The Top 100 Places to Eat Near 2 Amys


  1. Awards
    Address
    3715 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  2. Awards
    Address
    3708 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  3. Rank 3. Xiquet

    Spanish

    A Michelin-starred fine dining room on the third floor of a Wisconsin Ave townhouse, and yes, it's as intimate as that sounds. The kitchen runs on a wood-fired hearth and channels the flavors of Valencia with real conviction. A handful of tables, dressed-up couples and serious food people who did their research. After dinner the team moves you to a lounge for coffee, which is a very civilized way to end the night.


    Awards
    Address
    2404 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
  4. Rank 4. Sababa

    Israeli Middle Eastern

    The hummus here has its own listing as a daily special, which tells you everything about how seriously this place takes the food. It's a lively Israeli small-plates spot in Cleveland Park where the Mediterranean tiles and good wine list keep the vibe loose, but the kitchen keeps things focused. Order the salatim plate to start, pile the table with small plates, and plan to stay longer than you meant to.


    Awards
    Address
    3311 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  5. Awards
    Address
    3309 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  6. Awards
    Address
    4465 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  7. Awards
    Address
    4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  8. Sfoglina is a cheerful Italian trattoria where fresh pasta is the whole point, made right in front of you at an open station while Sophia Loren watches approvingly from the wall. The menu wanders through different Italian regions, so you can try a few styles in one sitting, which is honestly the move. It draws a neighborly Arlington crowd who look like they come here often enough that ordering takes about thirty seconds.


    Awards
    Address
    1100 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    Resy
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  9. Rank 9. Perry's

    Japanese

    Perry's is an Adams Morgan neighborhood Japanese spot that's been around forever, but the kitchen has quietly become one of the more talked-about in the city. The menu mixes sushi with Japanese comfort food that doesn't play it safe, think fried mochi, katsu burgers, and dumplings that have no business being as good as they are. The crowd is relaxed and local, the kind of place regulars treat like their living room.


    Awards
    Address
    1811 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    WebsiteInstagram
  10. Rank 10. Causa

    Nikkei Peruvian

    Tucked into Blagden Alley, Causa is a Michelin-starred tasting menu spot for about 20 people, so it already feels like a secret. The chef blends Japanese technique with Peruvian ingredients in a way that actually makes sense, moving you from Lima's coast up through the Andes and into the Amazon over the course of a meal. The crowd leans date-night and serious-eater, the kind of people who researched this place weeks ago.


    Awards
    Address
    920 Blagden Alley Washington, DC · Washington
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    Website
  11. Georgetown has a lot of restaurants competing for your credit card, but this snug French neo-bistro on Wisconsin earns it. The room does exposed brick and pressed-tin ceilings without feeling like a prop, and the menu is short on purpose, rotating with the seasons. Couples on first and fifth dates fill the place, the cocktails are genuinely good, and the whole thing hums with a warmth that's harder to fake than the décor.


    Awards
    Address
    1522 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
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  12. Awards
    Address
    3417 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
  13. Rank 13. Bresca

    Contemporary New American

    Bresca is a Michelin-starred bistro on 14th Street that somehow feels like your neighborhood spot and a special-occasion splurge at the same time. The room is pretty wild, with a moss wall and surreal gold accents that make first-daters and dressed-up regulars feel equally at home. The cooking is genuinely creative without making you feel dumb for enjoying it, and the service hits the rare sweet spot of polished but not precious.


    Awards
    Address
    1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
  14. A Michelin-starred prix-fixe spot in Columbia Heights where the menu bounces from steakhouse classics to Japanese yam to a pear salad doing a cacio e pepe impression, all in four courses. It sounds chaotic and it kind of is, but the kitchen sticks the landing every time. The crowd leans creative-class, dressed like they read the right newsletters. The bar will even match wines to whatever you end up ordering, which is a genuinely nice touch.


    Awards
    Address
    2436 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Resy
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  15. Rank 15. Imperfecto

    Latin American

    A Michelin-starred fine dining room in DC's West End where modernist Latin cooking gets a serious workout. The glass-and-marble space looks like it's trying to impress someone, and honestly it pulls it off. Snag a counter seat directly under the chef's perch and you're basically inside the kitchen, watching an elaborate tasting menu unfold. The crowd dresses like they have reservations somewhere important, which, to be fair, they do.


