Mystery District

07/24/2019

👋🏼THANK YOU AGENTS. IT’S BEEN THE REALEST PLEASURE. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT A MYSTERY FOR TWO YEARS WITH US💎

10/24/2018

It's like our own personal Yelp page—check out why our clients LOVE mystery dates at www.mysterydistrict.com/testimonial💙

10/17/2018

Hey Facebook Agents! Check out our Instagram account to find out where this week's was taken!

And of course, make sure you turn on post notifications to beat out the competition!

10/12/2018

The people have spoken! We made our pricing model easier for agents like you to sign up. So what are you waiting for?! Sign up for your mystery date today at buff.ly/2RGjx8V

10/08/2018

The Spot: Acqua Al 2 (and Harold Black) The Deets: Oh, man this is a two-for-one hidden gem of DC. We've got a lot of favorite date combos but chances are good that if you've ever been on one of our mystery dates, we sent you to Acqua Al 2 for dinner and then for a nightcap at Harold Black. We love Acqua Al 2 because 1) Italian food is the best kind of food and 2) they have this incredible blueberry steak...yeah, you heard that right. [ 81 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/10/08/mysterymonday-october-1-2018/

The Spot: Acqua Al 2 (and Harold Black) The Deets: Oh, man this is a two-for-one hidden gem of DC. We’ve got a lot of favorite date combos but chances are good that if you’ve ever been …

10/08/2018

The Spot: Acqua Al 2 (and Harold Black)
The Deets: Oh, man this is a two-for-one hidden gem of DC. We've got a lot of favorite date combos but chances are good that if you've ever been on one of our mystery dates, we sent you to Acqua Al 2 for dinner and then for a nightcap at Harold Black. We love Acqua Al 2 because 1) Italian food is the best kind of food and 2) they have this incredible blueberry steak...yeah, you heard that right. Check it out if you like food that blows your mind. After dinner, we send our Agents upstairs to Harold Black, a classy as f*ck speakeasy that's sure to give you Prohibition-esque chills down your spine. Hit 'em both up next time you want to go on a date in Capitol Hill!

XOXO,
HQ

P.S. if you're wondering where September 24th went, HQ took a hiatus aka had more important things to do than write about hidden gems (*gasp*).

10/06/2018

The Spot: American Ice Company
The Deets: Need a cool, fun date-night spot before/after your show at the 9:30 Club? Look no further than American Ice Company. Ain't nothin' fancy bout this place with its exposed brick walls, taxidermy, paper plates, picnic tables, and nachos for dayz. But that's exactly what we want before a good old-fashioned punk rock show. Good for groups too because it's a pretty large, casual space! Bonus points for its hidden design behind a big blue (green? teal?) wall.

XOXO,
HQ

10/06/2018

The Spot: American Ice Company The Deets: Need a cool, fun date-night spot before/after your show at the 9:30 Club? Look no further than American Ice Company. Ain't nothin' fancy bout this place with its exposed brick walls, taxidermy, paper plates, picnic tables, and nachos for dayz. But that's exactly what we want before a good old-fashioned punk rock show. Good for groups too because it's a pretty large, casual space! Bonus points for its hidden design behind a big blue (green? teal?) wall.
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/09/24/mysterymonday-september-17-2018/

The Spot: American Ice Company The Deets: Need a cool, fun date-night spot before/after your show at the 9:30 Club? Look no further than American Ice Company. Ain’t nothin’ fancy bout t…

10/06/2018

The Spot: Call Your Mother Deli
The Deets: WE ARE USING ALL CAPS FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE WE ARE EXPONENTIALLY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW FAVORITE BAGEL SPOT IN DC TO THE REST OF Y'ALL. HQ is from NJ (as we've definitely mentioned before but we'll reiterate this fun fact because we love talking about NJ), so bagels are sacred in this house. They're soft, chewy, and the closest thing to an NYC bagel you're gonna get down here. In terms of dating, you might want to hold off until the third or fourth date to introduce her/him to [Call Your] Mother. On a related note, notion to make morning dates more of a thing? Who doesn't love bagels, coffee, and bottomless brunch? Their brick n mortar spot is opening in October, but you can catch them at the Dupont Farmers Market in the meantime!

