Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play in Georgetown

"It's hard to imagine now, but Vienna was once dotted with farmland and neighboring Tysons was a quiet rural town, home to a quaint general store. Then came the Beltway and Tysons Corner Center mall in the '60s, drawing crowds to one of the region's first enclosed shopping centers. Fast-forward, just over a decade ago, to the Silver Line's opening, which brought a crush of new development to the neighborhoods: residential buildings, corporate headquarters (hello, Capital One), and plenty of new spots to explore."

"The first large grocery store in the area devoted to Japanese goods, Marufuji opened in Tysons early this year. Shoppers will find sushi-grade fish, a variety of Wagyu, and unusual Japanese imports like butter cakes-a dessert from the island of Hokkaido, which is renowned for its premium dairy products. In addition to grab-and-go, the supermarket includes a sit-down cafe serving tonkatsu curry, chirashi bowls, and matcha lattes."

"Seray became a neighborhood favorite soon after landing in Vienna last fall. The upscale Lebanese restaurant specializes in shareable plates: creamy labneh, spiced meat pie, and bright fattoush salad, plus a variety of grilled meats. The cocktail menu includes old standbys-sangria, mojitos-as well as some creative twists on classics, such as a blueberry-coconut margarita and a cold-brew martini."

Vienna and Tysons transformed from farmland and a quiet rural town into bustling commercial and residential hubs after construction of the Beltway and the Tysons Corner Center mall in the 1960s. The Silver Line’s opening just over a decade ago accelerated development, bringing residential buildings, corporate headquarters such as Capital One, and a wave of new businesses. New dining and retail arrivals include Panda Dumpling, offering Chinese and Japanese classics and boba; Marufuji, a Japanese-focused grocery with sushi-grade fish, Wagyu, Hokkaido butter cakes, and a cafe; Seray, an upscale Lebanese spot with shareable plates and inventive cocktails; and the hidden Naisho Room at the Watermark Hotel.

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