Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossom season is an annual affair that has thousands flocking to the nation’s capital, with pink petals unfurling, Instagram grids overloading, and half the city descending upon the Tidal Basin in pursuit of that perfect shot. The iconic cherry trees, gifted from Japan in 1912, stand as a metaphor for the city’s own transient beauty, captivating thousands with their delicate blooms before they fall to the ground, scattered like confetti. But nature’s spectacle isn’t the only show worth booking in advance. As the crowds thicken and the air fills with the scent of flowers and spring, it’s time to consider what’s on the table.
D.C. boasts a growing selection of culinary destinations that elevate the dining scene as much as the blooms themselves. Along the Cherry Blossom route—whether you’re strolling the National Mall, exploring the Tidal Basin, or simply soaking in the spring air—you’ll find restaurants that provide more than just sustenance. These Michelin-Starred spots offer an oasis of flavor, artistry, and fine dining, transforming your seasonal excursion into an unforgettable culinary experience.
Here’s your map to where to dine and stay, all within a stone’s throw of those beautiful petals.
West End
Blue Duck Tavern
Cherry blossom season is about transience, but Blue Duck Tavern is about the slow, deliberate appreciation of ingredients at their peak. This West End fixture, with its open kitchen and farm-to-table ethos, delivers exquisitely simple dishes—think butter-poached lobster, roasted duck, and a pastry program that might just make you forget about the flowers entirely. Book a table outside if you can; the streetscape of blooming trees is a worthy opening act to the meal.
Stay nearby:
Park Hyatt Washington
By now Park Hyatt’s modus operandi should be familiar: traditional hospitality and modern amenities, served under a veneer of chic yet subdued contemporary design. It’s pitched perfectly for Washington’s more style-conscious guests, its interiors soothingly, stylishly Zen, and its service very much up to a diplomat’s standard.
Penn Quarter
D.C.’s cherry blossoms may be ephemeral, but the memory of a meal at Two MICHELIN Star minibar lingers long after the last bite. The city’s most experimental dining experience—a mere handful of seats, a procession of bite-sized wonders, and the mad-scientist magic of José Andrés—feels entirely in sync with the fleeting beauty of peak bloom. Expect edible illusions, molecular flourishes, and a steep but worthy price tag. Consider it your cherry blossom splurge.
Sushi Nakazawa
The cherry blossoms may be the star of the season, but if you’re looking for another exercise in precision and artistry, head to One MICHELIN Star Sushi Nakazawa. The D.C. outpost of the famed New York omakase counter is just as exacting in its 20-course progression of sushi, featuring pristine fish, expert knifework, and whisper-light rice. A counter seat is prime real estate here, as is a reservation made well in advance.
Rasika
One can only endure so many sakura-themed cocktails before craving something with a little more firepower. Enter Rasika, where Indian flavors—bright, complex, unapologetically bold—shake off any floral fatigue. Their palak chaat, a crispy spinach wonder, is a rite of passage, while the tandoori lamb chops and black cod are what make this One Michelin Star spot a perennial favorite. A warm, spiced chai to finish? Consider it your farewell to the season in a cup.
Stay nearby:
Riggs Washington DC
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 One MICHELIN Key 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.
The Wharf
Del Mar
This Spanish jewel at The Wharf is a sensory escape from the seasonal crowds—where the saffron-infused paellas and delicate tapas hold their own against the waterfront views. Sip a floral-forward gin & tonic, nosh on razor clams and jamón Ibérico, and congratulate yourself on sidestepping the tourist-trap traps.
Stay nearby:
Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf
It’s clear from a glance at its ultra-modern façade that this One MICHELIN Key hotel is no ordinary luxury place, and its setting on the waterfront lends it an escapist aspect as well. The views of the Potomac are some of the city’s finest. The interiors are decorated in a modernist style that’s visibly Parisian-influenced, in keeping with the local custom, and the rooms and suites are both stylish and luxurious, most of them facing the river, all of them equally well suited to business and to leisure.
Hero image: Michael / Adobe Stock
