Books & consignment · Connecticut Ave NW from Dupont Circle north to S St
Dupont Circle
Connecticut Ave and P St NW.
The blocks of Connecticut Avenue, P Street and R Street around the circle, where long-running bookstores, designer consignment, tea shops and small galleries share rowhouse storefronts, many of them up a flight of stairs. Best for book browsers, secondhand-designer hunters and gallery walkers, especially on Sunday market mornings and First Fridays.
Bookstores · Consignment · Galleries
Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- In our directory
- 23 shopseach one verified
- Where
- Connecticut Ave NW from Dupont Circle north to S StBooks & consignment
- Right now
- Typical hours12pm–6pm
- Getting here
- ParkingDupont Circle station on the Red Line is in the middle of the stretch; its Q Street exit comes up by Kramers, and Second Story Books is about a block away. Second Story Books notes on-street parking and nearby garages, but none are named on the pages loaded. The Dupont Circle BID notes the northbound service road on the 1600 block of Connecticut Ave is closed for about eight weeks from Sept 8, 2026 (deliveries still allowed).
The directory
23 shops, all in one place.
Tap a shop or a dot on the map to see it.
Books4 places
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Independent bookstore opened in 1976 as DC's first bookstore-cafe, now combined with a full-service restaurant and bar serving breakfast through dinner, with readings, trivia and book clubs.
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Large used and rare bookstore at the corner of 20th and P, with sidewalk sales and on-site buyers every day. Open until 10pm, a block from the Dupont Circle Metro.
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DC's only Chinese-language bookstore, reopened under this name in September 2024; sells English and Chinese books, including Hong Kong and Taiwan titles, and hosts lectures.
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Second-floor comic shop established in 2005 with a wide selection of comic books and graphic novels, describing itself as a comic shop for everyone. Open daily, a short walk from the Red Line.
Galleries4 places
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Contemporary art gallery on R Street's gallery row west of the circle, with rotating exhibitions; private consultations available by appointment.
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Nonprofit gallery in the alley behind The Phillips Collection, run by International Arts & Artists, opening new shows each First Friday; free, with a suggested $10 donation.
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Founded in 1985, Alex Gallery and its sister space Gallery A are Dupont's longest-running galleries, showing international contemporary painters and sculptors on R Street.
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Lower-level art gallery at Connecticut Avenue and R Street, just north of the circle, and a regular stop on the Dupont Circle BID's monthly First Friday ArtWalk.
Specialty3 places
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Second-floor yarn shop stocking Cascade, Malabrigo, Isager, Sandnes Garn and other yarns, plus needles and notions from Addi and ChiaoGoo and knitting magazines; runs classes and events.
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Dupont branch of the family-owned regional shoe chain founded in Old Town Alexandria in 1993, focused on comfortable, well-made shoes from makers around the world.
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Shop of more than 50 years just off Embassy Row, open to the public, selling cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, watches and fashion accessories once sold mainly to diplomats.
Food & drink3 places
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DC-based specialty tea seller with more than 200 teas from around the world, open until 8:30pm or later Monday to Saturday (Sunday hours cut off on the directory page).
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Year-round Sunday farmers market with produce, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, flowers and DC-made spirits from more than 80 vendors at peak season.
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DC shop of a Fujian-based Chinese tea producer that grows, processes and packages its own oolong, black and white teas, with a focus on teaching Chinese tea culture.
Vintage2 places
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Second-floor women's designer consignment shop open since 1986, selling clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry from labels such as Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada.
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Second-floor consignment shop on Connecticut Avenue selling high-end fashion on consignment, positioned between luxury and affordable price points.
Gifts2 places
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Gift shop opened in 2024 selling imported handcrafted Turkish jewelry, clothing and housewares, in the same building as Tea Mansion.
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Shop of America's first museum of modern art, selling art books, prints, cards, jewelry and home goods. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays.
Beauty1 place
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Connecticut Avenue branch of the beauty chain for skincare, makeup and fragrance, with spa services bookable by phone, curbside pickup and free shipping to home.
Menswear1 place
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Third-floor custom menswear showroom for made-to-order suits, shirts, blazers and tuxedos, with stylist appointments booked online; buzz in above the Starbucks on 19th Street.