    Awards
    Address
    1124 23rd St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  16. A Michelin-starred vegetable tasting menu in Shaw that will make you forget you're not eating meat, and actually mean it. The chef turns local farm produce into nine courses of genuinely surprising food, the kind where a potato or a squash does something you didn't expect. The crowd skews thoughtful and curious rather than preachy about it. You leave feeling weirdly good, which isn't something tasting menus usually pull off.


    Awards
    Address
    1440 8th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  17. Rank 17. Yellow

    Levantine

    Georgetown's favorite daytime counter spot runs on Levantine cooking out of a wood-burning oven, and the lines out front aren't ironic. Morning means pastries and shakshuka; afternoon means stuffed pitas and spreads that make you reconsider every sad desk lunch you've ever eaten. The hummus alone earns the trip. By night it flips to table service and a reservation you'll want to grab early.


    Awards
    Address
    1524 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  18. Rank 18. Mita

    Vegetarian Peruvian

    Michelin-starred plant-based Peruvian tasting menu in Shaw sounds like a sentence designed to start arguments, but Mita genuinely earns it. The kitchen ranges across Latin America, and the food is inventive without being smug about it. The crowd is curious and mostly sober, here for the ride. Two format options mean you can commit as much as you want. Wear something that says you made a reservation two weeks ago.


    Awards
    Address
    804 V St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
  19. Cozy Adams Morgan wine bar and pasta spot that feels like a date night even when you're just catching up with a friend. The housemade pasta is the reason to come, the natural wine list is the reason to stay, and the sommelier owner will talk you into a bottle you've never heard of and will immediately want a case of. Snug tables, arched ceilings, and a crowd dressed just well enough to feel like they tried.


    Awards
    Address
    1775 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
  20. Rank 20. Jônt

    American, Japanese

    Ryan Ratino holds two Michelin stars here, and the room earns every one of them. It's a counter-style tasting menu above Bresca, with sharp-suited servers and chefs moving like they choreographed the whole thing. Japanese seafood and wagyu meet flawless French technique, and dessert gets its own dedicated counter. The crowd dresses up and means it. Worth every penny if you're the kind of person who thinks dinner should feel like an event.


    Awards
    Address
    1904 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
  21. Rank 21. Moon Rabbit

    Vietnamese

    Moon Rabbit is a modern Vietnamese restaurant where the chef's Louisiana upbringing crashes into his Vietnamese roots, and the result is genuinely surprising without feeling like a gimmick. Mochi beignets, Cajun-leaning preparations, Vietnamese classics rerouted through the American South. The Penn Quarter room is bright and lively, full of people who came ready to be curious. Dessert holds its own, which isn't something you can say everywhere.


    Awards
    Address
    927 F St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    WebsiteInstagram
  22. Rank 22. Anju

    Korean

    Anju is a Korean gastropub on 18th Street where the whole concept is food made for drinking, which means everything arrives salty, spicy, or rich enough to justify another round of soju. The crowd is young and loud and clearly regulars, packed into a brick-walled room that manages to feel cozy at full capacity. The menu pulls from real home cooking, and that warmth comes through in every bowl.


    Awards
    Address
    1805 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
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  23. Rank 23. Amazonia

    Amazonian Peruvian


    Awards
    Address
    920 Blagden Alley, Washington, DC · Washington
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    WebsiteInstagram
  24. A Michelin-starred fine dining room tucked down a cobblestone alley in Shaw, which already tells you something about its personality. The hearth does real work here, giving everything a quiet smokiness that ties the Mid-Atlantic cooking together. The crowd skews date-night and special-occasion, but the recently added à la carte option means you're no longer locked into a full tasting menu commitment just to get in the door.


    Awards
    Address
    122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
  25. José Andrés holds two Michelin stars here, and the room earns every one of them. It's a tasting counter experience where the whole point is that nothing is what it looks like, and the chef's team seems genuinely delighted to watch you figure that out. Sharply dressed servers hover at the edges while guests in their best outfits crowd a curved counter, watching cooks work close enough to touch. Weird, smart, and genuinely fun.


    Awards
    Address
    501 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  26. Awards
    Address
    1827 Adams Mill Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  27. Rank 27. Ellē

    American

    Ellē runs all day and somehow nails every shift. Mornings it's a cozy cafe packed with remote workers and stroller parents; by night it quietly becomes one of the better neighborhood restaurants in the city, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to back that up. The food is comforting but cleverly put together, the kind of cooking that makes you wonder why everywhere doesn't just do this.


