Brand-New Restaurants & Hotels in Washington, DC

Food & Drink

Tapori

Newly Opened Restaurants

 

Lobby Bar offers elevated American comfort food and a standout martini program. Led by DC native Chef Andre Williams, the menu features raw bar favorites like local oysters and jumbo shrimp cocktail. The bar program, developed in collaboration with Pratt Standard Cocktail Company, includes innovative cocktails like a caper-brined Dirty Martini and a caviar-topped French 75.

Fish Shop is a new addition to The Wharf, featuring a spacious dining room with seating for up to 180 guests and three private dining rooms. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch, the restaurant emphasizes sustainability, serving fresh shellfish from the Potomac River and locally sourced vegetables, all in low-waste packaging. 

Translating to “fresh” in French, Fraiche opened its doors in early May on 14th Street. The fusion restaurant blends French, Cajun/Southern and Caribbean cuisine for a bold, flavorful menu. Housed in a former theater, the space offers an open and inviting atmosphere.

Lucky Danger has debuted its third location in the heart of Penn Quarter, evolving from its original takeout-only pop-up. The Chinese American concept now offers a full dine-in experience with favorites like crab rangoons, sesame chicken and mapo tofu. 

GAIA Supperclub brings a vibrant dining experience to Downtown DC, channeling the energy of Dubai and Ibiza nightlife. The restaurant pairs Latin and Mediterranean-inspired dishes with live entertainment like DJs and dancers. Chef Sammy Davis, a Chopped winner, showcases creative plates like salmon lollipops, lobster nuggets and a 24-ounce tomahawk ribeye served tableside. 

Michelin-starred chef Elias Taddesse has opened Mélange in Shaw. The 96-seat dining hub houses three fast-casual concepts: Mélange DC (gourmet burgers), Doro Soul Food (Ethiopian-inspired comfort food) and soon-to-launch Moya (Ethiopian tacos).

An upscale brasserie from the Balos Restaurant Group has opened in DC’s West End. Bar Angie brings an elevated dining experience with a brasserie-style menu and refined ambiance to the neighborhood. The menu features an Angie’s Happy Meal, consisting of fries and Caesar salad paired with a martini or wine.
 

© Sagrada

The popular Joia Burger has opened a second location in Glover Park. The new location will serve the classic smash burger, veggie burgers and the beloved ube ice cream, in addition to coffee in partnership with Sun & Stars Coffee. 

New York City award-winning Chef Marcus Samuelsson has debuted Sly, a new rooftop bar at the Morrow Hotel in NoMa. The bar serves playful cocktails and bites like mumbo sauce chicken sandwiches and blue corn cornbread. The restaurant can seat up to 300 people and offers a stunning view of the city’s skyline. 

Tapori, a new communal Indian street food restaurant, opened its doors on H Street in March. It is the latest venture from the team behind Daru, featuring flavors from across India, particularly the southern and Himalayan regions. The restaurant will provide a casual, social dining experience with shared plates and bold, spicy flavors.

Sagrada, a new restaurant by Knead Hospitality + Design, offers an eight-course tasting menu designed to mimic a psychedelic journey. The experience includes immersive storytelling, ceremonial elements and dishes featuring mushrooms like shiitake and lion’s mane. A portion of the proceeds supports psychedelic research at Johns Hopkins.

Stephen Starr has revitalized The Occidental, a historic DC restaurant that opened in 1906 near the White House. The menu features American classics like glazed Virginia ham and lamb chops with mint jelly, while the cocktail list spotlights six variations of the martini. The 14,000-square-foot space is decorated with murals and velvet furnishings, paying homage to its past.

 

Bar Betsie

River Club DC has introduced The Lobby, a new bar featuring craft cocktails and waterfront views of the Potomac. Guests can enjoy a prix fixe brunch, happy hour and exclusive food and beverage menus.

Kata, a new supper club in Chinatown, brings an upscale dining experience with a focus on omakase and inventive cocktails. The intimate space blends Japanese and French influences, offering a sophisticated ambiance for late-night dining and entertainment.

Celebrity chef Eric Adjepong’s highly anticipated restaurant Elmina is now open in Washington, DC, bringing a refined take on West African cuisine to the city’s dining scene. The vibrant new spot, located in Union Market, showcases dishes inspired by Ghanaian flavors, paired with an innovative cocktail program.

Willowsong, the latest addition to the Wharf, showcases Mid-Atlantic flavors with dishes like Rappahannock oysters, Chesapeake rockfish and house-made fennel agnolotti. Executive Chef Kat Petonito focuses on using regional ingredients such as bay leaf and pawpaw.

From the team behind Jane Jane, Bar Betsie is to open this winter in the Union Market. Inspired by co-owner JP Sabatier's lively Puerto Rican mother, the bar aims to emulate her vivacious energy and welcoming hospitality. The bar will offer cocktails, beer, wine and finger foods.

