Whether you live in a Washington, D.C. luxury property or you're visiting from out of town, if you want to make the most of a night out, look into making a reservation at one of the fantastic restaurants in the area. Reservations are essential when trying to get into Washington’s most exclusive restaurants. By preparing ahead of time, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is enjoying your night out, whether that’s with friends, a business partner, or someone special.
Want to create an evening to remember? Check out these fantastic Washington restaurants.
1. Annabelle
Photo courtesy of Annabelle
A prototypical corner establishment in Kalorama, Annabelle is in one of D.C.’s most elegant neighborhoods and home to several political personages (the restaurant faces the block housing the Embassies of Bulgaria, Estonia, Mali, and Somalia). Open for dinner, Annabelle serves contemporary American cuisine. Its core staff of five is anchored by owner-host Ashok Bajaj and executive chef Frank Ruta, formerly a chef in the White House. Patrons enjoy the intimate Garden Room, the Gallery Room and all its art, and Bar Barlow, which serves craft cocktails until close. The menu is a masterclass in flavor, satisfies most any yen, and is best explored in person. Make reservations online (seating hours generally extend from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
2. Bar Ivy
Photo courtesy of Bar Ivy
Bar Ivy opened to critical acclaim in June 2022. It is the latest and much-anticipated effort of Blagden Hospitality and represents the experienced D.C. restauranteurs’ first foray across the Potomac. Bar Ivy is set in Clarendon on Wilson Boulevard next door to Waterhouse Coffee & Juice Bar. The menu pushes impeccable seafood (octopus, prawns, clams) with savory vegetables, a combination that hearkens back to the Potomac River shore’s history as a fishery. Much of the produce that makes the menu, like sugar peas and mushrooms, have been foraged in just the right season and meticulously prepared. Regarding atmosphere, the spacious design, outdoor seating, and morning coffee kiosk reflect a West Coast influence. As the restaurant emerges from its soft opening phase, it will make more seating available. You can make reservations online for indoor dining or arrive early for priority seating outdoors.
3. Imperfecto
Photo courtesy of OOAK Architects
Imperfecto occupies a prime location with Apartments at Westlight only a block north of Washington Circle. Its popularity stems from that location and its status as one of the best brunch spots in D.C. (perhaps the restaurant’s credo of imperfection is a match for the feel of great food after a night out). The menu, which changes daily based on ingredients sourced, exists at the intersection of Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine, whereas the restaurants design is Greek. Generally, the summer dinner menu runs the gamut from light labneh to savory duck, lamb, and wagyu. At brunch, you can try the restaurant’s spicy take on avocado toast or go with more adventurous options like Middle East Benedict. You now can reserve the Michelin star table, a 12-course Omakase-style tasting menu served by chef Enrique Limardo (reservations can be made online).
4. L'Ardente
Photo courtesy of Potomac Construction
L’Ardente purports to be D.C.’s premier glam Italian restaurant, and it delivers. Its location at the nexus of Capitol Crossing adds to the hype surrounding this Michelin-reviewed venue. The chandeliers sparkle, the wooden beams shade, and you can discern the smell of food escaping from the gold-plated pizza oven. L’Ardente, open for lunch and dinner, offers pizza, pasta, appetizers, and a fabulous wine selection. Reservations are mandatory and can be booked online for the dining room (entryway), lounge (an adjacent area), or galleria (a room with a local art collection beyond the lounge).
5. Cafe Colline
Photo courtesy of Cafe Colline
At Cafe Colline, you'll find regional French-inspired cuisine prepared by chef Brendan L'Etoile. It’s a beautiful place to spend a quiet, elegant evening surrounded by luxury. Cafe Colline bills itself as a restaurant offering the same experience you would enjoy in Paris without ever having to set foot on a plane. It's the perfect place for an elegant date, a quiet evening with friends, or a relaxed brunch. Even classic dishes feel incredibly fresh when enjoyed at Cafe Colline, where the relaxed atmosphere draws guests in and invites them to enjoy a piquant meal.
