50 Best Wine Bars in Washington

“I visited this Indian restaurant with my family and we all had an amazing experience together. The menu offered a great variety of traditional dishes, making it easy for everyone to find something they enjoyed. The butter naan, biryani, and curries were especially delicious and packed with authentic flavor. The portions were generous, and every dish tasted fresh and well prepared. The service was quick, professional, and welcoming, while the friendly staff created a comfortable environment for everyone. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience that we would happily repeat.“

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

“My husband & I came here for my birthday and Ibrahim was our server. He was absolutely amazing! Very attentive and kind. We both ordered the peach mocktail, which Ibrahim made, and it was phenomenal. The chicken salad sandwich and the burger were also both very good and the perfect lunch to enjoy by the water on my special day. Easy Company was the best company to spend my birthday with.“

“Great ambiance, food and vibe“

“Nice wine pair with mussels. Reasonable pricing.“

“Excellent food (great job on the pork chop) and truly first rate service. A neighborhood gem.

I'll just add that while this is an excellent wine bar, I appreciate the options on offer for a non alcohol drinker such as myself.“

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“got a reservation last second in december so i could check out the holiday decorations after hearing of the restaurants history from a TikTok!! worth visiting for the vibes, and the free shots of amaretto!“

“One of my favorite locations in DC, great wine selection, the food is pretty good overall (desserts could be improved though), the staff is friendly and efficient.

If you're french and feeling homesick, it is a great place.“

“#AmazingRestaurant #LeSelRestaurant 🥰“

“If you are coming here with a decent sized part of people, I would highly recommend going with something from the Chef's Menu so you can try a little of everything. You'd be happy you did, and you definitely won't leave hungry.
Myself and four others went here for dinner on a Sunday night and it was phenomenal!
Phoebe did a fantastic job answering our questions about the menu and providing recommendations. When we all decided to do The Classics on the Chef's Menu, Phoebe made sure our wants and needs were addressed, and her and the kitchen provided the most incredible selection of tapas. If my memory serves, we received about 5 or 6 different tapas and two paellas. Then, at the end, the churros were included in the cost.
Overall, the value, quality, and service were all superior and when we're in DC again, we will be back.“

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

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

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

“Great meal recently at Cucina Morini !!! The food, service and drinks were all on point !! See the photos for our recommendations !!! You can order half orders of pasta !! Perfect if you want to try different things.“

“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 food, wines and service.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“These guys are stellar, love the concept and the commitment. I written previously about the “heaviness” you can get at a top-end set menu place. FINALLY got the opposite, light, daring, and genuinely surprising.

Advice - do the juice paring. The apricot and chanterelle juice was something we kept talking about and was so perfect. This sets a new bar of excellence for us far beyond simple wine parings.

Really appreciate the details and our primary server, Jack, was wonderful. Local and very fresh celebration of ingredients. Marigold “butter” again, just bonkers and sets a new apotheosis for the kind of subtle innovation I really appreciate.“

“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.“

“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.“

“I don't often write reviews, but La Plaza deserves one. This restaurant ranks in my top three across all of DC, over seven years of living here. Tasty, artisanal cocktails, delicious food (with beautiful, impeccable presentation), great wine selection, and excellent, friendly service. The restaurant is an intimate size, with half the indoor seating at the bar counter.

With too many mediocre restaurants receiving hype from influencers these days, a place like La Plaza stands out as a true gem that knows and appreciates the craft of good food and drinks.“

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

“Service was amazing!!!! the atmosphere I can’t speak on because it was slow night but the people that were there seem like regulars. So good sign. Food was good but nothing that blew me away because it was just shy of great. But you wouldn’t be disappointed with anything. Oh! The cocktail and wine was really good get balance“

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

“Really enjoyed our anniversary dinner here and the bubbly they poured for us. Great service and beautifully decorated. Wine list has many French and natural/biodynamic wines; waiters/somms have solid recommendations and walk you through the beverage/food menu.

Standout dishes included the tuna tartare amuse bouche, brioche stuffed chicken, morel tart, and clam pasta, although they change their menu every few weeks.

It’s a compact space, but with the carpeted floors and drapes they have it doesn’t get overwhelmingly loud so that you can’t hear other people.

