19 Most Instagrammable Restaurants in Washington DC
How frequently do you whip out your phone to take a picture of your food or the beautiful decor of the restaurant you’re in? Isn’t it true that if it’s not on Instagram, it didn’t happen? Unless it’s a celebratory event you’ve been invited to, you should try to assess how Instagrammable a location is before going there.
There are several Instagrammable restaurants in DC serving unique delicacies. The best bet for taking Instagram pictures includes most five-star hotels. However, they are inherently costly, and sometimes their design and food leave a lot to be desired. On the other hand, at times hidden in dark alleys, some simple restaurants can give you what you want.
Indeed, your followers are looking forward to drooling over your pics. Make their wait worth it by visiting some, if not all, of these restaurants.
Bar Amazonia
20 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 629-3942
This James Beard award-winning restaurant provides an effortlessly inviting bar and rooftop sanctuary and an amazing menu with coastal Peru and the Andes cuisine. Amazonia provides a relaxed ambiance for savoring an extensive array of piscos, and imaginative cocktails, and indulging in tantalizing small plates alongside bountiful sharing dishes. Guests can immerse themselves in the vast pisco collection, a testament to the depth and versatility of Peru’s national spirit, and venture into the inventive cocktail menu, a homage to the country’s vibrant flavors and time-honored traditions. Good food, good vibes, and great ambiance are exactly what makes this added to the list.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Brescia
1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 518-7926
Brescia is a modern Parisian bistro that showcases techniques based in France but influenced by the Washington region. It sources some of the best products from both the mid-Atlantic and beyond. It showcases an inspirational take on French cuisine in a comfortable ambiance, based on the bustling food culture of Paris’s Neo-bistro movement. What’s great about this restaurant is how creative the owners were. Everything that’s served is virtually begging to be snapped. The restaurant also has a Michelin star, which is a big deal in the food industry. Whether by the décor or the restaurant food itself, your followers will be impressed.
Cafe Milano
3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-6183
During warm-weather months, the front wall of floor-to-ceiling windows opens onto an outdoor sidewalk patio, adding a touch of the spirit of Italy to the Georgetown streetscape and creating one of the most sought-after dining spots in Washington. Cafe Milano has an amazing menu of creatively presented Italian dishes, plus wine & cocktails. Combined with amazing decor and vibes, this is the place to be for perfect IG shots.
DC Corazon
3903-3905 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
(202) 481-0511
Situated between Columbia Heights and Petworth, the new kid on the block DC Corazon pays homage to owner (and longtime DC resident) Josefina Darui’s native Mexico with a menu sporting mom-and-pop foods that will make you feel right at home. Expect guacamole prepared tableside, enchiladas, tostadas, quesadillas and tacos. Delicious food and dazzling decor make this place perfect for taking all the pictures your heart desires.
dLeña
476 K St NW Suite D, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 560-5999
Elevated Mexican fare and wood-fired grilled specialties are executed in a striking, rustic-chic venue, with a downstairs mezcal lounge featuring live jazz and private tequila lockers. The subterranean Roja lounge at this wood-fired Mexican restaurant feels like a secret lair. The low-lit den is pure mood: candles, leather seats with tiny tables, and live jazz most nights.
Photo Credit: Facebook
El Techo
606 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 836-4270
This tropical haven in the city’s center is ideal for unwinding with live music, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and an island atmosphere. Located on an open-air rooftop, the restaurant serves tacos, burritos, bowls, and traditional Spanish desserts. If you are seated on the balcony, you may enjoy people watching from above the sidewalk, or you can enjoy the bass-filled music with changing lights on the other side of the restaurant. The environment is vibrant, laid-back, and casual. You can take both Instagrammable food and décor pictures for your avid followers.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Gogi Yogi
1921 8th St NW #115, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 525-4167
This is a cook-it-yourself Korean BBQ restaurant, where you can start a fire and prepare a meal of your choice. Your Instagram followers will enjoy learning how to prepare several types of meat, usually accompanied by sticky rice (Banchan), marinated cucumbers, potatoes, kimchi, pickled vegetables, and potatoes. You can also take a shot of the restaurant’s sweet soju, nip on a cocktail as you prepare your meals, or even choose to enjoy an alcoholic slushy. A perfect way of finishing your meal is with s’mores which you can place over the fire pit.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Jaleo
480 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-7949
Jaleo is another picturesque restaurant that will have your Instagram followers wondering where you were. It is full of bright colors, including a perfect combination of orange, red, brown, and some yellow. Some of its Instagrammable dishes included toasted slices of uniquely crispy and ethereal bread brushed with fresh tomato, dry-cured harm from the legendary black-footed Iberico pigs of Spain, traditional chicken patties, and shrimp sautéed with garlic. You can also take pics of its cold Cerveza, a glass of rose, or expertly crafted cocktail.
Photo Credit: Facebook
La Vie
88 District Square SW 5th floor, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 560-5501
This coastal Mediterranean restaurant, bar, and lounge, located at the newly-developed Wharf DC, offers a spectacular view of the Potomac River shoreline and harbor from its high windows. The vibrant glam ambiance and excellent use of textures are pretty appealing. Because it also features dancing and table/bottle service in the lounge area, it’s ideal for a formal night out or a birthday dinner. You can enjoy its famous mushroom risotto, that’s creamy and flavorful, or the Caesar salad, that’s perfectly portioned and dressed. Its truffle fries are delicious and can be served with a bell cramp and savory cheese dip, perfect for an Instagram pic.