    Awards
    Address
    3221 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Resy
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  28. Rank 28. Kappo

    Wagyu Omakase Japanese

    A counter-only kappo spot tucked just below street level, serving a focused eight-course tasting menu built around Wagyu and seafood. The kitchen is precise without being fussy, and the whole thing feels intimate in the way that only a handful of seats can. It ends with Wagyu miso soup and rice, which sounds simple but lands like a proper send-off. Bring someone you actually want to talk to, because you're going to be there a while.


    Awards
    Address
    4822 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
  29. A cozy Columbia Heights neighborhood spot doing inventive Hong Kong-inspired cooking at prices that won't wreck your night. The room is small and quietly stylish, with blue banquettes and geometric screens giving everyone a little privacy, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand crowd filling the place most nights. High-heat wok dishes that actually taste like someone's been thinking hard, not just showing off.


    Awards
    Address
    3410 11th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  30. Rank 30. Fiola

    Italian

    Fiola is a Michelin-starred Italian tasting restaurant sitting on Pennsylvania Avenue, which means you're eating exceptional pasta roughly halfway between the White House and the Capitol, which feels appropriately dramatic. The room pulls off retro glitz without the stuffiness, and the crowd tends to run toward people who've loosened their ties but not their ambitions. The kitchen does modern regional Italian in a way that makes the classics feel genuinely exciting rather than dutiful.


    Awards
    Address
    601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  31. A tiny, candlelit French bistro on P Street where the whole point is champagne and caviar, and nobody's pretending otherwise. Midnight-blue walls, a Persian rug, and a secret garden out back that was made for a first date you want to go well. The rest of the menu is French classics done properly, but the couples and dressed-up regulars in here already know what they came for.


    Awards
    Address
    2622 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
  32. A Bib Gourmand breakfast taco counter that started as a pop-up and wisely never left. The flour tortillas here are genuinely special, warm and soft in a way that makes you realize most places have been doing it wrong. Fillings run from eggs and beans to chorizo and brisket, and the whole operation is fast, cheap, and no-reservations. Mt. Pleasant regulars in hoodies fill the line most mornings, and honestly they have the right idea.


    Awards
    Address
    3211 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Website
  33. Kwame Onwuachi is a genuine celebrity-chef name, and his Afro-Caribbean restaurant inside the Salamander Hotel is exactly as cool as that sounds. The menu is built for sharing, with bold, technically sharp plates that somehow also feel personal to DC. The room draws the kind of crowd that dresses up just enough to mean it. The cocktail list, including the non-alcoholic side, is worth your full attention.


    Awards
    Address
    1330 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  34. Awards
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    1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  35. Modern Mexican done with real care in a minimalist Dupont Circle room, where the Michelin folks handed out a Bib Gourmand and honestly, it tracks. The chef nixtamalizes corn in-house and the menu swings from a raw bar to mole-glazed halibut to sides that quietly steal the show. The crowd tends toward first dates and neighborhood regulars who've figured out that the "simple" dishes are never actually simple.


    Awards
    Address
    2002 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  36. Tucked into the back of the Waldorf Astoria, this Michelin-starred omakase room is the kind of place where everyone at the counter is quietly trying to look like they do this all the time. Twenty courses of immaculate nigiri, paced over a couple of unhurried hours, with rice seasoned so precisely it almost feels personal. Splurge for a counter stool over a dining room table if you can. It costs more, but watching the chefs work is half the point.


    Awards
    Address
    1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Resy
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  37. Spanish home cooking done with real technique, inside a light-filled dining room and patio at the Square food hall. The team came up through serious kitchens, and you can taste it, especially in the meats off the oak-and-charcoal grill. The crowd skews stylish without trying too hard, the kind of people who order a second round of croquetas without apology. Save room for the Basque cheesecake, which quietly earns every compliment it gets.


    Awards
    Address
    919 19th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  38. Awards
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    3155 Mount Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  39. Awards
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    4465 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  40. Rank 40. St. James

    Caribbean

    Modern Caribbean restaurant on 14th Street where the cooking genuinely earns its hype, which is a rare thing. The room has an industrial-cool look softened by color, and the menu is built for sharing, which gives you an excuse to order too much. Start with a rum cocktail, then work through smoky jerk brisket and whatever else the table can handle. The crowd skews date-night and friend-group, dressed up just enough to feel like the evening matters.