New organic café Life Alive emphasizes plant-based, wellness-focused dining, using locally sourced ingredients to create nourishing, vibrant meals. Their mission is to inspire health and sustainability within the community through mindful, health-conscious choices.

 

Opening Soon
 

© Chai Pani

Birdsong a modern Thai restaurant, brings bold flavors to the former Blue 44. Led by self-taught Chef Kitima Boonmala and Pastry Chef Naomi Gallego, the menu combines Thai tradition with seasonal ingredients and refined technique. The cocktail program is playful and creative, while zero-proof options ensure everyone feels welcome at the bar. 

Chai Pani, the James Beard Award–winning Indian street food restaurant from Asheville, is coming to Union Market this summer. Chefs Meherwan Irani and Vishwesh Bhatt have crafted a menu that fuses Indian street food with fresh creations inspired by Vish’s Gujarati heritage and Southern culinary roots. The 4,000-square-foot space will reflect the colorful and lively energy of the bustling streets of India. 

Chef Alex McCoy, known for Lucky Buns, is bringing back Alfie’s. The Isaan-style spot will return this summer in a cozy 25-seat Georgetown location, featuring dishes like beef-rib khao soi, plus natural wines and cold beer. 

JINYA Ramen Bar is set to open two new locations this summer – Georgetown, featuring a late-night menu, and The Wharf, debuting the brand’s first waterfront setting. Founded by Tomo Takahashi, the popular ramen spot is known for its meticulously crafted broths, aged noodles and Japanese-inspired ambiance. 
 

@pitangogelato @dcnomster

Cork & Wine Bar will open a third location in Cleveland Park this fall. The cozy space will include a 20-seat wine bar and retail shop, a tasting room for classes and events, and outdoor seating. The restaurant will offer an extensive variety of wines by the glass and a curated menu of cheese, charcuterie and small plates. 

The acclaimed team behind Pascual, Lutèce and Lapis is launching Maison Bar à Vin, a French-inspired wine bar and restaurant from The Popal Group. Set in a charming three-story brownstone, the intimate space will offer an intimate ambiance, a curated menu of French bites and cocktails crafted by beverage director Suzy Critchlow. 

Karravaan, a new Indian restaurant from the team behind RASA, is to open in Union Market, bringing a vibrant mix of traditional and modern Indian flavors to the area. With a focus on bold spices and inventive dishes, the spot aims to add an exciting culinary destination to D.C.’s thriving food scene. 

Pitango Gelato is expanding to 14th Street this summer. Known for hand-churned gelato made with organic milk and fresh ingredients, the new shop will offer 20 rotating flavors, including dairy-free sorbets. The space will also serve Vigilante Coffee, Italian baked goods and house-made treats like biscotti and almond cookies. 

 

 

Hotels

Brand New Openings

Sixty DC

Sixty DC
June 2025
The boutique hotel brand – with locations in Beverly Hills, California and New York’s Lower East Side – makes its DC debut on Connecticut Avenue near Dupont Circle. The luxury hotel will boast two trendy food and beverage concepts: Casamara, serving coastal Mediterranean, and Reynold’s, a cocktail bar whose name is a nod to Alexander Hamilton’s affair.

 

Mint House

Mint House Downtown Washington, DC
May 2025
An 11-story former office building near McPherson Square has been converted into a hotel offering 85 high-end apartment-style suites, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, complete with full kitchens and spacious living areas. Guests have access to an on-site fitness center, dedicated meeting space, a coworking lounge and grab-and-go station. There will also be an onsite restaurant and bar open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner headed by a local DC restaurateur.

 

Canal House of Georgetown, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
March 2025
Taking inspiration from the iconic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, a five-story former office building has been combined with adjacent townhouses to create a 107-key property under Marriott’s Tribute portfolio. Located in the heart of charming Georgetown, amenities include the lobby’s C+O Lounge, a private courtyard, library lounge, fitness center and two two-bedroom rowhouses.

 

Arlo Washington, DC
November 2024
Arlo Hotels has just debuted its seventh hotel and first in Washington, DC near Judiciary Square. The 12-story, 445-room hotel incorporates and preserves the city’s oldest conventional apartment building, the Harrison, which has stood since 1882. Arlo Washington, DC boasts a pool and year-round rooftop lounge, ART DC, as well as Arrels, a Spanish farmhouse restaurant and bar helmed by award-winning DC chef Pepe Moncayo.

 

Placemakr NoMa

Placemakr
Summer 2024
A curated line of apartment-hotel properties, Placemakr has expanded its presence in the nation’s capital. Their signature, flexible, tech-forward experience caters to nightly, short- and long-term stays, as well as business, group and extended-stay travelers. New locations include Coda on Half in the Navy Yard, adding to their existing portfolio across the city, including Dupont Circle.

