Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-22:30
Lupo Verde in Washington DC is the U Street Italian dining room and wine bar from Pasta Cucina, a deep Italian-only list with 30 bottles by the glass.
Signature pour: Etna Rosso by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional wines
Food: Italian small plates and pastas
Tip: The downstairs enoteca takes walk-ins for wine flights only; the upstairs room is the proper-meal seat.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sat 17:00-23:00
Apero in Washington DC is sommelier Elli Benchimol's Georgetown P Street Champagne and wine bar in a historic townhouse since 2021, a Michelin-listed room.
Signature pour: Grower-producer Champagne flight
Wine focus: Grower Champagne and Euro-centric wines
Food: French small plates and caviar service
Tip: The upstairs sister La Boheme runs the kitchen tasting menu; downstairs Apero takes the Champagne and caviar focus and the bar takes walk-ins.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sat 17:00-23:00
The Dabney Cellar in Washington DC is the basement wine bar below The Dabney in Shaw, with a tight Mid-Atlantic-and-German list, snacks from upstairs.
Signature pour: Mid-Atlantic riesling by the glass
Wine focus: Mid-Atlantic and German wines
Food: Snacks from the upstairs kitchen
Tip: Snag a seat at the wine bar for the upstairs kitchen menu without the dining-room reservation pressure.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sun 17:00-22:30
Bistrot Lepic Wine Bar in Washington DC is the Georgetown wine bar above the French bistro Bistrot Lepic on Wisconsin Avenue, a small French-only room.
Signature pour: Burgundy by the glass
Wine focus: French regional wines
Food: French small plates
Tip: Wednesday wine tastings from 19:00 are $30 for five pours; reserve a week ahead via the website.
Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-22:30
Iron Gate in Washington DC is the Dupont Circle Greek-Mediterranean dining room and wine bar on N Street, a former carriage-house with a Mediterranean wine.
Signature pour: Assyrtiko by the glass
Wine focus: Greek and Mediterranean wines
Food: Wood-fire mezze and small plates
Tip: The covered garden patio is the city's prettiest spring-and-summer wine bar seat; book the late slot for the lower light.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sat 17:00-00:00
barmini by Jose Andres in Washington DC is the cocktail laboratory next to Minibar on E Street, a 100-cocktail menu with a deep sherry and Spanish wine.
Signature pour: Manzanilla sherry flight
Wine focus: Cocktail laboratory with sherry and wine focus
Food: Pintxos and tapas
Tip: Bartender's choice is the play; describe a flavour and let the staff build. Reservations are required.