"Since the hotel is on the edge of 'downtown' you will have to walk a few blocks to to get better options. The hotel supplies a list of “Eateries within walking distance” and a longer list of places a bit further away sorted into categories: Steakhouses/Seafood (all expensive), Vegan, Multicultural.
On the first list are: District Taco, HipCityVeg, Joe & the Juice, Nando’s Peri Peri and Shake Shack.
On the second list are: Busboy and Poets, Commissary, Logan Tavern, Mazi, Daily Grill, The Pig, le Diplomate, Jinya Ramen Bar and Mxdc.
Along 14th street north of the hotel there is a series of good restaurants, in a ten-block area, that appeal to the gentrified neighborhoods. For some, east on U Street, a required stop is Ben’s Chili Bowl. Another district with a lot of good restaurants is “China Town”; the Chinese restaurants have largely been replaced by trendier places for the nightlife that surrounds the Capital Center Arena along 7th Street. Still there are many Asian eateries between G and I and 6th and 7th, including Bibipop, China Boy, Daikaya and Momiji. Further down on 7th you have Jaleo, Rasika, Clyde’s and Hill Country. The last restaurant is only a few blocks north of the Mall. Also Dupont Circle has something for every taste. [There is night life at The Wharf district, but that is a good hike.]
For a quick bite there is a Wawa market just around the corner on Logan Circle." = George Groth
🗺️ 1210 18th St NW, Washington DC between M St and Jefferson Place, about a 10 minute walk from the Westin.
🗺️ 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC, near V St. U St metro station or walk 22 minutes up 14th St. (There are several other branches, but this is also the original, as well as the closest.)
🗺️ 1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC (just north of Q St, about a 10 minute walk from the Westin).
🗺️ 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC (Metro Green Line to U St).
🗺️ 480 7th St NW, Washington DC. At E St NW.
🗺️ 633 D Street NW, Washington DC (near 7th St)
🗺️ 410 7th St NW, Washington DC between D and E St (Gallery Place - Chinatown or Archives / Navy Memorial metro).
"Here is a brief guide to some Washington D.C. restaurants. The focus is primarily on local flavor and things you might not be able to find somewhere else. For more ideas on where to eat, you can look at Tom Sietsema’s restaurant reviews in the Washington Post.
There are also some neighborhoods with a lot of restaurants, e.g. Penn Quarter (near the Gallery Place - Chinatown and Archives / Navy Memorial metro stations), U Street, H Street NE (a free streetcar ride from Union Station), the Wharf (shuttle bus from L’Enfant Plaza or walk from Waterfront metro), and Georgetown (reachable by Circulator bus). If you’re in one of those areas, just wander around and see what looks (and smells!) good." = fauxklore
There is no chef who is a bigger deal in D.C. than Jose Andres, both for his food and his philanthropy, which has included providing meals to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and restaurant workers displaced by the pandemic. His World Central Kitchen organization is a worthy charity. And his restaurants are justly popular. Since most of his focus is on small plates, it is best to go with a group so you can sample more dishes. These are all in the Penn Quarter area, near both the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station on the Red and Yellow lines and Archives/Navy Memorial station on the Yellow line. Note that Minibar, which has two Michelin stars, is temporarily closed.
🗺️ 701 9th St NW, Washington DC. At G Street, across the street from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Open Monday - Tuesday 4 pm to 9:30 pm, Wednesday - Thursday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am to 10:30 pm, Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday 11am to 9:30 pm. Greek / Turkish small plates. About $30 a person without alcohol.
🗺️ 480 7th St NW, Washington DC. At E St NW.
Open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 am to 9 pm, to 10:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Spanish cuisine, including tapas and paella. About $30 a person for tapas (without alcohol), paella is $50 to $65. Good happy hour deals weekdays from 3 to 5:30 pm and all day Tuesday with $7 sangria, $8 wine, tapas from $5-7.
🗺️ 418 7th St NW, Washington DC. Between D and E St.
Open Thursday and Sunday 4-9 pm, Friday and Saturday 4-10 pm. Peruvian, Japanese, and Asian food, along with several varieties of pisco and Japanese whiskeys. Don’t miss the “Aeropuerto,” a fried rice dish named that because everything lands in it. Figure on $35-50 a person.
🗺️ 401 7th St NW, Washington DC. At D St.
