Food

What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2025

Hello, steakhouses, record bars, and more martinis

On trend: Cocktail and record bar Press Club serves some drinks with a little snack. Photograph by Rey Lopez.

OUT: Tipping drama
IN: Tariff drama

OUT: Bistros
IN: Steakhouses

OUT: Spotted in Politico Playbook
IN: Spotted on Keith McNally’s Instagram

OUT: A martini
IN: An entire menu section of martinis

OUT: Vibe
IN: Value

OUT: Union Market lunch
IN: Union Market late night

OUT: Neighborhood restaurant openings (sadly!)
IN: Destination restaurant openings

OUT: Speakeasies
IN: Record bars

OUT: Tasting menus
IN: Tasting “experiences”

OUT: Fancy soft-serve
IN: Fancy shaved ice

OUT: Waiting for Osteria Mozza to open
IN: Waiting for a table at Osteria Mozza

OUT: Non-alcoholic cocktails as novelties
IN: Non-alcoholic cocktails as norms

OUT: French food on the rise
IN: West African food on the rise

OUT: AYCE Korean BBQ
IN: Fine dining Korean BBQ

OUT: Political Pattie’s discourse
IN: “Is the Trump hotel coming back?” discourse

OUT: Service fee outrage
IN: Service fee apathy

OUT: Cocktails with a cute little garnish
IN: Cocktails with a cute little snack

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Jessica Sidman
Food Editor

Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind DC’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.