Washington, D.C. is the nation's capital and home to some of America's most iconic landmarks—the White House anyone?—but D.C. also offers some of the most diverse and tasty cuisine in the country.
Starting on Monday, January 15th, and running through Sunday, January 21st, the Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week highlights some of the city's hottest (and hautest) tables with unbelievably good deals. So, clear your calendar and check out all the MICHELIN Guide spots taking part.
And if you need a spot to sleep off any meals, don't fret as we've got you covered with nearby MICHELIN Guide Hotels. Never has the nation's capital come together in such delicious style.
14th Street
Bresca (One Star)
Cuisine: Contemporary
The cooking is casual yet ambitious, thanks to Chef Ryan Ratino’s cutting-edge credentials. His menu is divided into categories, like snacks, medium plates, and large, shareable plates.
Back and ready for Restaurant Week, diners can expect a special 3-course tasting menu for $65 at this delicious One Star.
Inspector notes: "Find a clear sense of artistry in the likes of a foie gras "negroni" topped with Campari gelée or the agreeably priced and perfect pappardelle with lamb ragù."
Stay nearby:
Viceroy Washington, D.C. makes the most of the Viceroy's bipartisan, across-the-aisle approach — it’s luxe enough to tempt luxury-hotel partisans and stylish enough for the boutique crowd as well.
Adams Morgan
El Secreto de Rosita
Cuisine: Peruvian
Chef Cristian Granada's dynamic menu certainly leans Peruvian, but it also embraces the nation's wide terrain—from the coast all the way to influences from Europe and Asia.
For winter Restaurant Week, El Secreto de Rosita is offering a $55 dinner menu that includes your choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
Inspector notes: "Behold the tiradito, featuring sashimi-grade ahi tuna with a passion fruit-and-orange sauce. Classics, like ají de gallina, is served with rice; while the much raved-about arroz chaufa is a global delight."
The Imperial
Cuisine: American
This bright and bold kid on the block boasts a concise menu with strong American inflections. The menu is divvied into mostly raw, vegetables, pasta, meats, and larger dishes. Regardless of your pick, these plates are well-executed and show a creative spirit.
Celebrating Washington, D.C.'s winter Restaurant Week, diners can stop by The Imperial and enjoy their $35 three-course brunch menu or the $40 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "Start with such sea treats as a risotto of Carolina Gold rice, clam juice and creamy uni, then segue into land by way of the beef Wellington, which sports a golden pastry, braised leeks, and veal jus."
Stay nearby:
This century-old church in Adams Morgan provides the venue for a boutique hotel in an of-the-moment bohemian-eclectic style, complete with restaurants and bars that make it a central player in the neighborhood’s dining and nightlife scene.
Capital Riverfront
Chloe
Cuisine: International
Tucked into the trendy Navy Yard district, Chloe’s menu is eclectic, deeply personalized and reflects Chef Haidar Karoum's diverse resume. The shareable plates menu gathers ingredients from across the globe, presenting them in original and consistently delicious ways.
A $35 brunch menu, $65 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairing, and outdoor dining? Sign us up.
Inspector notes: "Kick off with the likes of hamachi crudo augmented by fish sauce, Thai chilies and thin slabs of avocado; or spiced veal hummus topped with buttered almond slivers and accompanied by fresh-baked naan. For something more hearty, there's penne with a pork ragù that's imbued with a Spanish-style soffrito and loads of domestic pecorino."
Shilling Canning Company
Cuisine: American
Set in the buzzing Navy Yard, this brainchild of Chef Reid Shilling may be spotted from afar thanks to its distinct sign and inviting garden boxes that burst with all manner of herbs and greens. The cooking is mid-Atlantic with contemporary flair, but seasonality rules the roost in both food and drinks.
Seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced come together here in the form of a $35 brunch and $65 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "Choose from a wonderfully reasonable three-course tasting menu or go all in for seven courses to savor the likes of wood-roasted bone marrow with pickled ramps, followed up by a hearty and creative butternut squash wellington with spiced honey."
Stay nearby:
The Thompson Washington, D.C. is dazzling; the capital-based Studios Architecture and the New York firm Parts and Labor Design have created a brand-new luxury boutique hotel with the mid-century resonances that are the Thompson hallmark.
