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

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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!

Pinstripes - Bethesda

4.9

4.9 (231)

$30 and under

American

North Bethesda

About the restaurant

Pinstripes: Where Sophisticated Fun Meets Exquisite Dining. With over 30,000 square feet of entertainment space, indulge in scratch-made Italian-American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and a robust wine list. Enjoy our weekday happy hour from 3-6:30pm, or don't miss our famous bottomless brunch buffet on weekends. Experience modern bowling and bocce with full-service dining and entertainment options. Perfect for corporate gatherings, celebrations, or family events, our versatile spaces accommodate parties of 20 to 1000 guests. Book your unforgettable experience today!

Top review

ERICK

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Food was great. They have deals different deals every day.

Cafe Riggs

4.8

4.8 (179)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

In the grand tradition of French cuisine, Café Riggs presents a contemporary American brasserie that reimagines classic dishes within a vibrant setting.

Top review

Maria

Dined on May 28, 2025

It was our 3rd time at Riggs (every time we are in D.C. we come to Riggs) and it was amazing as any other time before. The food was delicious, service was good and professional and we enjoyed our dining experience. Looking forward to come back next time we visit D.C.

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

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 5 days ago

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

Alero - Dupont Circle

4.7

4.7 (17)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Enjoy Mexican cuisine at Alero in Dupont Circle. Welcome to the animated Mexican ambiance and munch on our delicious fajitas. Alero has it all from nacho platter, fried plantains, to fajitas, burritos, tacos, and everyone’s favorite the Mexican seafood paella. Make sure to bring family and friends to savor Alero’s Margarita Tower, Pancho Villa. We offer a variety flavorful tequila, beers, and cocktails. This eatery and bar is an ideal spot for hanging out, dating nights, and just to purely have fun!

Top review

David

Dined on May 7, 2025

The service was professional and prompt. The food was delicious and the drinks were excellent.

Emmy Squared Pizza – Old Town

4.7

4.7 (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.

dLeña - Chef Table

4.7

4.7 (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

Boqueria - Dupont

4.6

4.6 (2319)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

A neighborhood favorite since 2012, Boqueria brings the lively spirit of Barcelona’s tapas culture to Washington DC in a warm, contemporary space that hums with energy from lunch through late night. It’s a go-to for festive happy hours, intimate dinners, spirited gatherings with friends, and al fresco meals on the seasonal outdoor patio.
Guests share classic Spanish dishes like jamón ibérico, garlic shrimp, pan con tomate, and patatas bravas—paired with signature paellas, sangrías, cocktails, and Spanish wines.
Located just down the block from Dupont Circle Park, Embassy Row, and Foggy Bottom, and a short walk from K Street.
Please note that in some cases, large party reservations may require a set menu. If that is the case, a host will reach out to confirm with all the details.

Top review

Christopher

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Very nice experience, lots of tapas to select, service was great.

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 4 days ago

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

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 7 days ago

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

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