It may sound like a stuffy bank or law firm, but Adams Morgan is one of Washington D.C.’s most diverse neighbourhoods. Immigrants from every corner of the world joined the largely African-American community in the 1960s and in the years since it has become a centre of delicious ethnic cuisine and pulsing nightlife.
With its pedestrian and cyclist-friendly streets lined by Victorian rowhouses, Adams Morgan is one of the best neighbourhoods in Washington D.C. to enjoy an afternoon walk. Its international shops and restaurants span everything from Italian, Mexican and Chinese to Peruvian, Ethiopian and Lebanese. After dark, Adams Morgan comes alive. The number of liquor licenses in the area is approaching triple digits, with many bars hosting live music in the evening.
Adams Morgan does not have its own stop on the Washington Metro, but Woodley Park on the red line is located within walking distance. In fact, Woodley Park was at one point renamed Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan. Metrobuses also provide strong service in the neighbourhood.
Named for the integration of two segregated elementary schools, Thomas P. Morgan and John Quincy Adams, Adams Morgan has long been a progressive beacon of political activism and social justice. Meridian Hill Park, All Souls Unitarian Church and the Potter’s House café and bookstore have all served as important gathering areas for socially minded locals.