Gameday

Ballpark Tours

The Nats offer two different tours – gameday and non-gameday. In general, a non-gameday tour will usually be more comprehensive because you will have access to more areas of the ballpark that would otherwise be off-limits on a gameday.  

The Governor’s Tour (non-gameday) lasts two hours and includes the following:

• Shirley Povich Media Area (press box)
• FIS Champions Club (200-level club area)
• Terra Club (flagship premium club behind home plate)
• PNC Diamond Club (premium club above Terra Club)
• Washington Suites (private suite)
• Warning track
• Dugout
• Visiting team clubhouse
• Bullpen

Of the things above, seeing the press box, walking on the warning track, grabbing a picture in the dugout, seeing the visiting team clubhouse, and checking out the bullpen are the unique things you can only access as part of a tour. The other four stops are premium seating spaces in the ballpark, and we’ll be honest: the reason those things are cool is when you’re getting free food and beverages and sitting behind home plate watching the game. Without the food, beverages, and the game, these are just … spaces. 

Nevertheless, we think the unique things above are enough to justify taking a non-gameday tour. It’s up to you whether you think they are compelling enough to stay before or after a homestand to check it out.

The other tour is the gameday pregame tour, which is only available for select 6:45pm games, and it starts at 4pm. The downside of a gameday tour is that you won’t see the best things the non-gameday tour offers, because the warning track, dugouts, clubhouses, and bullpens will have players in them. Which means you’re missing out on the coolest parts of the tour.

But the positive is that if the tour ends on time, you’ll be inside the stadium to watch batting practice before other fans are allowed to enter the ballpark. A separate batting practice ticket (discussed below) could cost you as much as $300, so this is a great way to save money if you want to see BP.

Dacha Beer Garden

Located on the Anacostia River and across from the south entrance to Nationals Park, Dacha offers a communal-style beer garden experience. Sit yourself down at their long picnic tables or stand around a high-top and enjoy a wide variety of craft beers and Bavarian-inspired food. 

They also have a happy hour deal that includes gamedays, which features a burger and beer deal for $15, selected pints for $5, selected cocktails for $7, and some other food and drink deals. Happy hour is all day Monday, Tues-Thurs until 7pm, and Friday until 5pm. Dacha opens at least two hours before every Nationals game.

TSI TIP: The Dacha burger with a peanut butter sauce is an interesting take on the American classic which we suggest trying out.

The Salt Line

Located directly next to Dacha, the Salt Line has a beautiful riverside view with a really popular outdoor patio. During the week they’ve got a happy hour until 6pm, which includes half off local VA and MD oysters, plus $6-$8 craft beers. Salt Line is a big local favorite and one of our favorite pregame spots.

Fun Fact: one of Salt Line’s investors is Nats legend Ryan Zimmerman!

Best Rooftops

Takoda: Located across from the centerfield gates, this bar’s third floor is a spacious, high-energy rooftop terrace where you can watch the action in the neighborhood below.

The Top of the Yards: On the top floor of the Hampton Inn is a rooftop bar with a close-up view of the ballpark. It is typically a laid-back gameday crowd, and you can grab both drinks and some generic bar snacks. If you show up early you can grab some chairs along the railing that faces the ballpark.

Silver Social: Across from the centerfield gate, on the second floor of the Silver Diner, is a covered terrace where you can grab some elevated diner fare and adult beverages. They also have gameday specials from 3pm to 9pm every day, including $4-$5 beers and $8 cocktails. If you want a spot here, you should make a reservation as the terrace consists of all sit-down tables. They hold some for walk-ins, but no need to roll the dice on a busy game day.

Bluejacket Brewing

Located an easily walkable half-mile from the stadium, Bluejacket has a wide array of beer choices and is the perfect spot to try something new from their rotating beer menu.

Atlas Brew Works x Andy’s Pizza

Atlas Brewery is my favorite spot in the entire neighborhood. Inside this bar you’ll find columns lined with baseball cards and a selection of some of the best local DC/MD/VA beers. Try their Bullpen Pilsner and grab a slice from Andy’s Pizza in the back of the bar. As a pizza snob hailing from New Jersey, these pies pass my taste test.

Solace Outpost

Tucked away at the end of the Anacostia waterfront is Solace Outpost, another spacious brewery with a river view. Just a short walk to the stadium, this spot doesn’t attract the largest crowds on gameday, making it a preferred option for a calmer, quieter pregame experience. Their craft beers hold up with the rest of ’em.

