If you’re anything like me, food and travel go hand in hand. I don’t want to waste a dining opportunity on a stale sandwich at a museum!
However that’s not to say I’m so posh I wouldn’t eat from a food truck, or buy a decadentally sweet white chocolate Capitol Building at the Capitol Building cafeteria (because when in Rome…)
I love it all. From Michelin dining to a hot dog at a game, and you can get it all here in Washington, DC.
Here is a list of new places, and some still to open this year, to try out:
From street food to Michelin-starred dining (there are over 100 Michelin restaurants in DC) and everything in between, Washington, DC delivers a diverse culinary experience. This has been further enhanced with the opening of a variety of new restaurants and bars, including:
Tapori, a communal Indian street food restaurant, opened on H Street in March, offering shared plates and bold flavors from southern and Himalayan India.
Sagrada, a new restaurant by Knead Hospitality + Design off U Street, offers an eight-course psychedelic tasting menu with dishes featuring mushrooms like shiitake and lion’s mane, supporting psychedelic research at Johns Hopkins! The menu is a mystery until you arrive.
Stephen Starr has revitalised The Occidental, an historic 1906 DC restaurant near the White House, offering American classics and a martini-focused cocktail list in a 14,000-square-foot space decorated with murals and velvet furnishings. In front is a new WWI memorial with sculpture and water, really beautiful, so pop over there when you’re done.
River Club DC has introduced The Lobby in Georgetown, a bar with craft cocktails and waterfront views of the Potomac, offering a prix fixe brunch and exclusive food menus and happy hour daily.
Kata, an upscale supper club in Chinatown, blends Japanese and French influences, focusing on omakase and inventive cocktails in an intimate late-night setting.
Celebrity chef Eric Adjepong’s restaurant, Elmina, brings West African cuisine inspired by Ghanaian flavors and an innovative cocktail program to Union Market.
Willowsong at The Wharf highlights Mid-Atlantic flavors, with dishes like Rappahannock oysters and Chesapeake rockfish, created with regional ingredients. It’s located in the Intercontinental Hotel, where I stayed last time I visited – and I can also attest to their breakfast menu!
Bar Betsie, opening in Union Market, draws inspiration from co-owner JP Sabatier’s Puerto Rican mother, offering cocktails, beer, wine, and finger foods.
Dupont Coffee Collective offers a curated selection of specialty coffees and artisan pastries, focusing on sustainability and craftsmanship in Dupont Circle.
Life Alive, an organic café on M Street, serves plant-based, wellness-focused meals using locally sourced ingredients to inspire health and sustainability.
Barbouzard, a French-Mediterranean restaurant opening in Spring 2025 at Farragut Square, will blend classic Mediterranean dishes with contemporary twists in an elegant ambiance.
Atlas Brew Works will open its third DC location in the Bridge District in early 2025, featuring a taproom, brewery operations, and food from Andy’s Pizza.
Right Proper Brewing will open its third location in Northeast DC this summer, offering a 180-seat pub experience.
Fish Shop, a Scottish seafood restaurant favored by King Charles III, will open its first U.S. location at The Wharf in April, featuring locally sourced seafood by chef Ria Montes.
Because 1 post is never enough!
You might to read my other posts on Washington, DC, including Fabulous Things To Do for First-Timers, and then the next one which has lots of off-the-beaten track things and Hidden Gems in DC to discover.
But if you’ve only got 1 day in Washington, DC, this post will help you decide what to do!