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DC used to be the place where you came for business meetings, a look at the National Mall, and a stuffy, overly formal steak dinner. Thankfully that era for the city is long over. DC's food scene has exploded over the last decade and now there are almost too many options (an amazing problem to have.) Here's your list to eat and drink all around the capital.
An Asian-American bakery putting its own spin on the bakery classics. The pastries are rich without being cloyingly sweet. The spam musubi croissant, strawberry passionfruit kouign aman, and any of their donut options are favorites. Pair your treat with an ube iced coffee or a green Thai tea for a breakfast that really hits the spot.
You can tell this is a local favorite from the number of people here hanging out with friends, reading, or working throughout the shop. Their pastries are great but the real star is their thoughtfully made espresso drinks.
Tourists line up outside of Georgetown Cupcake but locals know to head to the nearby Baked and Wired on Jefferson for better treats. Their chai is the best in the city and if cupcakes aren't your thing, their brownies are equally good.
Brunch is a foundational part of DC culture and you can't come to DC without a visit to Le Diplomate, the city's French dining institution. Bring a friend (or a few) and grab a sidewalk table, the beef bourguignon, the burger American, or the lobster omelet with a glass of wine.
No matter what you order here or how heavy it is, you can't leave without having their buttermilk biscuits. They taste like they've added a pound of butter to each individual biscuit (maybe they have) and the salty pimento cheese spread is the perfect topper. They also have a fantastic brunch cocktail list including Bloody Marys with homemade mix and a hot coffee cocktail topped with whipped cream. Leave here blissfully full, a good 5 pounds heavier, and ready for a nap.
Named, after DC's famous hotdog creation, this is one of the city's most decadent, over-the-top brunch places. The fun interiors are designed with Instagram in mind and the toppings on the bloody marys and milkshakes are next level. Great for groups, their brunch also has a bottomless mimosa option if you are really feeling the "Sunday Funday" theme.
If you're not a baseball fan, this restaurant is the best reason to go to the Navy Yard neighborhood. Albi specializes in Middle Eastern open-fire cooking. All the dishes here are excellent but my favorites are the baba ganoush and coal-fired mushrooms with pita, the BBQ'd lamb kabobs, and the kunefeh for dessert. The wine and cocktail list is extensive but given the restaurant's focus, I'd say to try a Lebanese wine or a Georgian wine or from another Central Asian or Levant country to best complement the meal.
Hyper-local and seasonal, this Michelin-rated restaurant is great for a fancy night out or a celebratory dinner. They exclusively serve a tasting menu with a primarily vegetarian menu but they can also accommodate dietary restrictions with a vegan menu or an oyster-focused menu. Add a wine pairing or a mocktail pairing for an extra treat.
This beautiful and airy restaurant is where I take all my friends from out of town. It feels like being in 1920s Paris with the feather-topped chandeliers, twinkling lights, and a glass (or bottle) of sparkling wine. I always want to change up my order but I find myself returning to the smash burger with gruyere because it's just that good.
A fun and stylish Trinidadian restaurant where all the dishes are just perfectly spiced and seasoned. For meat eaters, the jerk chicken wings to start, and the pepperpot beef main, and for vegetarians, the Indian-influenced curries will be a hit. Get an order of parathas, the flaky fried flatbreads, to soak up every drop of sauce from the food and a rum punch.
I'm not a fan of gimmicky bars and Silver Lyan manages to deliver a fun and whimsical experience (the bar is inside a former bank vault with the vault door still on display) and amazing, daring cocktails that are not gimmicky at all! Their martini service is the best I've had in DC and come with all the fixings you could want and an oyster sidecar. The service is also amazing, and they can help you find your perfect cocktail or create one of your own.
A tiny tiki bar that is the best for late-night bites and drinks—the kitchen stays open until midnight and the bar until 2 or 3 am on weekdays and weekends respectively. The Northern Chinese food like chili wontons, salt and pepper eggplant, and dan dan noodles are cooled by the bar's tiki drinks. If tiki isn't your thing, you can also order the classics like margaritas, juleps, negronis, and martinis with what ever variation you'd like.
With a barbershop, coffee bar, and a speakeasy, this place has everything (and does it very well.) Reservations for the speakeasy, which specializes in globally inspired food and drinks, can be found hidden on Manifest's website.
You're with a group of people, you just finished dinner and you're looking to keep the night going? Head to Player's Club. Arcade games and craft cocktails in a tasteful and spacious 70s retro-styled lounge make it an easy pick for a group hangout. They also have a rooftop bar connected via elevator for balmy nights.
I'm a copywriter currently based in DC. I've always been restless and on the move. I've lived in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, St. Louis, Napa Valley, and I always love seeking out a new spot.
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