XOXO,
HQ

10/05/2018

The Spot: Call Your Mother The Deets: WE ARE USING ALL CAPS FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE WE ARE EXPONENTIALLY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW FAVORITE BAGEL SPOT IN DC TO THE REST OF Y'ALL. HQ is from NJ (as we've definitely mentioned before but we'll reiterate this fun fact because we love talking about NJ), so bagels are sacred in this house. [ 85 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/09/17/mysterymonday-september-10-2018/

The Spot: Call Your Mother The Deets: WE ARE USING ALL CAPS FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE WE ARE EXPONENTIALLY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW FAVORITE BAGEL SPOT IN DC TO THE REST OF Y’ALL. HQ is from N…

10/05/2018

The Spot: Izakaya Seki
The Deets: Honestly, HQ had never heard of this place until we walked past it and our hidden gem radar was goin' off like crazy. We hadn't even come across it in our Google searches for good Japanese food. Maybe that's because it's a small spot on 12th & V St NW without much signage and they don't take reservations. But we're here to tell you that you should take a chance on Izakaya Seki the next date night where you have some time to spare. Like with most things in life, good things come to those who wait.

XOXO,
HQ

10/05/2018

The Spot: Izakaya Seki The Deets: Honestly, HQ had never heard of this place until we walked past it and our hidden gem radar was goin' off like crazy. We hadn't even come across it in our Google searches for good Japanese food. Maybe that's because it's a small spot on 12th & V St NW without much signage and they don't take reservations. [ 41 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/09/10/mysterymonday-september-3-2018/

The Spot: Izakaya Seki The Deets: Honestly, HQ had never heard of this place until we walked past it and our hidden gem radar was goin’ off like crazy. We hadn’t even come across it in …

10/05/2018

The Spot: Dacha Beer Garden
The Deets: If you've ever walked past this spot on a nice day, you probably thought to yourself "Damn I want to be one of those cool people inside." A crowd-pleaser of a date spot for those who like to socialize at the long, communal tables or for those who just like beer...and pretzels, may we present to you Dacha Beer Garden. No reservations necessary at this gem of a location in the heart of Shaw. Pair it with dinner down south by Blagden Alley or up north by U Street for an optimal date night combo.

XOXO,
HQ

10/05/2018

The Spot: Dacha Beer Garden The Deets: If you've ever walked past this spot on a nice day, you probably thought to yourself "Damn I want to be one of those cool people inside." A crowd-pleaser of a date spot for those who like to socialize at the long, communal tables or for those who just like beer...and pretzels, may we present to you Dacha Beer Garden. [ 37 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/09/03/mysterymonday-august-27-2018/

The Spot: Dacha Beer Garden The Deets: If you’ve ever walked past this spot on a nice day, you probably thought to yourself “Damn I want to be one of those cool people inside.” A …

10/05/2018

The Spot: L. Ron Hubbard House
The Deets: Have you ever walked past a place in DC and thought “what in the name of John Quincy Adams is that place?” or “OMG I didn’t realize THAT was here?!?” Well, ladies and gents, add the L. Ron Hubbard House to the former list. For your date that likes to learn about new religions, experiences, and life in general, take them to the L. Ron Hubbard house for an introductory course in Scientology. You can tour this off-the-mall hidden gem of DC located just off of Dupont Circle and pair it with some Dupont shenanigans afterwards (i.e. Board Room, Art Jamz, The Sheppard, etc).