Open Wednesday and Thursday 4 - 10 pm, Friday 4-10:30 pm Saturday 11:30 am to 10:30 pm, Sunday 11:30 am to 10 pm. A wide range of Mexican food. They used to have grasshopper tacos on the menu but the pandemic seems to have stopped that for now. Figure about $30 a person without alcohol. Happy hour from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday to Friday, with $5 beers, $6 wines by the glass, $7-8 margaritas, and snacks from $3-5 ($10 for ceviche).
🗺️ 800 22nd St NW, Washington DC. (At I St, Foggy Bottom Metro).
Open 11 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday. Several options for vegetable and grain bowls, though there are also options to add meat. The gazpacho is an excellent lunch on a hot day. About $10.
🗺️ 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC.
Michel Richard died in 2016, but his flagship restaurant, Central Michel Richard, lives on. It’s located at 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 7:30 pm. American food, with a French bistro accent. Appetizers run about $15, entrees about $25-30. Throw in $12 and up for a glass of wine.
Spike Mendelsohn is a Top Chef alumnus and responsible for two casual places, a step above fast food.
🗺️ 303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC. (Near C St, Capital South metro).
Pennsylvania Ave is open 11 am to 9 pm.
🗺️ 291 M St NW, Georgetown, Washington DC (at 33rd St). Georgetown is open 11:30 am to 10 pm.
Burgers, salads, fries, shakes. Don’t miss the various dips available for the fries, e.g. mango, chipotle, or sriracha mayonnaise.
🗺️ 303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC. (near C St, Capital South metro station).
Open 11 am to 9:30 pm. pizza by the slice, salads, homemade soda. Has a vegan Sicilian option.
Ashok Bajaj is best known for his Indian restaurant, Rasika, but is also the force behind some the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, which includes several other interesting places to eat:
🗺️ 633 D Street NW, Washington DC (near 7th St)
D Street branch is open for Lunch Sunday through Friday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Dinner, Sunday 5 pm to 9 pm, to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, to 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday.
🗺️ 1190 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington DC (near M St and 22nd, about an 18 minute walk from the Westin).
West End (New Hampshire Ave) is open for lunch Monday through Friday 11:39 am to 3:45 pm, Sunday 11 am to 3:45 pm, Dinner Sunday and Monday 4 pm to 9:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday to 10 pm, Thursday through Saturday to 10:30 pm
Upscale Indian food. Entrees run $17 to $30. Don’t miss the palak chaat ($12), made from spinach, yogurt, tamarind, and dates. If you’re feeling splurgy, there’s a 4 course tasting menu for $60 vegetarian, $69 non-vegetarian, with the option of adding a $40 wine pairing.
🗺️ 815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC (between H and I St, near Farragut Square metro station, about a 15 minute walk from the Westin.
Open for lunch 11:30 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday, dinner 5 pm to 9:00 pm Monday through Thursday, until 9:30 pm Friday and Saturday. More typical Indian food in a somewhat formal clubby atmosphere. Entrees about $20 to $30.
🗺️ 3309 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC (near Cleveland Park metro and the National Zoo)
Connecticut Avenue branch is open Sunday 11 am to 9 pm, Monday through Thursday 5 pm to 10 pm, Friday 5 pm to 11 pm, Saturday 11 am to 11 pm.
🗺️ 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC (Foggy Bottom metro).
Foggy Bottom branch is open Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday to 10 pm. Indian street food. The kathi rolls (about $12) are popular, curries and kebabs or uttapam will cost about $12.
🗺️ 2132 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC (near R St between 21st and 22nd, Dupont Circle metro).
Open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 5:30 pm to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday to 9:30 pm. Traditional American cuisine. A salad will run you $16, an entree is $35 to $40.
🗺️ 1199 H St NW, Washington, DC (at 12th St, Metro Center metro. about a 15 minute walk from the Westin)
Open for lunch 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday through Friday, Dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5 m to 9 pm, to 10 pm Friday and Saturday, Light Fare Monday through Friday 3 pm to 5 pm. Seasonal Italian food. Antipasti about $12-15, pasta about $20-25, entrees $25-35.
🗺️ 3311 Connecticut Ave NW , Washington, DC(near Cleveland Park metro and the National Zoo).
Open Monday and Tuesday 5 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday and Thursday to 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday to 10 pm. Israeli food. Small plates are about $12-14, large plates $20-26.
🗺️ 1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC (just north of Q St, about a 10 minute walk from the Westin).
