Once a tobacco-trading hub and now home to cobblestone streets and historic rowhouses, Georgetown is an old neighborhood—nearly 40 years older than DC itself, in fact. It was where Thomas Jefferson lived, where Jackie O and JFK met, where Sally Quinn hosted her soirées. If more recently it’s become known for throngs of tourists—and college students—Georgetown is currently in the midst of a mini-renaissance, with an influx of hot restaurants and shops. Here are some of the most interesting arrivals, plus things to do on your next visit.

 

Eat and Drink

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Osteria Mozza

After two years of anticipation, Le Diplomate owner Stephen Starr and California chef Nancy Silverton opened the Italian restaurant and market Osteria Mozza last November. In a historic space formerly occupied by Dean & DeLuca, the restaurant is spacious—20,000 square feet—but hard to get into. If you snag a reservation, we recommend the raviolo, burricotta with artichokes, hanger steak, and chicken alla diavola, plus Silverton’s famous focaccia di recco and deconstructed Caesar salad. You can also stop by the gourmet market near the front door for fresh produce and imported wine.

 

Two Nine

A number of Japanese spots arrived in Georgetown earlier this year, including Two Nine, the first brick-and-mortar fixture for onetime Sushi Taro chefs Amy Phan and Zach Ramos. The duo, who delighted locals with their pandemic-­era sushi delivery packages and at-home omakase tastings, honor these roots with a takeout-only daytime cafe downstairs. (Chirashi bowls, loaded with seafood from Japan’s Toyosu fish market and seasonal rice, headline the menu.) Upstairs, an intimate eight-seat omakase counter serves nigiri and sashimi accompanied by exotic hits like firefly squid and sea urchin.

 

Sushi Gaku

And another example: After closing his downtown lunch go-to, Sushi Gakyu, late last year, chef Yoshi Ota dropped the “y” and opened Sushi Gaku in May. The sushi is the draw—including Osaka-style, made in a wooden mold, and rolls stuffed with fermented fish. But the offerings extend beyond that. Think grilled eel, shrimp tempura, and octopus dumplings. For $100 a person, enjoy the set menu: miso soup, sashimi carpaccio, ten nigiri, a roll of your choice, and ice cream for dessert.

 

My Little Chamomile

Tucked inside an alleyway, My Little Chamomile opened in March as a sit-down accompaniment to chef/owner Cagla Onal’s neighboring lunch spot, Green Almond Pantry. Onal shifts her focus to dinner here, offering her familiar brand of comforting Turkish-­Mediterranean cuisine: grilled whole branzino, beef-stuffed grape leaves, and Greek chocolate cake with pistachios. A weekend brunch menu boasts an array of egg dishes—including a potato-and-arugula frittata seasoned with saffron—and Onal’s signature focaccia.

 

Alara

The menu at restaurateur Hakan Ilhan’s long-awaited Alara runs the gamut of Middle Eastern cuisine. Chef Ahamet Aydogmusmus presents a variety of hot and cold mezze—beef-stuffed roasted eggplant, mint-garnished grilled halloumi, spicy labneh dip—plus a four-course prix fixe menu for the indecisive. Weekend brunch offerings include soujouk eggs Benedict and a classic shakshuka.

 

Rimtang

Rimtang, named after the Thai word for “street stall,” embodies a no-fuss approach to dining. Which is exactly what chef/owner Saran “Peter” Kannasute and his mother, head chef Prapit La Femina, had in mind when they opened the restaurant in June 2024. A more casual departure from Kannasute’s upscale sushi dining room, Kyojin, Rimtang serves up street-food standbys along with traditional regional dishes like tomato dip served with crispy pork skin and ground kurobuta in a spicy Thai curry sauce.

