Your guide to the best restaurants in one of DC’s most sophisticated neighborhoods
DC’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood (named for the fog that clings to it in the morning) features culture vultures, history buffs and discerning diners, and is also home to the prestigious George Washington University. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts looms large on the banks of the Potomac River while the historic Watergate building features an elegant hotel with a fab rooftop bar. And of course, there are plenty of acclaimed restaurants ready to dazzle you.
Raved About Restaurants
![Roof Terrace Restaurant & Bar at the Kennedy Center - Places to Eat in Washington, DC](/sites/default/files/styles/editorial_aligned/public/2021-01/colorful-dish-at-kennedy-center-roof-terrace-restaurant_credit-rtrkc.jpg.webp?itok=OuAi8rEq)
Roof Terrace Restaurant
The intellectual and diplomatic community that frequents Foggy Bottom favors restaurants like Rasika West End. The sister restaurant to the original Rasika in the Downtown neighborhood, this luxe Indian eatery features modern Indian fusion from local restaurateur Ashok Bajaj.
Founding Farmers is another popular hot spot, serving up farm-to-table favorites in a sophisticated setting. For a delicious steak, head to Prime Rib, which will remind you of a mid-century supper club. And if it's handmade pastas and pizzas you crave, head to North Italia for – you guessed it – Italian favorites.
Even the Kennedy Center gets in on the neighborhood’s formidable dining scene. The Roof Terrace Restaurant features spectacular views of the Potomac River and the DC cityscape, serving an international menu with a focus on French techniques in an art deco-inspired dining room.
Taste world-renowned sushi in a sophisticated setting at Nobu, the Japanese-meets-Peruvian restaurant and lounge from famed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa. Diners rave about the tiradito, a sashimi “fan” dressed in yuzu, spices and cilantro.
High-End Hotel Dining
Foggy Bottom, which is also home to the U.S. Department of State, features an impressive collection of high-end hotels with wow-worthy restaurants that play host to diplomats and other DC notables on a regular basis. Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt Washington serves a menu of refined yet rustic fare. The Watergate Hotel boasts three ultra-modern dining spaces: Kingbird, The Next Whisky Bar and rooftop bar Top of the Gate. Kingbird features modern American fare with a French twist, as well as a dining room by famous designer Ron Arad.
The Fairmont Hotel also hosts local notables at its restaurant, Juniper. Look for classic dishes featuring honey harvested from the hotel’s very own honey bee farm atop the building. At The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., Quadrant serves up sexy spirits and entrees in a lounge setting.
Casual Eats for Everyone
If affordable, delicious and healthy eats are your jam, look no further than Flower Child, where you can choose from organic salads, cleverly-crafted bowls, wraps and so much more. Tonic at Quigley’s Pharmacy is perfect if you’re looking for brews and tater tots.