The Bullpen

A DC summer intern favorite. Come to The Bullpen if you want to be surrounded by a large crowd of people who jam themselves into a venue constructed by shipping containers (don’t let this scare you off, as it’s part of the charm). There’s usually live music on the weekends, and the crowd definitely skews younger. It used to have dive-bar prices, but a beer now costs about $12, so be wary that the better pregame beer deal is now, shockingly, inside the stadium.

Mission and Royal Sands

If you want a high-energy postgame spot, Mission and Royal Sands are right outside the centerfield gate. These two-story bars have DJs playing loud music and are open late. If I had to pick one of the two, I would recommend Mission as they have more space, a small outdoor patio, and a late-night menu offered Thursday-Saturday from 11pm-1am.

For weekend brunch (or breakfast food)

DC loves their brunches. If you are attending a weekend game, you can find multiple brunch/breakfast options at some of our favorite spots. 

Walter’s has a traditional brunch menu with an optional $20 bottomless drink add-on (includes mimosas, bloody marys, Truly, and Miller Lite).

Royal Sands has a beach/tropical-themed menu, while sister restaurant Mission offers Mexican brunch classics. If you want a bottomless brunch, they both have a $28 add-on option. Royal Sands has sparkling wine, Kona Big Wave beer, bloody marys, and “Royal Transfusions” (vodka, grape juice, lime juice, and ginger ale). Mission includes margaritas, mimosas, bloody marys, and Miller Lite.

Silver Diner has traditional breakfast and brunch foods, but note that the prices are more than you would see at your average diner.

Bethesda Bagels, right across from the Navy Yard Metro station on the Department of Transportation side, is a good spot for a quick bagel or a breakfast sandwich.

For dessert

The Navy Yard neighborhood provides several options to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can pop by Kilwins for some chocolates and ice cream, or hit up Insomnia Cookies for a warm cookie or custom ice cream sandwich. There’s also Ice Cream Jubilee at The Yards.

TSI TIP: my favorite dessert hack is to order the Junior Shake from Silver Diner. The Junior Deluxe costs $3.99 instead of the regular $9.99, but the size difference does not match the price difference.

Quick/Cheap Bites or Carry-in Options

If you’re looking for fast food, there are recognizable names within a few blocks of the stadium, including: Chipotle, Cava, Chopt, Shake Shack, and Subway. If you are specifically focused on saving money by avoiding the concessions in the ballpark, you can bring food from any of these restaurants into the stadium. 

And if you’re trying to do baseball on a budget, that’s not a bad idea, because everyone knows how ridiculous stadium food prices can be. Just looking at one example – Shake Shack – can quickly point that out. There’s a Shake Shack one block from the centerfield gate, and also one inside the ballpark. Same exact food, but drastically different prices.

And remember – that’s just the difference for one person. If you’ve got a family of four, a burger, fries, and shake will run each of you $20.97 in the restaurant, but $31.27 in the stadium, which is a difference of $41 for the entire family!

Where to get bottled water for cheap:  Water is definitely one of those things that you should buy on the way into the ballpark. Not only can you save money, but you’ll get way more for less if you bring it in with you. Just remember – keep it sealed, because you can’t bring open containers into the park. 

CVS will save the most money, but it’s a little further walk to the stadium.

Change-Up Food Hall

As you enter the centerfield gate, this will likely be the first building you see. And if you’ve been here before, you’ll notice that it’s no longer the Budweiser Brew House. It’s been completely renovated for 2025, and is now a food hall offering a variety of rotating eats and beverage options based on the opposing team (i.e. Philly cheesesteak nachos when the Phillies are in town), or on Nats players, such as “Zimm’s Ribs” in honor of fan favorite Ryan Zimmerman. 

There’s a mix of reserved and first-come, first-get tables with wait service both inside and outside, and the $5 happy hour menu is in effect here as well. Like other hospitality areas in Nats Park, the food hall can be rented out by large groups or events, so on some occasions it may be closed to the public. If that’s the case, or if you can’t get a table, head up to the Ultra Loft for your happy hour beverages.

Michelob Ultra Loft

This rooftop ledge and bar is located above the Change-Up Food Hall in the left field concourse. Both of these areas, along with the Budweiser Terrace, offer a Happy Hour from the time gates open until the first pitch is thrown, featuring 12 oz Budweisers, Bud Lights, Michelob Ultras, and Michelob Ultra NAs for $5, and 12oz Nutrl and Skimmers for $6 (those prices jump to $15.49 and $16.99, respectively, for 25 oz versions when the game begins.) Given those bargain prices, the loft is often packed before the game, so you should get there early if you want to get a spot along the railings or close to the bar. The Loft offers a great view of the park and has GA standing room only seating options. See our seating section for more details on all of Nats Park’s standing room only options.