6. Buena Vida Gastrolounge
Photo courtesy of Buena Vida Gastrolounge
Buena Vida is an authentic Mexican restaurant in the restaurant district of Clarendon. The career of top chef Jaime Pelayo includes stops in Mexico City, Barcelona, New York City, and now Washington, D.C.; to Buene Vida he brings a culinary background steeped in Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. More than a pit stop, Buena Vida is a unique dining experience highlighted by servers who bring new dishes as they learn your tastes — a culinary choose-your-own-adventure. At the same time, the dining tables, surrounded by indoor plants and suffused by natural light, would foment conversation between even the purest of strangers. The menu comprises flavorful soups and salads, salsa, and a raw bar to be sampled in preparation for your main course. Reservations are online, and Buena Vida recommends arriving at least an hour prior to close.
7. Ilili
Photo courtesy of Hospitality Design
You can find Ilili in The Wharf, the mixed-use development, just south of Benjamin Banneker Park. The restaurant is founded on ancient Lebanese cuisine, and its D.C. location is the group’s first expansion from New York’s Flatiron District. The menu is a delicious mashup of Lebanese, Levintine, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes heavy on specialty herbs and spices.
Head chef Philippe Massoud learned the trade as an apprentice to a Beirut hotel chef at a time when Lebanon was an international center of banking, commerce, and tourism. In time Massoud emigrated to the U.S., bringing with him a sharp knowledge of Lebanese cuisine and respect for the nation’s indomitable spirit of generosity and hospitality.
The mezza-style dining on display at Ilili offers beef, lamb, chicken, and duck; seafood like oysters and duck shawarma; and favorite dishes such as hummus, baba ghannouj, fattoush, and tabbouleh. With the sole exception of the filet mignon in its mixed grill item, all the menu is halal. The restaurant’s reservation book guarantees you esating in the dining room and is open max 30 days ahead of time.
8. Parc de Ville
Photo courtesy of Parc de Ville
The golden glow emanating from Parc de Ville reveals a Mosaic District restaurant high in class and great for parties. The food menus, divided between brunch and dinner, feature hors d’oeuvres, cheese plates, and various French-inspired entrees. The rooftop lounge of Parc de Ville is a fan favorite when the weather complies, and when it doesn’t, the restaurant offers dining room seating and carryout. You can reserve a table online, and Parc de Ville now accepts requests for private events and parties, including wedding receptions. If you make no reservations and there’s a wait for a dinner table, you can always pass the time with drinks on the rooftop.
9. Reveler’s Hour
Photo courtesy of DCist
Reveler’s Hour knows what it does best and does it extremely well: Italian pasta. The five house-made entrees pack a flavorful punch, featuring spices like black pepper, jalapenos, shishito peppers, and spicy honey butter. Including dessert, the restaurant sets you up for a three-course meal. Appetizers, or firsts, include eggplant parmesan, heirloom tomatoes, pork belly, and garlic knots. The wines complement this restaurant’s warm atmosphere. Reservations, while recommended, may not be necessary, as the restaurant notes a handful of high-top tables are available first come, first-served.
10. Shōtō
Photo courtesy of The Business Journals
In a nutshell, Shōtō is a zen masterpiece where Japanese cuisine is prepared by world-class chefs and subtly altered to fit D.C. Well before you order, you will be captivated by your surroundings — the open kitchen, the moss wall, and the ceiling ornament made with hundreds of rocks taken from an active volcano in Japan. Completing the ambiance are a music director (not a DJ) playing pulsing tunes and an ice chef (not a bartender). Managing partner Arman Naqi claims there’s not a bad seat in the house, and if reviews are to be trusted, the same holds true for the comprehensive menu. The offerings peak with wagyu steak, caviar, and sakes; the entirety of the menu, hiding gems like snow crab tacos, is less to be read than explored. Shōtō debuted in early 2022 and sits downtown just north of Connecticut Ave. Reservations can be made online through the restaurant’s website.
Washington, D.C. is filled with stunning restaurants to try with friends, family, or someone special. At these restaurants, you'll need to reserve a table early to ensure you can arrive at your preferred time. Want to learn more about luxury living in Washington, D.C.? Homaira Karimi can help you find the right property for your needs. Contact us today to begin the next chapter of your homebuying journey.
