Walking down dark alleys has never been my favorite pastime, but today––while the sun was out, I met an Associate for coffee at La Colombe in Shaw’s amazingly full of life Blagden Alley. While traditionally alleys in DC used to be feared and avoided at all costs, given their often less than savory activities, they’re now increasingly being cultivated to capture some of the city’s most vibrant culture! Many of DC’s alleys feature lovely carriage homes, tasty restaurants, artist studios, vintage advertisements, and a slew of history.
Below we’ve captured some of the coolest alleys to stumble on in DC:
Blagden Alley/Naylor Court in Shaw – This lively alley features vivid murals, yummy coffee, and is home to several restaurants and bars.
Cady’s Alley in Georgetown — This European-inspired passageway has plenty of midcentury-modern furniture stores, architecture firms and is also home to one of DC’s great jazz venues, Blues Alley.
Bloomingdale Court in Bloomingdale – This circular alley is slightly newer than some of the others on the list and is just off U Street, between 1st St. and Flagler Pl., NW. It is full of old school Victorian houses.
Brown’s Court in Capitol Hill – This side street is home to a few residential dwellings, but primarily features artist studios and many well-kept garages. The old school cobblestone pavement is always a nice classic sight.
Scott Place/Caton Place in Georgetown – Scott Place will connect you to Caton Place and consists of no retail stores, but offers a peaceful zen vibe. Most, if not all residences on this alley are in the multimillion-dollar range.
Fraser Court in Dupont Circle – This alley like many others has some very breathtaking home designs and creative landscaping.
Gessford Court in Capitol Hill – Homes in this historic alley are mostly under 700 Sq. Ft. and many are just 11 feet wide.
Pomander Walk in Georgetown – Pomander Walk boasts original row homes that previously served as slave quarters. The ten two-story homes on Pomander Walk are painted with pastel colors.
Pomegranate Alley Community Garden in Anacostia – This alley has actually been transformed into a community garden! The average plot size is 10′X10′ and there are 15 plots. A fee of $1.00/sq ft applies annually. The garden’s amenities include tables and chairs, a tall fence around the whole garden, shade trees (yes, including a Pomegranate!), and compost tumblers.
As new commercial and residential development continue to expand, it’s interesting to see the way “alley-type” spaces are being incorporated into development plans. One of DC’s latest projects, The Wharf, features Belgian block cobblestones, alleys, and side streets, with large garage doors (from stables that once sat there) intended to roll up and reveal farm-to-table restaurants. The architects note “they hope this design will create the most walkable environment possible.”
Do you have any favorite alleyways or hidden gems in DC that you absolutely adore?!