Budweiser Terrace

Located in center-right field you’ll find the biggest bar in the ballpark – the Budweiser Terrace. It also has a large patio where DJs or other musical acts will typically perform before Thursday and Saturday games (4:05+ starts), and it can draw a pretty good crowd. The lines for drinks can be a bit long, sometimes creating traffic jams along the concourse on either side of the bar.

Swing Big Beer Pen

As you work your way past the Michelob Ultra Loft, you’ll see this general admission, standing room only area in centerfield. Here, fans can hang out at the drink rails and watch the game from above. For day games (and even during the early evening), there will be full sun here, and the large Budweiser bar is just around the corner, so it’s a good social spot to hang out. 

This section can also sometimes be rented out to large groups, so it might not always be available, but if you’re interested in claiming a spot, head here right when the gates open (particularly on weekends).

Devil’s Backbone Left Field Lodge

This is one of Nats Park’s specialty bars on the 300-level concourse in deep left field. It’s a nice open space and you can see the game if you’re on the rail, but heads up: the drinks here are some of the priciest in the entire ballpark, including a novelty beer mug in the shape of a baseball bat for $29.99. If the area hasn’t been rented out, it’s GA for all fans.

Stella Artois Bar

This bar can be found on the main concourse between sections 112 and 113. This bar offers many standing tables to the bar’s left that offer decent views of the game and easy access to concessions and food vendors. Those wanting more premium beer options can find an array of craft beers on tap here, but fans can find more bang for their buck and better views elsewhere in the stadium.

Nats Head-Quarters Bobblehead Wall

Next to the PNC Diamond Club on the main concourse behind section 127, you’ll find the Nats Head-Quarters bobblehead display, which includes prominent Nationals players dating back to 2006. Because it’s just Nats players, you might not be super interested in it if you’re rooting for the other team, but it’s worth a brief stop if you’re walking by.

Cherry Blossom Trees

Like their host city, the Nationals boast an impressive selection of Japanese Cherry Blossom trees inside Nats Park. The trees are in both the centerfield plaza and on the main concourse behind sections 105 and 106 in left field. If you’re catching a game in the late-March to early-April timeframe, they should be in full bloom, and would be a good backdrop for a picture/selfie.

Artistic Murals

Nationals Park features several murals showcasing Washington D.C.’s scenery and culture. Just inside the right field gate is a large, red, white, and blue mural that’s a great spot for a picture. On the left field concourse next to the ticket office, there’s another large mural that rotates with notable players and popular culture references relevant to D.C.

Washington Greats Statues

At the Home Plate entrance to Nats Park, you’ll find statues dedicated to some of Washington’s most iconic and historically significant baseball figures. Immortalized here are members of the original Washington Senators as well as the Washington Homestead Grays. These statues were unveiled in 2009 and are one of the highlights of the ballpark.

Baseball Americana Exhibit

Washington D.C. has a rich baseball history dating back to the game’s inception in the late 19th century, and Nats Park takes pride in its role in the city’s baseball legacy. Located to the left as you enter the centerfield gate, the Library of Congress’ Baseball Americana exhibit features an overview of baseball’s history in the nation’s capital. Fans can read about the city’s relationship with America’s pastime as the two evolved over time, and trace the timeline of events that eventually culminated in the Nationals’ current form.

D.C. Sports Hall of Fame Display

This exhibit is located diagonally across from the Concert Series wall in the left field concourse. Here, prominent Washington figures are enshrined in history for their contributions to the sports world. Fans will find names like Hall of Fame coaches Vince Lombardi and Red Auerbach, Hall of Famer Joe Theismann, Olympic great Katie Ledecky, boxer “Sugar” Ray Leonard, and others listed on the display to showcase their place in Washington sports history. Seeing some recognizable names here can be interesting, especially those not commonly associated with D.C., but we wouldn’t recommend spending too long at this exhibit; a quick skim through the list is more than enough time to appreciate it.

For Kids

The Nationals Park Kids Zone is located next to the right field gate on the main concourse. Kids ages 10 and under are welcome to enjoy the large playground and miniature baseball field. 

In addition, kids ages 4-12 can run the bases following every Sunday afternoon game.