Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Washington, D.C. Area? 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!

dLeña - Chef Table

5.0

5 (94)

$50 and over

Contemporary Mexican

Mount Vernon Square

About the restaurant

Join dLeña, as featured in the 2022 edition of The MICHELIN Guide DC, at our signature chef’s table tucked behind the main bar with an exquisite leather banquette facing directly into the open kitchen. Chef will prepare eight courses for 160.00 per guest, with an optional beverage pairing for 75.00 per guest. Each of our guests will receive a take-home surprise to enjoy the morning after. ¡Salud!

*Kindly note we are not able to accommodate menu substitutions for our Chef’s Table experience.

Top review

Merritt

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

First, and most importantly, the food was wonderful. Just about every one of the eight dishes was well-conceived, beautifully constructed, and often presented with some dramatic surprise. I enjoy watching our dishes being plated before our eyes, and am always impressed by the extreme attention to detail that goes into that effort at this level. Service was everything to be expected in a Michelin-star restaurant. The interactions with Chef Carlos were an important part of the evening, with information about the inspirations for some of the dishes letting us appreciate the art more fully, and the descriptions with the wine service were very good. dLeña is highly recommended by all four of us. Really, the only significant negative about the whole experience was the ambient noise level. The restaurant is very noisy, and for me it was loud enough to distract from all the other wonderful things going on. If not for the noise, I'm sure all the rating factors would have been full fives.

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Experience

Chef's Table Experience

Murphy's Grand Irish Pub

4.7

4.7 (381)

$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

JoanieVIP

Dined on May 18, 2025

If you don’t mind the traffic noise, I recommend sitting outside under umbrellas, sipping mimosas and people watching. Friendly staff and great food. Always a winner for Sunday brunch!

Mission Navy Yard

4.5

4.5 (584)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Navy Yard

About the restaurant

Welcome to Mission Navy Yard, a lively bar and restaurant located adjacent to Nationals Park and Audi Field. Known for our vibrant bar scene, daily happy hour, spacious private event and outdoor spaces and delicious Tex-Mex food, we opened in July 2018. Our sister restaurant, Mission Dupont Circle, has been serving strong margaritas and tasty tacos since 2014.

We refuse to believe that a restaurant only has one purpose: we aim to provide a bustling bar scene, comfortable dining and versatile private event spaces that can accommodate groups of all sizes. Our spaces are created to be welcoming for brunch, happy hour, dinner and private events, as well as those looking to rewind in a vibrant weekend late night atmosphere.

Top review

Drew

Dined on May 23, 2025

Bartenders taking forever is the only downside to this place. But they have a good pour

Sports & Social DC

4.5

4.5 (25)

$30 and under

Unspecified

U Street Corridor

About the restaurant

Sports & Social is DC's newest premier sports watching destination. This one-of-a-kind sports bar boasts a 25-foot LED media wall, and over a dozen HDTVs, it’s the next best thing to watching the game at the stadium. Sports & Social offers guests an elevated dining and beverage experience including made-from-scratch menu items and curated cocktails.

Top review

Jessica

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

It was a great spot for dinner before the show we sat at the Lincoln Theater. The chicken bacon ranch tacos were out of this world!

IVY by the Lake

4.3

4.3 (195)

$30 and under

Middle Eastern

Sterling

About the restaurant

Conveniently located in Loudoun County, Ivy by the Lake combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences with local-inspired dishes.
Our unique lakeside getaway is the perfect ambiance for our chef’s curated menu. Begin the evening with our flavorful dinner options and custom cocktails, and let the night evolve into a late-night revelry.
The perfect escape, we look forward to seeing you at Ivy by the Lake.

Top review

Josh

Dined 7 days ago

We enjoyed our dinner. The fried cauliflower and Lebanese stir-fried lamb were DELICIOUS. The lamb dish was also a hearty portion. The crab cakes and the hummus were a bit disappointing. We'd go back for the lamb and the cauliflower. Overall, it's a unique and tasty spot.

