Unique Things to Do in Union Market, DC

Beyond the food hall stalls, the Union Market District is full of cool street art, curated shopping, and culinary finds that make it worth spending an entire afternoon exploring.

1. Skip Main Food Hall Lines → Go to La Cosecha

While it's full of delectable offerings, Union Market's main floor can also get crowded and noisy. One block away, La Cosecha offers a change of pace—inviting you to relax, linger, and explore.

Inside the impressive 20,000 sf space, you'll find Latin American street food, Michelin-star dining, and rare finds from direct importers and specialized producers.

• Café Unido: Panema has some of the best coffee in the world, and Café Unido introduces DC to rare Geisha coffee varieties direct from farms in Boquete. Its new, expanded location at La Cosecha now also offers breakfast and lunch by day, and wine, cocktails and tapas by night.

• Grand Cata: Exclusively dedicated to wines from South America and Spain, Grand Cata highlights small-scale natural producers you won't find at total wine or standard liquor stores. You'll also find gourmet products (sauces, salts, oils, spices) from Latin America and beyond.

• El Cielo: Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, El Cielo offers an immersive fine-dining tasting menus that showcase avant-garde Colombian culinary techniques.

• ArtTepuy: From exquisite handmade jewelry and baskets to crafts, sculpture, and artwork, ArtTepuy offers a lovely collection of handcrafted products from Latin America.

2. Take a Guided Street Art Walk Through Union Market & NoMa

Beyond the famous "Heart Wall" painted on the side of the main market, Union Market and the surrounding NoMa area have one of the highest concentrations of street art in all of DC.

Taking a walking tour with DC Mural Tour (led by local art curators and fest organizers) weaves you through the surrounding warehouse blocks and alleyways to learn about the international and local artists behind the works, the story of the annual DC Walls festival, and how public art transformed the industrial neighborhood into what it is today.

3. Pick Up Local Vinyl at Byrdland Records

Located just down the street from the main market floor on 5th Street, Byrdland Records is an independent record shop run by the team behind DC’s iconic music venue, Songbyrd. It's a crate-digger’s paradise featuring thousands of new and used records. There's also a heavy emphasis on local DC music, from classic Dischord Records punk to Go-Go vinyl and local indie releases.

4. Catch an Indie Film at Angelika Pop-Up

Located just behind the main market, Angelika Pop-Up is an intimate, three-screen boutique cinema that skips standard blockbuster fluff in favor of independent films, foreign cinema, and documentaries. Complete with cozy seating, espresso drinks, craft beer, and gourmet snacks you can bring right into the theater, it’s one of the best low-key evening spots in the neighborhood.

5. Sip Botanical "Zero-Proof" Spirits at Plant Magic

If you're not in the mood for a drink at Hi-Lawn, check out Plant Magic Bottle Shop. This specialized retail counter and wellness bar is dedicated entirely to zero-proof botanical spirits, adaptogenic drinks, and functional elixirs. You can order made-to-order mocktails or herbal lattes—infused with ingredients like ashwagandha, lion's mane, and ceremonial cacao—or pick up specialty non-alcoholic bottles to take home.

6. Dance Salsa or Bachata at Baila Thursdays

On Thursday nights, Baila Thursdays takes over the main floor at La Cosecha. It starts around 7:00 PM with an intro salsa or bachata lesson before shifting into an open dance floor with live DJs. It’s welcoming and low-pressure. The crowd is a mix of legit dancers, beginners just having fun, and people drinking cocktails from the surrounding bars, so you can easily participate or just grab a table and watch.

7. Browse Local Goods at Shop Made in DC

Located just outside the main hall on 4th Street, Shop Made in DC is a retail shop dedicated entirely to local creatives. Everything on the shelves—from hand-poured candles and prints to local hot sauces, ceramics, and apparel—is made by DC-based artists and makers. They also host regular classes and workshops, including $12 Friday evening watercolor sessions and free Saturday morning "Crafternoon" craft drop-ins.

8. Standout Spots Inside the Main Hall

These vendors offer unique culinary concept you won't find anywhere else in the city:

• The District Fishwife: Founded by an Australian-American duo, this sustainable fishmonger doubles as a cooked-to-order seafood counter. Sit at the bar for incredible beer-battered fish and chips, poke bowls, or grilled fish sandwiches made from the day's fresh catch.

• Buffalo & Bergen: A throwback New York-style soda fountain and bagel shop created by DC mixologist Gina Chersevani. Beyond hand-rolled, boiled bagels and traditional potato knishes, it's famous for classic egg creams and craft cocktails (like their over-the-top Bloody Mary garnished with a full bagel sandwich).

• Cucina Al Volo: Run by native Italian chef Matteo Venini, this market stall serves hand-rolled pasta cooked fresh right in front of you—from wild boar ragù to truffle ravioli—alongside fresh pasta sheets, house sauces, and imported cured meats to take home.

• Aboveground: A British-style pub counter inside the hall helmed by Chef Nicholas Martino. Sit at the counter for elevated British classics like triple-cooked fish and chips with mushy peas, house-made sausage rolls, and savory meat pies.

• Yes, it’s one of the most popular spots in the district, but Hi-Lawn's 10,000-square-foot green space on the Union Market rooftop is worth the trip. You'll find lawn games, picnic tables, draft cocktails, local music, and rotating food pop-ups. Go right around golden hour to catch sunset views over the DC skyline. Check out the events calendar to catch local bingo or trivia nights, holiday celebrations, and more.

9. Savor Artisanal Pastries at Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

Located just around the corner from the main market on 15th Street, Pluma by Bluebird Bakery is a gorgeous standalone cafe and patio from pastry chefs Camila Arango and Tom Wellings. It’s a great spot for a morning coffee and flaky, scratch-made pastries, from seasonal fruit tarts and kouign-amanns to savory croissants and fresh sourdough bread.

10. Grab a $5 Draft and Play Pinball at Last Call

Tucked away in the industrial blocks on 4th Street right next to the main market, Last Call is an unpretentious, retro-chic neighborhood dive bar. Run by local bar veteran Nick Meyer, it features vintage red booth seating, pinball machines, cold draft beers, and cocktails served in a relaxed atmosphere. It occupies a converted 1940s building that was a genuine Prohibition-era speakeasy. The original entrance door still has its historical green paint, a code from back in the day signaling that drinks were being poured inside.