Southwest Waterfront

Welcome to Southwest Waterfront

A bustling new center for leisure and nightlife, the Southwest Waterfront enjoys more river frontage than any other neighborhood in the city.

Search Homes in Southwest Waterfront

Commute Times

Metro Center 11m by train, 9m by car
Union Station 20m by train, 15m by car
Dupont Circle 26m by train, 35m by car
Reagan National Airport 32m by train, 17m by car

Nearest Metro

Gray circular icon with indistinct white lettering.

Boundaries

East to West The Washington Channel to the Anacostia River
North to South I-695 to Fort McNair
Nearby Neighborhoods Navy Yard, Capitol Hill

Around The Block

A spectacular renaissance.

The riverfronts of Washington Channel and the Anacostia river that border Southwest are quickly becoming some of DC’s most exciting destinations with The Wharf, a new 24-acre development of high-end retail, restaurants, office space, and condos on the channel, and The Yards Park in Navy Yard on the Anacostia, a series of parks and water features that are ideal for recreation, special events, and festivals.

Sailboat on a broad river beside a marina and a tree-lined park.

Waterfront dock with a yellow boat and raised gangway beside city buildings.

People wading in a shallow urban pool beneath a low bridge, beside modern buildings and trees.

Two women dine in a window-lit restaurant with geometric tile and shelves of ceramic vases.

What to Expect

The city’s smallest quadrant is seeing huge new development.

The glamorous new Wharf development has completed Phase I—a mile-long stretch of mixed-use apartment and condo buildings and hotels, but Phase II will bring 1.2 million more square feet of mixed-used space designed by 11 renowned architects. Residents and tourists can expect to see new construction into the foreseeable future in what The Washington Post called one of the biggest developments on the East Coast.

Southwest Waterfront marina with sailboats, modern buildings, and two women on a waterfront swing.

Tree-lined Southwest Waterfront path with globe lamps, autumn leaves, and water in the distance.

Breakfast table with orange juice, coffee, eggs, and yogurt as a person reaches for a cup.

Café patrons sit at a counter overlooking boats and water through large windows.

The Lifestyle

Nonstop energy.

Residents are steps away from all the action: A revitalized Arena Stage with its award-winning theater programs; three live music venues, including the 6,000-seat Anthem Theater; an 18-hole golf course; and all manner of water sports and leisure cruises. On top of that, the city’s hottest restaurants are opening locations here, ensuring abundant fine dining with breathtaking city views across the water.

Waterfront restaurant deck with orange umbrellas and boats docked along the marina.

Bartender in a navy suit prepares a cocktail behind a bottle-lined bar.

People walk dogs along a sunny waterfront promenade beside moored boats.

Arena Stage’s glass-fronted theater with its distinctive sweeping roof.

Unexpected Appeal

The Wharf’s crowds are discovering the neighborhood’s historic gems.

Part of the Wharf’s development included revitalizing the Maine Avenue Fish Market, the nation’s oldest continuously operating open-air seafood market that was built in 1805. New residents and tourists who are flocking to the waterfront might also discover the vibrant Blind Whino arts center, housed in a whimsically painted 19th-century Baptist church, or find refuge at Saint Dominic Church, a beautiful example of gothic architecture built in 1875.

Colorfully mural-painted building with a pointed tower, framed by leafy trees.

Waterfront monument with a robed statue, outstretched arms, and broad stone steps.

Modern building facade with paired arched windows beneath a large tree.

Captain White Seafood City storefront with blue awning and people outside.

The Market

Reasonably priced condos, quaint townhomes—and a neighborhood of houseboats.

Though the new luxury apartments and condos on the waterfront command top dollar, developers have included plenty of affordable condos and townhomes in the mix. Gangplank Marina, a longtime waterfront fixture, is known for its friendly and quirky houseboat community.

Attached townhouses with a white facade, green shutters, and dark blue door between brick neighbors.

Modern residential building with red-brown accents and expansive glass windows, viewed from below.

Modern glass-and-masonry office building on a Southwest Waterfront street corner.

Two-story houseboat at a marina, with a white-railed balcony and boats alongside.

You'll Fall In Love With

Proximity to the waterfront, ample green space, and easy access to the city’s baseball and soccer stadiums.

Home to sweeping river views and idyllic parks, the neighborhood is a true oasis for both residents and visitors alike. The construction of Nationals Park that overlooks the Anacostia River is responsible for huge new developments in Navy Yard, and waterfront residents can walk there on a nice evening. Even closer is Audi Field, the new home to the DC United soccer team.