If you’re eager to mingle with the media, spot a Senator or rub elbows with a Representative, familiarize yourself with DC’s power dining spots.
Your power dining agenda opens on Capitol Hill, where lively bars and restaurants welcome a continuous stream of notable political figures, staffers and interns. Capitol Hill’s “first table cloth restaurant,” The Monocle set the stage for the neighborhood’s power dining reputation when it opened in 1960 as the closest restaurant to the Senate side of the Capitol complex. JFK was an early fan, frequently requesting roast beef sandwiches to be delivered to the White House.
Head west towards the Capitol and you'll find Article One-American Grill & Lounge, a restaurant inside the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Washington. You'll dine on American fare while catching the "who's who" of the Hill mingling and catching up on the day's events. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity and politico sightings - Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Denzel Washington and Nancy Pelosi have all been guests of the hotel.
Political insiders often convene at the grand hotels near the White House that play host to visiting dignitaries. The Hay-Adams Hotel’s Off the Record Bar is popular with White House staffers, journalists, politicians, musicians and activists. Instead of a “who’s who” photo spread, the bar aims for a lighter approach, covering its walls with caricatures by cartoonist Art Wood.
Also near the White House, The Willard InterContinental Washington is a political landmark, where Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term “lobbyist.” At the Willard’s Round Robin Bar, Senator Henry Clay introduced Washington, DC to the mint julep. An amateur historian and political buff himself, Round Robin bar manager Jim Hewes also serves up a menu of “All the President’s Cocktails,” listing the libations of choice of all men who’ve held the highest office.
A must-see on any political dining tour, Old Ebbitt Grill is located across the street from the White House. Opened in 1856, the Ebbitt relocated several times before settling into its current home on 15th Street in 1983. A legendary Oyster Bar, tasty crab cakes and lively happy hours make the Ebbitt a favorite meeting spot for downtown workers, White House staffers, visitors and theatre-goers.
Near the K Street lobbying district, The Palm plays host to a continuous stream of deal-makers and politicos. Seldom do you visit without a political celebrity sighting. General manager Tommy Jacomo has entertained every president since Nixon the DC institution opened in 1972.
Two blocks south of Dupont Circle, Sam & Harry's plays host to celebrities and politicos alike. Julia Child, Nicolas Cage and Walter Cronkite have all been spotted at the classic American steakhouse, which has been touted for serving the "Best Steak" in Washington.
DC's Penn Quarter neighborhood is no stranger to fine dining establishments, and it's here that another power spot makes its home. Pop into The Caucus Room, and you'll rub elbows with the "who's who" of politics and business in DC while noshing on fresh seafood and savory hand-cut steaks.
Georgetown claims a legendary list of notables among its past and present residents—and a selection of restaurants and pubs that meets with their approval. Diners at Billy Martin’s Tavern use a tableside map to find the favorite booths of legendary customers like Lyndon Johnson or Alger Hiss. As a bachelor Congressman and Senator, JFK liked to sit in the half-booth just inside the door, known as the “rumble seat.” He later proposed to Jackie in booth #3.
As DC's Greenest Restaurant, Founding Farmers exists to promote the products of family farms, ranches, and fisheries, with earth-friendly sustainable practices at every turn. Founding Farmers celebrates fresh, homemade Farm-to-Table seasonal dishes on its menus and honest, handcrafted libations and beverages at its bar.
In lower Georgetown, Mie N Yu takes power players (including past guests like Queen Latifa, Shaquille O'Neal, Eric Clapton, Christina Aguilera, Jason Alexander, and Andy Roddick) on a lavish journey along the Ancient Silk Road. Look for celebrities in the chic Hong Kong Bar & Lounge or in the famous Bird Cage, a table that "hangs" between the first and second floors.
