Travelling tips to Washington

ALCOHOL

Restaurants are required by law to have a liquor license in order to sell alcohol so you will notice that some do not offer it. Others may serve wine only but not hard liquor or mixed drinks.

Bars rarely serve food other than perhaps some appetizers. Other restaurants may have a separate bar as well as a dining section. Patrons are not permitted to bring their own drinks to a restaurant.

The drinking age in DC, in Maryland, and in Virginia is 21. Restaurateurs can and will ask for proof of age in the form of a driver's license or passport since the penalty for serving alcohol to underage drinkers is severe.

SMOKING

In the District of Columbia smoking is still permitted in restaurants but may be restricted to designated areas. Americans are very conscious of smoking, especially in eating establishments, and smoking in a nonsmoking area may mean a fine of several hundred dollars.

DRESS CODE

Dress varies from the very casual (shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers) to the very formal.

In some restaurants men will not be admitted without a jacket and tie (the maitre d' may have spares). But as a general guide, the more expensive the restaurant, the more formal the dress code will be. Some bars also have a very strict dress code, and customers may not be admitted in very casual dress.

Respectable but casual attire is acceptable in the majority of establishments.

CHILDREN

The best indication as to whether children are welcome in a restaurant is the presence of a children's menu or the availability of high chairs. When dining in more formal places with children, it is best to reserve the earliest seating when the restaurant will not be too busy.

WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS

Restaurants are not required to be wheelchair accessible. In general, restaurants in older neighborhoods like Dupont Circle and Adams- Morgan are less likely to accommodate wheelchairs than modern establishments on K Street. The Smithsonian Museum restaurants are all accessible for the disabled.