Pendry Washington, D.C. – The Wharf
Physically, it’s not all that far from Capitol Hill, but in terms of its aesthetics and its atmosphere, the Pendry Washington, D.C. - The Wharf presents a completely different side of the nation’s capital. It’s clear from a glance at its ultra-modern façade that this is no ordinary luxury hotel, and its setting on the waterfront lends it an escapist aspect as well.
Chevy Chase
Opal
Cuisine: American
In quiet Chevy Chase, on the border of Bethesda, this buzzy restaurant is well on its way to becoming a neighborhood essential. Far from flashy, the team isn’t out to redefine a cuisine or break any culinary boundaries.
Stop by during the 2024 Restaurant Week for a taste of Opal's Simple tasting menus. Available for lunch ($25) and dinner ($55), there's something here for everyone.
Inspector notes: "Ricotta dumplings, beef tartare, a properly cooked filet of trout – these are familiar flavors handled in a confident manner. There is the occasional surprise, like the excellent lamb-stuffed pita."
City Center
Estuary
Cuisine: Seafood
Views from the space frame the energetic downtown scene. Yet, it's hard not to be drawn to the theatrics of the open kitchen, where cooks work by the glow of library-style lamps. This farm-to-table restaurant in the stunning Conrad Hotel is an homage to the Chesapeake.
Experience chef Ria Montes' delicious dishes made from local ingredients this restaurant week with Estuary's $35 lunch and $65 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "The toasted Maryland blue crab and shrimp brioche roll oozes with organic butter and fish sauce-flavored mayonnaise. Old Bay fries make an excellent accompaniment to this item, not unlike the fennel pollen and flurry of micro herbs that enhance a mound of tuna tartare with heat from Calabrian chilies."
Cleveland Park
Sababa (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
“Sababa,” which means “cool” in Hebrew slang, is exactly as advertised. Sharing a wall and connected by a gorgeous zinc bar to Bindaas next door, this ode to the Middle East is awash in Mediterranean tiles. But despite the hip digs, it’s all about food here. The fine-tuned menu features Israeli salads, dips and kebabs, but small plates are its heart and soul.
Stop by this Bib Gourmand during Restaurant Week for a $25 brunch and $55 dinner option.
Inspector notes: "Start with salatim, a five-salad starter. Then choose from dishes such as charred eggplant with herbed labneh, fried cauliflower with tahini and raisins or pomegranate-glazed chicken liver. The list goes on, but one thing to never skip is the hummus. It’s so much more than the usual that it’s even listed as a daily special."
Columbus Circle
Makan (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Malaysian
If you've ever considered ordering dessert first, do it here. Flaky, crispy roti canai served with a delicate pandan coconut cream offers a faithful Asian twist on the classic French Toast. It's the kind of cross-cultural deliciousness you can expect from this Malaysian kitchen team, which takes its culinary cues from India and China.
$40 dinner menu and deliciously flaky desserts? Yes please!
Inspector notes: "Char kway teow features seared flat rice strands tossed with shrimp, Chinese sausage and bean sprouts. Hearty pork vindaloo boasts layer upon layer of just the right spice, heat and acid. Fried chicken arrives doused in a yellow curry flecked with curry leaves."
Columbia Heights
St. James
Cuisine: Caribbean
The contemporary space with industrial touches is enlivened with vivid pops of color, while the shared plates-style menu evokes a convivial spirit. Influences hail from all over the globe, all paired with Trinidadian rum-focused cocktails.
The Trinidadian cocktails here alone might be worth the visit, not to mention the $55 dinner menu during Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Begin with a bowl of Callaloo soup, a deep green blend of puréed spinach, chilies and coconut milk topped with lump crab meat with a great depth of flavor."
Stay nearby:
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.
The Four Seasons is fresh off a massive renovation, which has done a bit more than simply sharpened the edges. Pierre-Yves Rochon has lent his contemporary Parisian perspective to the proceedings, which is fitting, given the distinct strain of architectural Francophilia that runs through this city. The west wing is still classical in character, while the east wing has been subtly updated.
Quite possibly the brand’s most stylish hotel, the Conrad Washington, D.C. features architecture by the Swiss starchitects Herzog & de Meuron and interiors by the Houston-based Rottet Studio — a potent pairing that bucks the capital’s conservative aesthetic reputation. The comforts and service are first-rate, as you’d expect from a luxury hotel in this town, and the neighborhood is a lively one — but you’ll be tempted to do your entertaining in-house, thanks to Estuary, where James Beard award–winning chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio showcase the flavors of Chesapeake Bay, as well as Summit, the rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city’s icons.
