Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Virginia - DC Suburbs

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Virginia - DC Suburbs? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Salt

4.8

4.8 (620)

$30 and under

Speakeasy

Arlington

About the restaurant

Amongst a sea of glass and steel tucked away from the hum of traffic, you’ll find Salt. Escape the confinements of your home and sink into the intoxicating beats while you enjoy bold flavors and timeless craft cocktails in a safe and cool environment. The refreshing and intimate vibe is an inner-city oasis. Get lost in conversation and enjoy the moment.

Entrance located below Open Road on Lynn St.
Salt Is Now Open Monday-Saturday at 5 pm!

Happy Hour | Monday-Saturday | Open – 7 pm
Half Off Bottled Wine | Salt Tuesdays | Open – 10 pm
Date Night | Monday | Open – 10 pm

Top review

Janis

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Enjoyed the atmosphere. The burger was really good, but very rich - a good meal to split. Drinks were fun and interesting.

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Popular dish

Soy Glazed Pork Belly

Emmy Squared Pizza – Old Town

4.8

4.8 (373)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Alexandria

About the restaurant

Serving Detroit-style pizzas and an award-winning burger. Full service bar, local drafts & wine selection.

Top review

Tobey

Dined on May 29, 2025

Best pizza in DC! So many options, great flavors, and wonderful service! We went twice in one week while visiting the area.

King Street Oyster Bar - Leesburg

4.8

4.8 (94)

$30 and under

Oyster Bar

Leesburg

About the restaurant

Step into our Leesburg, VA location and immerse yourself in a seafood lover's paradise, where fresh oysters take center stage alongside a delectable array of seafood dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and artisanal craft beers.

At King Street Oyster Bar, we take pride in offering the freshest and widest variety of oysters available. With over 10 varieties to choose from daily, each oyster is carefully selected to ensure it reaches your plate no more than 24 hours out of the water from the East Coast and no more than 48 hours out of the water from the West Coast. Our commitment to quality and freshness sets us apart, making every visit a true seafood experience to remember.

Join us at any of our four locations and indulge in the bounty of the sea, expertly prepared and served with a touch of coastal charm. King Street Oyster Bar - where every bite tells a story of the ocean's finest offerings!

Top review

dariaVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent happy hour and options! Awesome service but music was off and too loud for Sunday afternoon.

La Prensa

4.7

4.7 (37)

$30 and under

Mexican

Sterling

About the restaurant

Another unique restaurant by Chef Santosh Tiptur!

We Believe that food is a conversation of life and want to recreate that dialogue through our ingredient-focused menu. Specializing in gourmet tacos, La Prensa offers an escape from the ordinary taco joint with an approachable and globally inspired menu featuring fresh ingredients with our signature adventurous mindset. We also Cocktail and Cooking Classes!!

The inspiration behind La Prensa came from studying the art and craft of the skilled cooks and chefs who have used the Prensa de Tortilla for generations. The skills they have passed down have allowed us to create delicious food. We've always believed that to create amazing tastes and flavors you only need a handful of fresh ingredients Whether you want tacos, tapas, or both, we'll connect you with regional cuisine with an inspiring twist accompanied by our hand crafted cocktails or sangrias.

Please join us and experience La Prensa for yourself!

Your La Prensa Team

Top review

Ann

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Enjoyed lunch specials. Hard to find a nonchain Mexican restaurant; we will return.

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Experience

SALUD! Cocktail Making Class

Experience

La Prensa's Happy Hour!

The Capital Burger - Reston

4.6

4.6 (122)

$30 and under

Burgers

Reston

About the restaurant

The Capital Burger is your destination for the ultimate burger indulgence, operating seven days a week. With a focus on quality, we offer specialty and classic burgers meticulously crafted from our proprietary beef blend, promising unparalleled flavor and juiciness. Served on brioche buns with perfectly crispy sea salt fries, our burgers are accompanied by an impressive selection of handcrafted cocktails like the Smoked Bacon Old Fashioned and a variety of local beers and acclaimed wines.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Terrific food and service, highly recommend. Great burgers and steaks, including for lunch.

The Lost Fox

4.6

4.6 (486)

$50 and over

American

Ashburn

About the restaurant

We welcome guests that are 21 years & older.

