50 Best Wine Bars in Washington

“Incredible experience. I had the Chef's Tasting menu with my partner and it was one of the best food experiences that we have had at any restaurant. Each dish was incredibly put together and beautifully presented. The flavors were unreal and each dish had us saying just send us more of that, until the next dish came. The cocktails were just as beautifully presented as the food and were exceptional. The service was top notch and we absolutely will be returning.“

“I rarely write reviews for restaurants however my experience at LBB last night was 5 stars on all accounts. The ambience and food were great. The service at all levels, hostess, management, and waiter were all pleasant and extremely helpful. It’s not a cheap dinner, but a great place for a date night or a little treat.“

“Grace is one of the best hosts/guest service technicians I have ever had the experience of being served by. She was consistently attentive with the perfect balance of space for the guest and attentiveness. The food was cooked as desired, however the branzino was definitely the best entree on the table, alongside the duck confit and specialty steak. The chicken + liver charcuterie was to die for IMPO and I consider myself to be very bougie about my cheese. Delicious food, wonderful service. I was indecisive about wine choices and Grace was particularly helpful with that process. We loved the drinks and the whole experience.“

“Stopped in for a drink and had a really nice experience! They were super friendly about trying different wines before committing. My husband and I both enjoyed our glasses. George was super friendly, as was another colleague who greeted us initially.“

“All of my experiences at L’Ardente have been phenomenal. The food, the atmosphere, and the service are all top notch!!!“

“Last week we enjoyed dinner with Edgar Allen Poe. Okay, so maybe not the man himself- but about as close as I could imagine the experience to be. Dark, decadent, and full of surprise. We got to try their seasonal Poe themed menu, and it’s not just dinner- it nears theatre on a plate.“

“Great place!! The atmosphere was charming and the food was great! The staff was very knowledgeable about the wine and provided great customer service.“

“Nice wine pair with mussels. Reasonable pricing.“

“What a nice dinner! We were hesitant as my idea was to go to the Red Hen opposite the street, but I’m glad we did. Sitting on the terrace on a summer night was very pleasant (but bring a repellent). The waiter (Terry) was super friendly and relaxed, made a great pasta recommendation. The puttanesca fettuccine were indeed a treat, everything homemade and perfectly balanced, with a kick from the pepper flakes. The price is reasonable and we will gladly be back.“

“The Eastern is just a couple of blocks from my daughter and son-in-law and is our go to place when we visit them in DC. They have a fabulous menu, however, we love the small shareable plates. The pork sliders, glazed carrots and pimento cheese dip are wonderful. The wait staff is knowledgeable and attentive and always ready to suggest a wine to pair with our food. We love the atmosphere and the local vibe and are warmly greeted like old friends. Love this place.“

“Nice little neighborhood wine bar. Nice selections, friendly bartenders / waitstaff.“

“Consistently excellent. The calamari, the jamon, the pan tomate, the cheeses... you can't go wrong. Staff is superb and very attentive: my wine glass stem snapped when I had very little left in my glass... they rushed to clean up & still replaced it with a full glass. Recommend sitting at the bar & watching the chef at work.“

“Love the foods and place . All employee are very good .“

“Great tasting food with ample portion sizes! 😋 Truly impressed by the quality! Fun atmosphere and friendly staff. 🌞 Bonus: All Day Breakfast! 🤤🍳 Also, 50% off for furloughed govt workers with Govt ID during the shutdown! 🙏🏻😊“

“I had an excellent experience and selection of cocktails at MBV.

I made a reservation for 2 at 9 PM on Saturday night, and a resi has been hard to come by for weeks. Rest assured, it’s worth it and limited due to the space within - it’s small and intimate which I prefer.

I had the “Am I the Drama” and am literally trying to call back to get the ingredients bc I want to replicate this at my home bar.

Drinks range from $18-24 however I found the pours leaning toward the generous side, cocktail orders receive a sidecart from any shaker-excess (something Idk why isn’t more common).

