The Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Washington D.C.

In Washington, minibar by José Andrés holds two Michelin stars and offers a whimsical, intimate dining experience. With only about a dozen seats, it’s best to plan ahead. Expect a carefully paced series of creative courses and attentive service that highlights the chef’s unique style.

Recommended by

Jhonatan Cano

Restaurateur

Best avant-garde cuisine in the east coast Highly recommend experience while in DC. Menu focuses on Japanese ingredients with the known whimsical touch of Jose Andres. Experience is a 3h long with a beautifully orchestrated service. Solid 2 Michelin stars

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Reverie is a Michelin-starred spot in Georgetown led by chef Johnny Spero. This intimate restaurant serves a mix of seafood, vegetables, and some game, offering both a tasting menu and an à la carte option. The staff is welcoming and professional, creating a comfortable place to enjoy dishes that balance complexity with simple presentation.

Recommended by

Beau Clugston

Chef

The restaurant has large sharing plates that are to die for ( whole duck with pollen , flat fish , ribeye ect ) as well as a tasting menu and ala carte . Jonny spero has been able to use his skill and expertise to build dishes that has complexity but hidden under a vail of simplicity . The staff are lovely yet professional.

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Fiola is a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant by Chef Fabio Trabocchi in Washington, D.C. It highlights farm-fresh ingredients and an award-winning wine list in a refined yet welcoming setting. Guests can enjoy a thoughtful dining experience that stays true to seasonal flavors and careful craftsmanship.

Recommended by

Jhonatan Cano

Restaurateur

The best Italian fine dining in DC Fiola is truly giving one of the best fine dining italian experiences in the USA. The pastas are simply perfect and the whole menu is simply harmonious

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Imperfecto is Chef Enrique Limardo’s second restaurant in Washington, DC, inspired by a blend of Mediterranean and Latin American influences. The space embraces the idea that imperfection drives creativity, giving it a welcoming vibe while still feeling refined. Open daily for dinner and on weekends for brunch, it offers a thoughtful setting for a relaxed meal in the city’s West End.

Recommended by

Carsten Schmidt

Culinary Explorer

The second DC restaurant by Seven Reasons’s chef Enrique Limardo, this one in DC’s West End. I will admit I enjoyed Imperfecto more than Seven Reasons, the dishes were extremely fresh and light. The Burrata and Ancient Salad were my favorite dishes followed by a more Latin inspired, ceviche like, Tuna Tartare.

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L’Avant-Garde brings a bit of Paris to a historic Georgetown row house, with dim lighting and original fireplaces setting a relaxed mood. The menu highlights modern French-inspired fare, focusing on seasonal ingredients and simple, welcoming flavors. A thoughtful list of wines and cocktails rounds out the experience for anyone looking to enjoy a piece of Paris in Washington.

Recommended by

Tom Sietsema

Food Critic

A taste of Paris in DC French chef Gilles Epie aimed to create a restaurant that looks and tastes like what you find in Paris, and lo and behold, he accomplishes that lofty goal. The good looks of the dining room, set off with ribs of wood on the wall and gold domed lights over luxe booths, extends to the food: duck foie gras beignet glossed with port wine reduction, Scottish salmon paired with potato slices enliveved with tomato vinaigrette, a snow-white macaron garnished with jewel-like raspberries.

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Oyster Oyster in Washington is a relaxed restaurant from Rob Rubba that centers on thoughtful, plant-focused meals. It quietly demonstrates that creative cooking doesn’t require meat, with each aspect reflecting care for the planet. The setting is warm and inviting, making it a comfortable place for anyone who values mindful dining.

Recommended by

Tom Sietsema

Food Critic

No new restaurant has excited me more than Oyster Oyster, a fun name for a serious restaurant. The newcomer, from Rob Rubba, quietly sends the message that you don’t have to eat meat to eat well, and that treating the planet with respect involves baby steps. His 8-course tasting menu is a garden of good eating.

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Rania in Washington, DC offers fresh takes on Indian fare in an elegant, upbeat setting. The menu changes often, emphasizing both flavor and presentation. Its stylish interior and relaxed vibe make it a welcoming spot for a memorable meal.

Recommended by

Tom Sietsema

Food Critic

Rania delights with some of the most inspired Indian fare in DC No two evenings are ever alike; chef Chetan Shetty is constantly finessing his menu. Appearances are important to him. A gold bowl showcases typically humble Parsi chicken: minced thighs, warm with curry leaves and coriander, supporting a “nest” of shoestring potatoes crowned with a poached egg dusted with red chile blend. Taste is crucial, too. Braised lamb swells with green chiles, ginger and cilantro. Rania translates to “queen” in Hindi and Sanskrit, which explains the the regal cooking and posh interior, including arched booths and slots in gold chairs for bags. Did i mention that the top-notch drinks arrive in illuminated glasses? This is a serious restarant that likes to have fun.

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The Bazaar by José Andrés is located in the historic Post Office building near the White House, fulfilling the chef’s longtime wish to open there. Its changing menu draws on both classic and modern cooking styles, making it a comfortable spot that balances tradition with new ideas.

Recommended by

Tom Sietsema

Food Critic

Jose Andres’s dream come true in DC The splashiest addition yet to his local portfolio, the Bazaar by Jose Andres represents the chef’s decades-long hope to open in the historic Post Office building near the White House. The epic menu looks backward and forward but also lets diners savor the here and now. Imagine an onion soup that’s by turns hot and cold in every spoonful, tiny cones filled with crab salad and a “Philly cheesesteak” reimagined with Wagyu beef and blimp-like “air bread.” The gleaming Waldorf Astoria hotel is the perfect host for the luxe experience.

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Xiquet by Danny Lledó is a Michelin-starred, AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Washington, D.C., celebrated for its modern Valencian-inspired cuisine and intimate, multi-level dining space. Guests experience a thoughtfully crafted multi-course menu prepared over a wood-fire kitchen, paired with a carefully curated wine program in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Recommended by

Jhonatan Cano

Restaurateur

Best Spanish fine dining in the East Coast The king of paella is curating a beautiful multilevel experience showcasing his Valencian cuisine. Seafood is the leading cast on the menu but the star of the show is the paella / rice course which the chef has perfected. The service and beverage program are top notch. Special occasion restaurants with a well deserved Michelin star.

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