Don’t tell: these are the best secret spots in D.C.

At this secret magic shop on the second floor of Tivoli Theater you can find novelty of all sorts, including stage fright antidote pills (candy gummies), a proper magician cape and a set of juggling balls. The space is run by 826 DC, a non-profit writing center for kids that’s part of a nation-wide network founded by author Dave Eggers. Purchases at the magic shop support their mission to amplify student voices and equip them with sharp communication skills.

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Get your salami with a side of speakeasy at this Shaw deli. What appears to be a walk-in freezer is really a gigantic bar complete with cushy booths, a gigantic chandelier, big-screen TVs and a piano. Look for a lit red light above the steel door, which signifies the bar is open. You’ll need to be on the “list” to get in but, if you ask nicely, chances are the bouncer will grant you access.

This charming statue is overshadowed by the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which may explain why it’s often overlooked. Complete with his signature wild hair, the Albert Einstein Memorial depicts the scientist lounging as he reads a manuscript. It’s engraved with three of Einstein’s most famous theories along with impactful statements he made about fighting for justice and encouraging imagination.

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When it comes to hidden gems, nothing tops speakeasies, and D.C. has plenty to discover. One of our top picks is Silver Lyan, tucked away in the lower level of Riggs Washington DC, right in the old bank vault. This spot is extra special—it’s the first bar outside of Europe from the renowned Mr. Lyan. Silver Lyan isn’t just any bar, though; it was named Cocktail Program of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. With its creative drinks and cool vibe, Silver Lyan is setting the bar high (pun intended) for D.C.’s mixology scene.

Washington National Cathedral was built in 14th-century Gothic style, stone upon stone, without structural steel, an exercise that took most of the 20th century and was only finished in 1990. Its medievalism has been somewhat updated: there’s a gargoyle of Darth Vader in the north-west corner, while the much-admired stained-glass Space Window contains a piece of lunar rock. The top of the tower is the highest point in D.C.; there are great views from the observation gallery. The cathedral offers self-paced CD-based audio tours; alternatively, join one of various guided tours, which are held at regular intervals. 

Sure, everyone knows about the Library of Congress, but what most people overlook is just how accessible it is. In fact, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building stays open late every Thursday from 5 to 8 pm for a special treat. You can enjoy happy hour snacks and drinks (yes, in the Great Hall!) while you explore the Library’s exhibits, collections, and programs. It’s not every day you get to sip a drink while wandering through one of the most iconic libraries in the world—a totally unique experience you don’t want to miss.

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Okay, maybe the name gives it away. But it’s still not immediately obvious that there’s a hidden bar at this fast-casual restaurant on 14th Street. The storefront is a relaxed dining room where you can order South American-style chicken at the counter. Beyond a walk-in refrigerator door lies a sleek bar with inventive cocktails that hover around the $10 mark. Co-owned by a revered local DJ, the space also boasts turntables and a record collection that guests are encouraged to rifle through.

What was once an underground streetcar station now serves as a public platform for visual, sound, performance and interdisciplinary art. Open only during scheduled events, the 75,000-square-foot space originally opened in 1949 and sat vacant for decades before a group of dedicated artists banded together to re-open it to the public.

The United States National Arboretum isn’t exactly a secret—after all, it’s a massive 446-acre research division of the Agriculture Department. Even on its busiest days, like during the spring azalea season, there are still more trees than people. But with so much ground to cover, it’s easy to miss one of its best hidden gems: the Bonsai collection. This stunning display is a special collaboration between The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in D.C. and the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Japan. With over 300 specimens rotating through three pavilions and a special exhibits gallery, it’s an absolutely breathtaking sight you won’t want to miss.

This Bloomingdale gem is a serene secret kept by those in-the-know. You’ll find it down an alley and surrounded by private homes that are lucky enough to use it as their backyard. Given its off-the-radar location, the public park used to have a seedy reputation, but a group of concerned citizens in the neighborhood cleaned it up and planted a garden that now boasts beautiful foliage.

