From its humble beginnings more than 250 years ago as a tobacco port town notable primarily for its lumber yard, cement works, and flour mill, Georgetown has transformed itself into one of the toniest addresses in America. Not only has this exclusive enclave counted boldface names including John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Julia Child, Pamela Harriman, Elizabeth Taylor and Bill and Hillary Clinton, among its famous residents, it has also served as the backdrop for innumerable Hollywood blockbusters ranging from The Exorcist and St. Elmo’s Fire to The American President and Wonder Woman 1984. 

Moreover, the elegant and beautifully maintained 18th and 19th century row houses and Federal-style mansions that dot Georgetown’s quaint, tree-lined streets in tandem with the fact that this swanky corner of the District is also home to Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in the United States, go a long way toward explaining why Georgetown was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967 and is now included in the inventory of Historic Places, as well as the National Register of Historic Places. 

But that was then, and this is now, and Georgetown has not become the bustling hub of power, privilege and prestige that it is today by looking backward. Quite the contrary. Georgetown has emerged as one of the most recognizable neighborhoods in America because it has evolved, ever escalating its appeal in every way imaginable over the years. Hence the reason that there are a slew of new and exciting offerings in the neighborhood and even more on tap for the year ahead. 

Among the more exciting new offerings is a new range of Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal boat tours which began operation last spring. For context, Georgetown is an origination point for the historic C&O Canal, a National Park which runs 184.5 miles into Cumberland, MD. When ground broke in 1828, the Canal brought to life George Washington’s vision to open up the country to the west—connecting the port town to goods and materials that supported a local industrial economy unique to the region.  

Now, for the first time in a decade, several public boat rides are available throughout the day, Wednesday–Sunday through July 2, 2023, offering one-hour guided historical tours along the first mile of the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). Over the course of the tour, visitors learn about the fascinating history, technology and culture of the Canal, and the surprising stories of the people who have lived, worked and played there over the past two centuries. 

Speaking of playing, with over 470 restaurants, shops and institutions, Georgetown has long been a mecca for good times in our nation’s capital, particularly where foodies are concerned. However, after experiencing a somewhat stagnant (if laudable) food scene for years, one might argue that Georgetown is experiencing a renaissance of sorts these days.  

Recent additions to the neighborhood include: Michelin-starred chef Michael Rafidi’s Levantine cafe Yellow; French brasserie L’Avant-Garde from renowned French chef Gilles Epié, the youngest chef ever to receive a Michelin star at age 22; the buzzy French bistro Lutèce helmed by Chef Matt Conroy, which was named one of the 50 most exciting restaurants in America by the New York Times in 2022; the über-glamorous Champagne and caviar bar, Apéro; Mediterranean lunch counter Green Almond Pantry from Turkish chef Cagla Onal-Urel; and the Southern France-influenced, New York City import Maman.  

And many more are on the way. 

This spring will see the opening of not one, but two highly anticipated new Japanese restaurants in Georgetown. The first is a Japanese cafe and omakase counter called Two Nine from Zach Ramos and Amy Phan of the wildly popular Ama Ami, a pop-up offering takeout chirashi bowls and private homakase feasts which took off during the pandemic. The second is Kyojin, an offshoot of the Arlington, Virginia-based Yume Sushi. 

Also coming to Georgetown is the anxiously awaited 2023 debut of a new M Street mega Italian restaurant and market from restauranteur Stephen Starr and Michelin-starred chef Nancy Silverton of Osteria Mozza fame. At a reported cost of $10 million, the new eatery is expected to feature wood-burning ovens for thin-crust pizzas and handmade pastas, as well as a prosciutto and mozzarella bar. 

Finally, for anyone with a taste for sweets, Arcay Chocolates, from self-taught, Venezuela-born chocolatier Anabella Arcay – whose exquisite selection of colorful chocolate bonbons filled with exotic flavors such as passion fruit, lemon basil, and blackberry cardamom exploded in popularity from its current location at the La Cosecha food hall near Union Market – will also be arriving in Georgetown this spring with a new outpost on O Street. 

All of these new hot spots, of course join classic Georgetown favorites like the venerable 1789; timeless Italian mainstays, Café Milano and Filomena; Chez Billy Sud and Dog Tag Bakery, a bakery, whose baked treats not only satisfy its patrons’ cravings for sweet and savory pastries, but also empowers the transitioning military veterans it trains and employs to redefine their future. 

In terms of nightlife, Georgetown has also seen a few new arrivals as of late, despite the neighborhood’s formerly restrictive tavern licensing caps. The Sovereign, a Belgian bar and bistro noted for its curated selection of 50 drafts and more than 350 bottles, entered the scene a few years back and continues to thrive. And more recently, the 23 and older nightspot Clubhouse (formerly Church Hall), a 9,000-square-foot space, with three bars on two levels and 16 video monitors has become a trendy all-day, all-night destination. 

Finally, with respect to accommodations, Georgetown has witnessed a bit of boom in terms of new and noteworthy hotel properties in recent years. Among them is the recently renovated Arc Hotel. Formerly the George Washington University Inn, the Arc is a modern boutique hotel situated within walking distance of the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, George Washington University and Hospital, The National Academy of Science, The National Mall, and the DC Metro. Spacious guest rooms in excess of 300 square feet count views of the historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood and the Potomac River, among their many selling points. 

Meanwhile, the newest property serving Georgetown patrons is not actually in Georgetown, but provides wonderfully easy access to the neighborhood via a quick and convenient water taxi. Located on the banks of the Potomac River, Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf opened to much fanfare last fall and its 131 guest rooms, including 38 suites, as well as its signature Spa Pendry have been the talk of the town ever since. 

Likewise, the iconic Waldorf Astoria (formerly Trump International), opened its doors in Washington DC last summer on the site of the former Old Post Office, a short walk from the White House and the Capitol, but also conveniently accessible to Georgetown.   

As with restaurants and nightlife, these new hotel properties join Georgetown stalwarts including the Rosewood Washington, D.C., which is ideally located alongside the historic C&O Canal, features 55 exquisitely appointed rooms including 12 suites and six townhouses and houses Wolfgang Puck’s Cut, and the eternally elegant Four Seasons Georgetown, home to Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, located at the entrance of Georgetown, steps from world-leading institutions and historic monuments. 

Bottom line: New or old, Georgetown never goes out of style.