Slide Into a Booth at Metro 29 or Silver Diner

Arlington’s diner culture is alive and well, and two institutions anchor it. Silver Diner, with its polished retro aesthetic and a menu that has thoughtfully evolved to include locally-sourced and health-conscious options alongside the classics, offers a diner experience that manages to feel both nostalgic and current. Their breakfast is consistently excellent, and the milkshakes remain the benchmark.

Metro 29 Diner operates with more old-school, no-frills energy — the booths, the counter, the round-the-clock hours, the menu that seems to contain everything anyone could want at any hour. Both are essential Arlington experiences, though for different reasons. Metro 29 is for purists; Silver Diner is for purists who also want avocado toast. You can’t go wrong with either.