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Experience

Tableside Shawarma($92 Per order, NOT per person)

Lima Twist

4.3

4.3 (81)

$31 to $50

South American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Legendary Lima returns… with a twist. Located at 1411 K St. NW Washington, D.C. Step into a world of sophisticated luxury and exquisite taste. Cultivated and designed to awaken and arouse all of your senses. Take in the beauty of modern elegance and those around you. Tickle your taste buds and indulge in an array of culinary creations inspired by regions of robust flavors. Refresh yourself with artisanal crafted cocktails sourced from natural ingredients. Become engulfed in the exotic scents of the Pacific coast of Peru, Lima and valley of Machu Picchu. Be amazed at the site of masterful illumination, crystallized lighting and LED light shows.

Top review

Princess

Dined on May 31, 2025

food very good. everyone there was very nice there only con was that we could never find our server when we wanted to order something.

Silver Spring Rooftop

3.7

3.7 (16)

$30 and under

Breakfast

Silver Spring

About the restaurant

We offer an unparalleled experience that transcends the ordinary, making it a cut above the rest. Picture this: a sun-kissed rooftop overlooking the cityscape, where every moment is infused with laughter, music, and an undeniable sense of joy. What sets our brunch apart is not just the delectable spread of culinary delights, but the immersive entertainment we provide. Imagine belting out your favorite tunes with karaoke or the infectious laughter sparked by live comedy acts or the soul-stirring rhythms of a live band creating a vibrant ambiance. We are not just offering a meal; we're crafting an experience, a memory, a moment in time where the convergence of good food and great entertainment becomes unforgettable. Join us every Sunday from 12pm-6pm and our day party from 6pm-10pm. There is a 90 mins seating limit, however you can stay after and purchase drinks at the bar while enjoying the atmosphere

Top review

Kevin

Dined on May 25, 2025

Great place to brunch with friends. A bit loud for talking before 3pm. Background music is nice and then rev up after 3 for the day party. I would return. The back patio must be open if not it’s hot up there.

Sly Rooftop Bar

3.6

3.6 (13)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

NoMa

About the restaurant

High above NoMa, SLY is where the city unwinds in style. Perched atop The Morrow Hotel, this rooftop bar by Marcus Samuelsson and Chef Anthony Jones serves up hand-crafted cocktails, seasonal plates & seafood, and DC skyline views that steal the show. Golden hour hits different up here—come for the food & drinks, stay for the vibe.

Top review

Mason

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Geronimo was exceptional .

matchbox Reston

3.1

3.1 (163)

$30 and under

American

Reston

About the restaurant

Just a few steps outside of Wiehle-Reston East metro station on the Silver Line, you’ll find matchbox Reston Station welcoming you in for great food, refreshing drinks, and an energetic vibe. Situated in the iconic Google building designed by Helmut Jahn and surrounded by businesses and luxury apartments, matchbox is a place for you to take a break from work, catch up with friends, or enjoy time with family.

All are welcome to gather and join our community. Come and enjoy our 3.6.9 mini burgers, blazing hot pizzas, or any one of our chef-crafted dishes. We have something for everyone. Our casual, warm ambiance and friendly staff will make matchbox feel like your home away from home.

matchbox Reston Station also features a private dining room for event bookings and a covered outdoor bar to enjoy those hot summer days and cool nights.

Top review

RogerVIP

Dined on Mar 14, 2025

Good dining experience. Food and service good and reasonably priced.

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Experience

Social Hour Food + Drink Specials

District Bites at District E

3.0

3 (88)

$30 and under

American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

District Bites is a full service bar and restaurant, featuring a scratch made menu made from local ingredients, on premise restaurant for District E Powered by Ticketmaster. Centrally located in the historic Chinatown neighborhood of downtown Washington, D.C., District E Powered by Ticketmaster, is located adjacent to Capital One Arena, the home arena for the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals. District E Powered by Ticketmaster is the flagship venue for esports and entertainment on the east coast, and offers a unique and immersive experience for esports as well as fans of events at Capital One Arena.

Top review

Kathy/JackVIP

Dined on Apr 30, 2025

Our go to before caps game. Great food, and lots of activities always going on. Definitely try the crab dip and the loaded nachos.

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