Pentagon Row, Arlington (must see)

Westpost at National Landing, formerly known as Pentagon Row, is an open-air mixed-use development combining shops, restaurants, services, residences, and a central public plaza in the Pentagon City neighborhood of Arlington. Construction began in 1999, and many of its first major retailers opened in 2001. The property was renamed Westpost in December 2020, with updated signs installed during a later phase of the rebranding to align with the growth of the surrounding National Landing area and the arrival of Amazon's HQ2.

Retail and dining spaces occupy the lower levels of buildings containing apartments above them. The current directory includes grocery, clothing, fitness, beauty, homeware, and specialty businesses, together with restaurants serving several international cuisines. Outdoor dining areas, pedestrian paths, lawns, seating, and a double-sided stone fireplace are arranged around the plaza. A redesign completed after the original development introduced smaller café buildings, improved pedestrian circulation, and a central lawn that can accommodate public activities. From November through March, part of the plaza becomes a 6,840-square-foot outdoor ice rink—the largest in Northern Virginia—offering public skating, skate rentals, and lessons.

The plaza is also used for selected seasonal programs and community events, although schedules vary from year to year. Visitors can browse the shops, dine outdoors, use the public seating areas, or skate during the winter season. The combination of residences above street-level businesses and a pedestrian-oriented central plaza reflects the development’s original design as a compact neighborhood center.