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Rockville, MD

A comprehensive guide to this ideal, walkable neighborhood.

Section 3 (8)-1

Top Things You Need to Know About Rockville

In this guide, you’ll get a general feel for the neighborhood, get to know the community, and learn why people choose Rockville over other communities in the D.C. area.

We’ll highlight locals’ favorite things to do in the neighborhood from outdoor activities to dining and shopping to seasonal community events and more.

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Section 1:

Thinking About Moving to Rockville?

Get to know the neighborhood.

The Neighborhood

Rockville at a Glance

With over 65,000 residents, Rockville is home to a host of dining, retail, and entertainment options. Residents enjoy the beautiful and abundant parks and wide array of restaurants and retail, all just a few Metro stops to the heart of Downtown D.C. and many of the area's top attractions. Consistently ranked a top place to live, Rockville is uniquely situated to feel like a larger city while still offering residential comforts. 

The City of Rockville is also the county seat of Montgomery County, MD, making it a hub for local government as well as a booming business district. Many people are drawn to the area for employment with hundreds of companies and organizations in the health science and technology fields, such as GlaxoSmithKline and nearby National Institutes of Health.

If you're looking for excitement, a wide range of professional job opportunities, and easy access to D.C. and beyond, Rockville may be right for you. Read on to find out more about what the neighborhood has to offer and why residents are proud to call Rockville home.

Getting Around

Rockville is a large, but walkable city that offers residents plenty of ways to get around or commute.

One of the easiest ways to get to Rockville is by Metro. The Metro Red Line has several stops at White Flint, Twinbrook, Rockville Town Center, and Shady Grove.

The Rockville Metro station also connects commuters to the MARC train, which runs between West Virginia, Northern Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and Amtrak, which runs through several states like Pennsylvania and Illinois for further travel. 

In addition to driving, residents in Rockville can also access alternate modes of transportation, such as Metrobuses and Capital Bikeshare, making Rockville a commuter-friendly town.

Section 2:

Where to Dine in Rockville

With such a diverse food scene in Rockville, you'll want to eat out every night.

If You Love Brunch

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, brunch is the most important meal of the week.

Rockville is home to a wide variety of restaurants offering brunch deals on both the weekends and weekdays. Here are a few spots to check out:

  • Founding Farmers: Voted one of OpenTable’s 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America, Founding Farmers serves a mix of all-American classics alongside their own innovative creations. From biscuits & gravy to meatloaf and brisket, their vast menu has something for everyone.

  • Mosaic Cuisine: A modern French restaurant that offers a unique twist on brunch with its café-style atmosphere. Inspired by cuisines from around the world, their sweet and savory brunch menu is available from 10am until 6pm.

  • First Watch: Fresh, friendly, and fast are the pillars of First Watch’s philosophy. Voted Top Family Dining Restaurant by Consumer Reports, they serve a variety of breakfast and lunch options from classic omelets, French toast and pancakes to healthy flexitarian options.

    For more brunch options, check out Botanero Restaurant and Matchbox.

If You Love Unique Restaurants

Change things up by trying some of these restaurants that think outside the box.

Looking for a change of pace? Experience something new at one of these popular spots. 

  • Urban Hot Pot: This all-you-can-eat personal hot pot experience gets rave reviews for its variety of options, add-ins brought to you on a conveyor belt, and overall food quality. 

  • Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge: Unique for its lodge-style decor, which creates a cozy ambiance. Its seasonal menu includes ever-changing, classic American dishes.  

  • Nosh Grill House & Karaoke: Not your typical Chinese restaurant - This dinner + karaoke spot is the perfect place for a fun night out! The menu is inspired by Northern Chinese cuisine along with influences from Japan, Korea, and Russia.

If You Love Happy Hour Deals

Rockville is a hot spot for happy hour any day of the week.

Rockville offers many great restaurants to stop by for a happy hour after work. Here are some you shouldn't miss. 

  • Botanero Restaurant: Happy hour is Tuesdays through Fridays from 3-6:30 pm at the bar and on the patio. Sangria, cocktail infusions, wines, beers, and select small plates and flatbreads are the perfect incentive to stop by after work.

  • Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant: This wine-centric restaurant, inspired by Napa Valley’s wine country, features a tasting room, full restaurant, bar, and even an artisanal market. Happy hour runs every Monday to Friday from 2-5pm, offering wine specialty drinks, wine by the glass, select cocktails, select appetizers and flatbreads.

  • World of Beer: A great spot for those looking for a casual atmosphere. It offers a large selection of beer (as the name implies) as well as wine, spirits, and food to snack on. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3-7pm.

Section 3:

What to Do in Rockville

Explore the multitude of shopping and entertainment centers, outdoors activities, and seasonal events that Rockville has to offer.

If You Love Shopping 

Rockville is filled with areas that offer a wide variety of shopping and dining options for residents. 

 

Pike and Rose is a modern mall and premier destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. A few popular stores here include Bluemercury, Sephora, H&M, Sur La Table, Gap, and more.

 

Rockville Town Square is at the center of the City of Rockville. There, you can explore a variety of dining options, including El Mercat Bar de Tapas, Peter Chang, or Lebanese Taverna. You'll also find gyms, spas, Dawson’s Market, the Rockville Memorial Library, and more. 

