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Georgetown Dining on Waterfront

The Best Places to Eat in Georgetown

Your guide to the most delicious restaurants in DC’s historic Georgetown neighborhood

Your guide to the most delicious restaurants in DC’s historic Georgetown neighborhood

The spires of Georgetown University’s classic buildings set the scene for DC’s oldest neighborhood, which today attracts a cross-section of visitors, including pastel-loving preppy college students, Washington’s old guard and young professionals who want to unwind at the neighborhood’s waterfront restaurants. Gourmands in search of great dining will find that high-end options abound in this thriving university neighborhood. 

Waterfront Dining

Georgetown’s location along the Potomac River makes it one of the prettiest places to dine in all of DC. A picturesque view of the Kennedy Center along the banks of the river accompanies diners at restaurants like Sequoia, Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place and Nick’s Riverside Grill, all serving up delectable seafood (and all extremely popular for outdoor happy hours in the summer).

One of the favorite waterfront restaurants in Georgetown, Fiola Mare, from local chef and restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi, continues to make waves for its to-die-for seafood and power list of diners (from Barack Obama and Joe Biden to a former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan). Farmers Fishers Bakers (from the minds behind uber-popular Founding Farmers) also has an address at the Georgetown harbor. The restaurant’s menus are all great, but it’s the extensive brunch buffet that has guests clamoring for weekend reservations (Trust us. Don’t miss the cinnamon buns).

Elite Eating at Hotel Restaurants

Georgetown’s luxe hotels house some of the city’s top epicurean experiences. Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons features James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina’s famed butter-poached steaks; you can also get your red meat fix at celebrity super-chef Wolfgang Puck's CUT by Wolfgang Puck in the luxe Rosewood Washington, D.C. The “nose-to-tail” section of the menu lives up to its name with selections including a 40oz tomahawk ribeye and even Japanese Wagyu.

There's also The Alex, which is tucked inside a high-end hotel at The Graham Georgetown. Named for one-time Georgetown resident Alexander Graham Bell, the intimate restaurant features a cool “Steam-Punk” aesthetic spearheaded by local fine artist Maggie O’Neill.

Classic DC Dining

Georgetown predates the city itself by 40 years and while the neighborhood’s top-notch restaurants haven’t been around quite that long, many of DC’s classic see-and-be-seen restaurants are concentrated in this tiny zip code.

For more than two decades, DC notables have been making reservations at Café Milano, a cozy restaurant serving up southern coastal Italian cuisine, while 1789—a restaurant in one of Georgetown’s classic Federal-style rowhouses—has been welcoming distinguished diners with its all-American menu and historic decor since 1960. And Filomena Ristorante has been dishing out fresh, handmade pasta (you can watch the restaurant's famous "Pasta Mamas" prepare the day's feast from scratch) and classic Italian dishes to celebrities and presidents for more than three decades. The in-demand restaurant scene also includes Chez Billy Sud, is a tiny jewel box of a dining room that requires reservations well in advance (thanks to fan and foodie Michelle Obama putting it on the map). 

Collegiate Connoisseurs

Georgetown’s sophisticated student body has helped make the neighborhood a gourmet oasis with their thirst for hip and delicious dining. You’ll find stylish college students packing the bars and booths at many of G-town’s coolest restaurants, like Richard Sandoval’s Georgetown outpost of El Centro D.F., which serves up authentic Mexican fare (and mezcals!). The Sovereign, from local beer legend Greg Engert, focuses on Belgian food and drink served in a masculine but chic dining room (see the chandeliers featuring brass deer heads).

Kafe Leopold + Konditorei also serves sophisticated fare and creative cocktails that make for a good start to a long night on the town, evoking the best of a Vienna cafe (check out the pastry counter with desserts like the Kaiserschmarrn mit Zwetschkenröster, a pancake with plum and currant compote). 

Memorable Lunch Dates

Ladurée

Georgetown is loaded with beloved lunch spots. If you’re looking for a quick, casual bite, hit up the homegrown chain sweetgreen's two-story flagship location on Wisconsin Avenue for healthy-yet-delicious salads, Good Stuff Eatery (owned by Top Chef star Spike Mendelsohn) for decadent burgers and milkshakes, Stachowski’s for out-of-the-box butcher sandwiches or Chaia for plant-based tacos. There's also Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, renowned for their authentic take on the classic New England dish. Don’t forget to swing by Olivia Macaron or Ladurée afterwards for a sweet treat that’s totally Instagram-worthy.