    Awards
    Address
    2017 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  41. Awards
    Address
    4850 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  42. Rank 42. Rasika

    Modern Indian

    Modern Indian done right, in a room loud enough that nobody's listening to your conversation anyway. Rasika pulls in a real cross-section of D.C., from Hill staffers unwinding to couples on a proper date night, and the vibe works for both. The food is confident and unfussy, the kind of cooking that makes you wonder why Indian food ever got saddled with a cheap reputation. Do yourself a favor and order extra naan, because you will run out.


    Awards
    Address
    633 D St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  43. Rank 43. Lapis

    Afghan

    Afghan food done with real care, in a room full of vintage rugs and hurricane lamps that practically beg you to linger over another cocktail. This is a cozy sit-down restaurant in Adams Morgan with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name, and the cooking is lighter and more fragrant than you might expect. The crowd skews date-night and clearly knows the menu well. Order the dumplings and whatever rice dish they're pushing, and don't skip dessert.


    Awards
    Address
    1847 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  44. A Michelin-starred fine dining tasting menu that reads as a love letter to Colombia, right next to Union Market. The chef's cooking is personal and theatrical, the kind of place where dishes arrive with a little drama and a story behind them. The crowd leans toward date night and special occasions, everyone dressed up just enough. Go hungry, go curious, and let the warm staff walk you through it.


    Awards
    Address
    1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  45. Rank 45. New Heights

    New American

    New Heights is a neighborhood restaurant in Woodley Park that's been around forever and has no interest in impressing you on arrival, which is exactly why it works. The carpet is a little beige, the crowd is quiet, and then the food shows up and suddenly everyone at the table is paying attention. It's the kind of New American dinner spot where regulars look smug for a reason.


    Awards
    Address
    2317 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  46. Rank 46. Thip Khao

    Laotian, Thai

    Thip Khao is the restaurant that put Laotian food on the map in DC, and it's been worth the trip ever since. It's a casual Columbia Heights dinner spot where the food is designed to share, which means you and whoever you dragged along should order way more than feels reasonable. The "jungle menu" goes places most kitchens won't. Sticky rice is non-negotiable. The crowd is adventurous and unpretentious, which is exactly the right energy for this kind of meal.


    Awards
    Address
    3462 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  47. Awards
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    2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  48. Rank 48. 1789

    French-influenced New American

    A proper sit-down restaurant tucked into a Federal period townhouse in Georgetown, spread across six rooms and three floors like a very elegant maze. The servers have been running this room longer than most guests have been alive, and it shows. The crowd is mostly proud parents treating their Georgetown kid to something nicer than the dining hall, dressed accordingly. The kitchen does French-leaning American classics and does them well.


    Awards
    Address
    1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  49. Rank 49. Masseria

    Puglian Italian

    A Michelin-starred tasting restaurant in a converted warehouse that somehow pulls off glamorous and unfussy at the same time. The chef's Puglian roots shape everything, and the pasta and bread courses alone justify the trip. The room draws a well-dressed crowd who came to linger, and the staff seem genuinely happy to let them. The cocktail bar up front is worth a stop on its own if a full tasting feels like a commitment.


    Awards
    Address
    1340 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  50. Rank 50. Lapis Afghan Bistro

    Afghan Middle Eastern


    Awards
    Address
    1847 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  51. Awards
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    974 Palmer Alley NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  52. Awards
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    1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  53. Rank 53. Maydān

    Middle Eastern

    The open fire at the center of this Middle Eastern restaurant isn't just for atmosphere, it does most of the actual cooking, and you can tell. Go for the prix-fixe and let the spreads, grilled meats, and rice pudding arrive in waves while you work through the cocktail list. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, everyone looking slightly more dressed up than they needed to but not mad about it.


    Awards
    Address
    1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  54. Awards
    Address
    1328 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  55. Rank 55. Rania

    Contemporary Indian

    A Michelin-starred prix-fixe doing contemporary Indian in a way that feels genuinely exciting rather than just dressed up. The kitchen takes the classics seriously and then quietly does something unexpected with them, and the cocktails are built to keep pace with the bold flavors on the plate. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, everyone looking like they planned the outfit. Worth every bit of the commitment.


    Awards
    Address
    427 11th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  56. Rank 56. 2Fifty

    Barbecue

    Counter-service BBQ done with serious conviction, 2Fifty smokes everything over wood until it's exactly right, and the room fills up fast with people who drove across town on purpose. The brisket and smoked turkey are the main reasons to show up, though the sides hold their own. Order more than you think you need, grab a spot if you can find one, or just take the whole fragrant haul home.


