DC Neighborhoods
Brookland DC: Little Rome’s Neighborhood Guide
Four miles from the Capitol on the Red Line — and it feels like a different city. The Basilica. The Franciscan Monastery. Menomale. Right Proper. The Arts Walk. That’s Brookland.
Where Brookland Is
Brookland sits in Northeast Washington DC, Ward 5, centered on 12th Street NE and served by the Brookland-CUA Metro station on the Red Line — about 10-15 minutes to Union Station and Metro Center downtown. The neighborhood is bounded by Fort Totten to the north, Rhode Island Avenue NE to the south, and the Red Line tracks to the west.
Named for: Colonel Jehiel Brooks, a War of 1812 veteran whose three-story Greek Revival Brooks Mansion at 901 Newton Street NE still stands. After Brooks’ death in 1886, developers subdivided the estate and Catholic University was established on property just north of Brooks’ farm in the 1880s.
The Basilica of the National Shrine
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America — one of the largest churches in the world. The Byzantine-Romanesque structure at 400 Michigan Avenue NE dominates the Brookland skyline and is genuinely one of the most architecturally spectacular buildings in Washington DC.
Open to the public daily, free of charge. The interior has dozens of individual chapels — each representing a different Marian devotion, many with extraordinary mosaic work. Worth a dedicated visit regardless of religious affiliation.
The Franciscan Monastery
At 1400 Quincy Street NE — 42 acres of cloister walks, replicas of Holy Land shrines, and hundreds of seasonal flowers. Free guided tours April through October. One of DC’s most overlooked peaceful spaces and genuinely beautiful — almost entirely unknown outside the neighborhood.
Monroe Street Market and the Arts Walk
Monroe Street Market’s brick-paved, pedestrian-only stretch of galleries and studios is one of DC’s most concentrated independent arts districts — 27 studios anchored by the Monroe Street Market development. Most galleries open on weekends.
The Restaurant Scene
Menomale — wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and Naples-inspired dishes. One of DC’s most authentic Neapolitan pizzerias. Brookland Pint — 25 beers on draft, mostly local, corner location. The visual of friars in robes sharing the bar with CUA students is pure Brookland. Right Proper Brewing Company — beloved brewpub with a tasting room, weekend tours, and a patio that becomes one of Northeast DC’s best outdoor drinking spots. Busboys and Poets — the beloved DC restaurant-bookstore-community space with poetry nights and strong coffee.
The Architecture and Housing
Detached Queen Anne Victorians, charming bungalows, and spacious rowhouses — Brookland offers DC homeownership at price points significantly below comparable properties in upper Northwest DC. The 12th Street NE corridor has a 1920s commercial strip feel that most DC neighborhoods traded away decades ago.
🏨 Staying Near Brookland?
Brookland has limited hotel options — nearby Capitol Hill has the closest stays with Red Line Metro access to the neighborhood’s restaurants and the Basilica.
Quick Reference: Brookland DC
- Location Northeast DC, Ward 5, 4 miles from the Capitol
- Nickname ‘Little Rome’ — Catholic University, Basilica, monasteries, churches
- Metro Brookland-CUA (Red Line) — 10-15 min to downtown
- Named for Colonel Jehiel Brooks — War of 1812 veteran, Brooks Mansion still stands
- Landmark Basilica of the National Shrine — largest Catholic church in North America
- Hidden gem Franciscan Monastery — 42 acres, free guided tours April–October
- Arts district Monroe Street Market — 27 studios, brick-paved Arts Walk
- Best pizza Menomale — wood-fired Neapolitan
- Best beer Right Proper Brewing Company — tasting room, weekend tours
- Best for Families, Red Line commuters, Catholic University community, arts scene
📘 DC Parking & Towing Survival Guide
Every zone, every rule, every tow risk in the city.
Bottom Line
Brookland is four miles from the Capitol on the Red Line and feels like a different city. The Basilica alone is worth the trip. Add Menomale for pizza, Right Proper for beer, and the Franciscan Monastery for one of DC’s most serene outdoor experiences. That’s the neighborhood.
Exploring DC neighborhoods?
Get the Free DC GuideThis post contains affiliate links. If you book or purchase through our links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.