18 Nov Washington D.C./Condé Nast Traveler

The year of 2023 was a blockbuster for the culinary landscape of Washington, DC. In February, The Bazaar by José Andrés debuted at the Waldorf Astoria, with a menu of American classics intended as an homage to the capital’s history. In July, Chef Makoto Okuwa’s fast-casual Japanese food hall, Love, Makoto, unveiled its sprawling space in the East End, near Chinatown, with a sushi bar, a yakiniku, and a sake-and-snack-dishing izakaya. The same month, Death & Co. brought its meticulously crafted libations to the city, aptly located in the spot that had been home to now shuttered local favorite Columbia Room. Stephen Starr’s latest, El Presidente, opened its doors in September, as did The Square, a 25,000 square-foot food hall that dishes out tacos, oysters, gumbo, and everything in between, and is helmed by restaurant veterans Richie Brandenburg and Rubén Garcia.

The hits keep rolling in. This winter, Keith McNally & Stephen Starr will bring New York City hot spot Pastis to the city’s vibrant Union Market neighborhood, which will also become home to McNally’s Minetta Tavern this winter. Next year, Palestinian chef Michael Rafidi of Michelin-starred Albi fame will be opening La’ Shukran, a restaurant and rooftop bar, in Union Market. Another outpost of his casual eatery Yellow will follow. And über-buzzy chef Kwame Onwuachi, who currently helms Tatiana (one of New York City’s most impossible-to-get tables), will partner with Salamander Hotels & Resorts on a new dining concept at its waterfront property, expected to begin service in the spring. Whatever follows, and plenty will, is only likely to punch up DC’s reputation as an exciting culinary destination—with ambition to match.