    Awards
    Address
    414 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  57. Annabelle is the rare upscale American spot that actually earns its elegance, tucked into a modest brick building in Kalorama where the vibe inside far outpaces the exterior. A marble bar greets you first, which is the universe's way of saying order a cocktail. The dining room draws a grown-up, well-dressed crowd that knows how to have a good time without making a scene. The seasonal menu changes often enough to keep regulars guessing.


    Awards
    Address
    2132 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Resy
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  58. Rank 58. Obelisk

    Seasonal Italian

    Obelisk has been around forever, serving a five-course prix-fixe of seasonal Italian cooking in a room that feels more like a neighborhood spot than a formal commitment. Which is probably why it draws a younger crowd than you'd expect. The food is honest and unfussy, the antipasti alone justify the trip, and everything from the bread to dessert is made in-house. Clear your evening, though, this one takes its time.


    Awards
    Address
    2029 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
  59. Casual Italian in a converted auto shop on Mt Pleasant, and yes, they lean into the gimmick just enough to be charming without being annoying. The menu rotates constantly, but the kitchen stays committed to good Italian instincts, and the bubble-crusted pizzas alone justify the trip. The room fills up with neighborhood regulars and first-daters who all somehow look equally at home. Wash it down and end with gelato piled absurdly high.


    Awards
    Address
    3054 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  60. A Sicilian-leaning trattoria in NoMa where the bar crowd spills into every corner and the energy never really dips. The kitchen makes its pasta in-house and offers half portions, which is the kind of move that actually lets you eat well instead of committing to one bowl and having regret. Comfort food done with real skill, and a room full of after-work regulars who clearly know something you don't yet.


    Awards
    Address
    901 Fourth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  61. A rustic Italian spot in Bloomingdale that's been earning its Michelin Bib Gourmand for a reason, The Red Hen is reliably packed with the kind of neighborhood crowd that books weeks out and still shows up early. Exposed brick, reclaimed wood, and moody lighting give it a farmhouse warmth without trying too hard. The pastas are the move, and the bar is a solid fallback when you forgot to make a reservation, which you did.


    Awards
    Address
    1822 First St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Resy
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  62. Tucked into a cobblestone Georgetown alley, this Turkish-Mediterranean spot is the kind of place that makes you feel like you stumbled onto something. The menu leans into home-style cooking, and the "From Mom's Kitchen" section is where you want to spend most of your attention. The bread alone is worth the trip. Expect a crowd of people who look like they know Georgetown well and are very pleased with themselves for finding it.


    Awards
    Address
    3210 Cherry Hill Ln NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  63. Rank 63. Elmina

    Ghanaian

    Eric Adjepong runs this stylish Ghanaian restaurant on 14th Street, and it's the kind of place that makes you wonder why West African food hasn't had a bigger moment in this city until now. You can do a full tasting menu or graze from the bar menu, which riffs on Ghana's casual chop-bar tradition. The room draws a well-dressed crowd that clearly did their research, and nobody looks like they're in a hurry to leave.


    Awards
    Address
    2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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  64. Awards
    Address
    1834 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  65. A Bib Gourmand sandwich bar that takes the format way more seriously than it has any right to, which turns out to be a good thing. The menu reads like someone who actually knows cocktail bars decided to open a deli instead, and the drinks are genuinely worth ordering. The crowd skews young and neighborhood-casual, the kind of people who appreciate a good sandwich and aren't embarrassed about it.


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    Address
    1114 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  66. Rank 66. Shia

    Korean

    Edward Lee's 22-seat Korean fine dining room is one of those places where every course makes you wonder why more restaurants don't cook like this. The tasting menu takes traditional Korean ingredients seriously without being stiff about it, and the Korean spirits list goes deep into territory most people have never tried. First-daters and food-curious regulars fill the tiny room, all quietly impressed and pretending they're not.


    Awards
    Address
    1252 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
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  67. Tucked inside the Park Hyatt, Blue Duck Tavern is an upscale American restaurant with the kind of sprawling, light-filled room that makes everyone look like they have their life together. Glass-enclosed booths, walnut wood, a wood-burning oven anchoring the open kitchen. The crowd skews well-heeled and unhurried, and the menu leans into good American sourcing done with real care. Save room to browse the dessert station and a tea list long enough to require a guide.