Downtown
Dauphine's (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Creole
There is no denying Chef Kristen Essig's immense skill, as she prepares a delicious tapestry of New Orleans dishes—with zero fuss and maximum flavor.
Whether it's brunch ($35) or a three-course dinner menu ($55), this Bib Gourmand has got you covered.
Inspector notes: "Make a hearty start with fresh-baked bread and cultured Poirier’s cane butter. Then dive into a platter of silky oysters Dauphine, tailed by blackened soft-shell crab with creamed Prairie Ronde rice."
Georgia Brown’s
Cuisine: Southern
This revered dining fixture draws a diverse crowd—from locals and politicos to celebrities and tourists. Everyone is here for the classic Southern cooking that is likely to conjure up many a nostalgic memory.
Come during dinner for a taste of their $55 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "Start off with the fried chicken livers accompanied by a mustard-soy emulsion. Then tuck into a steaming and fragrant bowl of Carolina gumbo floating with chicken, andouille, okra and shrimp. Cap it all off with a thick wedge of red velvet cake."
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Cuisine: Seafood
The original of three locations, Hank’s Oyster Bar promises a good time and a full stomach. Snag a seat on the spacious front patio or opt for a table indoors where bottles of malt vinegar and Old Bay seasoning are a sign of things to come.
A good time, a full stomach, and a $55 dinner menu. Talk about perfection.
Inspector notes: "Feast on platters of raw bar beauties (including Hank's signature Salty Wolfe oyster) to oysters any way you want them (Hog Island style includes being doused with tangy lemon garlic and Tabasco butter sauce, sprinkled with buttery breadcrumbs and broiled until caramelized). Lobster rolls, creamy chowder and crab cake sandwiches with Old Bay-seasoned fries conjure up days at the beach from years gone by."
La Bise
Cuisine: French
This might just be one of the Capitol's most well-known dining rooms, housed at the corner of Lafayette Square and just a stone’s throw from the White House lawn. The menu is loosely French but with a number of detours, from steak tartare and Rohan duck breast to black truffle risotto and Maine lobster with pineapple.
This $55 prix fixe three-course menu is the perfect pick to elevate any dinner.
Inspector notes: "The Ora King salmon coulibiac is a signature for good reason—featuring layers of mushroom duxelles and herbed rice wrapped in puff pastry and served with sauce mousseline."
The Bombay Club
Cuisine: Indian
If you can take your eyes off the senator snuggled into the half-moon banquette, the polished Indian cuisine doesn’t disappoint. Palate-pleasing items span the continent to include Northern grilled meats, as well as Southern seafood and coconut-inflected dishes.
With their $35 lunch and $55 dinner options, there is no better time to try this Indian spot.
Inspector notes: "Tender minced lamb is coaxed with a hint of heat in the Seekh kebab, while the bharli vangi's soft-as-pudding bulbs of stuffed and braised baby eggplant simply burst with flavor."
Philotimo
Cuisine: Greek
Fronted by plate-glass windows that reveal its glitzy interior, this corner space is done up with a modern Aegean look that includes polished concrete floors donning rugs for a bit of warmth, seats dressed with linen cushions, an earthy color palette, and woven ceiling pendants that dangle overhead.
A three-course, $65 dinner menu is waiting for you at this Greek staple during the 2024 winter Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Meals begin and end with carefully crafted dishes that are presented as a prix-fixe. The latter may unveil a choice of pastas like mantia tossed with brown butter; vegetables like wild mushrooms with oregano and feta; and proteins, such as seared daurade with fava bean purée and Swiss chard."
Stay nearby:
Hotel Zena, a Viceroy Urban Retreat
The hotel’s design is by Dawson Design Associates, a female-owned agency, and the artworks don’t just depict women; the artists themselves are women as well. And while it is, in a way, a themed hotel, its spaces stand very much on their own — if you were to arrive with no knowledge of the concept, it’d be the stylishness of the design that hit you first.
The Hay-Adams Hotel is a 1928 Italian Renaissance monument, one whose privacy and discretion are near-legendary, and whose location, with the White House and the National Mall as a backdrop, is one-of-a-kind. Constant attention has kept it looking as opulent as can be, while constant technological improvements mean that, beneath its old-world elegance, the Hay-Adams is a thoroughly modern luxury hotel.
Dupont Circle
The Pembroke
Cuisine: French
This seductive dining room took a cool few million to create, but it is utterly chic and wholly Parisian. Over in the kitchen, the chefs don't cling to any one trend.