My friend ordered the house martini and it was excellent. No notes. Get your booty in a seat and go have one!

Lastly, the dessert. The Profiteroles have a special place in my heart/mind/body/soul. Mother of God, MBV did their big one with this dessert. I want to go with more friends just bc everyone should experience this dessert.

From front-to-BOH, I was amazed and impressed by MBV - you will see me back. It’s my pleasure to be writing this review.

Until next time!“

“Great ambiance and great drinks 🍹 totally recommend for a fun night out 🥂“

“if you ever have a chance to go to the vines Foggy Bottom then do so! it is a lovely environment it's laid back the staff is very friendly and informative. they have a delicious assortment of wines. the food is also very good too. they don't rush you after you finish eating you can sit there and chit chat with your family and friends and drink different types of wine they have a wonderful menu. So if you ever in town please give the Vines Foggy Bottom a visit.“

“The service was amazing and the food was good.“

“It is finally nice to eat a meal the marries spices from different continents together to create/perfect comfort foods. Phenomenal.... A party in your mouth!!!“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“#AmazingRestaurant #LeSelRestaurant 🥰“

“We had our wedding afterparty here in the spring and it was amazing. Chas, the owner, was super responsive and welcoming and made sure we had the best time. Drinks were great, vibes were awesome. Highly recommend for your events - or just pop by if you’re in the neighborhood!“

“Exceptional throughout from the rooms to dining to sophisticated and attentive staff - thank you for having us.“

“Fantastic new chapter for Compass Rose reimagined as a globally inspired cafe. Delicious lattes and some of the staples carry over from the previous menu (such as the crowd favorite khachapuri). It can get quite busy and seating is limited so plan ahead or try outside of peak times. This is a great addition to the neighborhood as a place to gather and meet.“

“We had never tried Afghani food before, and I am so glad we did. The staff was so friendly and helpful with any questions we had. They recommended the Mini Taste of Arocostia for our first time. Everything was FANTASTIC!!! The food was cooked perfectly. The service was great! We never had to ask to have our beverages filled up, because they were already on top of it before we had to ask. They packed all our leftovers into boxes for us for our way home. We will definitely be going back!“

“If you are on a gluten free diet, this restaurant is a real treat. This is the ONLY restaurant I know of in the entire DC area that offers gluten free French toast!!! It is really yummy. It is gluten free cinnamon raison bread that they make into French toast. It is served with maple syrup that has few slices of bananas in it. It is always served warm. (Be sure to look for the bananas. If the French toast is served with sliced strawberries, that is the wheat based French toast.) This restaurant also has gluten free bread so most of their sandwiches can be made gluten free upon request. And they can make their eggs benedict gluten free by using their gluten free toast. It is a very pleasant experience dining here. I usually dine outside. They are located on a small street in Georgetown. Georgetown can be crowded but on this small street, it is never very busy. On a nice weather day, it is a pleasant experience to eat the gluten free French toast while enjoying the weather. The service is always good too. I enthusiastically recommend this restaurant.“

“OUT OF THIS WORLD! I am Mexican and this food is just as great as it is in my own country, adding a touch of sophistication, fun and spark! Highly recommend it.“

“what a perfect vibey spot for some incredibly delicious italian food! definitely get the treviso salad and the fried blossoms to start. i could eat so many plates of their mushroom cream ravioli! i’ll be returning for more of that next time for sure. the lamb chops were also so flavorful. the service was also fantastic and they were so nice! adding this spot to the dinner night rotation“

“the food 😋is delicious and the service is great“

“Lovely spot! Went there for brunch and sat in the sunny window. Steak and eggs was good and fairly priced, as was the coffee. Loved the chillwave/vaporwave playlist on the stereo. Staff were super nice. Totally slept on this place until now, but will be back soon!“

“Me and my husband had the most amazing time. You can tell they care about you and your experience. We have ordered the restaurant week menu and it didn't disappoint. This place restored my hope for DC restaurants. Hidden gem and i want them to stay that way. Not everyone have good taste Humberto was amazing, so as the owner. Very genuine and humble. Honestly i cannot pinpoint which course was the best. What i know for sure is the steak was so unforgettable . Next time i am gonna go all out and try their tasting menu. Thank you for keeping up the amazing work . Raven and Alan“

“Truly an outstanding meal (for one meat eater and one vegetarian): delicious, creative, multi-layered and a learning experience rolled into one. Kudos to Chef Rob and the team.

