inKind · Reader perk

Eat at DC's best restaurants for up to 20% off — every single meal.

inKind partners with hundreds of top spots in DC. Pay your bill through the app and get instant credit back. Sign up with our link and we both score a bonus.

  • $25 off your first $50+ tab
  • Up to 20% back on every check
  • Works at 100+ DC restaurants
Claim my $25 credit
in your pocket

The apps every DC visitor should download.

Restaurant rewards, scooters, bikes, transit, and tour bundles — the exact stack locals use to eat better, move faster, and pay less.

inKind logo

inKind

Food & Dining

Pay your bill through the app at 7,000+ top-rated restaurants — including dozens across DC (Dupont, Shaw, Navy Yard, 14th St).

20% back on every meal • $25 off your first $50+ tab
Blackbird logo

Blackbird

Food & Dining

VIP dining rewards from the founder of Resy. Tap your phone at the host stand at top DC restaurants and earn $FLY points toward perks.

Points on every check + member-only perks
Get it →iOSWebsite
Resy logo

Resy

Food & Dining

Reservations at the hardest tables in DC — Rose's Luxury, Le Diplomate, Albi. Set Notify and Resy will text you when a seat opens.

Free • Amex card holders unlock priority bookings
OpenTable logo

OpenTable

Food & Dining

DC's deepest reservation network with 1,000+ restaurants. Earn dining points redeemable for cash off future bills.

100 pts per booking → $10 off at 2,000 pts
Seated logo

Seated

Food & Dining

Book a table through Seated and get up to 30% back as Amazon, Uber, or Starbucks credit. Big in 14th St and Penn Quarter.

Up to 30% back as gift cards
Too Good To Go logo

Too Good To Go

Food & Dining

Bakeries, cafes, and restaurants list end-of-day surprise bags at 1/3 the price. Tatte, Le Pain Quotidien, and Bluestone Lane all play in DC.

$15 worth of food for $5 (typical)
HappyHopper logo

HappyHopper

Food & Dining

Map of every happy hour in DC, sorted by what's running right now. Filter by $1 oysters, half-price wine, late-night menus.

Free — 60,000+ deals indexed
Get it →Website
Capital Bikeshare logo

Capital Bikeshare

Getting Around

DC's official bikeshare — 5,000+ classic and e-bikes at 700+ stations. Day pass is the move for tourists; annual is unbeatable for locals.

$10 day pass • $0.15/min e-bikes • $120/year unlimited
Lime logo

Lime

Getting Around

8,000+ Gen4 e-scooters and e-bikes scattered across DC. Best for the last-mile from a Metro stop to your dinner reservation.

$1 to start • ~$0.39/min • free unlock for new users
Lyft logo

Lyft

Getting Around

One app for rides AND Capital Bikeshare bikes/scooters — scan a Bikeshare QR with your Lyft account and you're rolling.

Bikeshare integration + ride credit for new users
SmarTrip / Metro logo

SmarTrip / Metro

Getting Around

Add SmarTrip to Apple/Google Wallet and tap your phone on Metro, buses, and the DC Streetcar. Skip the kiosk lines entirely.

Free app • $2 off if you skip the plastic card
DC Circulator logo

DC Circulator

Getting Around

$1 buses on six routes hitting Georgetown, the Wharf, Eastern Market, the Mall, and Dupont. The cheapest way to cover the city.

$1 per ride • free transfers within 2 hours
Get it →Website
Go City DC logo

Go City DC

Tickets & Tours

All-inclusive or pick-3/5 passes for International Spy Museum, Madame Tussauds, Bike & Roll, sightseeing cruises, and more.

Up to 50% off vs buying tickets individually
CityPASS logo

CityPASS

Tickets & Tours

Bundle tickets to Spy Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Big Bus, and the Crime Museum at one fixed price. Mobile tickets, no printing.

~45% off the gate price
Get it →Website
Viator logo

Viator

Tickets & Tours

Tripadvisor's tour marketplace — monument night tours, segway crawls, food walks in Georgetown, sunset Potomac cruises.

Free cancellation up to 24h on most tours
Groupon logo

Groupon

Daily Deals

Spa days, escape rooms, axe throwing, brunch buffets, helicopter tours — DC has one of the deepest Groupon catalogs in the US.

30–70% off across 5,000+ DC listings
DoorDash DashPass logo

DoorDash DashPass

Daily Deals

$0 delivery + 5% back on pickup at DC restaurants. The new Reserve tab now lets you book tables and earn DashPass rewards too.

$9.99/mo • free first month • students get $4.99/mo
Eater DC logo

Eater DC

Daily Deals

Not an app, but the bookmark every DC local has. New openings, where to eat this week, and the canonical happy hour map.