    Awards
    Address
    1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  68. Awards
    Address
    707 6th St NW Washington, DC · Washington
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  69. Rank 69. Albi

    Palestinian

    A Michelin-starred live-fire restaurant in Navy Yard where the Palestinian-rooted cooking is genuinely exciting, not just interesting on paper. The open kitchen's hearth runs everything, and the smoke and char show up in every course. Go à la carte if you want, but the tasting menu is the move. The room is warm and lively, the kind of crowd that dressed up a little but not too much, and the wine list leans hard into the Mediterranean.


    Awards
    Address
    1346 Fourth St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
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    WebsiteInstagram
  70. Rank 70. Pascual

    Mexican

    Capitol Hill's hottest reservation right now is this lively, sharing-focused Mexican spot where the cooking feels more Mexico City than D.C. The vegetable dishes are quietly the stars of the table, though the lamb barbacoa will make carnivores very happy. It draws a young, neighborhood crowd who knew early and booked faster than you did. Go with a group, order everything, and sort out the logistics of getting a table before you get excited about going.


    Awards
    Address
    732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC · Washington
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    WebsiteInstagram
  71. Rank 71. Cana

    Brazilian

    A tiny caipirinha bar in Adams Morgan that somehow nails both the drinks and the food, which is rarer than it sounds. The crowd is loose and loud, vinyl's on the turntable, and everyone at every table has ordered the picanha steak. The charcoal oven turns out serious food, and the fried tapioca squares with spicy guava dipping sauce are the kind of snack you keep reordering without meaning to.


    Awards
    Address
    2412 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  72. Rank 72. Donut Run

    Vegan Dessert


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    Address
    6904 Fourth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  73. A full-on Greek taverna that actually commits to the bit, with olive trees indoors, hand-thrown pottery on the walls, and a menu that reads like a greatest-hits of the Mediterranean. The room feels warm and unhurried, the kind of place where big groups settle in for the night. Grilled fish, souvlaki, spanakopita, and those fries will keep you busy, and you're finishing with baklava whether you planned to or not.


    Awards
    Address
    1940 N St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
  74. Rank 74. Ceibo

    Uruguayan


    Awards
    Address
    2106 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  75. Awards
    Address
    2029 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  76. Polished Indian dining steps from the White House, where the power-lunch crowd loosens their ties but never their ambitions. The room channels old British Raj club energy, all plush and proper, and the cooking is the real deal, ranging from Northern grilled meats to Southern coconut dishes. You'll spend half the meal squinting at the banquette trying to figure out which senator that is. That's half the fun.


    Awards
    Address
    815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website

  77. Awards
    Address
    1609 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  78. A tiny Mediterranean lunch counter in Georgetown where you go in for a sandwich and somehow walk out with three containers of lentils and a tart you didn't plan on buying. The focaccia sandwiches are the move, but the fridge case full of ready-to-eat salads and savory pastries is what keeps the neighborhood regulars coming back looking slightly too pleased with themselves.


    Awards
    Address
    3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
  79. Rank 79. Zaytinya

    Mediterranean

    José Andrés runs this sleek mezze spot pulling from Greek, Lebanese, and Turkish cooking, and it's earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good reason. The room feels breezy and modern, full of suits loosening up over spreads and pita alongside groups of friends with no plans to leave anytime soon. Order a bunch of small plates, let things pile up on the table, and let someone else figure out the bill.


    Awards
    Address
    701 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
  80. Rank 80. Shōtō

    Modern Japanese

    Shōtō is a sleek modern Japanese restaurant where the room does half the work, volcanic stone cascading from the ceiling, warm wood everywhere, and lighting dialed to make everyone look suspiciously attractive. It draws the kind of crowd that dresses up without trying too hard. The menu leans on robata grilling and sushi, and the Japanese whiskey list is genuinely impressive, so let the bar be your first stop before you eat.


    Awards
    Address
    1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
  81. This grand American dining room a block from the White House has been around forever, and a recent overhaul turned it from a dusty landmark into one of the chicest rooms in DC. Olive-green velvet booths, excellent martinis, a menu of oysters and rib eye that somehow feels both timeless and fun. The crowd skews power-lunch and date-night, everybody looking like they have somewhere to be afterward.


