Washington, D.C. is more than a destination for Americana galore, replete with monuments and museums, history and culture. Those in the know have long realized that the nation’s capital is also one of the leading destinations in the country for the finest indulgences in every form. It’s a city where tantalizing multicultural cuisine reigns and where high-end cocktailery can be found around every corner. Come for the stars and stripes, perhaps, but stay for the bars and bites.
Perhaps most importantly, come hungry and thirsty, because there’s a wonderful array of establishments to choose between. There are Michelin stars and holes in the wall, bustling food markets and hidden alleyways, and everything in between, representing a cultural smorgasbord that only a few much larger U.S. cities can go toe to toe with. Some of the most forward-looking restaurants and chefs representing overlooked cuisines from small pockets of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean call D.C. home, but don’t doubt that there are stellar representations of more familiar staples, whether Italian, Japanese, or new American.
One weekend or even one week won’t be enough to try it all, so an exploratory foodie getaway to the city may soon prove to be an ongoing new ritual.
A Dining & Drinking Itinerary Across D.C.
Owing to the conflagration of politics, traffic, and expense accounts, D.C. is one of the hardest drinking locales per capita in the country. Nobody says you need to match that pace, but rest assured you’ll find the type of establishments that can support it. And after all, you can’t dive into a great meal without first whetting your palate with an aperitivo or two, can you? Exploring a city’s drinking culture is not only the surest path to a fun outing, but is also the best way to get recommendations for where else you should be going in town.
It’s a good thing then that there is no shortage of excellent cocktail bars and drinking hubs in D.C. Jack Rose is one of the world’s best whiskey bars, and its culinary game flies under the radar but is worthy of your respect as well. Don’t be surprised if your jaw drops at the literal thousands of bottles of whiskey lining the bar’s walls. Service Bar is where unabashed fun and self-professed tomfoolery rules the day, alongside inventive libations. Allegory has received national accolades for its immersive, storytelling drinks menus, and Silver Lyan showcases the creative cocktail chops of the Mr. Lyan bar group.
The Green Zone is probably where a lot of your favorite bartenders go when they want a drink. Meanwhile, sometimes life calls for a sandwich. Optionally with an adult beverage. Your Only Friend is the friend you need.
One newer entrant is Press Club, which opened at the tail end of 2024. Stylized as a Japanese listening bar, the food, drinks, and décor all lean into the same direction of Japanese influence. It’s the living room party you wish you could throw at your own home. Try a progressive cocktail tasting menu dubbed the Play List, or order a la carte from the Track List. At No Goodbyes, within the lobby of The Line D.C. hotel, drinks wizard Lukes B. Smith delivers a program founded on more scientific principles than most A.P. courses.
The José Andrés restaurant empire remains thriving in D.C., and long before he was a national gem and international icon for his intrepid and often life-changing and life-saving work with World Central Kitchen, he was the city’s foremost food claim to fame.
Start with a few of his classics, Jaleo, Oyamel, and Zaytinya. Jaleo provided the country’s tipping points for its widespread love affair with Spanish tapas; Zaytinya takes a similar approach with Mediterranean mezze; and Oyamel’s vibrant, crowd-pleasing Mexican fare remains a favorite as well. Then head to the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. for a tour de force at The Bazaar by José Andrés. Here, you’ll find riffs on classic American dishes, some of Andrés’ most famous dishes and tapas, and plenty of jamon and caviar in all forms.
Of course, the Michelin Guide has plenty to say about the scene in D.C. The latest tally shows two 2-star restaurants and 21 one-star restaurants, along with another 28 receiving Bib Gourmand acknowledgments. A few of the stars worth calling out include the local success story of chef Aaron Silverman and his trio of starred establishments with Little Pearl, Pineapple and Pearls, and Rose’s Luxury; chef Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola; and chef Nicholas Stefanelli’s Masseria.
Oh, and one of those two 2-stars? Yea, that’s José, too, in the form of minibar, with the other belonging to chef Ryan Ratino’s Jônt, serving contemporary Japanese tasting menus at a tasting counter restaurant above his single Michelin-starred Bresca. Meanwhile, a neighbor to The Bazaar in the Waldorf Astoria is the Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa D.C., and the team from the mentioned Service Bar also powers the double-concept Causa / Amazonia, whose Peruvian-Nikkei tasting menu at Causa has garnered a star as well.
Elsewhere, head to The Royal, where morning coffees merge into evening drinks backed by craveable arepas and South American dishes. Another all-day venue is Maketto, where the Cambodian and Taiwanese flavors that chef Erik Bruner-Yang holds dear to his heart will win over yours, though if you want to browse a curated retail collection or come in for a quick coffee, you can do that, too. One more morning to night affair can be found at Sook, a newcomer that replaced the venerated Compass Rose. The beloved khachapuri remains, but the reimagined space is now a more casual cafe to wine bar joint. Also from restaurateur Rose Previte is Maydān, where live-fire cooking takes center stage with Middle Eastern mezze, spreads, and kebabs.
When you need an extra jump start in the morning, head over to La Tejana for their incredible array of breakfast tacos. Or sample the wares from the “Jew-ish deli” Call Your Mother, with half a dozen locations including one in the lobby of the Yours Truly hotel. That beats your average hotel breakfast spread by a mile, and the signature pastrami Sun-City bagel sandwich is a beauty, and a beast, to behold.
One of the most exciting restaurants in town right now is Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi at the Salamander Washington D.C. The hotel opened in 2022 after taking over the former Mandarin Oriental, and underwent a recent renovation. As for the restaurant, it’s a triumphant return to the city for the uber-talented chef, focused on West African and Afro-Caribbean flavors and delivering hearty and soulful fare. Cooking with love is an overplayed cliché, but what you taste here is that Onwuachi plays to his strengths and cooks from his lived experience, bringing cherished flavors from his past to the present. Two non-negotiable, must-orders are the corn bread and the BBQ greens.
It’s time to get acquainted with Lao food, and few people have done more to elevate the perception of an entire country’s cuisine within our own than Seng Luangrath of Thip Khao. New offshoot Baan Mae is an even homier take of Lao staples and chef Seng’s familial approach to hospitality.Don’t forget Union Market. Spend a few hours amid its always crowded food stalls and shops, as well as the surrounding streets now forming an all-encompassing Union Market District. Through and through, it’s as D.C. as it gets. And that’s the point, isn’t it?
Feature image courtesy of Service Bar; Travel Curator may earn a commission from booking links on this page.