XOXO,
HQ

10/05/2018

The Spot: L. Ron Hubbard House The Deets: Have you ever walked past a place in DC and thought "what in the name of John Quincy Adams is that place?" or "OMG I didn't realize THAT was here?!?" Well, ladies and gents, add the L. Ron Hubbard House to the former list. For your date that likes to learn about new religions, experiences, and life in general, take them to the L. [ 43 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/08/27/mysterymonday-august-20-2018/

10/05/2018

Hot coffee season is so close, we can smell the espresso and pumpkin spice! 🍂
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Honestly, took this pic for a post but decided against it because you all know what it is...right? ☕️
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09/29/2018

09/29/2018

09/29/2018

Happy National Coffee Day Agents! If there was ever an arbitrary holiday for us to celebrate over here at HQ, it’s to celebrate the existence of this caffeinated beverage ☕️
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Go celebrate at the featured or another like or 😋

08/20/2018

V excited about our from August 13th, Fancy Radish...

The Spot: Fancy Radish
The Deets: Oh, H Street, how we love thee. Riddled with hidden gems as far as the eye can see. OH S**T WE MADE A RHYME! Enough about us and our stroke of brilliance, though. We're here to talk about the best vegan restaurant this side of the Potomac. For those of you who are still here even after reading the word "vegan," lemme tell ya, you made the right choice. Because no one should have to go through life without trying Fancy Radish's rutabaga fondue, stuffed avocado, za'atar grilled summer squash spicy dan dan noodles, seared maitake, or (saved the best for last) STRAWBERRY SORREL BREAD PUDDING. WHAT EVEN WAS THAT? I'll tell you what, straight up witchcraft. The good kind, though, because Fancy Radish certainly uses its powers for good. Take your vegan/vegetarian date here because it's juuuuust the right amount of fancy and the food will have y'alls feelin' some type of way.

P.S. the menu changes often so get there while you can and make sure you go often to keep up with their seasonal menus.

P.P.S. we took some photos for you (and ourselves) to remember this momentous meal. Sorry we're missing half the photos, we ate them (the food, not the photos).

08/13/2018

We love because we get to share our favorite hidden gems with all of you! Here's a bit about why we love last week's hidden gem of DC...

The Spot: Two Birds One Stone
The Deets: Hat's off to those of you who knew this one. We realize we may receive some side-eye from those who believe hidden gems should remain hidden because Two Birds One Stone is 100% a hidden gem. Just off of 14th St, a more critical eye might notice some signage depicting some sort of hieroglyphics alerting the passersby to a place where there are birds and rocks. All those daring enough to journey down this path may enter to find a gloriously scintillating oasis of libations. Definitely bring a date here if you're trying to impress someone with your knowledge of off-the-beaten-path bars.

Sign up for your own mystery date today on our website at buff.ly/2MbtxYl

08/12/2018

Here's your daily dose of for July 30, 2018:

The Spot: Compass Rose
The Deets: Feel like traveling but don't have the budget for 20 flights and hotel accommodations? SAME. That's why HQ and its minions went to Compass Rose for dinner. Because food plays a huge role in travel, right? Don't try to tell me you went to Italy and didn't gush over the pasta, pizza, and gelato. Anywhoodles, Compass Rose's menu consists of medium-sized dishes from all over the world. So on this particular outing, HQ traveled to Mexico with Aguachile and Algeria with a bite of Tangine before jetsetting off to Nepal with some Nepali Thakari, and finally finishing things off with a quick zip to Georgia with that CHEESE BOAT more eloquently referred to as Khachapuri.

07/30/2018

The Spot: Qualia Coffee The Deets: Do you ever feel like coffee controls your life but you aren’t mad about it? Speaking of coffee (note HQ’s smooth transition), Qualia coffee is a local operation with spots in Petworth and Eckington. For all you coffee snobs out there, they control their own roasting and brewing in house. Their ‘Robo Pour’ is done using this crazy looking machine called the Poursteady (see below) for precise and repeatable pours. [ 51 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/07/30/mysterymonday-july-23-2018/

The Spot: Qualia Coffee The Deets: Do you ever feel like coffee controls your life but you aren’t mad about it? Speaking of coffee (note HQ’s smooth transition), Qualia coffee is a local operation …

