The 15 Most Scenic Georgetown Waterfront Restaurants in Washington, D.C.
One of the simple joys in life has to be taking a stroll along Washington Harbor and enjoying everything that the Potomac River has to offer. Add onto that the beautiful Georgetown Waterfront Park and you have yourself a full day of activities to enjoy and some amazing dining opportunities as well. In this article, we highlight 15 of our favorite Georgetown Waterfront dining experiences for you to enjoy.
1. Sequoia
3000 K st NW, Washington, DC 20007
Sequoia pairs traditional American cuisine with stunning views to create a pleasant dining experience. If you’re going with friends then the move is absolutely the Scarlet Seafood Tower which serves four to six people and comes with an astounding amount of seafood including crab legs, oysters, lobster, shrimp, mussels, and ceviche de pescado. The Maryland Jumbo Crabcakes are a must-have as well and come with delightful kimchi, and spicy avocado salsa that elevates the entire dish. If you go on Saturday for brunch they offer endless sangria to go along with their tapas style brunch including chicken and waffles with their bourbon maple syrup, the crab and corn omelette, or you hit up the raw bar and get the chilled baby shrimp, oysters, or snow crab legs. Whatever you decide, you can count on good food and a great view.
2. Tony & Joes Seafood
3000 K St. NW., Washington, DC 20007
With a little something for everyone – Tony and Joes Seafood is another delightful fresh seafood option located right next to the Potomac. The Iced Seafood Tower comes with a pound of lobster, six oysters, smoked salmon, jumbo shrimp, and succulent jump lump crab. If you’re dining for just one, however, the whole fried bronzino is fried to perfection and comes with Mediterranean-sauteed Japanese eggplant. For those who bring someone that isn’t a fan of seafood, the braised beef short ribs come with caramelized onion gravy, fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, and leaks and is an excellent option as well. Whatever you’re in the mood for – Tony & Joes Seafood has you covered.
3. Farmers Fishers Bakers
3000 K St. NW., Washington, DC 20007
Just because the temperature starts dropping, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy sitting on a patio overlooking the Potomac. You can still enjoy eating fresh seafood because the people over at Farmers Fishers Bakers have now installed a heated tent so that you can enjoy their incredible views year long! Farmers Fishers instills a farm to table philosophy by owning their own urban farmhouse to ensure you get only the freshest ingredients for your meal. If you’re on the go in the morning, Farmers Fishers also makes their own baked goods, so you can drop by for a coffee and pastry and go on with your day. As for dinner, whether you’re in the mood for fresh fish, sushi, or farm-raised chicken they have you covered – just make sure to nab a reservation as they are now required for dining in.
4. Bangkok Joe’s
3000 K St. NW., Washington, DC 20007
Two words: Dumpling Bar. Chef Aulie Bunyarataphan and Propreieter Mel Oursinsiri feature 20 of Aulie’s dumplings paired with homemade sauces for a fantastic dumpling meal. Bangkok Joe’s takes traditional Thai dishes and flavors but applies a modern twist to them thanks to Chef Aulie’s experience with Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and French training. The ambiance and decor is that of the temple that Chef Aulie’s family built three centuries ago! With the most expensive item on the menu being their crispy flounder filet coming in at $24, Bangkok Joe’s also provides you with fantastic food at an extremely affordable price as well. Pair their bold exotic flavors with the beauty of Washington Harbour.
5. Fiola Mare
3100 K St. NW., Washington, DC 20007
Fiola Mare pairs elegance with traditional Italian flavors and fresh seafood to create a unique upscale Italian dining experience. For the red meat eaters in your party, Fiola also has a delicious 16-ounce ribeye steak and veal chops, but the fresh seafood steals the show with incredible offerings such as the lobster ravioli, or the bucatini with Spanish red king prawns. For a truly unique experience you can rent an igloo, yes you read that right, an igloo right outside the restaurant where you and up to five of your friends can enjoy private dining right on the waterfront Marina. Menus change daily so you can go multiple times and have something new each time!
6. Chez Billy Sud
1039 31st St. NW., Washington, DC 20007
Classic French food with outstanding wine pairings is exactly what you get when you dine at Chez Billy Sud. Located right across the street from the Ritz-Carlton, stepping into Chez Billy Sud transports you to a truly traditional dining experience while also making your wallet a lot happier! If you’re craving duck then Chez Billy Sud is the place to go with great options throughout the menu including the confit de canard, which gives you crispy but succulent moulard duck leg with potato rosti, or you can go with the magret aux cerises which gives you perfectly seared duck breast on a gorgeous plate of wild rice and hazelnuts topped with a cherry gastrique.
7. Reverie
3201 Cherry Hill Ln., Washington, DC 20007
How many times can you say you’ve eaten at a restaurant built from someone that studied at Noma – one of the world’s top restaurants? Well, with Reverie you have that opportunity! Chef and owner Johnny Spero has brought a litany of traditional experience from some of the best restaurants in the world to D.C. with Reverie. His dream of pairing affordable food with elegant cuisine and an intimate setting alongside the chef and kitchen is evident the moment you step inside the restaurant. You can either choose the six-course menu for $105, or the four-course menu for $85. Chef Spero really knocks it out of the park, or bay, with this beautiful restaurant.
8. Bandoola Bowl
1069 Wisconsin Ave NW., Washington, DC 20007
If you’re looking for great food but are short on time, consider Bandoola Bowl located right off of Wisconsin Avenue. Bandoola Bowl focuses on bringing the flavors of Burma and other Southeast Asian countries and making it accessible for all with this gem. The salads, a significant type of cuisine in Burmese culture, provide so much in a bowl with a host of flavors and textures all in a simple salad. Bandoola Bowl’s ability to instill so many different flavors and textures in a salad while paying respect to traditional Southeast Asian food makes it a place to visit while on the go in Georgetown.
