Downtown Silver Spring
Downtown Silver Spring
Downtown Silver Spring
4.2
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
About
Urban meets brilliant at Downtown Silver Spring, the colorful heart and soul of one of the region’s most dynamic, diverse communities. The buzz never stops in this vibrant, ultra-connected hub of bustling shops and buzzing restaurants, just two blocks from the Metro and two miles from DC. A lively mix of professionals, families and friends come together here where the fun shines day and night.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Silver Spring • 7 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
456 within 5 kms
Attractions
392 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.2
47 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
20
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Karen P
Miami, FL76 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Very nice looking downtown. If you have downtime and would like to just enjoy the town I definitely recommend. Parking may be difficult but whatever you are going to do if it’s under two hours you can park in the Whole-foods parking lot. We did an escape room.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pamela K
Apollo, PA63 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We were traveling and ended up in Silver Springs. WOW! So much to do and so many nice restaurants. Close to everything as well as public transportation. Parking is free on the weekends too!
Written October 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cajintl
Silver Spring, MD72 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We have been down here for special events and found that they are well planned and have activities for younger children.
Written July 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jinxminx
Takoma Park, MD455 contributions
Jan 2020
I grew up in Silver Spring and they have been trying to revitalize the downtown all my life. They built the City Place Mall (which is right behind the Downtown Silver Spring pedestrian street) and it was a flop. It's still open, if you like booths selling watches and cell phone cases.
I can never quite fit the pedestrian shopping plaza into my old mental map of Silver Spring. There are still great destinations outside the pedestrian mall - restaurants like Mandalay and a bunch of Ethiopian Places, Plaza Arts, Alliance Comics - but the pedestrian mall has definitely succeeded in becoming a central location.
There is a Whole Foods and a Strohsnider's Hardware with a CVS and another business on one side, and like I said, City Place is on the other. Ellsworth Street is closed to traffic, which is so nice, and makes a space for the farmer's market on Saturdays, bands to play, a fountain for little kids to run through in the summer, etc.
There are a lot of chains, for sure, but they tend to be nice. The Regal Cinemas will have every movie playing. There's an Ulta, a Ben & Jerry's, a Lebanese Taverna, and a lot more. Across the street there is a civic plaza - the civic building is there, I've voted there and attended an art show there. When the downtown was first developed, about 15 years ago, that whole area was astroturf, which was fun while it lasted. It definitely got people used to congregating there. Now there are benches and an ice rink in the winter, which is a huge plus.
There are a couple of parking garages close by. They are reasonably priced, big enough for demand, and have free hours on evenings and weekends. This also seems to be a hub for internet rental bikes, there are a ton of them there.
Also, there are often Hare Krishnas across the street doing there thing, and who doesn't like that?
I can never quite fit the pedestrian shopping plaza into my old mental map of Silver Spring. There are still great destinations outside the pedestrian mall - restaurants like Mandalay and a bunch of Ethiopian Places, Plaza Arts, Alliance Comics - but the pedestrian mall has definitely succeeded in becoming a central location.
There is a Whole Foods and a Strohsnider's Hardware with a CVS and another business on one side, and like I said, City Place is on the other. Ellsworth Street is closed to traffic, which is so nice, and makes a space for the farmer's market on Saturdays, bands to play, a fountain for little kids to run through in the summer, etc.
There are a lot of chains, for sure, but they tend to be nice. The Regal Cinemas will have every movie playing. There's an Ulta, a Ben & Jerry's, a Lebanese Taverna, and a lot more. Across the street there is a civic plaza - the civic building is there, I've voted there and attended an art show there. When the downtown was first developed, about 15 years ago, that whole area was astroturf, which was fun while it lasted. It definitely got people used to congregating there. Now there are benches and an ice rink in the winter, which is a huge plus.
There are a couple of parking garages close by. They are reasonably priced, big enough for demand, and have free hours on evenings and weekends. This also seems to be a hub for internet rental bikes, there are a ton of them there.
Also, there are often Hare Krishnas across the street doing there thing, and who doesn't like that?
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annette
Forestville, MD7 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
I really enjoyed what downtown Silver Spring had to offer. Too bad all the construction made it difficult driving. Once I found parking I truly enjoyed my visit.
Written October 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaxieandLucy
Barrington, IL113 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
Spent three weeks at my son’s apt in downtown Silver Spring. Beware the panhandlers and homeless which the city must approve of since there are spots outside the city parking garage across from Ellsworth Shopping Center, outside CVS, etc where you can reliably find panhandlers day or evening; once one even got obnoxious with sexual comments in a Saturday morning. This is a huge downside to this area. On Sundays you can count on seeing religious groups trying to hand you leaflets and talk to you outside Chik Filet. The area is vibrant and as a senior woman I felt safe walking around just annoyed by these panhandlers.
Written September 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miedup
Singapore, Singapore20 contributions
May 2019
This is a very nice area. Very lively. Great restaurants and a big variety to choose from. Safe area.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
City_Jetting
Aberdeen, MD244 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Decided to fill my morning exploring and endedup here at Ellsworth Plaza. Several floors of shopping with a few eateries.
Not much selection. People are friendly. At the risk of sounding just awful, but I am not trying to be. Don't expect much. If you are looking for cheap nic-nacs and then just happen to browse and find something "you like" that's awesome. I did manage to "find" a few items, so I was content with making the trip. But personally, aside from the meal, the expkoribg aspect of it- it was a bit disappointing. And SERIOUSLY, the simplest things I enjoy, so I am not easily disappointed, but this jaunt was, but I had something to do. Good for killing time, maybe meeting up, or leisurely gingerly shopping. Oh or "I need to just pick up a few things"
😕
Not much selection. People are friendly. At the risk of sounding just awful, but I am not trying to be. Don't expect much. If you are looking for cheap nic-nacs and then just happen to browse and find something "you like" that's awesome. I did manage to "find" a few items, so I was content with making the trip. But personally, aside from the meal, the expkoribg aspect of it- it was a bit disappointing. And SERIOUSLY, the simplest things I enjoy, so I am not easily disappointed, but this jaunt was, but I had something to do. Good for killing time, maybe meeting up, or leisurely gingerly shopping. Oh or "I need to just pick up a few things"
😕
Written June 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill G
Clayton, NJ46 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I've lived in Silver spring for nine years. this downtown area has no appeal for me and most Americans at all. If you are an immigrant and don't know the difference between McDonald's and a neighborhood restaurant then this is the place for you. But those of us who appreciate quality craftsmanship ambiance and service then Silver spring should be avoided at all cost. For one parking is a mess. Charlotte back in the 90s made parking garages and there are down uptown area and made it free parking. Now it is a flourishing downtown that has easy access. Silver spring could do to learn by that lesson instead of having to pay upwards of twenty or thirty dollars to go sit in a chain restaurant and eat generic food. Avoid downtown Silver spring there is nothing to see here.
Written March 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ACfromDC
Silver Spring, MD17 contributions
Aug 2019
Downtown Silver Spring is bustling on Saturday morning with vendors of farm-fresh produce and homemade breads and pastries. You may also find hand made cheeses, pickles, soaps, flowers and more. Prices are comparable to value. Bring your shopping bag and cash. Many accept credit cards. Ample free parking on weekends on Fenton, at Wayne, and at Ellsworth. There's lots to do, places to shop, eat, see a movie, and a there's kid-friendly fountain.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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