07/25/2018

The Spot: Meridian Hill Park aka Malcolm X Park The Deets: Can you say free fun in the precious outdoors? Meridian Hill Park is a lovely public park with rich history (see the Wikipedia page). Plopped on 16th street north of the White House, this national historic landmark has an amazing DRUM CIRCLE on Sundays. This is a great date spot to come hang out with picnic supplies and a Frisbee. [ 49 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/07/24/mysterymonday-july-16-2018/

The Spot: Meridian Hill Park aka Malcolm X Park The Deets: Can you say free fun in the precious outdoors? Meridian Hill Park is a lovely public park with rich history (see the Wikipedia page). Plop…

07/24/2018

If you’re gonna drink a margarita on , it might as well be out of a really big straw

07/15/2018

You've still got T-minus 9 hours to enjoy National Ice Cream Day...DC-style!

07/11/2018

Celebrate International Day of Friendship with a Friend Mystery Date!

Sign up now at https://buff.ly/2Nzmhmc

07/09/2018

- July 2, 2018

The Spot: Calico
The Deets: Cat's outta the bag now. Deep down the twists and turns of Blagden Alley is a casual bar that'll make you feel like you're hangin' out in a tastefully decorated backyard. Everything from the turf floor, the picnic tables, the eclectic decorations inside, and the inventive cocktails will make you feel like you're a kid at home in the 90s. Seriously though, their most notorious beverages are two different cocktails in juice pouches. Check it out if you're lookin' for a laid-back, throw-back date night spot. Oh, and the beautiful murals and hidden locale will certainly only prove your knowledge of DC's hidden gems to your date.

07/02/2018

The Spot: Bardo Brewing The Deets: Picture this--you're exploring Navy Yard on a Capital Bikeshare bike and all of a sudden you see this pathway next to the questionable banner below. Do you: A) Run away and carry on with your gem-less life, or B) Literally take the road less traveled and follow this rainbow road down the path to Gem Land… [ 52 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/07/02/mysterymonday-june-25-2018/

The Spot: Bardo Brewing The Deets: Picture this–you’re exploring Navy Yard on a Capital Bikeshare bike and all of a sudden you see this pathway next to the questionable banner below. Do…

06/25/2018

- June 18, 2018

The Spot: Ebenezers Coffeehouse

The Deets: We have a special spot in our company heart for Ebenezers Coffeehouse. We've spent many a day and night bunkered down in the lower level where the extra seating is writing articles, mission clues, itineraries, code, you name it, for Mystery District in its early days. But it's not just a good place to work (attn: remote workers--featuring fast wifi, copious seating, and caffeinated beverages). It's a great place for a coffee date...and not just during the day. Sometimes they have concerts in the lower level which makes a great venue for quality conversation, quality coffee, and quality music. Such a versatile space for coffee with a cause (ask them about it).

XOXO,
HQ

06/18/2018

The Spot: Board Room

The Deets: True to our mission, we love a date night spot that's interactive. Less dinner and a movie, more activities that allow you to get to know someone better. So whether you're looking for a good double date spot or you're hitting the town with a game-lover, WE GOTCHU COVERED WITH THIS ONE. [ 88 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/06/18/mysterymonday-june-11-2018/

The Spot: Board Room The Deets: True to our mission, we love a date night spot that’s interactive. Less dinner and a movie, more activities that allow you to get to know …

06/13/2018

It's Pride Month, Agents! That's good news for you if you love love. And if you're looking for a date night that immerses you in the Pride, HQ highly recommends that you mosey on over to 17th Street because your eyes will have no choice but to be blinded by rainbows...in the best way possible. Admittedly, many of our picks below (in our classic meal + drink + activity format) are not the most prideful activities, but the energy on 17th Street alone is enough to make you proud.