 

New Rebrands
 

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Washington, DC / NY Avenue 
January 2025
Following a full renovation, the former Quality Inn & Suites features complimentary hot breakfast buffet, a 24-hour hot beverage bar, fitness center, business center and free wireless internet access.

 

Le Meridien Madison

Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison
September 2024
Steps from the White House and energy of Logan Circle, the boutique Madison Hotel joined the Marriott portfolio, rebranded as Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison. The property has undergone an expansive $15 million renovation of the lobby, communal spaces and guestrooms to reflect the Golden Age of travel. Lady Madison, the hotel’s signature restaurant and cocktail lounge, features a revamped menu inspired by French cuisine and local flavor.

 

The Quincy

The Quincy Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection
September 2024
The former Sonder the Quincy rebranded under Choice Hotels’ Ascend Hotel Collection, marking the first Ascend property in the DC market. The 99-key property, within walking distance of The White House, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, reopened following renovations to the lobby, guest rooms and meeting space.

 

Hotel AKA Washington Circle

Hotel AKA Washington Circle
May 2024
Located across from the Foggy Bottom Metro station, steps from The George Washington University campus, the former One Washington Circle Hotel reopened as a newly transformed boutique hotel. The 151-room contemporary property features newly designed guestrooms and suites perfect for both short and long-term stays, many with terraces and a full kitchen or kitchenette. Amenities include a welcoming lobby lounge, Technogym fitness center, private cinema and a new restaurant from James Beard Award winner Ellen Yin, a.kitchen+bar.

 

Hotel Nell

Hotel Nell – Union Market
May 2024
A 106-room boutique hotel in the heart of the bustling Union Market has relaunched with new branding and new spaces. The name honors the former owner of the Bolgiano Seed Company, which provided lawn seeds for the White House and National Mall from this site in the mid-1900s. Today, the design-centric hotel showcases a foliage-rich industrial charm. The reception, expansive lobby and Treehouse Rooftop lounge provide warm and welcoming communal spaces that capture the essence and authenticity of the burgeoning neighborhood. 

 

New Renovations
 

Salamander Washington, DC
December 2024
Middleburg, Virginia-based Salamander Collection, founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson, unveiled buzzworthy enhancements to the former 373-key Mandarin Oriental. The project reveals a brighter and more residential design. The lobby and its stunning bar, pool and modernly refreshed guest suites designed by Washington’s Thomas Pheasant were completed by late summer 2024 and a luxury two-story spa followed over the winter. Celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi’s highly anticipated return to the nation’s capital, Dōgon, opened Sept. 9, 2024, to national acclaim. The restaurant is inspired by DC surveyor Benjamin Banneker and his heritage to the West African Dogon tribe.

 

Grand Hyatt Washington

Grand Hyatt Washington
Fall 2024
The 902-key hotel has unveiled fully renovated guest rooms and suites. The rooms boast a light and airy feel with neutral tones and a stunning feature wall inspired by the Capitol building's dome and cherry blossom flowers. In conjunction with its renovation, Grand Hyatt Washington has proudly achieved LEED certification for the guest rooms. The property, adjacent to CityCenterDC, is a few blocks from Capital One Arena and the National Mall.

 

Residence Inn Washington Downtown

Residence Inn Washington, DC Downtown
September 2024
Located in a historic building, the hotel has undergone a full renovation of its 202 suites and public spaces. Amenities include fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, a complimentary daily breakfast buffet, 24-hour fitness center and meeting rooms.

 

Washington Marriott at Metro Center

Washington Marriott at Metro Center
June 2024
The centrally located hotel completed a multimillion-dollar renovation with elevated amenities, including updated guest rooms, technology-enabled work surfaces, a state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton equipment, refreshed indoor pool area and modernized 24/7 M Club. The city's political lore is woven throughout the identity of Spotted Zebra, from whimsical political and historical quotes that grace bar coasters to names of signature dishes and drinks.

 

The Westin Georgetown

Westin Georgetown, Washington, DC
June 2024
Situated near historic Georgetown, the transformed hotel unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation, offering a refined blend of well-being experiences and timeless design. The 269-room property captures the brand’s pillars of well-being, including curated culinary options, the signature Heavenly bed and WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio with Peloton bikes.

 

Four Seasons Washington, DC

Four Seasons Washington, DC
May 2024
The property just unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation to its famed spa. Newly enhanced features include state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a dedicated couples' massage room with a deep soaking bathtub for two, a co-ed lounge and an updated indoor swimming pool, debuting later this summer. Guests will have the opportunity to experience Mind Sync Technology. The state-of-the-art equipment connects to the treatment tables and uses advanced technology to synchronize brainwaves, inducing a deep state of relaxation and mental clarity.