The Best Restaurants In Washington DC
If you love a trendy restaurant that has amazing food and amazing vibes, you’re going to love this list of the best restaurants in Washington DC! There’s a wide variety of cuisines like American, Szechuan, Asian, Italian, Seafood and more. I’m so excited for you to try these!
If I had to say, my absolute favorites are Astoria, Old Ebbit, Illili and Chloe!
The Best Restaurants in Washington DC
Cuisine: Szechuan/Chinese
Neighborhood: 17th Street/Dupont
Vibe: trendy, unique
Instagram: @astoria_dc
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: trendy, jungle house music, high vibe
Instagram: @maydandc
Cuisine: Lebanese
Neighborhood: The Wharf
Vibe: trendy, beautiful, modern
Instagram: @ililirestaurants
Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Downtown/Whitehouse
Vibe: Traditional, iconic DC spot, white tablecloths
Instagram: @oldebbitt
Note: the dirty martini is the best I’ve found in the city
Cuisine: I would call it modern American with some Asian/Mediterranean twists but their website says “showcase of Chef Haidar Karoum’s personal culinary journey, including his Lebanese roots and extensive travel around Western Europe and Southeast Asia, all grounded in and linked by the seasonal bounties of the Mid-Atlantic”.
Neighborhood: Navy Yard
Vibe: trendy, good vibes
Instagram: @restaurantchloe
Cuisine: Chinese
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Vibe: trendy, unique
Instagram: @tigerforkdc
Cuisine: Chinese
Neighborhood: Arlington
Vibe: trendy, lively
Instagram: @tigerdumplings.official
Cuisine: Asian street food
Neighborhood: Arlington
Vibe: vibrant, fun, lively
Instagram: @eathawkers
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
Vibe: trendy, modern, boho
Instagram: @sixtyvinesfoggybottom
Sixty Vines
Cuisine: modern diner with creative assortment of options (fun for brunch or dinner)
Neighborhood: Shaw
Vibe: eclectic, unique, fun
Instagram: @unconventionaldiner
Unconventional Diner
Cuisine: Mexican (creative & modern)
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill East
Vibe: trendy, fun
Instagram: @paraisotaqueria
Note: get the birria tacos and enchiladas verdes
Cuisine: French
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: modern, European, classy
Instagram: @lediplomatedc
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Vibe: modern, classy
Instagram: @carusosgrocery
Caruso’s Grocery
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter or West End
Vibe: traditional, classy
Instagram: @rasikadc
Note: get the fried spinach appetizer and salmon
Cuisine: Spanish tapas
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: rustic, romantic, trendy
Instagram: @barcelonawinebar
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: cozy, romantic, unique
Instagram: @compassrose_dc
Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood: 14th Street, The Wharf and Penn Quarter
Vibe: fun, lively, colorful
Instagram: @mividamexico
Mi Vida 14th Street (Quesabirria & Enchiladas Suizas)
Cuisine: Italian/Pizza
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: simple, cozy, cute
Instagram: @pizzeria_etto
Etto
Cuisine: Greek, Lebanese
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Vibe: simple, traditional, not fancy but not overly casual
Instagram: @zaytinya
Cuisine: Pizza
Neighborhood: Shaw or Navy Yard
Vibe: chill
Instagram: @allpurposedc
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
Vibe: modern, simple, not fancy but not overly casual
Instagram: @eatnorthitalia
Note: it’s popular in several cities but worth mentioning because it’s good!
Cuisine: Sushi/Asian
Neighborhood: Union Market
Vibe: trendy, modern, classy
Instagram: @okusushidc
Note: it’s popular in several cities but worth mentioning because it’s good!
My Favorite Cocktail Bars in DC
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: classic, mid-century
Instagram: @janejanedc
Neighborhood: Downtown
Vibe: speakeasy, prohibition
Instagram: @themirrordc
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Vibe: speakeasy, neon
Instagram: @neverlookedbetterdc
Neighborhood: Downtown
Vibe: hotel rooftop bar, views of Washington Monument
Instagram: @vuerooftopdc
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Vibe: urban backyard, summer patio vibes
Instagram: @calico.dc
My Favorite Brunch Restaurant in DC
La Vie
Restaurants I haven’t tried but are next on my list…
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Downtown
Instagram: @lardentedc
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Instagram: @filomenaristorante
Shoto
Cuisine: New American
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Instagram: @thedabneydc
Best Cookies In Washington DC
This might be the most important part of this list…
Vibe: Thick, gooey, amazing cookies!!!!
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Instagram: @levainbakery
Vibe: Amazing cookie ice cream sandwiches!!
Neighborhood: Eastern Market, Foggy Bottom, Arlington, Brookland
Instagram: @captaincookiedc
Captain Cookie
My Favorite Spots For Lunch Near DC
Cuisine: Levantine
Neighborhood: Georgetown, Union Market
Vibe: casual, order at the counter
Instagram: @yellowthecafe
Yellow
Cuisine: poke bowls
Neighborhood: Ballston, VA
Vibe: very casual, order at the counter
Note: go to the one on Fairfax (not the one in a mall)
Poke It Up
Cuisine: vegetarian tacos
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Vibe: casual but cute, nice area upstairs with lots of natural light to eat then work
Instagram: @chaiatacos
Note: get the mushroom taco, kale potato taco and green rice
Chaia
Cuisine: almost any cuisine! My favorites are Blue Bottle for coffee, Las Gemelas for tacos and Yellow or Maman for lunch (the turkey club and cauliflower salad is amazing). There are also some nicer sit down restaurants you can go to for dinner like O-Ku and St. Anslem!
Neighborhood: Noma
Vibe: trendy food court with a few shops (my favorite shop is Salt & Sundry…they have the cutest home decor and gifts)
Instagram: @unionmarketdc
Cuisine: coffee, bakery, kitchen
Neighborhood: Georgetown, Noma/Union Market, Navy Yard
Vibe: charming cafe with great lunch and coffee (I also love the iced lavender matcha)
Instagram: @_mamannyc_
Map of All Washington DC Restaurants Recs
I saved all of my recommendations for you in the map below to make it super easy to get around! Here’s the full link so you can save it: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/4/edit?mid=1ZZUHr3vFXDDdJEtTYESiYmuwbDuex4A&usp=sharing.
Pin It For Later