Lunch Monday through Friday, noon to 5 pm, Dinner Sunday through Thursday 5 pm to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday to midnight. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am to 4 pm, midday menu Saturday and Sunday 4-5 pm. This is where Joe and Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff had lunch on Memorial Day. Upscale French cuisine. Appetizers or sandwiches run $14 to $23, entrees $21 to $35.
🗺️ 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC (in Union Market, NoMa Gallaudet metro station).
Open Monday through Friday 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am. Taqueria. Joe Biden gave them a grant and got a large order of tacos and quesadillas here; you can get the same bundle of tacos he ordered. Tacos run from $3.50 to $5.50, quesadillas from $7 to 11, tlayudos are $15, and sides are $3.
🗺️ 3428 O St NW, Washington DC (near 35th St, use Circulator bus to Georgetown).
🗺️ 3301 Georgia Ave NW, Washington DC
🗺️ 701 8th St SE, Washington DC
Also has a location in Bethesda, Maryland. Also available at several farmers’ markets. Open daily 8 am to 2 pm. President Biden’s motorcade made a stop to pick up sesame bagels with cream cheese at the Georgetown branch on his way back from church on a Sunday morning in January. They have a number of breakfast sandwiches and a smaller variety of lunch sandwiches, about $12. A bagel itself costs $2.50.
🗺️ 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC (at 17th St, near Farragut West metro, or about an 18 minute walk from the Westin).
Also, a branch at Union Market (NoMa Gallaudet metro station). Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm. Fusion bowls, sandwiches, and snacks, including the Madam VP’s Heritage Bowl which combines Jamaican and Indian food with curried chicken stew, chickpeas, potatoes and plantains over turmeric rice and spinach. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is reported to get this as takeout. Other dishes include various Asian, Latin American, and West African flavors. About $15.
🗺️ 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC (between F and G St, about a 15 minute walk from the Westin).
Open Sunday through Friday 11 am to 11 pm, from 10 am on Saturday. Old Ebbitt Grill claims to be the oldest saloon in Washington, DC, though it has not always been at the same location. Several former presidents frequented its bar and William McKinley lived there for a while. It’s known for its oyster bar (about $20 for a half dozen). The rest of the menu is pretty much standard American fare. Most appetizers are in the $8 to $15 range, while entrees cost $16 to $27. Cocktails are about $15. The beer list is remarkably pedestrian.
🗺️ 1264 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC (at N Street).
Open Monday through Friday 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday from 10 am, Sunday from 9 am. Best bet is to take the 33 bus from I St and 15th St (towards Friendship Heights). Opened in 1933, this was where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie. Pretty standard American cuisine. Appetizers are about $10-15, entrees $20 to $40. Not a lot of vegetarian options other than salads.
🗺️ 3050 K Street NW, Washington, DC (at Washington Harbor, take the Circulator bus to M Street and 31st).
Open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 am to 9 pm , Friday and Saturday to 10 pm, Tuesday from 4 pm to 9 pm. Expensive Italian seafood. Antipasti $20-$25, Pasta $35 to $60, Entrees $30 to over $100. This is the place to go if you’ve just been appointed ambassador to Italy. But, since it is outdoors at the Harbor, you can people-watch for free.
🗺️ 2036 G St NW, Washington, DC (near Foggy Bottom metro).
Monday through Wednesday 11:30 am to 10 pm, Thursday and Friday to 11 pm., Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday 11 am to 10 pm. A former soda fountain, favored by Margaret Truman, this is also where John Lewis ate with Emmanuel Macron. The first floor is a hangout for students at George Washington University, while the upper levels are frequented by a wider range of quieter clientele. Sandwiches (with tater tots) about $15 to $20, main courses about $20, mac and cheese about $16.
🗺️ 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC (Metro Green Line to U St).
Open Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday to Saturday 11 am to 1 am. Also has other branches, including one inside Nationals Park and at National Airport (DCA). Everybody from Anthony Bourdain to Barack Obama, Serena Williams to Pope Francis has eaten at Ben’s. Basically they serve sausages (half-smokes) and chili (both meat and vegetarian) Under $10. Ben’s Next Door at 1211 U Street has more upscale food (e.g. seafood, pasta) for about twice the price and half the atmosphere.
Inside Eastern Market, 🗺️ 225 7th St SE, Washington, DC (metro Blue, Orange, or Silver Line to Eastern Market).
Currently open Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 2 pm for carryout, but included in hopes that it will fully reopen by con. The main appeal of Market Lunch (aside from good, cheap food) is that the communal table there is where all walks of life in Washington, from janitors to Congresscritters, meet. The don’t miss food items are the blue bucks (buckwheat pancakes with blueberries) and the crab cakes (sandwiches or platters).
