Welcome to Capitol Hill

Welcome to Capitol Hill, where laws get passed, photos get taken, and things move a little bit faster. Some of the government's most influential structures make their homes on this famed incline, where Instagram-ready scenes of the Capitol Dome come at about every turn.

Capitol Hill is one of the District's most popular places to live. With its 19th-century rowhouses, this part is buzzing with fantastic activities, stores, and, of course, places to eat. Politicos, young staffers, and tourists head to the neighborhood for its government buildings and the surrounding historic, walkable, restaurant-filled blocks.

You can tour the U.S. Capitol via the visitors center, where guides lead small groups below the baroque architectured 180-plus-foot dome and past the faintly illuminated Old Supreme Court Chamber. Reservation is required for the tour or to visit Congress or the Senate (when they are in session); for the latter, contact your senator or house representative.

Nearby, the Library of Congress is the remarkable 1897 Thomas Jefferson building. This Italian-Renaissance style architecture and gilt murals, plus the stunning, circular main reading room with its 160-foot-high ceiling, is open for tours.

Other places of interest include the Folger Shakespeare Library, the world's most extensive collection of the author's timeless works. And the U.S. Botanic Garden at the base of Capitol Hill, which holds palms, ferns, and orchids, provides a peaceful escape for locals and tourists.

The picturesque nineteenth and early 20th-century rowhouses think of turrets, stained glass, and ironwork. The 1873 brick building of the historic Eastern Market houses grocers, bakers, and pasta makers inside every day except Monday and a lively weekend bazaar with produce, crafts, and antiques. The nearby micro-neighborhood of Barracks Row centers on 8th Street SE, where vintage storefronts hold oyster houses, pubby bars, and foodie-focused restaurants. Closer to the Capitol, Massachusetts Avenue NE has multiple restaurants and longtime watering holes.