We are working our way through many of the DC Michelin Star restaurants (and we try to visit at least one when we travel to other cities): it is incredibly rare to immediately start making plans to come back again. Sure, plenty of them are delicious and would be enjoyable again, but don’t warrant the price tag or are too slow and elaborate to repeat with any frequency… some just aren’t worth returning to at all. But the value, the flavor, the experience and the ethics at Oyster Oyster have us wanting to return each season as the menu turns over and they weave in new seasonal, local, sustainable delicacies.“

“The best Italian meal I’ve ever had in a restaurant! The Sunday Sauce reminded me of my mom’s!“

“Had a great time with my friend for her birthday here, the waiter John was great, and accommodated to our needs. The food was amazing, I have zero complaints about anything. I really enjoyed the restaurant, and will definitely be coming back.“

“I worked with Nero to host my company’s holiday party and it was so great working with them! The food was delicious and they have a fully stocked bar with great drinks. The owner and manager were very accommodating and made the night so easy and stress free. I would definitely host an event here again or come back for a happy hour.“

“This place is MOST AWESOMENESS! A definite must come eat!“

“Nice place and Sol Roots Trio performance was excellent!“

“Some friends rented out the bistro for their wedding party and it was the perfect space. The party was so intimate and perfect for the celebration. The food and drinks were fantastic, I’m still dreaming about the sliders that were served. I can’t wait to come back to town and try the restaurant on a regular night. The owner was fantastic as well. Highly recommend Cynthia’s!!“

“This is, hands-down, the best pizza you’ll get in Washington DC. Being originally from Connecticut, it has been difficult to find really good pizza in Washington DC however over the last few years the options have gotten much better. This pizza joint blows all of them out of the water. To me, their Macharoni Is the best bite of pizza you can get in the entire DMV. It is also really difficult to find a good buffalo chicken pizza in this area, and this one is absolutely phenomenal. They’re dough holds up incredibly well, their pies are always perfectly cooked and never rushed even when they’re busy like some other places, and ingredients are a superb quality and really shine through. I have friends who come to visit once a year from Florida and New Jersey and each year they always request to go back to Bogey and Peele. Their pizzas deliver well with the green ingredients holding up through the delivery process. Their wings are solid and a good choice. The Caesar salad is always perfectly seasoned and dressed and also delivers well. I highly recommend eating there in person, it has such a great vibe, especially when you sit at the Counter in front of the kitchen. Also, don’t sleep on the Reuben.“

“Still a great place after all these years. Lovely atmosphere, great food, attentive service. A wonderful night out.“

“We are tourist & was searching for a place too eat since our first choice for dinner totally ignored us after we sat there 30 minutes we left. This pizza joint is absolutely delicious. The thin crust was delicious especially on the cheese pizza. The only negative thing I have too say is y’all charging too much for a house salad. I mean if you gonna charge $14 @ least give me something other than basic lettuce.“

“My wife & I had a wonderful and delicious dinner while catching-up with our son & his girlfriend last evening. Fantastic meal & our server Michael was outstanding.“

“Service:
Service was very friendly.

Food:
Food was excellent. Escargot was great. Not as heavy as it normally is at other places. Very soft texture. Steak frites came with a green peppercorn (au poirve) sauce. Ordered medium rare (French medium rare so a bit more blue). Excellent cook on it. Well seasoned, high quality steak. Sauce was great and fries were crispy. I added the chocolate marnier mousse ($12). It was great. Smooth texture, rich, but not heavy chocolate. Honestly they hit this out of the park for me.

