Residents of Congress Heights love their neighborhood for many reasons. This neighborhood is alive with culture, arts and a tight-knit community. While the neighborhood itself does not have much to offer in the way of dining and retail, it is only a short distance away from some of D.C.’s best restaurants and bars.

Congress Heights on the Map

Located in the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C., Congress Heights is bound to the east by Southern Avenue, bordering Maryland, and Sheperds Parkway and I-295 to the west. Saint Elizabeths Hospital is at the neighborhood’s northern most point while Eastover Shopping Center is to the south.

Easy, Affordable Living

Congress Heights offers residents a variety of housing options such as single-family homes, townhomes and many condominiums. The neighborhood has a mixture of older, historic houses and more modern models as well. Many of the older houses have been updated with new appliances and beautiful hardwood floors. Overall, housing in Congress Heights is reasonably priced compared to other neighborhoods in the area.

Getting Around Town

There are plenty of public transportation options located around in and around Congress Heights, making it easy for residents to commute to other parts of the city. On the green line, the neighborhood has the Congress Heights and Southern Avenue metro stations. Several bus lines also run through the area, including the 92, 93, W2, W3 and W4. For residents who own cars, there are many major roads, making driving easy. Just east of the neighborhood, I-295 runs north to south. Suiteland Parkway to the north runs east to west, leading across the Anacostia River right to Nationals Park.

Thriving Community Center

The crown jewel of the Congress Heights neighborhood is the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), a 27 million dollar project that provides the community with fun and engaging educational, recreational and social services. Part of the Building Bridges Across the River, a non-profit organization, THEARC partners with a number of other local organizations such as The Washington Ballet, Washington School for Girls, Levine Music and more! The center offers a wide variety of programs for people of all ages to enjoy. The Double Time Jazz series brings world-class jazz musicians for performances throughout the year, a fun time for any music lover. Black History Month exposes students to plays and musical productions celebrating African American history while also highlighting local artists and groups. Pregnant women and young mothers can take advantage of the New Mom Support Group, where women can come together, support each other and meet other mothers. This wonderful program also conveniently provides free childcare and refreshments. Each week, THEARC also hosts Arcadia’s Mobile Farmers Market, the best place to buy fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables and animal products. With these great programs and many, many more, THEARC is the center of community life and a place where the neighborhood can come together.

Exploring The Restaurant Scene

The streets of Congress Heights are sprinkled with a variety of take out places, convenient if you are looking for a quick meal on the go. While there are well-known chains such as IHOP, Subway and California Tortilla, Congress Heights also has its share of neighborhood staples such as Merry’s Kitchen for traditional Chinese grub and fingers foods and MLK Deli for all of your sandwich needs. For more formal, sit-down restaurants, residents only have to make a short trip across the river where there are plenty of fine dining establishments.

Located on Wisconsin Avenue NW, RANGE is a popular destination for classic American fare. Made with modern interpretations using seasonal ingredients from the mid-Atlantic region, the food here is as fresh and a tasty as possible. The chefs here use a mix of classic and progressive techniques to bring customers innovative dishes and a unique dining experience. You will find a little bit of everything at this eclectic restaurant, from a bakery to a raw bar featuring Chesapeake shellfish to a rotisserie and wood fired hearth where meat, poultry and game are carefully prepared. The state of the art open kitchen lets you observe the master chefs as they artfully prepare your food. Pair your meal with the perfect wine selection, and the restaurant’s reasonable prices and experienced wine staff will make exploring new wines easy and exciting!

Nearby on Irving Stree NW, Acre 121 is known throughout the city for its outstanding old-fashioned country barbeque. Here the hearty barbeque platters give you a great bang for your buck, so meat lovers come with empty stomachs! The restaurant also offers a variety of sandwiches and burgers and flavor-packed sides including the jalapeno cornbread, cheddar grits and the roasted cauliflower. Any day of the week is guaranteed to be a good time here, with happy hour specials offering five-dollar deals on wine, cocktails, beer and food. On Tuesdays, come out for some friendly competition on trivia night, featuring the Trivia Wheel between rounds that spins out drink specials, making everyone a winner. Wine Wednesdays feature half priced bottles, and on the weekends Acre 121 hosts live music, DJs and late night drink specials, making it a hotspot for nightlife as well as a nice restaurant for a casual sit-down meal with the family.

Count On Congress Heights

Overall, Congress Heights is ideal for anyone looking to make a home in Washington, D.C. the neighborhood is easily affordable and in an ideal location to commute to work, explore DC’s entertainment and nightlife and enjoy the city’s best attractions.