 

Afghania

Sofia Masroor and her three daughters—the team behind upper Northwest’s Bistro Aracosia and Springfield’s Afghan Bistro—broadened their Afghan restaurant empire last year with the launch of Afghania, a cozy, low-lit eatery focused on the country’s less recognized borderland cuisine. Dishes “from the frontier” include shinwari karahi, a traditional smoked-meat stew popular in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a mixed-grill platter loaded with lamb, rib eye, and fragrant rice with carrots, raisins, and pistachios.

 

Yala Greek Ice Cream

Chrys Kefalas founded Yala Greek Ice Cream in honor of his grandfather, a Greek immigrant whose work ethic inspired Kefalas’s commitment to high-quality ice cream. Each flavor starts with a base of local milk from Maryland’s South Mountain Creamery, infused with imported ingredients—fruit preserves from Greece, Tongan vanilla, Belgian chocolate, and other flavors, including wild cherries and pistachios.

 

Koryouri Urara

Another new player on the sushi scene, Koryouri Urara, debuted in June with a focus on seasonal small plates. In addition to a sashimi course, chef Urara Iwasaki’s tasting menu features some of her favorite Japanese dishes. Offerings have included chawanmushi (an egg custard made with dashi) and deep-fried-lotus-root sandwiches. A sushi counter—helmed by former Sushi Ogawa and Sushi Capitol executive chef Tetsuya Nakata—is expected to open before the end of this year, serving $100-plus omakase offerings along with à la carte items.

 

Shopping

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Housebar

Expanding on the success of the Navy Yard location he opened in 2022, Clyde Davis Jr. has now brought Housebar to Georgetown: a swanky liquor store on a mission to shake up the way people drink and entertain at home. You’ll find everything you need to throw a party that’ll impress your friends—curated wines, spirits, sweets, bitters, charcuterie, and other pantry delights. The store also hosts pop-up tastings.

 

Staud

In April, LA designer Sarah “Staud” Staudinger brought her cult-favorite luxury line, Staud, to Georgetown, delighting fans of her stylish, modern aesthetic. The brand’s retro handbags have been spotted on fashion influencers such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Lean into your rustic side with this fall’s “Pastoral” line, featuring apparel in rich, earthy hues and sumptuous leather.

 

Mejuri

The upscale label Mejuri specializes in fine pieces of everyday jewelry to give to “your damn self,” as the store’s slogan goes. Founded in 2015 by a Jordanian family of jewelers, Mejuri added its Georgetown location in August, further extending its global reach. (Bethesda and Tysons also have outposts.) Offerings include sleek, stackable rings and bracelets in a variety of metal finishes, as well as classic diamond tennis bracelets.

 

Sweaty Betty

The London activewear brand Sweaty Betty, known for its high-quality women’s workout apparel, now has a Georgetown location. You’ll find mix-and-match sports bras and leggings, yoga pants, and running shorts in a wide variety of styles and colors, along with lifestyle clothing made for comfort. In short, everything you’ll want to wear when you break a sweat.

 

Kiehl’s

Originally an apothecary founded in New York, skincare giant Kiehl’s was a fixture in Georgetown until the location closed in 2021. In March, it reopened at the same spot, bringing back beloved staples like calendula herbal-extract toner, ultra facial cream, UV serums, and whipped body butter. Shoppers can also get skincare consultations, facials, and a Derma-Reader skin analysis to help build a facial routine.

 

FARM Rio

A Brazilian brand known for its colorful prints and dramatic sensibility, FARM Rio opened its Georgetown outpost in 2024, featuring natural themes on dresses, jumpsuits, tops, skirts, and intricate knitwear. The decor alone will transport you to the Brazilian jungle: green pom-pom rugs that mimic the forest floor, vivid wall illustrations, and clothes hung on faux tree branches. Many designs are vacation-­ready but will shine in both Dakar and DC.

 

Things to Do

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The Escape Game DC

Gather up to seven of your friends and visit the Escape Game DC. Each family-friendly escape-room adventure has a storyline—involving, say, a cursed mummy or pirate high jinks. Players have a time limit to solve the puzzle and escape the room, either 45 minutes or one hour, depending on the game. Hints are available if you get stumped. Slots can be booked on the website.