MEAL:
Floriana - Victorian townhouse home to cozy Italian restaurant that feels like the decor was inspired by your second-generation Italian grandmother. You're almost expecting the waiter to shout "MANGA" at you as he lays your plate of Sunday Gravy down. By the way, there's a bar in the basement to go for drinks afterwards.
Little Serow - Good luck finding and getting into this hidden gem, but once you do, kiss DC goodbye because it's gonna feel like you were just transported to Northern Thailand.
Agora - Not necessarily a hidden gem, but a classic date night spot featuring Mediterranean small plates...really can't go wrong with this one.
Komi - Honestly, HQ has never been here but we've heard of its upscale legend.
Sushi Taro - Some of the best sushi in DC. If you've ever walked down 17th St at 3:30 PM on a weekday and saw a line of people just waiting around for 5 PM, best believe they're waiting for Sushi Taro's legendary happy hour.

ACTIVITY:
Keegan Theatre - Did you know there's a theatre off of 17th & Church? It's called Keegan Theatre, tickets average around $50, and the shows that they put on are simply awesome. Serious hidden gem status coming from someone who truthfully isn't a huge fan of theatre but loves a good laugh, cry, or gasp.
Pansaari - An underground Indian Food Hall? Done. Hidden gem status off the charts. Just choose your activity! They offer tons of different kinds of cooking classes, cocktail classes or wine tasting, and dancing!

DRINK:
Pansaari - Have to include this again. If you'd prefer not to make your beverage yourself, Pansaari boasts a pretty extensive and decently-priced beer, wine, and chai bar menu.
Duke's Grocery - Grab a drink, sit down at one of the picnic tables, and people-watch until the alcohol gives you enough moxy to stare at passers-by right in the face, ultimately making them feel slightly uncomfortable.

Of course, if you think we egregiously missed a hidden gem, let us know!

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

06/11/2018

The Spot: Sababa The Deets: There's only a handful of spots in the DMV that do Israeli food well, if at all. You've got Shouk in Mt. Vernon and then Al Ha'esh way out in Rockville. But if you're looking for the real deal in a date-night ambiance, look no further than Sababa. Located where Ardeo + Bardeo used to be (RIP), the charming twinkle lights and awesome wooden interior are the kind of attention to detail that not only would make Ron Swanson proud, but your date impressed. [ 46 more words ]
https://mysterydistrict.com/2018/06/11/mysterymonday-june-4-2018/

The Spot: Sababa The Deets: There’s only a handful of spots in the DMV that do Israeli food well, if at all. You’ve got Shouk in Mt. Vernon and then Al Ha’esh way out in Rockville…

06/10/2018

Hey Agents!

Mystery District has officially turned ONE YEAR OLD this weekend! It’s amazing how far we’ve come and how much this company has grown just 365 days. And you know what? We owe it all to you! Without daring Agents willing to let a company send them on a mystery date where they don’t even know where they’re going until one hour beforehand, we wouldn’t be able to keep goin, workin, and reachin for new heights. For those of you who don’t know HQ or how this business got started, and in honor of our one year anniversary, we want to pull back the curtain a smidge and share with you some behind the scenes fun facts.

Mystery District was incorporated on June 9, 2017 by a girl who loved to plan fun dates for her boyfriend and friends…but was terrified to take the leap and start a company around this very premise. She loves DC and has an insatiable taste for organizing awesome experiences for friends and strangers alike. So it should’ve been a no brainer, right? The thing is, starting a business seemed like something only more established, successful people do. But everyone has to start somewhere! With some serious encouragement from the boyfriend, Mystery District finally crossed the threshold from passion project to LLC!

Now that it’s been one year of standing up the business to see if it could walk, it’s now time to see if it can run. We’ve got a lot of exciting things in the works (which we’re not at liberty to announce yet, but will of course keep you posted). And we’re so excited to continue on this wild journey with all of you.

Before we go, we have one simple birthday request: if you’ve ever gone on a mystery date or thought of an idea for Mystery District, please share it with us. Message us on Facebook, Instagram (), Twitter (), or via email ([email protected]). One of the best ways for us to improve as a business is to hear from you, the very people we’re planning mystery dates for.

So thank you to everyone who’s gone on a mystery date, signed up for one, passed the word of mystery along to a friend, written us a review (good or bad), or even expressed their support for the concept of our business. Thank you to each and everyone of you. Cheers to one year in the books and to many more to come!