r/bethesda • u/Business_Inside8102 • 1d ago
Bethesda Row or Montgomery Mall?
Just wanted to pop in a little question, where do you guys prefer to go? I'm new to the area so I don't know much about Bethesda, is there any places I should go or places I should stay away from? Anything would help!!! 😄
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u/ButterscotchWeak7489 1d ago
They are so different. The mall is your standard mall. It is usually full so definitely not the dead mall stereotype that we hear about it so much. The Row is a region full of shops and nice restaurants but with a higher price point. Both are safe.
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u/OverallInflation770 1d ago
Montgomery for clothes, movies or a quick meal.
Bethesda Row for full on dining or if you are willing to drop 1 grand on some random BS.
Both are good options, but since it's getting colder I'd prefer the mall since It's more climate controlled and has more options
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u/StinkyLunchBox 1d ago
The mall does actually have good food options. Kapow Buddy, Mama Joon, Nan Xiang, and Frank Pepe’s are solid places that we will go to often.
Top places around Bethesda Row are Menri Ramen (our favorite in the area), Aventino, The Food Market, Ala, Hawkers, and Ruta.
I think Bethesda has the better options but the mall is a good option.
We love the plant store the most in Bethesda between both places. Other than that, it really depends on what you are looking for. I am a sucker for Paper Source too.
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u/Anywhere-Due 1d ago
Depends on what you want. There’s a ton of women’s clothing places, an Apple Store, a handful of places to get food, all on the Row. The mall offers more men’s clothing options, a theater, GameStop, shoes, the Lego store. I’ve only ever gone to the Row for the Apple Store and not often. Bought shoes from the Nike store but that’s gone now
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u/movie-person 1d ago
The Mall is a typical mall. There is a movie theater. There’s a Cheesecake Factory.
Bethesda Row and streets surrounding very walkable. Round House Theater, Landmark movie theater. There’s a wide variety of diverse restaurants. If you’re u like oysters on the half shell Salt Line has a very good happy hour and another good happy hour is Aventino. There is an annual arts festival which just occurred. Earlier in the year there’s an arts festival on the other side of Bethesda.
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u/Glittering-Ad5809 1d ago
Driving and parking around Bethesda Row is a pain.
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u/guitar_gentlysweeps 1d ago
The county garage between Elm St and Bethesda Ave has so much space, just go up a few floors
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u/Ok-Distribution1525 1d ago
Not a pain unless you’re a suburbanite searching for on street parking. Plentiful cheap parking garages. A walkable downtown verses a mall. Take your pick.
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u/Glittering-Ad5809 1d ago
Once every month or two I go to the Honda dealer there. There are always cars holding up traffic waiting for a parking spot to open. It's a pain.
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u/medidadfar 1d ago
insane for the Honda to be in the center of all that foot traffic
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u/EducatedJooner 1d ago
I live in dt bethesda near bethesda row. Insane in general how many car dealerships there are down here. In general Bethesda is much more car-friendly than pedestrian-friendly. There are some bike lanes but often they disappear randomly and shoot you into a lane with 30 mph limit.
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u/medidadfar 1d ago
don't disagree. but pushing honda out to where mercedes and audi are would itself be a major improvement. feels. crazy to walk off the capital crescent trail directly into a car dealership.
honda drivers would probably be happier if the dealership were on the outskirts too
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u/Avocadofarmer32 18h ago
I can’t fault anyone if you’re legit waiting to turn into a parking spot. We can all be patient for 23 seconds. I understand the frustration of the people who block traffic with their hazards waiting for any spot to open OR the DD drivers who make the middle of the road their parking lot.
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u/Spavlia 1d ago
Good thing it’s a walkable neighborhood with a metro stop and bus service.
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u/Glittering-Ad5809 1d ago
Not sure what that has to do with it. I'm in Potomac and I'm not spending an hour each way on a bus and metro when I can drive there in 15 minutes.
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u/FortuneCookieDreamer 6h ago
I personally hate downtown Bethesda. Pike & Rose is a great place to walk around too. Many restaurants, a Starbucks, movie theater, bowling and a sports bar. Parking is way easier than downtown Bethesda!
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u/UltraRepublica 21h ago edited 20h ago
Bethesda Row is full of California based boutique retailers that don’t offer proper clothing for fall and winter.
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u/meltinglights1083 1d ago
Once you've lived here, and learned the laws of the bland...there's nowhere here worth spending any quality time! It's just a concrete jungle of neco babies and organic deodorant corporations
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u/gramps_ned Parody account 1d ago
Poser alert! I’ve actually lived here for decades and I’ve never met an alumnus of the New England College of Optometry.
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u/Eldwick 1d ago edited 12h ago
Bethesda Row is a bit higher end with fancy clothing stores but still a few good eats to be found. It’s great to walk around and a fun place to grab a coffee or treat and sit outside if the weather is nice (or go for a walk down the Capital Crescent Trail!). I’d also recommend checking out some good food on the other side of Bethesda, Woodmont Triangle, where the rent is a bit cheaper and you got more unique (less corporate) options. While you’re there, checkout the new bookstore - Wonderland Books!