 

Georgetown Garden Shop

The owner of an area landscape-design company, Caroline Ervin has worked with clients to adorn their gardens with blooms and greenery for nearly two decades. In 2023, she opened the Georgetown Garden Shop, which has everything you need to plan your own natural oasis—including gardening tools, planters, and outdoor furniture. It also hosts classes taught by pros. Learn the art of seasonal floral design, holiday wreath decorating, and herb container gardening.

 

Meow Maison

Georgetown now has two cafes filled with cute cats. Besides the longtime fixture Crumbs & Whiskers, newcomer Meow Maison is a cafe and adoption lounge where you can enjoy a “catpuccino” or a “purrfect matcha latte”—with a few cuddles on the side. The drinks and snacks are prepared offsite by Meow Maison’s partner coffee shop, Cafe Con Bagel. Reserve a 30-­minute or hourlong session to snuggle with the kitties—and maybe even apply to adopt one.

 

Glowbar

Pamper your skin with a custom 30-­minute facial courtesy of an aesthetician at Glowbar. The New York–based skincare service offers a variety of treatments, such as dermaplaning, chemical peels, and LED light therapy. Memberships are available, but you can also book an appointment without one if you’re simply looking for an afternoon of self-care.

 

MVMNT Society

After buying the MVMNT Society, the popular Alexandria fitness studio, in 2024, owner/instructor Jillian Burch Stalter and her husband set their sights on Georgetown. Their DC studio opened this year, offering classes including barre, mat Pilates, and strength training with Bala props. Modified or advanced options are available for all fitness levels.

 

“What’s Old Is New Again”

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Long ago, Georgetown was home to some of the city’s most hopping nightlife. Musicians such as Jimmy Buffett and Carole King played shows at the Cellar Door, young punks reveled at the club Poseurs, and the 1980s classic film St. Elmo’s Fire gave the Third Edition bar cinematic street cred. In the decades after, Georgetown lost much of that edge, becoming mainly a mecca for tourists hitting the upscale shops on weekends. But now, in the wake of the pandemic, the neighborhood has sprung to life with a crush of new attractions. Georgetown, everyone seems to agree, is cool again.

Since Covid, Sarah Hake, a real-­estate agent with Compass, has seen a significant spike in young buyers looking to settle in the neighborhood, which boasts a median sales price this year of about $1.65 million. Glitzy new restaurants such as Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza and an influx of retail hot spots–Kim Kardashian’s Skims shapewear brand made M Street the home of its first permanent brick-and-mortar store–have brought renewed interest. “When people start spending time in an area because that’s where they’re going shopping or out to dinner or happy hour, it follows that they start thinking it’s a neighborhood they might want to live in,” Hake says. “Georgetown,” she contends, “is in the midst of a super-exciting renaissance.”

That extends to development going on in the hood. José Andrés’s hospitality group is building a luxury hotel on M Street, the Bazaar House, slated for a 2027 opening. It will feature a private membership club, a wellness center, and an event space, plus a selection of bars and restaurants. In February, Marriott unveiled the chic boutique hotel Canal House. On the residential side, acclaimed architect David Adjaye is leading the transformation of the old West Heating Plant into a Four Seasons condo complex. Popular local developers such as Dilan Homes are updating historic rowhouses–a draw for buyers who don’t want to navigate the neighborhood’s rigid building codes, according to Hake. Plus, she says, the traditional aesthetic of these listings appeals to young property hunters: “What’s old is new again.”

 

What’s Selling

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Georgetown seemingly has it all: quaint tree-lined streets, historic rowhouses, swank condos, waterfront access, and abundant shopping and dining. No surprise, then, that its real estate commands a hefty price. Here’s a sample of recent sales.

This article appears in the October 2025 issue of Washingtonian.