The urban village of Clarendon began as Arlington’s original downtown and is a blend of today’s upscale shops and restaurants and time-tested mom-and-pop stores and eateries.
Whether shopping, dining, or keeping fit, Clarendon has many options (Photo: Courtesy Arlington Convention and Visitors Service)
This upscale neighborhood defines itself as urban chill. Fun and lively, Clarendon buzzes with activity around the clock, whether it is morning fitness, afternoon shopping, or evening merrymaking. Dual centers of activity define Clarendon. The Crossing Clarendon mall is home to dozens of high-end shops. While Central Park is a green space home to the neighborhood’s metro station and a War Memorial dedicated to past Arlington residents.
Straddling the line between city and suburb, this walkable neighborhood’s attractions lie mostly along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards. The boulevards are surrounded by tree-lined residential streets filled with 20th century homes. Its residents have cultivated a thriving coffee-shop culture and embrace bicycle travel and public transportation.
The Clarendon neighborhood is walkable and has easy access to the Metro (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
Named after Edward Hyde, First Earl of Clarendon, the town was first recognized as its own area in 1900. As part of Arlington, Clarendon is considered a Washington D.C. suburb. 54,453 residents call the area home as part of the 392,786 living in all of Arlington. Clarendon lies on the Metro’s orange and silver lines, which can connect to any capital location via Metro Center or L’Enfant Plaza.
Things to do
Annual festivals take place throughout the year in Clarendon. The largest is Clarendon Day. Held each fall, this street festival features multiple music stages, kids’ activities, arts and crafts vendors, and local food. The spring Arlington Festival of the Arts attracts art fans seeking locally made paintings, sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and photography. Clarendon’s Central Park hosts seasonal farmers’ markets and outdoor concerts.
Clarendon Central Park is a place to relax or gather (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
Bond’s Escape Room (2800 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 910) is the largest of its kind on the East Coast. The 14,000 sq. ft facility is home to six different adventures, which take participants to everywhere from family fun quests filled with chocolate to horrific scenes in a sleepover slaughter.
Since 1988, The Armed Forces Cycling Classic has rolled through the streets of Arlington. The second day of the annual competition is held in Clarendon each summer and has become famous as a feat of skill and stamina attracting the best riders in the USA. The premier cycling event decides who will hoist the Clarendon Cup.
Day trips
Clarendon serves as an easy jumping off point for discovering surrounding neighborhoods and area attractions. The Metro provides access to popular D.C. attractions like the Smithsonian Museums, Arlington National Cemetery, and the monuments around the National Mall.
Vietnamese commerce now thrives at Eden Center near Clarendon (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
Extending the Metro from D.C. through Arlington in the late ‘70s displaced downtown Clarendon business owners apprehensive over construction. Vietnamese immigrants seized the opportunity of low rent storefronts and imported goods, wares, and food. Except for the door chime welcoming diners to Nam-Viet restaurant, the sounds of what became known as Little Saigon have faded. The boba shops, importers of tchotchke, and aromatic cafés of Vietnamese commerce have moved to Eden Center (6751-6799 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church). The commercial cluster is marked by a grand red and gold gate flanked by concrete lions.
Only two stops away on the metro, the Ballston neighborhood has enough entertainment and dining options to fill a day. Markedly different in appearance, with modern skyscrapers replacing the two-story businesses of Clarendon, Ballston attracts a young and vibrant crowd. Happy hours draw drinkers to Quincy Hall (4001 Fairfax Dr), Punch Bowl Social (4238 Wilson Blvd Ste 1180), and Ted’s Bulletin (4238 Wilson Blvd #1130). Eateries range from the popular burger mini-chain Big Buns (4401 Wilson Blvd) to the award-winning Salt Line (4040 Wilson Blvd).
Where to stay
There are no hotels, bed and breakfasts, or inns in Clarendon. Just across the neighborhood line in Courthouse, the Residence Inn by Marriott (1401 N Adams St) is one of several large chain options to stay the night.
Some neighborhood lines are clearly marked (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
Ballston also offers several top chain options, like Weston, Holiday Inn, and Hilton. Searches on Airbnb and Vrbo return luxurious condo rentals in Clarendon, some with rooftop lounges and gym access. The Washington D.C. area also has a number of great campgrounds for tent campers and RV owners.
Where to eat and drink
The last vestige of Little Saigon in Clarendon is Nam-Viet Restaurant (1127 N Hudson St). This unassuming restaurant, nearly hidden on a side street near Central Park, thrives on serving house specialty entrees and soups. The most popular dish is Anh Tai’s spicy garlic noodles with beef. The restaurant is locally famous for its cold brew Vietnamese iced coffee and coffee ice cubes—these often sell out shortly after lunch.
Nam-Viet is the last of Little Saigon in Clarendon (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
Wilson Blvd is home to several popular restaurants. Ambar Clarendon (2901 Wilson Blvd) serves Balkan cuisine in a spacious and bright setting. Buena Vida Gastro Lounge (2900 Wilson Blvd Suite 103) is Mexican cuisine with a twist of modernity. Rooftop dining at Buena Vida is first come first served. Two of the area’s hottest bar scenes are right next to each other on Wilson. Spider Kelly’s (3181 Wilson Blvd) attracts an active crowd with shuffleboard, darts, and more. The Liberty Tavern (3195 Wilson Blvd) draws conversationalist drinkers to a vibrant atmosphere.
Board games and beer are on tap at The Board Room (925 N Garfield St) and players need to show up early to get a table inside. Play, sip, and eat at the area’s largest free collection of board games stacked high enough to require a ladder to get to the top. The in-house brewed beer has won several state awards and bartenders pour everything from seasonal saisons to their flagship lager.
Seamore’s prides itself on locally sourced seafood and a quality tap list (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
With only a handful of locations in the Northeast, Seamore’s (2815 Clarendon Blvd) blends the standards of a regional organization with the quality and personality of a local restaurant. Focused on sustainability throughout the fishing industry, the Virginia location works with JJ McDonnell and ProFish to source seafood. Seamore’s is a casual fun eatery with a curated collection of beer on tap.