Day-by-day eating plans for Washington DC. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.
Day-by-day plans
Washington DC weekend: the classics, done right ★ 4.6
A weekend built around DC's invented foods, the rooms that codified them, and one Michelin tasting menu to close.
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Day 1: Saturday: half-smoke, museum lunch, Penn Quarter tasting
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Day 2: Sunday: Eastern Market, Capitol Hill, U Street wine bar
Washington DC family three days: monuments and food, paced ★ 4.3
A three-day plan for a family with school-age kids: tactile food experiences, kid-friendly tables, plenty of doughnuts along the way.
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Day 1: Day 1: Smithsonian morning, half-smoke lunch, brasserie dinner
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Day 2: Day 2: museum, market, pizza night
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Day 3: Day 3: bagels, monuments, family brunch
Washington DC on a budget: under $40 a day ★ 4.3
A two-day plan to eat Washington DC well for under $40 per person per day, leaning on half-smokes, pupusas, falafel and Ethiopian platters.
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Day 1: Day 1: half-smoke, pupusa lunch, jumbo slice
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Day 2: Day 2: pho, soul lunch, Ethiopian dinner
Washington DC top-to-bottom: half-smoke to Michelin ★ 4.7
Three days that swing from Ben's Chili Bowl half-smoke to the deepest Michelin tasting menus, with the Penn Quarter and 14th Street tasting clusters as the spine.
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Day 1: Day 1: invented DC
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Day 2: Day 2: Ethiopian and 14th Street tasting
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Day 3: Day 3: tasting-menu spine
Itineraries in Washington DC, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in Washington DC?
Peak food season in Washington DC is year-round.
What time do people eat in Washington DC?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in Washington DC?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in Washington DC?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Washington DC rewards trust.