The Bazaar by José Andrés

Wow, where can I even begin? Not only was this one of the very best meal we had ever had after enjoying high end restaurants around the globe, but the service was without doubt the best we had received. Our server, Kitty, was absolutely wonderful. Every recommendation he gave us was beyond flawless. He was super funny and friendly and attentive and really made the experience special. Thank you so much Kitty, you are without doubt the best server I have ever been lucky enough to encounter in my life.

As for the food, wow! We went a-la-carte and tried a lot of different options from the menu and we loved every single thing we tried. Every bite was mesmerizing, every single item cooked to absolute perfection. We weren't served food and drinks - We were served edible art, and our palates were graced with a masterpiece.

I can't wait to return again in the future.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food and beautiful ambience! We came for dinner and had a great experience. We had the Nitro Caipirinha, which is a frozen drink prepared at the table, the Tomato salad with Maine Lobster, Dragon Fruit Ceviche, Creamy Coconut Rice, Brussels Sprouts, and the Carrot Cake. Everything was delicious and had a beautiful presentation. The ceviche and the brussels sprouts came with flavored foams. In the pictures, the foam covers the ceviche, but you’ll see the fruit bowl left over after I ate the ceviche. The ceviche and the coconut rice were my favorites. I almost got a second round of the coconut rice, but I wanted to try a dessert. Next time! We sat downstairs, but the upstairs looked gorgeous - we’ll request upstairs next time. Highly recommend this beautiful and flavorful place!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We went to bazaar meat in las Vegas and this one was totally different. Fortunate enough to try different fare because of the three-course offering of restaurant week. Had the deconstructed Caesar salad with anchovies, house burger, and flan custard. Super high quality ingredients and we also had a portion of jamon iberico to begin the meal. Will certainly return to this iconic spot at the old postal museum.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went here last November for a birthday celebration and it was amazing. I got a full corse meal from apps, main course, and dessert. The food was amazing and super unique. I got a squid ink pasta and I’ve never had anything like that before. The waiter was super friendly and very funny. Even though this is a high end restaurant, the waiter didn’t try to push everything expensive on us which was cool. I’d definitely come back here on special occasions.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We dined at this restaurant because we were staying at the hotel, and the setting initially promised a refined evening. The restaurant puts an obvious emphasis on presentation, with plates designed to look elegant and luxurious. While the ingredients are of high quality, the concept feels misguided. Style consistently outweighs substance, leaving the food more impressive to the eye than to the palate.

The lobster and tomato salad exemplifies this issue: the lobster itself was fresh and perfectly cooked, but its subtle flavor was drowned out by an overpowering sauce. The beef tartare was solid, though unremarkable, while the aubergine dish was distractingly sweet. To make matters worse, several courses arrived too cold, further undermining the impression of fine dining. In short, while the presentation occasionally reached Michelin-level aesthetics, the flavors and execution simply did not.

The service, though outwardly polite, lacked finesse. The food was served randomly so some of the party had to wait while others already had their food. Dishes were passed across the table without care, beer was served in cans and poured clumsily, and the overall handling felt far below the standard the restaurant aims to project. These details, though small in isolation, collectively reinforced the sense that this was more performance than hospitality.

Ultimately, this is a restaurant where glamour substitutes for substance. The plates are Instagram-ready, but the flavors tell another story. For guests experienced in genuine fine dining, it will feel less like a discovery and more like a missed opportunity.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 2

Great food offset by inconsistent service. They're going for the haute cuisine experience with the fine dining price tag but with service found in more casual places. The staff were friendly enough, but it was not a fine dining experience on par with the price points they are asking for. Dishes came out of order, had to remind them they skipped a meal, drinks took a long time, small things like forgetting a lime slice for water. The attention to detail is not there. You'll enjoy the food when it arrives but the service just isn't there to justify a return visit with how much it ultimately cost.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 3

We came here for the DC restaurant week. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was relaxing and our wait staff Lester was excellent. The overall dining experience was delightful. I will definitely come back again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Today we had a very pleasant experience at Bazaar with the waitress Daniela. The service was excellent. We loved the food, everyone's attention was great, and thanks to the manager Javier for his hospitality.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We ate from the lunch pre-fixed menu. A memorable lunch with excellent service by Cesar and he explained each option we choose as they were served. We could tell the back of the house were well versed and skilled in preparation and presentation of the food. Well crafted cocktails and the whimsical take on the Key Lime pie was extraordinary and life changing. Not to be missed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great service and ambiance. Vegetable plates were bland and overcooked. No plant based protein or nicely seared vegetables. I want to support José Andrés restaurants but the vegetarian dishes always disappoint.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

The Bazaar by José Andrés: Avant-Garde Tapas in a D.C. Landmark
Housed within the iconic Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C., The Bazaar by José Andrés delivers a captivating experience centered around inventive Spanish tapas. The impeccably uniformed staff provided attentive, yet unhurried service perfectly suited to exploring the menu.
Speaking of the menu, it offers an expansive selection beyond the multi-course tasting experiences. While pricing reflects the premium location and culinary artistry, we opted for the flexibility of à la carte. Every dish we sampled showcased exceptional freshness and precise execution.

