🍲 Washington, D.C. Restaurants
Where to Eat in Washington, D.C.
Half-smokes at Ben’s Chili Bowl, Michelin-starred tasting menus, DC’s legendary Ethiopian food scene, and Capitol Hill power-lunch spots — 81 verified restaurants organized by category.
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no additional cost to you.
⭐ Fine Dining & Michelin-Starred
🥩 Steakhouses
🏛️ Power-Lunch & Political Institutions
🎨 Georgetown Dining
🛒 Capitol Hill & Eastern Market
🎷 U Street, Shaw & 14th Street
🥢 Chinatown & Penn Quarter
🌍 Ethiopian & International
🌇 Rooftop & Waterfront (Wharf)
🍳 Brunch Favorites
9 Restaurants
Ben’s Chili Bowl
A U Street soul-food landmark since 1958, famous for half-smokes and presidential visits.
Old Ebbitt Grill
DC’s oldest saloon, serving classic American fare steps from the White House.
Founding Farmers (Foggy Bottom)
Farmer-owned, scratch-made American comfort food in Foggy Bottom.
Filomena Ristorante
A Georgetown Italian institution known for its window-side ‘pasta mamas.’
Martin’s Tavern
A Georgetown tavern since 1933, home to the booth where JFK proposed to Jackie.
1789 Restaurant
Refined American dining in a Federal-style Georgetown townhouse since 1962.
Mr. Henry’s
A Capitol Hill tavern since 1966 where Roberta Flack got her start.
The Bombay Club
Elegant Indian dining near the White House, a DC power-dinner fixture for around 40 years.
Central Michel Richard
Chef Michel Richard’s approachable French-American bistro, downtown.
20 Restaurants
Rasika
Modern Indian dining in Penn Quarter, Michelin-recognized.
minibar by Jose Andres
An avant-garde multi-course tasting counter in Penn Quarter with a Michelin star.
Fiola
Upscale Italian tasting menus in Penn Quarter with a Michelin star.
Pineapple and Pearls
A two-Michelin-star tasting menu on Capitol Hill.
Rose’s Luxury
A Michelin-starred, no-reservations Capitol Hill favorite from chef Aaron Silverman.
Albi
Michelin-starred wood-fired Levantine cooking in Navy Yard.
Jont
A Michelin-starred Japanese-inspired tasting counter in Shaw.
Oyster Oyster
A Michelin-starred plant-forward tasting menu in Shaw.
Bresca
A Michelin-starred French-inspired bistro on 14th Street.
Sushi Nakazawa
Michelin-starred sushi omakase, downtown.
Maydan
Michelin-starred, communal Middle Eastern and North African open-fire dining in Shaw.
The Dabney
Michelin-starred Mid-Atlantic hearth cooking in Blagden Alley.
Masseria
Michelin-starred Italian dining in the Union Market/NoMa area.
Rooster and Owl
A Michelin-starred contemporary tasting menu near 16th Street.
Little Pearl
A Michelin-starred casual all-day spot on Capitol Hill.
Xiquet by Danny Lledo
Michelin-starred Valencian Spanish cuisine in Glover Park.
Causa | Amazonia
A Michelin-starred dual Peruvian and Amazonian concept in Shaw.
Rania
Michelin-starred modern Indian dining in Blagden Alley.
El Cielo
Michelin-starred avant-garde Colombian dining in Union Market/NoMa.
Imperfecto
Michelin-starred Mediterranean-Latin cuisine in the West End.
5 Restaurants
The Palm
A classic power steakhouse with celebrity caricature walls.
Bourbon Steak
A Michael Mina steakhouse inside the Four Seasons Georgetown.
CUT by Wolfgang Puck
An upscale steakhouse at the Rosewood Georgetown hotel.
The Prime Rib
An old-school, jacket-preferred steakhouse tradition in DC since 1976.
Fogo de Chao
A Brazilian churrascaria at The Wharf.
4 Restaurants
The Monocle
A Capitol Hill steak-and-seafood favorite of senators since 1960.
Tune Inn
A beloved Capitol Hill dive-bar institution since 1955, a staffer hangout.
The Hamilton
A large power-dining and live-music venue near the White House.
Off the Record
A clubby caricature-lined bar inside the Hay-Adams Hotel, a lobbyist and press hangout.
8 Restaurants
Cafe Milano
A see-and-be-seen Italian restaurant, a favorite of diplomats and celebrities.
