K Street

Lonely Planet review

What happened? K Street didn't used to be this cool. When this author was growing up, the place had slightly more oomph than a visit to the dentist. But these days, corporate America's district headquarter street is happening. George Clooney chose it as the location for an HBO series by the same name. Once the sole turf of lobbying firms, law firms and consultants, today it has some of DC's costliest restaurants and a thriving nightlife.

During the day, Franklin Sq (between 13th and 14th Sts) is our favorite. It's a large stretch of green open space thick with trees, paths and benches. Check out the Victorian-era red-brick Franklin School keeping watch over the patch. The architecture around McPherson Sq, named for Civil War general James B McPherson, who once commanded the Army of Tennessee, is fabulous. Keep an eye out for the 1924 Neoclassical limestone Investment Building (15th and K). Also noteworthy are the lion's head plaques of the terra-cotta Southern Building (805 11th St), which are meticulous carved and date from 1910.