Don't miss out on this tasty three-course lunch ($35) or dinner ($65) option.
Inspector notes: "Imagine a melange of plates like prawn cocktail, lobster bisque, handmade pastas, as well as mains like Dover sole meunière or veal Milanese and you'll start to get their drift. Mediterranean flavors also find their way into dishes like octopus fricassee with black olives and lamb tagine with couscous."
Stay nearby:
The newly redesigned Dupont Hotel is, in its subtly stylish way, one of the hippest hotels in the nation’s capital. It’s the only hotel on Dupont Circle, in a neighborhood better known for dining, nightlife and entertainment than for monuments or institutions — which, provided you’re not here with your high school history class, is definitely a good thing.
Georgetown
1789
Cuisine: American
Few restaurants embody this neighborhood more aptly than 1789, named for the year Georgetown University was founded. The kitchen team is adept, talented, and successfully keeps pace. Dishes lean on classic French and American flavors.
Three courses. $65 dinner menu. Simple and delicious.
Inspector notes: "Recent highlights included a warm vichyssoise with leeks, morels, and watercress pesto; rack of lamb with a lemon gremolata and roasted cipollini onions with fava beans; and, to finish, an apple Paris-Brest with buttermilk ice cream."
Fiola Mare
Cuisine: Seafood
This stunning haven is certainly one for the books. Hugging the Potomac River with unparalleled views, it may be difficult to find a more beautiful setting in town. Of course, those lovely sights come at a price, so expect a bill more palatable to the expense-account type.
Some of the best seafood in D.C. for a $35 lunch menu? What more can you ask?
Inspector notes: "A plump Capital oyster swims in a zabaglione of prosecco; while liquid cacio e pepe with escarole, feta cheese and roasted peppercorns is an unexpected thrill. Other crowd-pleasers may include Calvisius caviar with warm tigelle modenese and whipped ricotta, or a selection of simply grilled seafood."
Ivy City
Gravitas (One Star)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Chef Matt Baker is luring diners to Ivy City with this gorgeous spot, which transforms local products into modern, deeply complex items. Myriad choices are offered in the multicourse meal, but large appetites should give over and let the chef prepare a tasting, whereby sustainable ingredients are utilized to prepare dishes that are creative, precise and enjoyable.
With a three-course ($55) dinner menu, this One Star has got you covered.
Inspector notes: "Highlights include a chestnut velouté poured over a date cake with vanilla-pear marmalade and foie gras terrine for a rich, well-rounded dish. Yuzu crémeux with pineapple ganache makes for a simple yet refined denouement."
Ivy City Smokehouse (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Barbecue
Lucky are the eaters who make their way to this unique seafood smokehouse. Inside the warehouse-like space, a daily market and state-of-the-art smoker reside at street level. The fish is fresh, the staff is super-friendly and the vibe is irresistible with occasional live music.
Check out this Bib Gourmand during this 2024 Restaurant Week for their $40 three-course dinner menu or their $65 lobster dinner that includes a steamed whole Maine lobster.
Inspector notes: "A platter offers a broad sample of artisanal smoked goodies, like Indian candy (a sweet, salty and almost jerk-like smoked salmon); glistening, coral-pink smoked salmon; pepper-smoked salmon embedded with crushed peppercorns; and an impossibly good whitefish salad."
Logan Circle
Convivial
Cuisine: French
The bold and playful takes on the tried-and-true here are made for sharing. Is there a secret to the popular Franco-Gallic-American menu? If anyone knows, it is Chef/owner Cedric Maupillier and his passionate team.
Come here for their $65 dinner menu filled with shareable dishes.
Inspector notes: "Tuck in to a savory classic—perhaps gnocchi à la parisienne aux légumes printaniers—but save room for sweet treats like a spot-on soufflé, Île flottante or galette des rois."
Supra
Cuisine: Central Asian
Supra is a gem for Georgian cuisine, so make those resys. This chef churns out authentic dishes with a dose of delicious.
$25 brunch/lunch, or $40 dinner menu. The choice is yours.
Inspector notes: "Start with spreads and cheeses, before devouring soup dumplings or mussels. No diner worth their salt would dare skip the imeruli or ajaruli khachapuri—crusty bread with a pit of molten cheese and runny egg. White pelamushi flaunts a riff on the staple dessert (think: pomegranate caramel and walnut crumble), no feast is complete without wine with selections from one of the world's oldest viticultural regions."
