The 8 best places to eat and drink in Washington, D.C.
A tasty international culinary experience you can't miss!
Moving to Washington, D.C. for a journalism fellowship, I thought that the only things the district could perfectly provide were museums, politics, historical landmarks, and stress.
Surprisingly enough, I had some of the best food of my life there, even better than in Miami, because it was a melting pot of different cultural cuisines—Ethiopian, Central American, French, Irish, Indian, Southeast Asian, and more—making it unlike anything I’ve experienced, even in my hometown South Florida.
I spent over three months in D.C. and its outer areas, and I want to share with you some spots where I had the best food and drinks, whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or just an afternoon snack!
New York-style bagels at Buffalo & Bergen
Start your day satisfied with a loaded bagel at Buffalo & Bergen, inspired by the New York soda shops. The dinette offers all kinds of breakfast and sandwich bagels, as well as egg creams, sandwiches, milkshakes, cocktails and more.
My personal favorite was the Goodfeathers Signature Sandwich bagel. I just couldn’t get enough of the combination of the garlic bagel with savory sliced turkey and bacon, the salty and rich pesto, fresh mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes. To top it all off: a juicy dill pickle on the side, perfect mix of flavor with every bite of the bagel.
Out of its two D.C. locations, I recommend the one at Union Market instead of Capitol Hill, not because there’s a difference in quality, but because the dinette is located inside a food hall (with rooftop) filled with a variety of cuisines and dishes to try out while you’re there.
Cane’s Caribbean street food
On H Street, you’ll come across a Caribbean food delight: Cane, a small yet stylish Trinidadian street food restaurant, previously visited by President Obama.
For lunch, I tried their *quite spicy* jerk chicken wings as an appetizer, with a horseradish dipping sauce — Spice like this may be my kryptonite, yet I couldn't stay away from its delicious flavor. For the entree, I ordered their tender Oxtail bowl that comes with jasmine rice and a cucumber salad, which I substituted for their mouthwatering channa— Trinidad-style curried chickpeas.
Because I couldn’t leave without dessert (an unapologetic habit of mine), I tried the rum-soaked Hops bread pudding for dessert, topped with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.
The place delivers a tropical vibe with its bright colors and painted shutters and was an all-around enjoyable experience with its great selection of Afrobeat and Caribbean music that kept me dancing in my seat.
Teaism, a restaurant-teahouse
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea, Teaism is a fast and casual restaurant/teahouse with four locations that cover just that. Not only do they serve simple, healthy, and delicious Asian-style cuisine, but offer a separate menu with over 50 kinds of teas.
Here I ordered the Okonomiyaki, a savory crispy cabbage pancake with grilled chicken, topped with wasabi (removed for me) and okonomi sauces, and garnished with scallions. One of the best Japanese dishes I’ve ever tried, and not commonly seen on menus.
The Udon Noodle Soup is made with fat noodles, fresh ginger, mushroom broth, cherry tomatoes and baby kale— instantly warming your entire body like a delicious hug. There’s no other way for me to describe this soup other than nourishing and healing, especially on a cold D.C. day.
Le Diplomate
My heart and taste buds screamed ‘Oh mon Dieu!’ as I fearfully tried escargots for the first time and loved it at this French hotspot.
Six piping-hot Escargots à la Bourguignonne were brought to us soaked in puddles of garlic-parsely butter that would then get scooped out and spread onto a soft, fresh baguette — And that’s when I knew that heaven was real.
I’m not one to order fish at restaurants, but I was recommended the Grilled Branzino and boy was I glad I ordered it. The briny and salty flavors of the tapenade, mixed with the sweet and smoky roasted peppers, and the slight acidity of lemon and red onion on the Gigante beans blended perfectly with the branzino. To refresh myself, I drank their Frosé.
And of course, dessert was ordered, but this time, profiteroles! Sweet praline sits with rich banana-vanilla ice cream inside, as warm and luscious bittersweet chocolate is poured all over it.
Not only is Le Diplomate delectable, but the restaurant is inviting and très belle, paying serious homage to Parisian cafe culture. This may be the kind of restaurant you’d go to for a little splurge and treat, but each bite is truly worth every penny.
Dessert at Founding Farmers & Distillers
While on the search for coffee, I accidentally came across this heavenly dessert after I entered Founding Farmers & Distillers on 600 Massachusetts Ave. and saw a very hard-to-miss to-go bakery in the front.
Nothing compares to this rich and decadent chocolate cream, topped with thick clouds of sweet cream, dusted with chocolate nibs, all on top of a light, fresh and flaky pie crust.
Though the food and beer here are great, I’ve gone back three times for this chocolate cream pie, and even ordered a whole pie! Which from the beginning was hard to choose from with all the desserts on the menu — beignets, gourmet donuts, cakes and more cream pies.
Kirwin’s On The Wharf Irish Pub
The best burger I’ve ever eaten in my life was at Kirwin’s On The Wharf. And I think the deliciousness speaks for itself because I pounced at my meal… and forgot to take a photo. But luckily, I can still show you with the help of the internet.
Kirwin’s lamb burger in my opinion is easily the most mouthwatering dish on the menu. The 8 oz spiced and tender lamb burger was served on a plate with its juice oozing from the patty, topped with a pickle, feta yogurt sauce and braised fennel, and a side of crispy pub fries.
It should be a crime to come to this authentic Irish Pub and not order a cold refreshing pint of beer, Guinness especially because that’s what we’re all about here.
And don’t forget dessert! We ordered the most delicious bread pudding, with sweet brioche bread soaked in Baileys cream, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Mia’s Italian Kitchen in Old Town Alexandria
Just on the outskirts of D.C. lies Old Town, a small neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia, just an eight-mile car or metro ride away but worth the trip. Mia’s Italian Kitchen is one of the restaurants there in the historical site with cobblestone streets.
On their menu is a succulent, buttery chicken and artichoke pan pizza that caught my eye, as it’s served with grilled chicken breast, artichoke hearts, pecorino cream, mozzarella, garlic butter and herbs.
Trust me, this is the kind of pizza you won’t want to share.
Sidamo, an Ethiopian cafe
In this case, words may speak louder than photos. Sidamo is a cute Ethiopian coffee shop with a vintage feel and another H Street favorite where I’d grab either a rich and sweet Chai tea latte, Matcha latte, or caramel cappuccino, and work on my computer.
The humble abode was my favorite cafe, and also served smoothies, a variety of loose-leaf teas, along with quick breakfast bites, snacks and more. Nothing topped their warm hospitality, so don’t leave D.C. without checking them out and supporting their business!
Love Kirwin’s on the Wharf!
Going to D.C next week, thanks for sharing! very helpful!