WASHINGTON — Over the past few years, CityCenter has been the talk of the town. The downtown development has made headlines for attracting some of the culinary industry’s most famous chefs and the world’s finest designers to the District.
Since construction began in 2011, locals have been hanging on the phrases “coming soon” and “now open.” And for the most part, that wait is over. The majority of CityCenter’s retail shops and restaurants are open. Here’s what you can expect to find at the District’s new neighborhood.
What is CityCenterDC? Simply put, it’s a 10-acre oasis of luxury shopping, local cafés, renowned restaurants and park space in the middle of downtown’s concrete building-lined streets.
CityCenter is located between H Street NW and New York Avenue, and is bordered by 11th and 9th streets. Its modern glass buildings are home to 520,000 square feet of office space, 185,000 square feet of retail space, 458 rental apartments and 216 condo units.
In the fall, construction will begin on a 350-room Conrad Hotel from Hilton, located between I Street NW and New York Avenue, and adjacent to the CityCenter park.
Storefronts line all the major streets (H, I, 11th and 9th), as well as Palmer Alley, which runs between H Street and I Street and opens up to a courtyard of outdoor seating and water features.
How do you get there? CityCenter is easy to access by Metro, bike and car. The development is within a few blocks walking distance from both Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stations, and is accessible by a number of bus lines. There are several bike racks throughout the site for those commuting on two wheels, and Capital Bikeshare stations on the corner of H and 8th streets NW and 12th and G streets NW.
Unlike other downtown destinations, driving to CityCenter is not a total nightmare. In fact, the development has its own 500-space garage, which is accessible from both 11th Street and 9th Street (between H and I streets). Rates are reasonable for the area too. Expect to pay $19 for all-day parking (or $13 Monday-Friday if you’re in by 9 a.m. and out by 6 p.m.) and a $9 flat rate for weekends. Hourly rates are $9 for an hour and $12 for two hours. Overnight parking is $21, and there is valet parking available in the evenings.
Shopping: It’s truly high-end. Want to treat yourself to a Hermes scarf that looks less like an accessory and more like art? Maybe a cotton cardigan from the contemporary brand Vince is more your speed. You can find both at CityCenter.
The new development is truly a destination for high-end shopping: Everyone from Carolina Herrera, to Dior, to Paul Stewart and Salvatore Ferragamo has claimed a space. Jewelry designer Alexis Bittar and the French-based boutique spa Caudalie also join the list of retailers at CityCenter.
Here’s a look at what’s currently open and what’s coming soon:
Retail: Currently open
Boss
Burberry
Loro Piana
Salvatore Ferragamo
Zadig & Voltaire
Allen Edmonds
Arc’teryx
Kate Spade New York
Longchamp
TUMI
Alexis Bittar
Caudalie Boutique Spa
Canali
Paul Stuart
Hermes
Vince
The Great Republic
CH by Carolina Herrera
Retail: Coming soon and anticipated opening date
Louis Vuitton, August 2015
Morgenthal Frederics, July 2015
David Yurman, September 2015
Dior, November 2015
Gucci, November 2015
Lilith, November 2015
Dining: From juice bars to steak houses. All that shopping is sure to work up an appetite. Whether you’re in the mood for a croissant or carpaccio, there are a number of places to grab a bite at CityCenter. Plus, there are coffee bars and cocktail bars to carry you from morning to night, and a specialty market for grab-and-go items.
Here’s a look at what’s currently open and what’s coming soon:
Restaurants: Currently open
DBGB Kitchen and Bar: This is French Chef Daniel Boulud’s first restaurant in D.C. Boulud has seven restaurants in New York, including Michelin-star restaurants DANIEL and Café Boulud. DGBG serves everything from hand-cut steak tartare to house-made sausages, burgers and classic French dishes such as duck a l ‘orange and coq au vin.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House: Del Frisco’s offers a classic steakhouse menu with a selection of filets, strips and rib-eyes, as well as fresh seafood and all the creamy sides. The restaurant spans three floors, has an impressive wine cellar (and list) and an outdoor patio overlooking CityCenter’s courtyard.
Rare Sweets: Pastry chef Meredith Tomason bakes up classic and seasonal cakes, doughnuts, cookies and buttermilk biscuits at Rare Sweets in Palmer Alley.
Mango Tree: Mango Tree serves contemporary Thai cuisine from the four regions of Thailand’s “culinary compass.” Dishes range from yum ped yang (watermelon, roasted duck, cucumber, wood-ear mushrooms, mint and spicy yum dressing) to tom yum soup (gazpacho, lemongrass and Kaffir lime) to a lobster pad thai and farmers market vegetable curry.
Dolcezza: Feeling a bit tired? Head over to Dolcezza: The knowledgeable baristas will fix you right up with a latte, cappuccino or a cold-brew nitro coffee. The CityCenter location also sells its famous gelato, sorbetto and a number of coffee products.
Centrolina: Chef Amy Brandwein brings Italian cuisine to CityCenter with her first restaurant, Centrolina. The focus is on house-made pastas and seasonally-inspired entrees. Next door is Centrolina Market, which sells grab-and-go items, such as coffee and pastries, as well as fresh produce, meats, cheeses and specialty Italian goods.
Restaurants: Coming soon and anticipated opening date
FIG & OLIVE, June 26, 2015: The Mediterranean-focused menu at FIG & OLIVE includes a number of small plates (olives, crostini, cured meats and cheeses), antipasti, appetizers, salads and raw-bar options. The restaurant, which has seven other locations nationwide, also has a large selection of pasta, fish and meat. A whole branzino, chateaubriand and côte de boeuf are served tableside for two.
Momofuku & Milk Bar, September 2015: Get ready for lines around the block when Momofuku opens its doors this fall. David Chang is returning to his Washington roots, and he’s bringing his incredibly popular concept with him. Diners aren’t sure what to expect, exactly, but hopefully pork buns are in the plan. Momofuku’s sister concept, Milk Bar, is famous for its re-imagined birthday cake, “crack pie” and soft serve ice cream.
Fruitive, September 2015: Fruitive has been selling its cold-pressed juices at FRESHFARM’s Dupont Circle, White House and Penn Quarter markets for months, and this fall, it will get its first D.C. storefront at CityCenter. The Virginia Beach-based company also makes salads, bowls, wraps and sandwiches.