🗺️ 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC, near V St. U St metro station or walk 22 minutes up 14th St. (There are several other branches, but this is also the original, as well as the closest.)
Open Sunday through Thursday 9 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am to 11 pm. This is an entertainment venue in normal times, as well as a small bookstore. Soups, sandwiches, pizzas, etc. with a lot of vegan options. Breakfast is about $15, lunch and dinner from $12 to $25.
🗺️ 800 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC (entrance on H St), about a 15 minute walk.
Dupont Circle (🗺️ 2009 R St NW, Washington, DC)
Penn Quarter (🗺️ 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC)
Open Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. Aside from lots of different types of tea, they serve soups, sandwiches, bento boxes, and all day breakfasts. The okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage omelet) is particularly notable. Might be only carry out right now.
🗺️ 1205 11th St NW, Washington DC just north of M Street (about 3 blocks from the Westin). Open Sunday 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Thursday 5 pm to 9 pm, Friday to 10 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm. Georgian food, best experienced with a group. Small plates about $8-$12, larger plates $16 to $30. Don’t miss the khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) for $12 to $16. There’s a wide range of Georgian wines and soft drinks.
🗺️ 1990 M Street, Washington, DC (about 7 blocks west of the Westin).
Open 11 am to midnight daily. Upscale Kenyan food. Starters about $7 to $10, entrees about $25 to $30.
🗺️ 1207 Ninth St NW, Washington DC just north of M St, next to the Convention Center (about a 17 minute walk from the Westin).
Open Monday through Friday 11 am to 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am. Upscale diner food, including meatloaf and fried chicken, along with Latin American and Lebanese dishes. About $20 to $30 for main courses.
🗺️ 410 7th St NW, Washington DC between D and E St (Gallery Place - Chinatown or Archives / Navy Memorial metro).
Open Sunday through Thursday noon to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday until 9 pm. Texas barbecue. About $15 to $30.
🗺️ 1210 18th St NW, Washington DC between M St and Jefferson Place, about a 10 minute walk from the Westin.
Open daily 10:30 am to 9:30 pm. In South Africa, Nando’s is fast food. The DC metro area is one of two (along with Chicago) in the U.S. with Nando’s, and they’re a little fancier here. A half chicken and a side is about $15. Don’t forget to add sauce of your desired level of hotness.
🗺️ 1306 G St NW, Washington, DC (between 13th and 14th, about a 16 minute walk from the Westin). Open Sunday 9 am to 2 am, Monday through Thursday 8 am to 2 am, Friday 8 am to 2 am, Saturday 9 am to 3 am. Fried chicken, donuts, and beer, including local drafts.
(You can also just get donuts and fried chicken to go next door.)
🗺️ 1100 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC. (Corner of 11th and H St, Metro Center metro station). Open Wed through Sunday 11 am to 9 pm. Amber Waves (amber ale) and Capitol Kolsch plus products of other breweries, plus pizzas, burgers and so on.
🗺️ 624 T Street NW, Washington, DC (near 7th St, Shaw-Howard U metro). Open Sunday through Thursday noon to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday to 11 pm. Their Raised by Wolves pale ale is available at many local bars. The brewpub also has the typical pub food, with sandwiches about $15.
🗺️ 723 8th St SE., Washington, DC (Eastern Market metro).
🗺️ 200 M St NE., Washington, DC (NoMa-Gallaudet metro).
🗺️ 300 Tingey St SE., Washington, DC
Navy Yard metro, a good place to slake your thirst after a walk on the Anacostia River Trail.
🗺️ 3214 P St NW, Washington, DC (at Wisconsin Ave, take Metrobus 3 from I St and 15th St).
Originated in New Jersey, but has been popular among Georgetown University students for many years.
🗺️ 1925 14th St NW, Washington, DC (between T and U St).
Ohio-based company, but there are always long lines here.
🗺️ 1407 T St NW, Washington, DC (west of 14th St).
🗺️ 301 Water St SE, Washington, DC (near Navy Yard metro).
Local, handmade, with a few vegan options.
🗺️ 1704 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC (Dupont Circle).
The most authentic gelato in DC, with interesting flavors.
🗺️ 1420 Eight St NW, Washington, DC (between O and P St).
🗺️ 413 7th St NW, Washington, DC (Gallery Place / Chinatown metro).