Ivy City is a neighborhood rife with change. The industrial-leaning area off New York Avenue NE has slowly become a center for the city’s small batch distilleries. While there have been some hidden gems around here for years, such as the storied Panda Gourmet located within a Days Inn, new development has brought everything from standout seafood to ambitious tasting menus to carryout Detriot-style pizza. And that doesn’t even get into all the restaurants from Ari Gjenderson’s mini-empire. Here’s where to eat, drink, and tour around Ivy City.
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Where to Eat, Drink, and Tour Distilleries in Ivy City
The Northeast neighborhood is hotter than ever

Panda Gourmet
This is arguably D.C. proper’s best destination for Sichuan food, and it’s housed in an unassuming Days Inn. The cumin lamb burger is the stuff of legends.
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Supreme Core Cider
The taproom at this local hard cidery has opened its doors on weekends (noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. 6 p.m. Sunday). —Missy Frederick
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Republic Restoratives
Republic Restoratives serves its own vodka and bourbon in its cocktail bar, dubbed the Ivy Room. The distillery’s industrial tasting room is right next to its production room. —Adele Chapin
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pidzza
Fast-casual pizza spot Pidzza offers a Turkish take on pizzas. Diners can get their pide customized, or try signature “pidzzas” like The LMC (ground beef, tomato, onion, parsley, green pepper, garlic and spices). There’s salads too, and breakfast and dessert pide options. —Adele Chapin
Della Barba Pizza
Detroit-style pizza is having a moment in D.C. and this takeout/delivery spot is one of the places to get it. New York-style pies and Chicago deep dish is also available. —Missy Frederick
Ari's Diner
They serve breakfast all day at Ari’s Diner, the casual neighborhood restaurant from D.C. restaurateur Ari Gejdenson. Slide into an old-school booth and order a classic diner plate with scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and hash potatoes — or a modern-day staple like avocado toast. —Adele Chapin
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Atlas Brew Works
Atlas Brew Works serves flights, pints, and growler fills in its tap room and offers free brewery tours too. Food trucks are known to stop by, and a Guerilla Vending machine in the tap room is stocked with fancy stuff like artisanal pork rinds and freshly-made Broodjes & Bier sandwiches. —Adele Chapin
Via Chicken and Pizza
Gejdenson’s Ivy City mini-empire continued with this restaurant, and the menu combination is interesting: Peruvian chicken and pizza. —Missy Frederick
La Puerta Verde
Another Gejdenson place is La Puerta Verde. The colorful Mexican restaurant’s menu includes favorites like chile relleno and flautas, as well as nods to Mexican coastal cuisine like grilled whole fish in banana leaves and guajillo marinade. And who doesn't love $2 happy hour tacos? —Adele Chapin
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Ivy City Smokehouse
A lot is happening at Ivy City Smokehouse: There’s an open-to-the-public retail fish market and smokehouse, a roof deck, and a bar and restaurant serving fried shrimp po’ boys, top-notch crab cakes, and pastrami smoked salmon tacos. Diners will also find live music practically every weekend. —Adele Chapin
City Winery DC
This combination dinner, drinking destination and entertainment venue has been making a name for itself in the concert arena since opening in D.C. It also offer wine classes and is one of the few places in D.C. proper to make its own wine. —Missy Frederick
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Gravitas
Chef Matt Baker’s ambitious tasting menu place in Ivy City puts vegetables and premium seafood at the forefront. The newly Michelin-starred restaurant also offers prix fixe options from $98 (five courses) to $260 (chef’s menu with wine pairings). It also has has special date night and pre-theater options. Don’t miss the tuna sashimi with jalapeno and soy vinaigrette. —Missy Frederick
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New Columbia Distillers
Founded in 2011, New Columbia Distillers helped kick off D.C.’s distillery boom with its Green Hat gin. The distillery is open for free tastings, tours, and sales Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from to 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. —Missy Frederick
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Don Ciccio & Figli/Bar Sirenis
This amaro distillery’s expanded location in Ivy City also includes a pretty blue bar devoted to the spirit. —Missy Frederick
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One Eight Distilling
One Eight Distilling is the second distillery to open in D.C. since prohibition, debuting in 2015. It’s open Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for tours and tastings. Bartenders are happy to whip up cocktails using One Eight’s vodka, gin, and rye whiskey. —Adele Chapin
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