One of the coolest things about D.C.’s memorials is how intentional every little detail is, making each one feel truly special. Take the WWII Memorial, for example—hidden among the stone and water is a little nod to a piece of wartime history that’s easy to miss: Kilroy. This bald, long-nosed cartoon was famously graffitied by American troops on ships, planes, and walls all over WWII battlefronts. At the memorial, you’ll find Kilroy peeking over an illustrated ledge on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides, along with the iconic phrase, “Kilroy was here.” It’s a small, quirky detail that brings a bit of history to life.

Tom Brown and head bartender Mick Perrigo partnered up to open Left Door, adding another worthy destination to the bustling 14th Street scene. Tucked away behind an unmarked door and up a staircase is the lounge space, likely filled with people looking for exciting cocktails, low key vibes and good conversation. The bar is somewhat reminiscent of a comfortable home parlor, just one that happens to be replete with vintage spirits and high-end ingredients from across the globe. The cocktail menu is updated frequently, offering a pleasant excuse to keep returning.

This vibrant community space is hiding in plain sight, at the end of a cul-de-sac in Southwest D.C. The massive, technicolor building is covered in psychedelic colors and was formerly the Friendship Baptist Church. Today, it’s comprised of 15,000 square feet covered in graffiti. It plays host to free yoga on Wednesdays as well as cultural, corporate and private events, including art shows, dinner parties and weddings, throughout the week.

There are two ways to stumble upon these steps: You either already knew about their existence or you accidentally took a fortuitous wrong turn on a leisurely walk. Constructed in 1911in D.C.’s picturesque Kalorama neighborhood, the Spanish Steps are a multi-tiered marvel that has served as the setting for countless proposals, photo shoots and picnics. Complete with a fountain, the impressive staircase is flanked by magnolia trees and other blossoming foliage.

Enclosed by an undulating steel and glass ceiling, the courtyard adjoined to the National Portrait Gallery is a quiet, cheery place to read a book, hold a meeting or recharge between museum visits. The courtyard’s borders are stately building edifices, giving you the impression that you’re sitting outside. It’s one of the best places in the city to wait out a thunderstorm. 

Discretion exemplified, the 23-room B&B Mansion is hidden away on a quiet residential side street, with no sign to announce its presence. Each room in the three interconnected townhouses has a different theme: the Log Cabin suite, for example, has huge log beams, cow-hide rugs and three Frederic Remington sculptures; prices vary dramatically. The complex serves mainly as a private club and event space, and much of what you see, from the furniture to the wall hangings, is for sale. Some visitors love staying in a private mansion with 30 secret doors; others miss the better (and more accessible) service offered at conventional hotels. There are no "standard" rooms here; rooms and suites are individually priced.

The only way you could enjoy Kenilworth Park more was if you were a frog and able to jump from lily pad to lily pad. The sprawling nature conservatory in Northeast D.C. is made up of a series of foot bridges that allow you to take in all the beauty of the wetlands sprinkled with blossoming lotuses. The park is open year-round, and you can attend a ranger-led nature walk daily at 2pm. But by far, the best time to visit is during the Locus and Water Lily Festival during the summer, when the foliage will be in full bloom.

It’s not for nothing that it’s known as a museum and a garden: the grounds are as much a reason as the collection of Russian art for making the trek from Downtown to this quiet, residential neighborhood. The house and garden were purchased by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1955 to house her collection of French and Russian decorative art. Seduced by Russian culture after living there for 18 months in the 1930s, Post amassed the largest collection of imperial Russian art objects outside that country. Portraits of tsars and tsarinas, palace furnishings and a porcelain service commissioned by Catherine the Great are displayed in Hillwood’s gilt and wood-paneled rooms. The French collection includes Sèvres porcelain, 18th-century furniture and Beauvais tapestries. Visitors can also roam the 12-acre manicured grounds, including a Japanese-style garden with plunging waterfall. Guided evening tours, when offered, are not to be missed: the waning light makes for romantic strolls in the gardens.