    Awards
    Address
    1475 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  82. Rank 82. La' Shukran

    French, Levantine

    Finding it is half the fun: duck into a Union Market alley, spot the green door, and climb the stairs into a jewel-toned bistro where French technique meets Levantine soul. Chef Michael Rafidi runs one of DC's most genuinely original rooms, all habibi-funk vinyl and cool-kids energy. The menu is built for sharing, the cocktails are saffron-spiked, and snapping a reservation requires actual effort. That's usually a sign.


    Awards
    Address
    417 Morse St NE FL 2 Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
  83. Rank 83. Kiyomi

    Japanese

    A 16-seat sushi counter in downtown DC where the omakase actually respects your bank account. The chef built a loyal following slinging a weekday lunch deal before landing this proper home, and the regulars followed. It draws the kind of crowd that genuinely knows their nigiri, which keeps things honest. Dinner omakase runs on Fridays if you want the full commitment, but the lunch deal is the real reason people keep coming back.


    Awards
    Address
    1850 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Instagram

  84. Awards
    Address
    1737 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  85. Petworth's favorite time capsule serves Southern comfort food that actually earns the Bib Gourmand it's carrying. The fried chicken is made to order and worth every minute of the wait, crispy and juicy in the way that makes you question every other fried chicken you've had. Pleather booths, wood paneling, a buzzy bar, regulars who've clearly claimed their seats for years. Save room for the lemon cake, or regret it quietly on the drive home.


    Awards
    Address
    200 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
  86. Rank 86. Unconventional Diner

    Modern New American

    It looks like a classic diner, white walls and seafoam booths, but the menu is doing something a little sneakier. This Bib Gourmand spot in Shaw takes comfort-food staples and nudges them just far enough that you feel like you discovered something. Brunch draws the weekend crowd, and the lemon meringue pie has a devoted following. Book ahead, because the locals already figured this one out.


    Awards
    Address
    1207 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
  87. Rank 87. Yellow

    Levantine Middle Eastern


    Awards
    Address
    417 Morse St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  88. Awards
    Address
    1301 U St NW, Ste 111, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  89. Awards
    Address
    2016 P St NW, Ste C1, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  90. Awards
    Address
    425 I St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  91. Rank 91. Oyamel

    Mexican

    José Andrés runs this lively Mexican spot near the National Mall, and it draws a faithful crowd of off-duty staffers and tourists who've done their homework. Pull up a stool at the ceviche bar, order something cold, and graze through small plates that take regional Mexican cooking seriously without making you feel like you're in a lecture. The happy hour menu is a genuinely good deal in a city that doesn't always bother.


    Awards
    Address
    401 Seventh St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
  92. Rank 92. Karizma

    Modern Indian

    Modern Indian in Penn Quarter with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and it earns it. Karizma is a proper sit-down restaurant where the cooking takes Indian cuisine seriously without taking itself too seriously, so the room stays lively rather than hushed. The naan alone is worth the trip. The drinks menu, including some genuinely good alcohol-free options, is more creative than you'd expect, so don't just default to beer.


    Awards
    Address
    611 I St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website

  93. Awards
    Address
    600 H St NE, Ste E, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website

  94. Awards
    Address
    1306 G St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  95. Rank 95. Marcus

    American

    Marcus Samuelsson's hotel restaurant in NoMa is the rare kind of upscale dining room that actually earns its price tag. The cooking pulls from all over, Southern, West African, Scandinavian, and somehow it coheres into something genuinely exciting rather than confused. The room draws a well-dressed crowd that came with a reservation and a plan. The crab rice, despite its modest name, arrives as a full production, and the blue cornbread lives up to the talk.


    Awards
    Address
    222 M St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
  96. Seng Luangrath basically put Laotian food on DC's map, and her Shaw restaurant is where she's having the most fun with it. The menu roams across Southeast Asia, the room skews young and curious, and the vibe is casual enough that you won't feel weird ordering the FiLao-O-Fish sliders, a deadpan McDonald's riff that somehow works better than it has any right to. Go hungry and share everything.


    Awards
    Address
    1604 7th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  97. Awards
    Address
    2465 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

  98. Awards
    Address
    750 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
  99. Most tasting menus whisper at you reverently. This Capitol Hill spot with a Michelin star does the opposite, and that's exactly the point. It's a full prix-fixe production with caviar, tableside absinthe, chefs in gold Nikes, and the kind of energy that makes it feel less like fine dining and more like a very well-fed party. The crowd dresses up and leans in. Come hungry, come festive, and don't expect a quiet night.


    Awards
    Address
    715 Eighth St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website

  100. Awards
    Address
    2108 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram

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