Fiola Mare
Fabio Trabocchi’s waterfront Italian seafood restaurant.
Chez Billy Sud
A Provencal French bistro in Georgetown.
Founding Farmers, Fishers & Bakers
American comfort food on the Georgetown waterfront.
Sequoia
New American dining with Potomac riverfront views.
Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place
A casual waterfront seafood shack in Georgetown.
La Chaumiere
Old-school French country cooking, open for half a century.
Das Ethiopian
Georgetown’s fine-dining Ethiopian restaurant.
4 Restaurants
Acqua Al 2
Florentine Italian dining, recently reopened in its former Capitol Hill location.
Good Stuff Eatery
A Barracks Row burger favorite from chef Spike Mendelsohn.
Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar
New American dining with an extensive wine list.
We, The Pizza
A casual pizza-by-the-slice spot from Spike Mendelsohn.
6 Restaurants
Le Diplomate
A bustling French brasserie and 14th Street anchor.
Unconventional Diner
A modern spin on comfort-food diner classics.
All-Purpose
Neapolitan-inspired pizza and pasta in Shaw.
Sook DC
An all-day global cafe, market, and wine bar from chef Rose Previte, reimagined from Compass Rose.
Thip Khao
Acclaimed Laotian cooking on 14th Street.
7 Restaurants
Jaleo
Jose Andres’s original Spanish tapas restaurant.
Zaytinya
Eastern Mediterranean small plates in Penn Quarter.
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
Modern Mexican with tableside guacamole.
China Chilcano
Peruvian-Chinese-Japanese fusion dining.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
Experimental Spanish-inspired dishes in Penn Quarter.
RPM Italian
A contemporary Italian pasta destination.
Daikaya
Sapporo-style ramen downstairs and a Japanese izakaya upstairs.
6 Restaurants
Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant
Highly rated Ethiopian cooking in Shaw.
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
A U Street cultural landmark serving Ethiopian food since 1997.
Ethiopic
Atmospheric Ethiopian dining near H Street.
Elfegne Ethiopian Cuisine
A fine-dining-focused Ethiopian restaurant in Adams Morgan.
Immigrant Food
A chef-driven global street food concept with a mission focus, near the White House.
ilili
Lebanese and Levantine Mediterranean dining at The Wharf.
7 Restaurants
Del Mar de Fabio Trabocchi
A two-level Spanish seafood restaurant at The Wharf.
Officina by Nicholas Stefanelli
An Italian market, cafe, and fine-dining concept at The Wharf.
Fish Shop
A Chesapeake-inspired seafood bar and restaurant at The Wharf.
La Vie
Coastal Mediterranean dining with waterfront views at The Wharf.
CAPITANO
Southern Italian dining with handmade pastas at The Wharf.
Kinfolk Southern Kitchen
Bourbon-and-barbecue Southern comfort food at The Wharf.
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Freshly shucked oysters and local seafood at The Wharf.
5 Restaurants
Ted’s Bulletin
All-day American diner classics, famous for house-made Pop-Tarts.
Open City
A casual all-day American cafe and diner in Woodley Park.
Dauphine’s
New Orleans-inspired seafood, bar, and boucherie.
Perry’s
An Adams Morgan favorite known for its long-running drag brunch.
Duke’s Grocery
A British-inspired gastropub known for its burger.
Planning Tips
- DC has one of the country’s largest Ethiopian food scenes outside of Ethiopia itself, concentrated around U Street/Shaw and Adams Morgan — don’t skip it.
- Michelin-starred tasting menus like minibar and Pineapple & Pearls book out weeks or months ahead — reserve as early as the restaurant allows.
- The DC restaurant scene has significant turnover — several well-known names have closed in just the past year or two, so we verify current operating status on every listing.
- The Wharf’s restaurant row is a great one-stop option if you want waterfront views with your meal.
What’s the most famous restaurant in Washington, D.C.?
Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street is probably DC’s single most iconic restaurant, a soul-food landmark since 1958 known for its half-smokes and a long list of presidential visitors.
Where can I find DC’s Ethiopian food scene?
The U Street/Shaw corridor and Adams Morgan are the two best neighborhoods for Ethiopian dining, home to institutions like Dukem, Chercher, and Ethiopic.
How does NME choose which restaurants to feature?
We verify each listing directly against its own official site and current operating status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
