Best New Restaurant

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1. La’ Shukran

Middle Eastern flavors collide with French bistro dishes at Michael Rafidi’s ultra-cool restaurant and rooftop.

 

2. Chai Pani

This color-blasted newcomer recently arrived from Asheville, where its offbeat Indian street food won a James Beard Award.

 

3. Osteria Mozza

Star Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton has won plenty of fans with her mozzarella bar, Italian snacks, and famed desserts in the former Dean & DeLuca space.

 

Best Restaurant Service

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1. Albi

You may be tempted to order everything on the menu, but servers will skillfully help you navigate it.

 

2. Rose’s Luxury

Still one of the most fun places to eat in DC, with engaging waitstaff you’d want to hang out with.

 

3. Moon Rabbit

You’ll be glad servers turned you onto delights like durian mousse and eel mochi beignets.

 

Coolest Decor

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1. El Presidente

Trippy bar decor meets a theatrical dining room at Stephen Starr’s mod-Mex spot.

 

2. Maydan

It’s tough to beat decorative elements like the central copper-domed hearth with a roaring fire.

 

3. Chai Pani and Filomena

The Indian restaurant Chai Pani is awash in vibrant paintings both inside and out. Filomena, the 42-year-old Italian institution, is crammed with whimsical tchotchkes.

 

Best in DC

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1. Albi

Michael Rafidi’s Levantine flagship has racked up awards—this year, it also took the number-one spot on Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants list.

 

2. Cucina Morini

Coastal Italian crudos and pastas are served up in a buzzy dining room.

 

3. Yellow

Rafidi wins again with these twin cafes, known for baklava lattes and labneh-filled croissants.

 

Best in Maryland

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1. Caruso’s Grocery

Italian American pastas and parms stick to tradition but are made with precision.

 

2. 2Fifty BBQ

These barbecue spots are rightfully lauded for their Texas brisket, but don’t sleep on the pulled pork.

 

3. Aventino

A swank dining room from the team behind the Red Hen.

 

Best in Virginia

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1. Joon

Longtime cookbook writer Najmieh Batmanglij joins forces with ex-Maydan chef Chris Morgan at this sophisticated Persian restaurant.

 

2. Ellie Bird

Grab a seat in the birdcage booth and dig into Yuan Tang’s creative Asian-meets-Euro menu.

 

3. Stracci Pizza

Square, Roman-style pizzas topped with handmade stracciatella cheese sail out of this snug dining room.

 

Favorite Cocktails

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1. Jane Jane

A tiny hot spot oozing midcentury charm.

 

2. Cucina Morini

One of the best happy-hour deals in town? The nightly $7 martinis (good ones!) at the bar here.

 

3. The Green Zone

Middle Eastern flavors are shown off in classic and inventive cocktails and mocktails.

 

Pizza

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1. Andy’s Pizza

When that hankering for a New York slice hits.

 

2. Martha Dear

The unique Mediterranean pies feature toppings like kefalotyri cheese on sourdough crusts.

 

3. Timber Pizza

Thin, neo-Neapolitan pizzas can be had with drizzled pesto, spicy fruit jam, and more.

 

Brunch

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1. Unconventional Diner

Have a weekday hankering for sweet-potato shakshuka? Brunch at this eclectic spot is served daily until 3:45.

 

2. Ambar

You can “dine without limits” at these Balkan restaurants, which specialize in all-you-can-eat parades of flatbreads, mezze, and kebabs.

 

3. Le Diplomate

This still-hopping brasserie is one of the earliest weekend risers in the neighborhood. Onion soup at 9:30 am? We’re in!

 

Special Occasion

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1. Albi

Spring for the Sofra menu of five chef-chosen courses.

 

2. The Dabney

This Blagden Alley tasting-menu restaurant is one of DC’s coziest spaces for winter dining.

 

3. Maydan

Live it up with za’atar martinis and ras al hanout–spiced duck.

 

Favorite Bakery

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1. Rose Ave Bakery

Colorful Asian-accented sweets—pandan-coconut doughnuts, ube kouign amann—line the glass cases.

 

2. Yellow

Find creative Levantine breakfast pastries and excellent freshly made pita.

 

3. Bread Furst

Our go-to for baguettes, Montreal-style bagels, and old-school sweets like lemon meringue pie.

 

Favorite Tacos

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1. La Tejana

Best breakfast tacos in town.

 

2. Taco Bamba

Try tacos stuffed with vindaloo or a patty melt.

 

3. Taqueria Habanero

Family-run spots with freshly made corn tortillas and traditional meats.

 

Favorite Burger

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1. Duke’s Grocery and Duke’s Counter

The “proper burger” comes with arugula, aïoli, sweet chili sauce, and more.

 

2. Lucky Buns

We’re seriously into the green-chili-topped El Jefe burger.

 

3. Joia Burger

Top-quality smash burgers made with Wagyu beef, plus great fries.

 

Favorite French

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1. Le Diplomate

DC’s most famous brasserie suits many an occasion—from brunch with kids to a celebratory dinner à deux.

 

2. Lutèce

The tiny bistro feels straight outta Paris, but chef Matt Conroy’s vision is all his own.

 

3. Bistrot du Coin

This old-school bistro with creaky tables and French liquor posters just turned 25.

 

Favorite Vegetarian Restaurant

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1. Planta and Planta Queen

An eclectic mix of plant-based takes on sushi, carbonara, Korean fried chicken, and more.

 

2. Oyster Oyster

One of the more fascinating tasting menus around—all vegan except for an (optional) oyster.

 

3. Vegz

Head to this Indian fast-casual place for dosas and curries.

 

Favorite Japanese Restaurant

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1. Perry’s

The 41-year-old sushi spot is now a foodie destination, thanks to chef Masako Morishita.

 

2. Love, Makoto

A yakinaku barbecue room, sushi bar, and izakaya under one roof—plus a robust takeout operation.

 

3. Rakuya and Raku

Fusiony sushi and small plates, plus great happy-hour and lunch deals.

 

Favorite Thai Restaurant

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1. Siam House

A sustainability-minded, family-run destination for spring-roll and drunken-noodles cravings.

 

2. Baan Siam

Like things “Thai hot”? Chili fiends, this place is for you.

 

3. Beau Thai

A longtime favorite for takeout noodles and dumplings.

 

Favorite Indian Restaurant

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1. Rasika

Ashok Bajaj’s refined dining rooms showcase elegant curries and whimsical small plates.

 

2. Daru

The cocktails are as tasty as the modern Indian cooking.

 

3. Indigo

A fun graffiti-scrawled dining room that rewards spicy palates.

This article appears in the December 2025 issue of Washingtonian.