Stay nearby:
The Eaton D.C. is simply a first-rate luxury boutique hotel, from the Bluetooth record players and locally sourced minibars in the rooms to the wellness center, which offers yoga and meditation as well as reiki, acupuncture, and practices that verge on the spiritual. Michele's is a French American inspired restaurant by Michelin-starred Chef Matt Baker, while Baker’s Daughter serves third-wave coffee and Ayurvedic beverages. Meanwhile Allegory pours inventive cocktails in an inspired space, and Wild Days is the most unexpected of offerings for a D.C. hotel: a rooftop music venue that hosts both local and national acts.
The lobby and public spaces lean into D.C.’s French inspiration, sourcing parquet flooring from a French chateau and furnishing the rooms in opulent wood paneling and gem tones. Meanwhile the rooms are more restrained, though no less refined, decorated largely in monochrome but with plenty of ornament — right down to the Hermès leather drawer pulls — and the full slate of contemporary high-end comforts.
Mt. Vernon Triangle
Bar Spero
Cuisine: Contemporary
Set within the trendy Capitol Crossing development in the East End neighborhood, Bar Spero's soaring 20-ft ceilings and undulating glass-enclosed space could read cold, but here it's warm and sophisticated. The stylish space and accessible menu of shareable plates make for easy appeal.
Stop by for their $65 dinner menu paired with a wine or cocktail.
Inspector notes: "The cooking has good looks, as in the blue corn tostada spread with gribiche and topped with a layer of thinly sliced scallop, and a bit of a creative flair. The jacket-on russet potato is confited in butter, dusted with grated egg yolk, and served on a bed of crème fraîche with a flurry of chicken skin and rendered ham puts a standard baked potato to shame."
Mandu
Cuisine: Korean
Credit to Chef Yesoon Lee and her son Danny for showing this city that Korean cuisine is more than just bibimbap and barbecue. From plump, steamed beef and pork mandu to vibrant banchan, this is homey cooking that warms the spirit.
Get a taste of chef Lee's cooking during the winter Restaurant Week with their $40 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "No visit would be complete without gamjatang, a bubbling-hot soup featuring tender, bone-in pork ribs and potatoes swimming in a devilishly red broth fired up with gochugaru and perilla seeds."
Ottoman Taverna
Cuisine: Turkish
The interior is drop-dead gorgeous with a can’t-stop-staring décor. From its honeycomb patterns on the walls and that large mural of the Hagia Sophia, to its whitewashed walls with glimmering deep-blue pendants, this restaurant brings a little bit of Istanbul to the Mt. Vernon Triangle.
Stop by this Bib Gourmand during restaurant week for their $25 brunch/lunch menu or their $40 three-course dinner menu!
Inspector notes: "Sip a cool apple-rose tea while perusing the menu of Turkish cuisine infused with a modern bent. Kirmizi mercimek corbasi is a refreshing red lentil soup that starts things off right. Then dive in to thinly sliced and delicious lamb and beef kebabs."
Bar Chinois
Cuisine: Asian
While this may be a bar first (thrilling cocktails include a martini with pickled pearl onions, pickled shiitake mushrooms, plus kombu and bonito flakes), the kitchen takes its cooking seriously, offering a lineup of mouthwatering plates and a menu filled with enticing dim sum.
Come during brunch for a $25 three-course meal or wait for the $40 dinner menu for a more well-rounded experience.
Inspector notes: "Imagine half moon-shaped ginger chicken dumplings with a honey dip; shrimp toast batter-fried with sesame seeds; or Beijing pork dumplings with Berkshire pork and Chinese chives. The "Lion's Head meatball," starring oven-braised pork au jus, water chestnuts, and Shaoxing rice wine, is as regal as its title, and bears an almost apocryphal lightness."
L'Ardente
Cuisine: Italian
Many diners walking into East End's shiny Capitol Crossing development already know what they’re ordering. Chef David Deshaies' 40-layer lasagna has captivated the city’s attention and rightfully so. Tender short rib, truffled mornay and razor-thin sheets of pasta make for a delicious trinity that tastes as good as it looks.
Lunch or brunch, you can't go wrong with either. Stop by during Restaurant Week for a specially curated three-course meal.
Inspector notes: "At no point does any dish want for flavor, down to the charred cabbage buried under a riot of trout roe, tarragon and currants. Some will be perfectly content sidling up to the expansive bar for a glass of vino and round of snacks, like saffron arancini or duck ravioli."