 

Rio Lakefront, a waterfront shopping and entertainment center, is another popular spot for Rockville residents. You'll find over 40 different shopping and dining options like Nando’s Peri-Peri, Copper Canyon Grill, Uncle Julio's, Target, South Moon Under, and Dick's Sporting Goods. There's also a movie theater, paddle boating, and a lakeside walking trail.

King Farm Village Center features a Safeway, pure barre, salons and a variety of restaurants such as Fontina Grille and Botanero.   

 

Take a stroll through Downtown Crown and explore various salons, spas and different restaurants, including Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, &pizza, and Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar. Or you can stop by the Fallsgrove Village Center for Bethesda Bagels, Safeway, Chipotle, Mamma Lucia, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and more. 

 

Rockville shopping and dining options are seemingly endless—you can find everything you could ever need or want at one of the several popular shopping centers. 

If You Love Being Active

Rockville residents have plenty of opportunities to stay active—here are some of the best places to get outdoors.

 

Lake Needwood, part of Rock Creek Park, is a great place to stop by when the weather's nice for boating or water activities. You can rent kayaks, rowboats, canoes, or pedal boats, spend the afternoon fishing, or take a hike on the trails around the scenic 75-acre lake. 

 

If you want some kid-friendly entertainment and love adventure, the nearby Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course offers ziplines, high-ropes obstacle courses, and swings for all ages. 

 

If you're looking for something more relaxing, head to one of the several public golf courses near Rockville. Needwood Golf Course and Falls Road Golf Course are all frequented by residents for their natural rolling landscapes and entertaining courses. 

 

While the City of Rockville is booming with businesses and urban offerings, residents are still surrounded by many green spaces, including 65 different parks. Rockville Civic Center Park, Mattie JT Stepanek Park, Crabbs Branch Park, and the larger Rock Creek Park are some areas where residents can bike, take a stroll, or just spend time outdoors. Find a complete list of Rockville parks here. 

 

If You Love Entertainment for the Whole Family

Explore your adventurous side at one of these local attractions, perfect for all ages.

 

Pike and Rose has something fun for everyone, including your canine companion at Bark Social, a popular outdoor bar and dog park. Gather with friends at Pinstripes for bowling and bocce, or head to IPIC Theaters for an upscale way to enjoy the latest films with plush seating and in-theater service.

 

There's more at Rockville Town Square than just dining and shopping. Skate at the ice rink in the winter, play around the Splash Pad while staying cool in the summer, or catch a movie at the Regal Rockville Theater. If you love art, the VisArts Center offers classes for kids and adults as well as rotating gallery exhibitions.  

 

Rio Lakefront is a great place to take the family on the weekend. It houses family-friendly attractions like the Carousel, AMC DINE-IN Rio Cinema, Dave & Buster's, Muse Paintbar, and more. Stop by the Washingtonian Paddle Boats to take a boat ride around the lake or feed the fish. 

 

Right across the road from Rio Lakeside, iFly Indoor Skydiving brings the thrill of skydiving to Rockville for people of all ages. Held up mid-air by fans, skydivers get to experience the freefall sensation of skydiving out of a plane in iFly's indoor wind tunnel. 

 

If your young ones are curious about nature, check out the Meadowside Nature Center where kids can learn about natural and cultural history through trails, programs, and exhibits like the Curiosity Corner and Raptor Deck. 

 

If You Love Local Events

Being the lively urban area that it is, Rockville has a ton of seasonal local events and attractions to check out.

 

Art fans will love the Rockville Arts Festival, a two-day long festival held annually in early May. You'll find over 100 fine arts vendors in the festival's outdoor gallery in Rockville Town Square. Residents can shop for art, see artists at work, and enjoy local entertainment. 

 

Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at the Hometown Holidays Music Festival in Rockville Town Square. The festival features over 30 free live performances, activities for kids, the Taste of Rockville, and ends with the annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade. 

 

Rocktobierfest brings the Oktoberfest celebrations to Rockville Town Square featuring three stages of entertainment. Thousands of residents attend the annual festival for music, food, and activities. Of course, keeping with the spirit of Oktoberfest, local breweries supply plenty of beer for the festival. 

 

Year round, Rockville has several farmers' markets to provide fresh produce, plants, and other goods to residents. Two notable markets are the Rockville Farmers' Market, which operates on Saturdays (9am-1pm) from May-November and the Shady Grove Farmers' Market, which is open on Wednesdays from May-September (11am-2pm). 

 

The residents of the Rockville community can always find reasons to come together at the many exciting local events and attractions each year. 

Section 4:

Reasons Rockville is a Top Place to Live

Don't just take it from us. From ratings and reviews, Rockville’s residents rave about their city.

Consistently rated a top place to live, Rockville’s ratings, reviews, and awards speak to its residents’ level of overall happiness and quality of life.

  • Money magazine rated Rockville the #20 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2022-2023 (based on economic opportunities, quality of life, diversity and where the best futures lie).
  • Niche gave Rockville an "A+" grade, citing the city's urban/suburban mix, number of restaurants and parks, and highly rated schools. 

Rockville is small enough to provide a "hometown" feel, yet offering abundant opportunities to enjoy nature and urban walkability alike.

 



We hope you find this guide to be a helpful resource. Please note that this guide has been prepared for informational purposes only and nothing contained in this guide constitutes a representation or warranty by EYA LLC, EYA Marketing LLC, or any affiliate of EYA, LLC.
EYA LLC, through its various development affiliates, builds and sells homes in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In no event shall this guide be deemed part of any sales agreement entered into for the sale and purchase of a home.

 

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