All checks include a 20% service charge, which they fully disclose on the menu and say when giving you your check, which I appreciated!“

“This is a really great spot for pizza! The sauce was excellent! The pepperoni toasted nicely. But low-key the cesar salad was surprisingly well done. Often looked over, the ratio of the dressing, to the bread crumbs over croutons is a thoughtful choice that worked out really really well. Ill be coming back, hungry for more!“

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

“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.“

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

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

“Great in every respect: quality and quantity of food, service, and ambience. A real treat!“

“Aicha was a fantastic server - very knowledgeable and more than prepared to help navigate all aspects of the menu and dietary restrictions.

The food was phenomenal, and wine was well chosen for the list. Don't miss desserts (even if you're full).

Baked Camembert
Salada Amelie

Chicken - 10/10. Definitely a dish to try.
Raviolie- Truffle was brilliant next to the peas and comet cheese
Burger - ordered for a child, and it was delicious
Steak Frites - sauce was delightful

Vanilla Creme Brulee
Apple Tart“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“Thank you for such an amazing experience.

The owner, Tim, was incredibly kind. He came over to our table a few times, sat with us, and even shared the story behind the pasta. Learning that everything was made from scratch made the experience even more special.

Everyone was so warm and welcoming. I didn’t catch the name of our server, but she was an absolute sweetheart.

The atmosphere felt like home…like a neighborhood spot where you’re just eating with friends. Truly reminiscent of Italy.

Chef Nick even came out and brought a special dessert for my nephew, which meant so much, especially since we were celebrating his birthday. Out of all the places I could have chosen, I’m so happy I chose Ulivo. It genuinely felt meant to be. This will definitely be a place I come back to!“

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

“As H Street neighbors of Henceforth, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to host our Wedding Welcome Party here. Everyone knew the beers were going to be great, but the food easily stole the show. The bartenders were attentive, fun, and quick. Erin was super helpful in planning and executing. The upstairs taproom was the perfect venue and size to host 75-80 guests.If you are looking to host a party on H Street, you would be insane not to have Henceforth be at the top of your list.“

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

“This restaurant has an sophisticated yet comfortable design and vibe that is very inviting, with both indoor and outdoor space. The service was excellent. The food was good. We had the burrata flatbread appetizer and two versions of the gnocchi - one with the tuna bolognese and one with burre blanc and cheese. The tuna works better than it sounds and the burre blanc was superb. The gnocchi were flavorful but a bit over cooked and mushy. The flatbread was tasty but, with one big lump of burrata in the middle, it was hard to divide even though it was cut in four pieces and the burrata was gone in one quick nibble, leaving the rest of the slice sadly empty. I appreciated the manageable smallish-plate size portions, but at these prices others may not. Note that a 20% service charge was added to the menu, even for a party of four.“

“I don't know how anyone can give this place less than 5 stars. The value propositions is OUTSTANDING. You get a whole french baguette which crispy and taste amazing, a salade, fries and a big steak for 40$.
Even if you dont care about value, the food taste freaking awesome, steak is well cooked, well seasoned and tender.“

“Robert was our server, he was very kind and attentive! This was our first time visiting Capital Grille and also my husband and I's first date post wedding and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Will definitely be coming back!“

“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.“

“The place is amazing . The food is good“

“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.“

“Hands down one of the best coffee’s I have had in DC. They make their syrups in house and they do not disappoint! The coffee was perfect. We also ordered fries, a burger and the chicken wrap. The fries were perfect and served with a garlic dipping sauce and this herby dip as well. Both were fantastic! We also really enjoyed the burger and chicken wrap as well.“

“Not much to see here- solid breakfast spot with pretty darn good food, for sure.

However. When my aunt was paying, the clerk was using a handheld toast machine, and, after she paid, he flipped it around to her for a requested tip option.

That’s all normal, but then he proceeded to literally stare my aunt down in her soul as she decided what percentage tip was appropriate. That is absolutely unacceptable. I have worked in fine dining, coffee shops, etc, for years, and that is not how hospitality works. When I say he stared her in her soul, that is an understatement. I couldn’t believe what I was watching.

The employee should be trained to look away politely or literally do ANYTHING but stare people in their soul when deciding tips. He’s a young handsome guy, managers, if you’re reading this, he looks EXACTLY like the character “bear,” from Obsession. Striking resemblance. I’ll attach a photo.

Take care of this please, your establishment will be better off if you do…“