OPENTABLE RESERVATIONS ARE FOR INDOOR DINING ONLY. All outdoor dining tables are accommodated on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis. For reservations at our lounge areas and fire pits, you can email info@lostfoxhideaway.com. We look forward to hosting you!

We are open for dinner from Mon - Sat 4pm-11pm and Fri for lunch at 12pm. Sat & Sun brunch is served from 12pm-3pm with last reservations at 2pm.We have live music on Wednesdays (6 pm - 9 pm), Thursdays (7pm - 10pm), Saturdays and Sundays (4pm - 7pm.)

Welcome to your neighborhood pub…
We value seasonal ingredients and work with regional farms to create locally sourced shareable small plates with a hint of Virginia-inspired fare. Enjoy a whiskey and a cigar at our outdoor terrace bar. Overlook One Loudoun’s downtown plaza with a signature cocktail on our patio or cozy up with a pint next to our stone hearth in the dining room.

Top review

Matt

Dined 5 days ago

Delicious brunch, service was great as usual. Kate is the best!!!

Open Road - Reston

4.6

4.6 (229)

$30 and under

American

Reston

About the restaurant

Open Road is inspired by American culture — our passion for music, our love of the outdoors, and the spirit of the open road. Come as you are — suit or shorts, loafers or flip flops. Our kitchen team sources the freshest ingredients to create quality seasonal food. Our beer list celebrates local craft breweries. We have an extensive whiskey and bourbon collection, and we feature handcrafted cocktails that change with the seasons.

At Open Road, we honor the tradition of a cold beer, live music, and fresh food with friends and family every day. Stop by and make yourself at home!

Top review

Mary AnneVIP

Dined 6 days ago

great fajitas. great service. bustling spot on Saturday night.

Yard House - Tysons Galleria

4.6

4.6 (44)

$30 and under

American

McLean

About the restaurant

Yard House is the modern American gathering place where beer and food lovers unite. Known for great food, classic rock, an energetic vibe and endless fleet of tap handles featuring the best craft and local beers, each Yard House location offers 100+ beers on tap along with an array of craft cocktails. Our menu features favorites such as our signature Poke Nachos, street tacos, USDA prime burgers, seafood and steaks. Founded in Long Beach, Calif., in 1996, Yard House now spans across the U.S. with over 80 locations and is open daily for lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night dining.

Top review

Tomeko

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

The restaurant has plenty of seating. And we only waited a few minutes to be seated. The BBQ Bacon Burger and the Whiskey Glazed Salmon were delicious. The Ribeye was average. All in all, it was a good experience and I would recommend it.

Fire Works - Arlington

4.5

4.5 (321)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Arlington

About the restaurant

Fire Works is a pizzeria and bar, serving wood-fired pizzas, a full menu with other great options, craft beer, great wines and awesome cocktails in the Courthouse neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. We're located near the Court House Metro Station, just minutes from D.C. Parking is available in the garage below us at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Come join us on our heated patio!

Top review

Roger

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Fireworks quality and selection of food and drinks CAN'T BE BEAT - always enjoyable!

Murphy's Grand Irish Pub

4.5

4.5 (382)

$30 and under

European

Old Town Alexandria

About the restaurant

---- IF FOR SOME REASON, ALL RESERVATIONS SLOTS ARE GONE, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ONLY ALLOW FOR 30% OF OUR ENTIRE RESTAURANT TO BE RESERVED AT ANY ONE TIME TO ALLOW ROOM FOR WALK-INS ----
Opened in 1978 and located in the heart of historic Old Town, Alexandria, Murphy's Grand Irish Pub is one of Alexandria's best-loved and most inviting restaurants. Murphy's offers an extensive menu and top-class traditional cuisine in the welcoming ambiance of its cozy settings.

A short 10-15-minute drive from the nation's capital, this landmark establishment is located at the main intersection in Old Town, King & Washington.

Today, the tradition of great food and drink remains as steadfast as when the doors first opened back in 1978

Murphy's has Live Irish Music seven nights a week and on weekends, on both floors.

Top review

BruceVIP

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

A regular place for family members do we made a visit with six. All handled well. Good food and drink.

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