Woodley Park is a neighborhood in Northwest, Washington, D.C. Its proximity to neighborhoods like Cleveland Park and Adams Morgan, make it an attractive option for homebuyers. The nightlife on the stretch of Connecticut Avenue and the nearby Zoo are also worth noticing.

Belted by the Zoo & the U.S. Naval Observatory

Woodley Park is roughly bounded by the United States Naval Observatory to the south, Wisconsin Avenue to the west, the Smithsonian National Zoo the east and the Washington International School to the north. Observatory Park borders Woodley Park to the south, Cathedral/Wesley Heights and Glover Park are to the west, Adams Morgan to the east and Cleveland Park to the north.

A U.S. Historic District

This area is named after the Woodley House, built by Philip Barton Key; this house was home to many political elites. Presidents Martin Van Buren and Grover Cleveland both spent many Augusts on the grounds. Now, Woodley House serves as a library and administrative building of the Maret School—a K-12 coeducational school considered one of the best in the district.

Easier Without a Car

The Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station on the Red Line is located in the center of this neighborhood. The area along with the Metro station is serviced by the Metrobus, with the L1, L2, L4, 90, 92, 93, and the 96 all running throughout the community. Because of the central location of Woodley Park compared to other neighborhoods, driving becomes a little difficult. For this reason though, parking spaces are somewhat easy to find on different blocks. Moreover, the George Washington Parkway and I-66 are also nearby.

Everything from Split Level Homes to Condos

This neighborhood has a diverse, old-fashioned feel to it. The spine of the area is Connecticut Avenue, and it’s here along with other neighboring streets where tall apartment complexes and condominiums can be found housing young professionals and students. The Woodley-Wardmen is a notable condominium complex. Along with the western section, the east is also home to large, shady row houses, single-family homes, duplexes, and cape cods.

Variety of Cuisines

One of the best things about Woodley Park is its proximity to the rest of the city. It’s walking distance to Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park, and other neighborhoods allow an easy access to great nightlife options. However, there are some local standout restaurants that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Open City is a popular option. This classic diner offers all-day breakfast, pizza, and other terrific entrees such as the Quinoa & Tofu Bibimbap. Down the street, and across from Woodley Park Metro, is Lebanese Taverna. This local chain offers traditional Lebanese dishes and wines within a contemporary setting. Another lovely spot is next door at Hot N Juicy Crawfish. This casual Cajun restaurant offers your choice of seasonings along with a hands-on atmosphere while eating Cajun crawfish, shrimp, and lobster.

For great eating and some live music, check out the Zoo Bar Cafe. This attractive hangout features an American menu and it also has live blues & jazz on select nights.

Great Schools & the Zoo

Across the street from the Zoo Bar Cafe is unsurprisingly, the National Zoo. Part of the Smithsonian Institution, this zoo houses a thousand animals and is free of charge. This great D.C. attraction also provides some wonderful events to the public, like the ZooFiesta, a yearly celebration of Hispanic culture, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.

The Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park and the Glover Archbold Park are also within the vicinities of the neighborhood, with the latter offering plenty of trails.

Just bordering north of Woodley Park is the Washington International School. WIS is a coeducational school for students in grades K-12, and its upper school located in Cleveland Park is considered one of the most challenging high schools in Washington, D.C. St. Albans School is an independent boarding school next door on St. Albans Track. Neighboring that, The Bishop’s Garden, is a fantastic little garden with an open grass area, benches and a gazebo. It’s also a great place to bring a date.

Overall Woodley Park is filled with a distinctive personality. It’s peaceful environment, green spaces, and its great location to neighboring communities makes Woodley Park one of the city’s hottest spots for homebuyers.