Underrated is too kind. It's a fake, expensive, vomit inducing place where rent-a-cops keep brown people away from the UAE-owned Ivory Towers.

It's a vast improvement on the parking lots that were once there and I want to like it but something about it has always felt...disappointing. It looks like you should want to linger there but often there are very few other people lingering any longer than it takes to snap a few selfies or posed photos in front of Tatte or in one of the festively decorated alleys. It is a good place to sit and read in good weather at one of the tables, because there generally aren't a lot of people around to disturb you.

I used to go to the Flywheel there, but it closed in 2020 and I'm definitely not the target demographic for any of the stores so, to me, it just feels like a very tidy, pretty-looking place that I shouldn't be in.

I don't even think they are pretty buidings and the open space is kinda average.

DC government and developers leave out benches because they don't want homeless sleeping on them.

no.

Is it even "rated?"

I live there and like it a lot. It's best enjoyed on a summer day when families of all creeds and characters can be seen taking their kids to the water fountains to jump and play around in.

During the winter, like most of DC, foot traffic dissipates about as soon as it starts getting dark. It certainly feels a bit weird / almost eerily silent when you're walking through a major, glamorous downtown area and there aren't many fellow pedestrians, but that's all of downtown DC.

Moreover, you have to consider that it's a 100% improvement to what used to be there, as others have pointed out. It's also close to Capital One Arena, a lot of great sports bars and has awesome metro/bus access with Gallery Place & Metro Center both very close.

I think it’s largely average. Some high end retail there, and people love to take pics in the corridor with the hanging decorations. Other than that it’s not a particularly inspiring area in my opinion.

Cool to walk through but it’s nothing special

Overrated I'd say

It’s a cool spot. Have a few friends who live there, the rooftop of those condos is awesome. You can see all the people who take pics under the decorations.

They tell me sometimes the area is sketch, even with all the guards. A few years ago in December, he mentioned one of his windows was shattered because of someone shooting randomly.

I like it, but I like bougie/luxury neighborhoods in general. I love Soho in NYC, I love the Domain in Austin - everyone else always calls them devoid of character, but the one thing DC is missing in my opinion to be the perfect city is some sense of how to do glamor.

It’s possible I’m thinking of something else. Is city center not the area with the water fixtures and where the Christmas tree was?

I agree with you soley because of the crab cake sammie tent at the city center farmers market

Nope

i'm not generally in favor of looting, but with this place...

Look, leave City Center alone. DC is not a high fashion town. This is ugly Hollywood and City Center is the best we can do. Our thrift stores need something other than Ann Taylor and J Crew ok?