9. Guapos of Georgetown
3050 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
The Rincon family has brought the authentic flavor of Mexico right to Georgetown! Guapo’s has all of your favorites made right, from their iconic house-made “Guapomole” to several types of fresh ceviche. Their margaritas are strong but never sacrifice flavor. Make sure you don’t miss their brunch, every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm, where they offer the classics like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles.
10. Flavio Restaurant
1073 31st St NW Washington DC 20007
Mekki and Hamzi’s goal when they founded Flavio was to bring the Italian experience to Washington D.C. Between the decor, the service, and the emphasis on pasta, pizza, and wine, we’d say they achieved that goal. Even with their focus on authenticity, they’re not afraid to venture to the bold side of things. Their two most popular items combine a classic with fresh and divine seafood: the Flavio’s pizza is topped with shrimp, scallops, and lobster meat and the lobster diavolo is a chef’s choice of pasta with lobster, shrimp, and scallops in a spicy tomato cream sauce. Their Happy Hour is the best way to spend your weekday between 3pm and 6pm, with a select lineup of cocktails as well as foods like caprese, meatballs, goat cheese ravioli, and pizza.
11. Ristorante Piccolo
1068 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Since Ristorante Piccolo opened in 1986, it has been rightfully considered one of the most romantic restaurants in town. It’s the perfect occasion for any landmark event from a first date to a marriage proposal or an anniversary dinner. Part of this reputation has been earned due to their extensive wine list, featuring dozens of options by the glass or the bottle. The incredibly helpful team of wine experts will ensure your wine pairs perfectly with your meal, whether you’re eating the filet with porcini rub or the marinated grilled octopus.
12. Pinstripes
1064 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Pinstripes is one of the most happening spots on the waterfront! In addition to superb food and drinks, they’re immensely popular for their bowling and bocce ball. Stop by for their happy hour (Monday-Friday 3-6pm AND Sunday from 6pm to close) and enjoy pizza, flatbreads, apps, and cheap drinks while you play to your heart’s delight. They also have a phenomenal brunch on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm as well as a brunch buffet on Sunday at the same times.
13. Clyde’s- Georgetown
3236 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Dining at Clyde’s will feel like you’re at your home away from home. They pride themselves on having fresh ingredients, good service, and the atmosphere is top notch. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Clyde’s offers all of those American favorites in a more upscale space giving you the best of both worlds. For brunch, you’ve got options like croque madame, french toast, and eggs chesapeake. For lunch or dinner, stop in for some good eats like chicken, steak, or salmon meals, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Everyone will be able to find something to enjoy when they dine at Clyde’s. For some extra fun, they stay open late on Friday and Saturday so stop in and try one of their delicious cocktails or a glass of wine.
14. Chaia
3207 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Chaia is a vegetarian spot, however you don’t need to be vegetarian to love all that is going on here. They’re known for their tacos and they load them up with all kinds of veggies, spices, and delicious scauses. You can do a taco trio or just order what you want individually. Some of their tacos include the creamy kale and potato that has pepper jack, poblano crema, salsa verde, and pickled red onion. Another great option is the scrambled egg and black bean taco that comes with queso fresco, salsa paprika, chives, fresh jalapeno, cilantro, and pickled carrots, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their tacos. They also serve a variety of enchiladas, quesadillas, and tostadas. Order a drink on tap and grab a seat and enjoy those tasty tacos!
15. Tazza Cafe
600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
This cozy cafe located right across from the Kennedy Center is serving Mediterranean breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are several breakfast sandwich options as well as egg plates, some with prosciutto, corned beef hash, spinach and goat cheese, and other hearty options. For lunch and dinner, try one of their many wood oven pizzas like the Mediterranean roasted red pepper or the whole wheat spinach and artichoke. Some of their sandwich options include the homemade sesame falafel and the Greek chicken gyro. Then of course you have all of the traditional options to choose from like tabbouleh, Moroccan lamb, kofte, and more. This is a great place to check out if you need a quick bite, or if you have the time, grab a table and enjoy.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 30, 2020 and last updated on March 24, 2022. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
Featured Blog Posts
10 Family Friendly Restaurants in DC
Where’s the best place to eat with the family in Washington DC? When you need to cater to different tastes and ages, picking a restaurant suddenly becomes much harder! There’s no need to wait for a congressional decree before you can sit down for a meal. Just consider our list of 10 family friendly restaurants in DC the law!
The Best Restaurants Near George Washington University
Although George Washington University doesn’t have a defined “campus”, it certainly has its own feel. As you would expect from such a cultural hub, this part of town has an absolutely tremendous restaurant scene. Whether you’re in the mood for an on-campus deli or a Michelin-recognized farm-to-table experience, it’s easy to find the perfect meal for any taste or occasion in Washington D.C.
Best Christmas Bars/Pop-ups in Washington, DC
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Washington, DC. This is the season when popular bars turn red and green, holiday pop-up bars begin appearing, and people from both sides of the aisle come together to sip spiked eggnog under the glow of twinkling lights. If you’re ready to get caught up in a flurry of excitement, you don’t want to miss this list of the six best Christmas bars and holiday pop-up bars in Washington, DC!
The Absolute Best Restaurants for Big Groups in Washington, DC
Getting together with a group of friends is always so special, but sometimes it can be hard to find a place to eat that will accommodate a large party. A great atmosphere, good service, and plenty of room are all things to go into having a great night out with friends or family. We’ve put together a list of restaurants that you should try out if you are dining with a group or hosting an event in Washington DC.