Free • mobile site is fast
Get it →Website
Yelp logo

Yelp

Food & Dining

Still the most complete review database for DC neighborhood spots — filter by 'open now,' price, and outdoor seating.

Free • Yelp Deals = 30–50% off select restaurants
The Infatuation logo

The Infatuation

Food & Dining

Honest, no-ads restaurant reviews curated by locals. Their DC guides ('Where to take your parents,' 'Best first-date spots') are gold.

Free • zero advertising, zero affiliate fluff
Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Getting Around

The smartest transit app for DC. Combines Metro, bus, bike share, scooters, and Uber/Lyft into one route — with real-time delays.

Free • shows live Metro car crowdedness
Transit logo

Transit

Getting Around

The cleanest interface for WMATA Metro and bus arrival times. Crowdsourced delays from other riders beat the official feed.

Free • offline schedules + Apple Watch widget
SpotHero logo

SpotHero

Getting Around

Pre-book a parking spot in DC garages for half what you'd pay walking up. Essential for Capitals/Wizards/Nationals games.

Save up to 50% on event-day garages
ParkMobile logo

ParkMobile

Getting Around

The official DC street-meter app. Pay, extend, and get reminders from your phone — no more sprinting back to the car.

Free • required for most DC street parking
Spin Scooters logo

Spin Scooters

Getting Around

Ford-owned e-scooters scattered across DC. Cheaper than Lime for short hops, with a dedicated 'slow zone' on the National Mall.

First ride free with code FIRSTRIDE
TodayTix logo

TodayTix

Tickets & Tours

Same-day discount tickets to Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth. Lottery seats from $25.

Up to 50% off + $10 lottery seats daily
Fever logo

Fever

Tickets & Tours

Discover pop-up experiences in DC: candlelight concerts at historic churches, immersive Van Gogh, secret rooftop dinners.

Free to browse • subscriber-only early access
Bandsintown logo

Bandsintown

Tickets & Tours

Track your favorite artists and get a heads-up the moment they announce a 9:30 Club, Anthem, or Black Cat show.

Free • presale codes before tickets go public
Smithsonian logo

Smithsonian

Tickets & Tours

Free passes for the African American History Museum (the only Smithsonian that requires them) plus self-guided tours of all 17 museums.

Free always • timed passes drop 8:15 AM
Meetup logo

Meetup

Tickets & Tours

Find run clubs, board game nights, language exchanges, and hiking groups in every DC neighborhood. Best way to meet locals.

Free for most events
DCist logo

DCist

Stay in the Know

WAMU's local news site — the daily roundup of DC politics, neighborhood updates, weekend events, and weather drama.

Free newsletter • the DC morning brief
Get it →Website
Washingtonian logo

Washingtonian

Stay in the Know

DC's monthly magazine — best-of lists for restaurants, doctors, schools, and weekend escapes within 3 hours of the city.

Free articles + paid print issue
Get it →Website
AlertDC logo

AlertDC

Stay in the Know

Official DC government alerts: street closures (motorcades, marathons, protests), weather emergencies, Metro shutdowns.

Free • text/email/push — pick your channels
Get it →Website
Citizen logo

Citizen

Stay in the Know

Real-time 911 alerts mapped to your block. Useful for knowing why there are 12 cop cars on your street right now.

Free tier • Premium adds personal safety agent
MyRadar logo

MyRadar

Stay in the Know

DC weather flips fast in spring and summer. MyRadar's lightning + thunderstorm alerts beat the default weather app.

Free • lightning alerts within 10 miles
DC Public Library logo

DC Public Library

Stay in the Know

Free library card unlocks ebooks (Libby), free museum passes, free movie streaming (Kanopy), and event tickets.

Free with any DC address — even short-term
5 to 7

The best happy hours in DC.

Where locals actually drink after work — from $1.50 oysters at Old Ebbitt to Michelin-star bar seats at Bresca. Always call ahead; menus shift seasonally.

Columbia Room

Columbia Room

Shaw
5–7 PM

James Beard–winning cocktails in a tucked-away tasting room.

Tue–Sat

  • $8 punch of the day
  • $6 beer
  • $1 oysters (Tue)
124 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001
Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Adams Morgan
4–7 PM

Largest whiskey selection on the East Coast — rooftop in summer.

Mon–Fri

  • $6 rail cocktails
  • $5 draft beer
  • $8 bar bites
2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Le Diplomate

Le Diplomate

Logan Circle
4–6 PM

Stephen Starr's Parisian brasserie — sidewalk seats are gold.

Mon–Fri

  • $8 wines by the glass
  • $1.50 oysters
  • Half-price French fries
1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Estadio

Estadio

14th Street
5–7 PM

Spanish small plates and frozen gin & tonics — always packed.

