The Best Restaurants for Dessert in Washington DC

Belga Cafe is a casual but upscale restaurant devised by Belgium native and award-winning Chef Bart Vandaele. Belga has a vibrant and lively atmosphere that evokes the feeling of Brussel’s laid-back cafes, instilled with lots of European charm and sophistication. The cafe is the original Belgian restaurant in Washington, D.C. Serving customers since 2004, it occupies a prime spot on Capitol Hill and serves up authentic cuisine, craft beers and amazing desserts! They have a full menu of sweets, including the Belgishe Chocolade Moussejes, La Grande Dame Blanche and their famous Bart’s Chocolate Cake.

Farmers Fishers Bakers is part of the Farmers Restaurant Group, a collection of eateries that are majority owned by the 47,000 American Family farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union. Mark Watne, the leader of the Union, and restaurateurs, Mike Vucurevich and Dan Simons, run the operations here and oversee everything from the menu to the interior design. The goal is to see everything through the eyes of a farmer. Grab a seat on the beautiful year-round patio or the lively dining room and enjoy one of their fantastic desserts! Specialties include Farmers Donuts, House-Churned Ice Cream and a Virginia Peanut Butter Mousse Pie with whipped cream on top.

The Melting Pot, an elegant fine dining spot located in Arlington, VA, is one of the top spots to go for the best dessert in D.C. It features an amazing dining experience with a full staff of professionals from the cooks to the servers to the owners who want to go out of their way to wow and impress every diner. The atmosphere is upscale but relaxed and they offer private, intimate tables, attentive service, fine wines and outstanding desserts. Try the variety of chocolate fondues, including the Flaming Turtle, Cookie Butter Crunch, Dark and Dulce and Truffle Milk Chocolate. Each one comes with a smattering of sweet treats and fresh fruits for dipping.

Located right in the heart of town in Dupont Circle, this is a perfect stop for anyone on their way home from work or out sightseeing in town and hungry for some of the best dessert in D.C. Recently reborn, they feature a fantastic, updated menu that matches the charming setting. Grab a seat in the lively carriageway barroom, al fresco in the wisteria ensconced patio and garden or in the intimate dining room and take a peek at the delectable desserts menu. Offerings include a Rhubarb Ricotta Cheesecake with Rhubarb Gelee and Strawberry Sorbet and seasonal specialties like a seasonal pumpkin spice affogato. Make sure to check out their daily selection of ice cream flavorings, as well.

This classic restaurant pays tribute to the chefs of France and makes diners feel transported to a classic Parisian brasserie with both the cuisine and the ambience. It is a bright, comfortable gathering place that serves as the go-to spot for delicious French fare in D.C.’s resurgent 14th Street corridor. Pastry Chef Fabrice Bendano specializes in delicious, buttery, flaky pastries. The dessert menu features items like his Profiteroles with praline, banana vanilla ice cream and bittersweet chocolate, the Vacherin Fraise-Vanille and the Apple Tarte Tartin.

Located in the Cardozo neighborhood, Tico is a hotspot for Mexican food and those looking for a festive night out! The restaurant has a fun, sexy atmosphere with delicious and unpretentious food, amazing cocktails, beer and, of course, lots of tequila! Pastry chef Alex Levin joined the infamous Michael Schlow restaurant group and he has developed a menu full of tasty treats that locals claim are the best desserts in D.C. The Tres Leches Cake might be his most famous dessert - it’s a slice of cake sprinkled with candied almonds, fresh berries, caramel pink peppercorn and mango sorbet. For a delicious treat on the simpler side, order the Peanut Butter Cookies with house-made peanut butter cup filling.

Mirabelle is an upscale restaurant that puts an innovative spin on everything they create. Located in the heart of downtown D.C., they play on the culture of refined Parisian Brasseries and update classic items with local and seasonal ingredients. Their website claims the food will transport diners by evoking emotional connections. Pastry chef Aggie Chin creates a full menu of winning desserts, presented to guests on a gold-plated dessert cart. She stocks the rolling car with rich cremeux, decadent Mille crepes, fruit tarts and other delights that are as delicious to look at as they are to taste.

Head to North Bethesda to sample their most famous sweet treat - wherever you are coming from, we promise it it worth the trip. Their food is awesome and so are their desserts, most notably their twist on the rice crispy treat. Forget the kind you make at home with a can of fluff and boxed cereal - this gigantic treat somehow packs in a nutty, buttery flavor with a touch of salt to keep it from being overly saccharine. They even offer variations, like the chocolate chip cookie with brown butter rice crispy treat chunks.