Petite Cerise
Cuisine: French
Everything old is new again at Petite Cerise, where classic French bistro fare is the order of the day. This large restaurant is set over two floors; downstairs offers a view into the open kitchen.
A taste of classic French for $35 (lunch) or $55 (dinner menu)? Sign us up.
Inspector notes: "Kick things off on the lighter side with a slice of bread browned to a crisp and topped with yellowfin tuna with preserved chili mayo, or go all in with an order of foie gras beignets with raspberry sauce for a sweet-savory hit."
Near Northeast
Maketto (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Asian
Credit to chef-owner Erik Bruner-Yang and his team for keeping it fresh, as it were. On ever-changing H Street, this long-favored restaurant at first looks like a clothing store with its glittering display cases lined with chic merch.
Don't forget to check out their clothes after their $25 lunch and $55 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "A diverse, ambitious, and consistently satisfying roster of dishes inspired by flavors from across Asia. Everything here is designed to share, starting with Cantonese-style shrimp dumplings dressed in Cambodian fish sauce and garnished with dill."
NoMa
Laos in Town (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: South East Asian
The flavors and heat of Southeast Asian are on full display at this Northeast DC eatery. Though the menu spans much of the country, Laos’ menu—sporting a section devoted entirely to vegans—still manages to be original, offering ingredients that are rarely found in similar restaurants. It also promises—and delivers on—dishes marked “phet" (or spicy).
With their heat-packed dishes and $55 dinner menu, this Bib Gourmand is a must visit during Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Generous slices of sausage with savory herbs are served with crunchy green papaya, peanuts and fiery green chili; while the chef’s signature papaya salad arrives with bright green beans, Laos pork loaf and a mellow fermented fish sauce."
Observatory Circle
Xiquet (One Star)
Cuisine: Spanish
Chef Danny Lledó's kitchen is equipped with a smoker and a wood-fired hearth to produce a menu that proudly extols Spanish cuisine with a focus on the delights of Valencia.
This One Star is offering diners a $65 dinner menu during the 2024 Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Morsels like dill-cured bonito arranged with creamy, cool ajo blanco lead up to heartier compositions such as crisped-skin turbot with smoked trout roe-studded beurre blanc."
Stay nearby:
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown occupies the site of the historic Georgetown Incinerator, whose 130-foot chimney still rises over the hotel and the attached luxury condominiums. The location is excellent, on a quiet side street, but just minutes from the White House, the Smithsonian, and hundreds of other famous places. Within walking distance are a number of Georgetown's fashionable restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, and the Ritz complex itself holds a 14-screen cineplex. The complex is also home to one of the world's most recognizable celebrities — Michael Jordan lives in one of the 28 luxury residences that share the Ritz site.
Sofitel Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square
As the name may suggest, this fine 1920s Art Deco building is just off Lafayette Square, which is also bordered by the White House; it’s hard to imagine a more prestigious location, or one that’s more photogenically typical of the District of Columbia. With interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon and a multilingual French-accented staff, the Sofitel’s Continental atmosphere goes deeper than just the surface. Art Deco is a style that renovates well — these rooms feel classic but not old-fashioned, and are modern where it matters, namely the duvet-topped king beds and the plasma-screen televisions, and marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers.
Penn Quarter
Café Riggs
Cuisine: Contemporary
From its historic marble lobby and enchanting design details (think velvet chairs and regal gold hues) to a versatile and well-executed menu, everything about this hotel restaurant is quite unforgettable.
Other than the 19th-century Romanesque Revival bank building, there's also the $65 dinner menu along with a paired wine/cocktail option.
Inspector notes: "Start with a caviar grilled cheese, which is no doubt an over-the-top creation but worth every splurge. For something more classic and local, sample the chilled crab with pickled celery and mustard; while special "plant based" items like artichoke hearts or squash with kale and cranberry are deliciously wholesome."
Cranes
Cuisine: Spanish
There is serious heart to be had at the centre of the city, thanks to Chef Pepe Moncayo's elegant spot, where novel ingredients are woven into the "concept" menu. What emerges is a sumptuous mash-up of dishes with Spanish and Japanese influence. Chef flexes his creativity on the omakase, and diners won't leave hungry or feeling pinched.
A $35 lunch or $65 dinner menu during Restaurant Week? Yes please!
