The History of Washington D.C.'s Sidewalk Cafes

Washington D.C.'s first sidewalk cafe opened 5-plus years ago. This piece from The Washington Post looks at the history of outdoor eating in the city, and how the trend has picked up over the years.

1 minute read

August 5, 2011, 12:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


There are now more than 450 sidewalk cafes in the city.

"City officials raised myriad objections, as described in a Washington Post story at the time: Sidewalk cafes expose food to "windblown foreign matter," creating a health hazard and attracting birds and rodents, the city's public health director said; too many cafes would cause a "cessation" of pedestrian traffic, forcing walkers into the streets, where they would get run over, another official cautioned; and tables and chairs would interfere with the deployment of fire hoses, the fire chief warned.

But the strongest objection came from Deputy Police Chief Howard V. Covell, who described sidewalk cafes as 'a potential source of disorder.'"

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of Donald Shoup during interview.

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86

Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

February 10, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

February 11, 2025 - Mother Jones

Row of vehicles parked and plugged in at EV charging station.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

February 9, 2025 - Wired

Firefighter in yellow uniform stands in grassy field monitoring wildfire in the Everglades, Florida.

Federal Funding Cuts Spark Concern Among Wildland Firefighters

Federal firefighting forces, already underresourced, are being slashed even as wildfires become a year-round problem.

2 hours ago - Pro Publica

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Sustainable Future for LA: Updating the OurCounty Plan

Los Angeles County is updating its Sustainability Plan to refine its vision for climate action, environmental justice, and community well-being, with residents encouraged to participate by taking the OurCounty 2025 Update Community Survey.

3 hours ago - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Painted bike lane with bike symbol and diamond on street in downtown Toronto, Ontario.

A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes

Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.

4 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.