True standouts were the whimsical Cotton Candy Foie Gras and the deeply flavorful Oxtail Croquetas. Each tapa arrived as a visually stunning creation, making the presentation as memorable as the exquisite tastes.
The Bazaar offers a truly unique blend of historic grandeur, theatrical presentation, and José Andrés' signature culinary innovation. We're eager to return and delve deeper into their imaginative offerings.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

I dined at The Bazaar to celebrate a special occasion and thoroughly enjoyed the food. There was plenty of it, with great variety, with accommodations for my gluten intolerance. Some of the initial portions were small, and it built up nicely to mains of sorts including steak, brussels sprouts, octopus and potatoes. All delicious!
The drinks were decent and promptly served.

Service was attentive but inconsistent in quality. While not a Michelin star restaurant yet, it is still similarly priced/ is very high end, so I was surprised to see the service staff being inconsistent with which side they pour water from, and clear plates from. They were also a tad casual with how they placed new silverware after each course, almost throwing it towards us instead of carefully placing it correctly. The waiters are also not trained on how to correctly maintain a polite physical from seated guests. Small things, but the devil is in the detail!

Food was great, and innovative. I enjoyed it, despite the overuse of foam :)

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Updated review:

after a not so great experience, we were invited to give the Bazaar another try. We all have bad days, so I agreed. Les took amazing care of us, and really made us feel very welcomed. He was great at explaining the menu and steering me toward dishes that were safe for my allergies.

This time, the food was so good. The leeks were phenomenal. The right balance of flavors, acidic and sweet at the same time. Fresh greens added a lot brightness to the dish. The steak with peppers was absolutely delicious with the perfect balance of flavors in the sauce. There’s no heat to the peppers, so if you’re not a fan of spicy food don’t let that deter you from this dish. The beef cheeks surprised me, they were so tender with a rich, savory sauce.

My husband enjoyed the taco and Caesar salad. The taco is a one bite experience combining the flavors of caviar and iberico. The salad is stacked leaves, with lots of dressing and anchovies, along with small pillow like croutons. He also tried the salmon, which came with small potatoes—he said it was delicious and enjoyed it.

All in all this was a much improved experience and I really appreciate the opportunity to dine here again. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies there are options! I ate here dairy free and gluten free and was able to enjoy many dishes with some small tweaks.

Previous review:
I stopped at this property for lunch, and I’m sad to say I was very disappointed with both the food and the service. The Brussels sprouts were too fruit forward and felt more like a fruit salad than a vegetable dish. The accommodations for my allergies seemed limiting (they couldn’t prepare patas bravas any way but in a shared fryer, also be sure to check on ingredients because not all ingredients are listed on the menu). The ham and eggs lacked texture, it’s a dish of tomato sauce with runny eggs and ham—no bread, no crunch, quite mushy. The salad was a small portion without substance, it leads with celery more than anything else, which isn’t pleasant if you aren’t a fan of celery. Our napkins were damaged and dirty when we arrived at the table. The coconut rice was delicious, and was the stand out dish. But I was charged for a version with scallops even though I received a version without. When I pushed back on this, they removed $4 from the cost… which doesn’t feel like an appropriate amount for scallops. But I was so frustrated with the entire interaction that it wasn’t worth pushing back anymore. The service was disappointing and unbecoming of a hotel of this caliber. We love José Andrés and love to support him and his causes, but I’m sad to say that this restaurant left me underwhelmed and frustrated.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hands down the most incredible food experience I’ve ever had! Grace was our server, best server in the world; no, I’m not exaggerating, She’s the best!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Exquisite food, impeccable service, and a fantastic atmosphere. José Andres is a culinary artist par excellence. Our meal was the perfect pairing to a day immersed in the artworks of the great and contemporary masters at the Smithsonian art galleries.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Caprese Salad, Dragon Fruit Ceviche, Tortilla De Patatas New Way, Polvoron Hazelnut Caviar Banana Sorbet Salted Almond, Brussels Sprouts