Washington, D.C. Hotels and City Guide

Washington - Restaurants

Dining - Local Cuisine & Customs

Whatever you might have a craving for, you’re likely to find it in the city. With so many people living and working within Washington, you would be hard pressed not to find a wide variety of meals. This means that not only will you find an array of chefs creating meals that represent different tastes throughout the United States, but throughout the world as well. With so many embassies and foreign dignitaries coming in and out of the city, naturally many of them will be hoping for a taste of home somewhere nearby. So don’t be surprised when you bump into a Jamaican restaurant or a little Afghani café down the road. Take a stroll in DC’s little corner of Chinatown for quality Asian, or travel a little farther abroad by visiting Ethiopian food in Little Ethiopia. What you want, DC has ready and waiting. Even better, for people looking for a great place to expand their range of taste, the city has you covered.

The prices will vary depending upon where you go. Famous chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Laurent Tourondel have opened restaurants ready to cater to those with plenty of pocket change. Much of the high-end cuisine can be found in three chic areas: Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown. Even if you never eat in one of the restaurants there, taking a walk past one can be an experience in itself – especially when a single place offers diners a 30-course meal for an astonishing $120.

A little lower in the price range will see you comfortably seated in some of the sweet spots of the city. Try Rasika for fine Indian fare; Acadiana will offer up plates of home-style Lousiana meals; and other dining hotspots around the city such as The Occidental or The Palm.

But for most people, a place that is tasty and has a bit of character will do the trick. Washington DC knows it is a tourist down as well as a place of important political business, and the owners there are ready to cater to the common man’s (and woman’s) needs. There’s no need for celebrity chefs when native recipes will do the trick. From dainty bistros inspired by the French to classic American cuisine, the possibilities are endless. And if you’re on the go with no time to stop, then why not visit one of the many hot dog vendors throughout the city? Grilled to perfection and topped with a vendor’s particular taste of chili. Perfect on a cool day or for light summer eating, they’re great for a relaxed meal right on the Mall, surrounded by the past and present as the sun begins to go down.

If the hot dogs catch your fancy, be sure to visit Ben’s Chili Bowl, a nugget of gold within DC and ready to serve up some of the best chili since 1958. It’s hard to turn down a place where even presidents have enjoyed a hot dog or bowl of flavorful chili.

Washington Restaurants

Via Pacifica
Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001
Tel: +1 202 582 1234 Fax: +1 800 233 1234

Melrose Restaurant
Park Hyatt Washington, 24th at M Street NW, Washington D.C. 20037
Tel: +1 202 789 1234 Fax: +1 202 457 8823

The Willard Room
The Willard Inter-Continental, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20004
Tel: +1 202 628 9100

Kinkead's
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20006
Tel: +1 202 296 7700

1789 Restaurant
1226 36th Street NW, Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: +1 202 965 1789

Citronelle
3000 M Street NW, Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: +1 202 625 2150

La Colline
400 N. Capitol Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001
Tel: +1 202 737 0400

Bombay Club
815 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20006
Tel: +1 202 659 3727

Hibiscus Café
3401 K Street NW, Washington D.C
Tel: +1 202 965 7170

Coeur De Lion
926 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20001
Tel: +1 202 638 5200

Inn at Little Washington
Main and Middle Streets, Washington, Virginia 22747
Tel: +1 540 675 3800

L'Auberge Chez Francois
332 Springfield Road, Great Falls, Virginia 22066
Tel: +1 703 759 3800

Lespinasse
923 16th Street NW, Washington D.C. 20006
Tel: +1 202 879 6900

Morrison-Clark Inn
1015 L Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001
Tel: +1 202 898 1200

Four Seasons Restaurant
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: +1 202 944 2000

Stone Manor
5820 Carroll Boyer Road, Middletown, Maryland 21769
301 473 5454

Marcel's
2401 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20037
Tel: +1 202 296 1166 Fax: +1 202 296 6466

Tipping

Gratuities are not optional in the United States. This is because those employed as wait-staff, valet parkers, bellhops, hotel-room attendants, and other such occupations receive only minimum wage (sometimes less) and rely heavily upon tips in order to make a living. It is only when service is abhorrent that tips should be excluded.

When dining in a restaurant, the minimum percentage to tip is 15% of the total bill. When service is good, the percentage should go up to at least 20%. You may tip as you see fit as well, especially if service is exceptional. If you travel in a large group and your bill is combined into one, expect an establishment to automatically include a larger gratuity in the bill (such as 18%). The tip-leaving method is entirely up to you. It can be added into your bill upon paying, or it can be left as cash upon the table.

Hotels in Washington, D.C.