Inspector notes: "From a sake-infused chawanmushi with pickled watermelon, ajo blanco featuring a pearly white scallop with mustard seeds, to a single oyster tempura, this team hits every nuanced flavor out of the park."
Jaleo
Cuisine: Spanish
Chef José Andrés has opened locations of this tapas hangout from Las Vegas to Chicago to Dubai, but it all started here inside the Beltway. Unafraid of color and pattern, the expansive interior is a riot of glass, tile, hardwood and art, and the vibe is never dull or low energy.
While the $25 lunch and $40 dinner menu are enticing, their exclusive to-go packages are home runs.
Inspector notes: "Sangria, vermouth and sherry make for wise starts before digging in to an expansive menu of Spanish favorites. Tables can make entire meals out of cured meats, cheeses and crispy fritters; but bigger plates like paella Valenciana with rabbit; gazpacho with goat cheese; and grilled pork sausage with white beans are also worthy orders."
Zaytinya (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Chef José Andrés' ocean-blue ode to the cuisine of Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey means an ample, wide-ranging carte. It's an ideal spot for suits sealing deals, as well as solo diners or friends catching up. Mezze is the menu's focus and the quality of food is solid.
Choose the $35 lunch menu for a preview of what this Mediterranean spot has to offer. Want a more comprehensive taste? Go for the $55 dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "Zero in on the mushroom kapnista with dates, walnuts, and labneh for richness. There are a myriad of spreads to be paired with fresh pita, followed by salads and flatbreads (or pide), which are of the dive-right-in variety. Vegetarians will revel in the diversity of dishes, while braised lamb is the Sunday roast everyone deserves."
Rasika
Cuisine: Indian
Everyone is here for their kitsch-free Indian cuisine and laid-back ambience—both of which are as perfectly suited for a casual night out with friends as they are for a formal dinner with colleagues or festive celebration. It’s difficult to live up to the hype, but Rasika turns out several winning dishes.
Besides winning dishes, this Indian spot is churning out delicious $35 lunch and $55 dinner menus for this year's Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Grab a seat at the back counter for views into the kitchen, which turns out such highlights as crispy palak chaat tossed with raita, tamarind and date chutneys. Then, crunchy okra displays a perfect blend of spicy and sour flavors. Match this with top house-made cubes of paneer, skewered with peppers, onions and accompanied by a tangy green sauce."
Oyamel (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Mexican
José Andrés and his team know their food and the loyal crowds here bear testament. Snag a seat at the entertaining ceviche bar and guzzle thirst-quenching drinks while snacking on small plates.
Inspector notes: "The kitchen's dedication to technique and ingredients is clear, with a particular penchant for south-of-the-border cuisine like huevos enfrijoladas, crispy chilaquiles and gorditas topped with Hudson Valley duck confit."
Stay nearby:
It’s not every day a 19th-century Romanesque Revival bank building in Washington’s Penn Quarter district reopens as a hotel, especially one as stylish as Riggs. It’s another sign of a new era for the nation’s capital — there’s more character here than in all of D.C.’s hotels circa 2000 put together. It starts with the well-preserved bones of the stately old bank, but this is no mere restoration — they’ve taken liberties, using the city’s history as their inspiration, and the result adds a welcome note of playfulness to the elegance you expect from a Washington, D.C. luxury hotel.
The Willard is the capital’s most elegant and old-fashioned hotel, and it’s still the unofficial center of Washington. Every president since the middle of the 19th century has been a guest, along with countless foreign diplomats and heads of state, and all manner of American legislators, lobbyists and assorted bigwigs have curried favor and struck deals with one another in this grand old hotel’s lounges and executive suites.
Shaw
Unconventional Diner (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: American
With its white walls and seafoam-green booths, this “diner” may look like the classic American translation, but is in fact a far cry from your tuna-melt standby. Instead, this kitchen ramps up known classics by riffing on tradition.
Hold off until dinner here, because during restaurant week, this Bib Gourmand offers a $40 three-course dinner menu.
Inspector notes: "Look no further than the kale nachos or meatloaf elevated with a hint of sriracha and morel mushroom gravy. Even waistline watchers won't be able to say no to those hearty chicken pot pie poppers."
Chaplin's
Cuisine: Asian
Chef/partner Myo Htun's Shaw operation, known for its conversation-worthy cocktails and excellent cuisine, continues to dish out delectable, crowd-pleasing dishes like "pay day injected dumplings" for the 21+ crowd. While ramen is all the rage, only a few rise to the level of this delicious hot spot. Not only are this chef's versions myriad, his approach is personal and especially slurpable.