Definitely on the Norman/Parisan side of French bistro cuisine, which I love.

I did have their restaurant week menu for lunch which is similar to their normal lunch menu. I added on the chocolate mousse.

Price:
Food was also excellent. About the same price (a bit cheaper) compared to other French restaurants in the same neighborhood (there are 2 others).

Atmosphere: it is cute!“

“Always a pleasure to come to the Taberna! Extra interesting restaurant week menu this time around. I had the artichoke main -- unusual, different, good. Tasty Tempranillo crianza. Espresso was just right o finish off relaxed meal. Fun to sit in the more cozy back room on a cold day. Small quibble -- would have been nice to see a hot soup on the menu.“

“Capa Tosta is such a cozy and inviting spot. The food is fresh, flavorful, and feels thoughtfully prepared. I especially enjoyed the pasta—it was perfectly cooked and full of taste. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the meal even more enjoyable. It’s a lovely place for a relaxed, delicious dinner, and I’d definitely return.“

“Very welcoming and well mannered staff! Hubby and I went to dinner here and it was delicious. We definitely will be back!“

“We had appetizers of the the Smoked bacon with Korean BBQ and the prosciutto wrapped Mozzarella, both very tasty. Steaks were prepared perfectly to temp. I went for the Halibut special in safron sauce with shitake mushrooms. it did not dissapoint. The parmesan truffle fries were a hit. And the Creme Brulee reminded me of New Orleans.I recommend this restaurant highly.“

“Would recommend for a glass of wine and appetizer! Stopped in for dinner and the food was tasty but felt overpriced for the portions. The shrimp dish was good but shrimp were slightly overcooked and felt like a very expensive starter. The hummus was delish! Wine was great and cocktail was less than amazing.“

“If you’re in DC, Quill cocktail bar is the place to go. Its dim lit atmosphere and ambience provides such an intimate setting whether for friends and family or for business. You have your choice of sitting indoors or outside on their raised patio. Oh, and the service here is phenomenal! When you first sit, they bring you mixed nuts and olives and introduce themselves. Their cocktail menu may have only been just a page but if it’s not on there, they can definitely make it for you. My wife requested an Espresso Martini (non-menu) and it was the best of its kind she’s had yet. She also enjoyed the Ventura Highway, from their menu. My personal favorite of theirs was the “Johnny be Woode.” This became my go-to there. They do have a dinner menu as well. Their burger exceeded my expectations! Their desert menu impressed! The presentation was artwork and the flavors will surely make you long for more. Our server two of the three nights we were there was Andrew. Andrew made sure we had everything we needed and could possibly want. He provided absolutely excellent service, great humor, and pleasant conversation. On our third evening here, Amber greeted and served us. Amber is another gem at Quill, making recommendations on menu items as well as local recommendations around the town based off what my taste preferences are. Both Andrew and Amber had an awesome attitude and helped make our stay at the Jefferson Hotel just that much more memorable! The atmosphere, service, and great attitudes made for such a unique and satisfying experience that we ended each of our evenings, visiting Quill. Next time we’re in town, we will definitely be going back to Quill.“

“A very inviting corner restaurant, great for people watching and cocktails. The drinks were nice and the atmosphere was lux. We went on a Saturday and it just felt like they needed a manager around. Felt like they were really understaffed and not ready for the crowds. There were some people who had worked there longer and were directing others, and the food did come out of the kitchen timely. But there wasn't a sense of table service really, you just catch them when you can, know the candle won't get lit even after you asked and teach the server how to swipe the card. I wish they had someone tending to things, but maybe when it's slower it will be better. The pizza was good, and lots of pepperoni. I wished it wasn't quite as soggy in the middle but it tasted good. And the burrata had no flavor, no nice olive oil or pepper, very bland, but it was a hearty portion. Can't complain about the drinks. I can sense when there's no service concept so I hope they get it together.“