Restaurant guide

Restaurants in Washington, DC

Good meals are easier to enjoy when they belong to the day you already have planned. These Washington, DC restaurants are grouped by area, so lunch and dinner do not send you across town for no reason.

Where to eat in Washington, DC

Use the area notes to keep meals close to the parts of Washington, DC you will already be exploring. The destination guide can help you shape the rest of the day around them.

National Mall and Federal Core

Photoreal dining scene representing Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, DC

Old Ebbitt Grill

A classic DC meal with history, location, and one of the easier all-purpose lunch-or-dinner fits near the Mall.

Best for: Classic, Lunch, Seafood

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

seafood$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Rasika in Washington, DC

Rasika

Rasika is a dinner choice that gives DC a more distinctive food identity than generic steakhouse planning.

Best for: Dinner, Indian, refined

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

steakhouse$$$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Zaytinya in Washington, DC

Zaytinya

Make this the move when you want something central, energetic, and easy to share.

Best for: Mediterranean, Lunch, Dinner

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$$
Photoreal dining scene representing L'Ardente in Washington, DC

L'Ardente

A larger-format pasta dinner that still feels worthy of a city-break splurge.

Best for: Pasta, Dinner, refined

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$$

Georgetown, NoMa, and H Street

Photoreal dining scene representing Founding Farmers DC in Washington, DC

Founding Farmers DC

Go here when the day needs a more distinctive start before monuments or museums.

Best for: Breakfast, Brunch, Comfort

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

brunch$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Union Market in Washington, DC

Union Market

Save this for when when the group wants options without turning the meal into a compromise.

Best for: Market, Lunch, Casual

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$
Photoreal dining scene representing The Dabney in Washington, DC

The Dabney

One of a notable reservation dinners in the city when the meal is supposed to help define your visit.

Best for: Dinner, refined, Reservation

Before you go: Reserve before you build the rest of the day around it.

fine-dining$$$$Reserve ahead
Photoreal dining scene representing St. Anselm in Washington, DC

St. Anselm

St. Anselm is a dinner pick for travelers who want one more distinctive night out away from the most obvious corridors.

Best for: Steak, Dinner, refined

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

steakhouse$$$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Yellow in Washington, DC

Yellow

A bakery-and-coffee stop that works especially well on slower neighborhood mornings.

Best for: Bakery, Lunch, Coffee

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

cafe$
Photoreal dining scene representing Martin's Tavern in Washington, DC

Martin's Tavern

A historic Georgetown standby that fits lunch especially well when the day is already built around walking.

Best for: Historic, Lunch, Classic

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Roaming Rooster in Washington, DC

Roaming Rooster

Roaming Rooster is a casual lunch for Nashville-hot-style chicken without forcing your visit into a generic fast-casual lane.

Best for: Sandwiches, Lunch, Casual

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$
Photoreal dining scene representing Maketto in Washington, DC

Maketto

A good lunch-or-dinner option when you want your visit to include a more creative neighborhood food stop.

Best for: Asian, Lunch, Dinner

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$$

Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, and U Street

Photoreal dining scene representing Le Diplomate in Washington, DC

Le Diplomate

Le Diplomate is a DC dinner that still feels lively instead of ceremonial.

Best for: French, Dinner, Classic

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$$
Photoreal dining scene representing Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, DC

Ben's Chili Bowl

One of the clearest local lunch stops when you want DC history and personality in the same meal.

Best for: Lunch, Casual, Classic

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

restaurant$
Photoreal dining scene representing Call Your Mother Deli in Washington, DC

Call Your Mother Deli

Call Your Mother Deli is a breakfast-and-lunch stop for bagels and a more modern neighborhood-food version of DC.

Best for: Breakfast, Lunch, Casual

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

breakfast$

Capitol Hill and Eastern Market

Photoreal dining scene representing Ted's Bulletin in Washington, DC

Ted's Bulletin

An easy breakfast or brunch reset that fits well into a museum-and-monuments trip shape.

Best for: Breakfast, Brunch, Casual

Before you go: Check current hours and access before you go.

brunch$

Plan the rest of your Washington, DC trip

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Go to Washington, DC guide

Menus, opening days, and reservation policies change. Check the restaurant directly before making plans. Last destination review: 2026-06-25.