American$$$downtownMon-Fri 08:00-02:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-02:00
Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC is the city's oldest saloon, founded 1856 and now serving 1.5 million guests a year across four bars at its 15th Street.
Signature: Crab cakes, Oyster Happy Hour
Order: The crab cake plate; the kitchen runs through 1000 cakes a week and the binder is invisibly thin.
Tip: The 15:00-18:00 oyster Happy Hour is the city's best seafood deal at $1.95 each; sit at the Old Bar.
New American$$$dupont-circleMon-Tue 17:00-21:00, Wed-Thu 17:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00
Annabelle in Washington DC is Frank Ruta's elegant Dupont Circle dining room on Florida Avenue, the Knightsbridge Group's most polished kitchen with a French.
Signature: Wagyu tartare, Whole roasted duck for two
Order: The whole roasted duck for two, carved tableside; pre-order on the booking page.
Tip: The chef's counter overlooks the kitchen pass and is the better booking for the food show; book at lunch for a calmer pace.
Taiwanese$$h-streetTue-Sat 09:00-22:00
Maketto in Washington DC is Erik Bruner-Yang's H Street Cambodian-Taiwanese cafe and dining room, with a sneaker boutique on the ground floor and a courtyard.
Signature: Fried chicken, Beef pho-style stew
Order: The Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich on a Maketto-baked bun; the menu has carried it since opening.
Tip: Brunch service runs Cambodian breakfast plates that the dinner menu skips; the courtyard bar is the local move.
New England Seafood$$$navy-yardMon-Thu 16:00-22:00, Fri 12:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
The Salt Line in Washington DC is the Navy Yard New England-style seafood room overlooking Diamond Teague Park, with Connecticut-style lobster rolls.
Signature: Lobster roll, Oysters by the dozen
Order: The hot Connecticut-style lobster roll on a butter-toasted bun; the menu favourite since opening.
Tip: Patio runs from April to October and faces the Anacostia Booking recommended for weekends.
Mediterranean$$$downtownMon 00:00-00:00, Tue 11:30-14:30, Tue 17:00-00:00, Wed 11:30-14:30, Wed 17:00-00:00, Thu 11:30-14:30, Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri 11:30-14:30, Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00, Sun 11:30-14:30
Barbouzard in Washington DC is chef Cedric Maupillier's French-Mediterranean dining room on K Street since July 2025, the Convivial chef's next chapter.
Signature: Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, Daube de Boeuf Provencale
Order: The Bouillabaisse Marseillaise; the kitchen's anchor seafood preparation and the menu's editorial focal point.
Tip: Sunday brunch starts at 11:00; the alcove booths take the smaller parties and the bouillabaisse comes with a 24-hour heads-up.
Brazilian$$$adams-morganSun-Thu 17:30-21:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-21:30
Reveler's Hour in Washington DC is Bill Jensen and chef Mari Kolchraiber's Adams Morgan Brazilian-Italian dining room on Columbia Road, the sister.
Signature: House-made pastas, Wood-fired grill mains
Order: Whichever fresh pasta course leads the menu.
Tip: Bottles of wine are 50 percent off Monday to Thursday before 18:30; the room takes walk-ins at the bar most nights.