The $25 brunch menu or $40 dinner menu? The choice is yours.
Inspector notes: "The hot variety (Chaplin A.S.S.) arrives with gloriously tender slabs of chicken and a sweltering broth; while the cold version, with springy noodles, zesty ginger and cool cucumber, is equally gratifying."
Southwest Waterfront
Kaliwa (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Asian
Chef Cathal Armstrong’s authentic and delicious Korean, Filipino or Thai cooking is blessed with serious flavor. A classic pancit is elevated with spring peas, spaghetti-like ribbons of carrots, chicharrónes and a tangle of noodles.
Serious flavors, serious ingredients, not-too-serious prices ($25 lunch or $55 dinner).
Inspector notes: "Thai items like pad tua faak yaow and kaeng daeng don’t just bring the spice, but also showcase each complex ingredient in its perfect harmony."
Flora Flora
Cuisine: Latin American
The Wharf is DC's hottest destination for moneyed residents and visitors alike. Dazzling views are par for the course here, but Flora Flora, nestled on the second floor of the Pendry Hotel in a light-flooded space, equally delights diners with its welcoming spirit and Latin-American fare. Whether it's produce from Maryland's Karm Farm, bivalves from Orchard Point Oyster Co., or mushrooms from local forager Tom Mueller, the kitchen sources locally when possible.
A taste of natural produce for a $35 lunch menu? Talk about a steal.
Inspector notes: "Most dishes have a flair, as in tuna crudo with grilled Jimmy Nardello red and green peppers with ajo blanco gazpacho. Street corn with a sprinkle of ancho chile powder is simple perfection, while empanadas, perhaps filled with variety of yellow squash, coconut milk and goat feta, are a can't-miss."
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The Jefferson combines old-world aesthetics with boutique-era services, amenities, and personality. The rooms are classic in design, but modern in function, with iPads in every room and suite and charging stations in the desks. Premier and Deluxe rooms are lavish, and the First Lady and Presidential suites are positively opulent — the latter featuring no fewer than five balconies with extraordinary views of the city and its monuments.
Van Ness
Sfoglina
Cuisine: Italian
This focused, consistent and lovely trattoria serves the kind of food that everyone wants to return to again and again. The name (Italian for “pasta master”) sets a very high bar but lives up to its moniker with a notable variety of hearty and elegant preparations listed as “classical” and “seasonal.”
Diners can expect a lunch ($25) and dinner menu ($55) filled with authentic and family-favorite Italian dishes at this Bib Gourmand during this year's Restaurant Week.
Inspector notes: "Highlights have included soft, almost whipped polenta folded with showers of cacio e pepe and piled with fresh green peas and shaved pecorino. Spinach tonnarelli melded with a vibrantly seasoned lamb ragù exudes a faint whiff of sweetness."
West End
Ris
Cuisine: American
Ris Lacoste helms the stove at this terrific neighborhood spot, a draw for diners in the company of family, business associates and lovers alike. The menu, with its ramped-up takes on the tried-and-true, toes the line between familiar and surprising.
Visit during lunch for a $25 three-course meal. Want more? Come back again later for their $55 dinner option.
Inspector notes: "Loaded with butter and olive oil and jazzed up with red pepper flakes, linguine with clams is briny and delicious and chicken Milanese has just the right amount of breading beneath its zippy tomato topping. Even the crown of cauliflower is interesting and complex, thanks to an ensemble of roasted vegetables slicked with mustard cream and an army of flavors."
Woodley Park
New Heights
Cuisine: American
In contrast to many of the shiny new restaurants that open every year, this Woodley Park veteran under-promises and over-delivers in the best of ways. The menu covers a lot of ground but does so admirably.
Fans of contemporary American cuisine should head toward New Heights during Restaurant Week for their $65 three-course dinner menu with a wine/cocktail pairing.
Inspector notes: " Broccolini with black garlic Caesar dressing, crispy fried oysters with pickled cauliflower, and tempura beach mushrooms dusted in a Moroccan spice blend are enough for a meal on their own."
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This is one of the new breeds of boutique hotels that aims to create an atmosphere of approachable sociability, rather than luxe elitism, and while its modernist, industrial architecture may recall the first wave of high-design boutique hotels, its interior decoration is warm and eclectic, and feels more collected than consciously designed.