Mon–Fri

  • $6 sangria slushies
  • $5 cava
  • $5 select tapas
1520 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Barmini by José Andrés

Barmini by José Andrés

Penn Quarter
5–6 PM (bar only)

12-seat avant-garde cocktail lab — reserve ahead.

Wed–Sat

  • $10 signature cocktails
  • $8 cava
  • $6 snacks
855 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Pug

The Pug

H Street NE
5–8 PM

No-frills dive with the friendliest bartender on H Street.

Daily

  • $4 PBR + shot
  • $5 well drinks
  • Free popcorn
1234 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Rasika

Rasika

West End
5–7 PM

Modern Indian — the palak chaat alone is worth the trip.

Mon–Fri

  • $8 cocktails
  • $6 wine
  • Half-price palak chaat
633 D St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Old Ebbitt Grill — Oyster Riot

Old Ebbitt Grill — Oyster Riot

Downtown
3–6 PM & 11 PM–close

DC's oldest saloon, two blocks from the White House.

Mon–Fri

  • $1.95 oysters
  • $5 rail drinks
  • $4 draft beer
675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
The Morris American Bar

The Morris American Bar

Mt. Vernon Triangle
5–7 PM

Quiet, candlelit, and named after a 19th-century DC bartender.

Tue–Fri

  • $8 cocktails
  • $6 wine
  • $5 beer
1020 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tiki TNG

Tiki TNG

Petworth
5–7 PM

Tropical Polynesian dive in a former dry cleaner.

Wed–Fri

  • $8 mai tais
  • $6 beer
  • $5 spam musubi
5471 Colorado Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
Hank's Oyster Bar

Hank's Oyster Bar

Dupont Circle
3–6:30 PM

New England seaside meets DC patio scene.

Mon–Fri

  • $1.50 oysters
  • $5 draft
  • $7 wine
1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Bresca

Bresca

Logan Circle
5–6:30 PM (bar)

Michelin-star bistro — bar seats only, but worth the scramble.

Tue–Fri

  • $8 cocktails
  • $10 wine
  • $6 honey-glazed bar snacks
1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Right Proper Brewing — Brookland

Right Proper Brewing — Brookland

Brookland
4–6 PM

Local brewery hangout — dog-friendly patio.

Mon–Fri

  • $2 off all drafts
  • $5 cans to-go
  • $6 pretzels
920 Girard St NE, Washington, DC 20017
Tail Up Goat

Tail Up Goat

Adams Morgan
5–6 PM

Michelin-recognized Mediterranean — natural wine heaven.

Tue–Fri

  • $8 natural wines by the glass
  • $6 amari
  • $5 bread service
1827 Adams Mill Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Wunder Garten

Wunder Garten

NoMa
4–7 PM

Outdoor biergarten under the train tracks — picnic tables, bocce.

Mon–Fri

  • $5 German drafts
  • $6 wine
  • $4 pretzels
1101 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Sax Restaurant & Lounge

Sax Restaurant & Lounge

Penn Quarter
5–7 PM

Burlesque dinner-theatre with ornate French decadence.

Wed–Sat

  • Half-price champagne
  • $8 cocktails
  • $6 small plates
734 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Service Bar DC

Service Bar DC

U Street
5–7 PM

Industry-favorite cocktail bar with the city's best fried chicken.

Mon–Fri

  • $7 cocktails
  • $5 beer
  • $6 fried chicken sandwich
926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Queen's English

Queen's English

Columbia Heights
5:30–6:30 PM

Michelin-starred Cantonese — elegant, intimate, transportive.

Wed–Fri

  • $8 Hong Kong-inspired cocktails
  • $6 beer
  • $5 prawn crackers
3410 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
questions, answered

How the inKind credit works.

The short version: load money, eat at top DC restaurants, get a chunk back every time.

How do inKind credits actually work?

+

When you sign up through our link and add $50+ to your account, you get $25 in bonus credit instantly. Pay your bill through the inKind app at any partner restaurant — your credit balance covers the tab, and you earn 10–20% back on every meal as more credit for next time.

Where can I use my credit in DC?

+

100+ DC restaurants accept inKind, including Le Diplomate, Rasika, Service Bar, Tail Up Goat, Queen's English, Compass Coffee, and many more.

Are there blackout dates or restrictions?

+

No blackout dates. Credit works any day, any time, on dine-in, takeout, or delivery. It covers food, drinks, tax, and tip.

Does the credit expire?

+

Your $25 welcome bonus and earned cashback don't expire as long as your account stays active.

Is there a minimum spend per visit?

+

Most restaurants have no minimum. A few set a small minimum (usually $20–$25) to use credit.

Can I combine inKind with happy hour or other promos?

+

Yes. Stack happy hour pricing with 10–20% inKind cashback for the best value.

What's the catch?

+

None for diners. Restaurants get cash up front; you get a discount for paying through the app.

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