Ave to its location at the corner of Piney Branch.
Getting Around
On the Metro's red line. It's about a 30 minute walk, 8 minute Uber, or 15-20 minute bus ride on the 16, 18, or 25 Ride On buses toward Takoma Station.
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Takoma station
327 Cedar St NWOn the Metro's red line. It's about a 30 minute walk, 8 minute Uber, or 15-20 minute bus ride on the 16, 18, or 25 Ride On buses toward Takoma Station.
Silver Spring is one stop further north on the red line than Takoma. The house is about the same distance from both stations, so if you're catching a bus, I recommend getting on the first one that goes by (picking up on our side of Carroll) regardless of whether it's headed to Takoma or Silver Spring - any time you'd save by getting on the red line at Takoma instead of Silver Spring would be canceled out by the extra minutes you'd spend waiting for a bus headed to Takoma.
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Silver Spring Metro Station
Silver Spring is one stop further north on the red line than Takoma. The house is about the same distance from both stations, so if you're catching a bus, I recommend getting on the first one that goes by (picking up on our side of Carroll) regardless of whether it's headed to Takoma or Silver Spring - any time you'd save by getting on the red line at Takoma instead of Silver Spring would be canceled out by the extra minutes you'd spend waiting for a bus headed to Takoma.