Boutiques1 place
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Small Connecticut Avenue shop selling handcrafted and costume jewelry, women's clothing, gifts and home decorations at a range of prices; a stop on the First Friday ArtWalk.
Home1 place
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Plant shop in an 18th Street rowhouse selling plants, ceramics, decor and artwork, with the Cafe Cino coffee and tea bar in the second room selling beans and loose-leaf tea.
Coffee1 place
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The original Teaism, open since 1996: a teahouse serving Japanese- and Thai-style plates, snacks and breakfast with a long tea list, half a block off Connecticut Avenue.
No shops in that category here yet.
Insider guide
Shopping Dupont Circle.
The story
The blocks of Connecticut Avenue, P Street and R Street around the circle, where long-running bookstores, designer consignment, tea shops and small galleries share rowhouse storefronts, many of them up a flight of stairs. Best for book browsers, secondhand-designer hunters and gallery walkers, especially on Sunday market mornings and First Fridays.
The mix: books like Kramers, Second Story Books, JF Books; galleries like Studio Gallery, IA&A at Hillyer, Alex Gallery; specialty like Looped Yarn Works, Comfort One Shoes, Diplomatic Duty Free Shop.
This week
Around Dupont Circle this week.
Typical hours
Most shops keep the hours below.
Hours vary by individual store. Always check with specific retailers.
Eat, drink, stay
Between shops, close by.
Top restaurants nearby
All of Eat →Top hotels nearby
All of Stay →- Michelin Key
Fairmont Washington DC Gold Experience
A 43-room Fairmont Gold floor inside the Fairmont in the West End, with access to a 50-foot saltwater pool, steam room and sauna; new to the Key list in 2026.
2401 M Street NW (Fairmont Gold Floor) · - Design hotel
The Dupont Circle Hotel
A 327-room hotel, the only one on Dupont Circle itself, with the Pembroke restaurant overlooking the park and Level Nine suites reached by a private elevator. Listed by MICHELIN without a Key in 2026.
1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW ·
Ratings are the scores saved in our directory and are not live. Check the listing for the current score.
Getting here
Parking and transit.
- PParkingDupont Circle station on the Red Line is in the middle of the stretch; its Q Street exit comes up by Kramers, and Second Story Books is about a block away. Second Story Books notes on-street parking and nearby garages, but none are named on the pages loaded. The Dupont Circle BID notes the northbound service road on the 1600 block of Connecticut Ave is closed for about eight weeks from Sept 8, 2026 (deliveries still allowed).
- PMetro: Dupont Circle (Red)The north exit opens onto Connecticut Avenue at Q StreetMetro fare
Keep exploring
If you liked this block of the city, try these next.
14th Street
The 14th Street NW strip through Logan Circle up to U Street, where home and furniture stores, national lifestyle brands and consignment sit between restaurants and bars, with vintage and record shops on U Street. Best for a weekend afternoon that mixes browsing home goods and clothes with brunch or dinner.
This week
Adams Morgan
The 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW crossroads, where vintage clothing, record shops, a two-floor used bookstore and quirky gift shops sit among a dense run of restaurants and bars. Best for an afternoon of thrifting and record digging that rolls into dinner.
This week
Georgetown
DC's oldest shopping district, where M Street NW carries the national flagships and Wisconsin Avenue climbs past independent boutiques, legacy shops and Book Hill toward R Street. Cady's Alley, a block south of M, holds the city's cluster of furniture and design showrooms, so it works for a full day of fashion, home and browsing.
This week
Guides for Dupont Circle
All guides →Dupont Circle and 14th Street: Bookshops, Consignment and Vintage
Washington's best day for book browsers: Dupont Circle's bookstores, comics and second-floor consignment, then east to 14th Street and U Street for home shops, records and vintage.
Read guide →Washington Holiday Markets 2026
Dates, hours and locations for the 2026 holiday markets in and around DC, from the DowntownDC Holiday Market on F Street to Heurich House's Christmas Markt and Old Town Alexandria's parade weekend, plus the events that haven't posted dates yet.
Read guide →Washington DC Hotels Near the Best Shopping
Fifteen MICHELIN-selected hotels, including all seven of Washington's Key holders, sorted by the shopping you can walk to: CityCenterDC and Penn Quarter, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, the Wharf, Union Market and Old Town Alexandria.
Read guide →Stay in the loop
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