Le Mont-Royal
1815 Adams Mill Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Situated in the vibrant area of Adams Morgan in Washington, DC, stands Le Mont-Royal: a French Canadian-inspired restaurant and bar where you can wine, dine, and dance the night away. As soon as you approach Le Mont-Royal, the gorgeous floral arrangements hanging overhead will immediately transport you to a groovy location fit for any type of get-together. The trendy decor of this bar and restaurant is complete with lots of seating, a wrap-around bar, and an impressive record deck that can spin any track. From venison tartare served with shrimp toast to scallop ceviche, napa cabbage in fermented chili and yogurt, and lamb shank, there is something for everyone to indulge in.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Lupo Verde Osteria
4814 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 506-6683
Lupo Verde Osteria is one of the Instagrammable restaurants in DC. Although its décor is simple, it’s quite romantic. The restaurant has perfectly aligned wine bottles on a rusty wall and a selection of innovative cocktails, including house-made liquors and vermouth. An intimate 100-seat restaurant, Lupo Verde Osteria is perfect for lunch or dinner for two. Its outstanding features include a 15-seat bar of Carrara marble and hand-painted Italian tiles and a 25-seat lounge. The menu features several small plates, house-made slices of bread, antipasti, and charcuteries. When you visit, be sure to try its fried artichoke, which is both delicious and visually appealing. When you’re on a budget, you can settle for its light donuts served with Nutella or a Nutella pizza, which will also give you Instagram likes.
NaRa-Ya
88 District Square SW Floor 3.1, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 301-8145
Located in The Wharf DC, NaRa-Ya offers diners a beautiful combination of traditional Japanese cuisine and environmental awareness. They source their produce locally and offer sustainable, farm-raised, and wild-caught global marine products. Expect an unparalleled dining experience as you indulge in a menu enriched by the flavors of the islands of Japan and an extensive list of top-flight Japanese sakes and whiskeys. And you can’t forget about the awesome views!
Pink Taco
100 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 970-7724
With floor-to-ceiling windows facing the stunning Navy Yard, Pink Taco DC serves up vibrant Mexican cuisine – including, yes, pink tacos. They have a flashy atmosphere with modern nods to traditional Day of the Dead décor. Originating from Vegas, Pink Taco offers an extensive, innovative cocktail list, Taco Tuesday specials, and a brunch menu featuring a Mexican benedict and pink tres leches pancakes. It’s also the ideal location for your next private event. From corporate dinners to social gatherings, and birthdays to anniversaries, Pink Taco is a perfect destination for your next event.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Primrose
3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 248-4558
With ostrich-feathered chandeliers, worn teal walls, and a patterned ceiling, Primrose is one of the Instagrammable restaurants DC that offers a bistro-meets-Belle Epoque vibe. Then there’s the patio, where a well-chosen wine list serves as an exquisite counterpoint to balmy afternoons. You’ll find the usual suspects on the menu—French onion soup, duck liver mousse, and a whole roast bird for two—but take note of the more inventive plates. Your Instagram followers will be impressed with the pictures of your cocktail drinks on the restaurant’s patio.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Rewind by Decades
1219 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 846-7883
Rewind by Decade’s neon light art and classic diner seating give it the ideal backdrop for a like-worthy social media photo. Flowers dripping from the ceiling, an artificial tree that overhangs from the second floor, and a floral wall with the perfect lighting to snap some Boomerangs set the tone for the Cherry Blossom Festival at Rewind. Dessert will be served from the sweet menu. Cotton candy cheesecake with Lucky Charm cereal on top, mochi, and its Magic Cookie Bars are among the delicious goodies on offer. There are also savory brunch and dinner platters offered.
Photo Credit: Facebook
SAX
734 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 737-0101
Sax is an elaborate dinner club and lounge that specializes in French hors d’oeuvres and artisan cocktails. A glass-enclosed loft above the bar hosts unusual burlesque shows. Its prices are, however, on the higher end. For example, there is a $75 minimum expenditure per person on Saturday nights. The ambiance alone keeps people coming back for more. This spot isn’t mainly for elaborate dinners (or great ones), but the vibe alone keeps people coming back for more. Perhaps, the cost might not be as high as the quality of services and your overall experience.
Smoke & Mirrors
867 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 984-2474
Nestled between Capitol Hill and Navy Yard, and overlooking politics at work, Smoke & Mirrors Rooftop Bar sits above the rest overlooking the iconic U.S. Capitol Building. They offer an extensive list of ingenious craft cocktails and a delicious selection of shared dishes. Their indoor bar and lounge are charmingly decorated with amazing DC views. Enjoy amazing comfort dishes like mumbo sauce glazed chicken wings, pork belly deviled eggs, squash risotto, and crab cake salad. Reservations are required.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Tiger Fork
922 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 733-1152
Nestled inside Blagden Allen, the restaurant is one magical location that’s almost too good to be true. Its graffiti images comprising a dragon in the sky, its octagon-shaped bar, and its paper lanterns that hang across its high ceiling make it the perfect destination for everyone looking for likes on Instagram. Some of Tiger Fork’s Instagrammable food includes chunks of white fish, a sweet omelet, and a dusting of minced fried garlic as well as its fried rice with pearly shrimp. You can also take a picture of its steamed noodles as well as its crisp-fatty pork belly and sweet-edged pork to keep your followers drooling.
Vera
2002 Fenwick St., NE
It’s hard to say which feels more stylish: the cacti-lined dining room with a retractable roof, the prettily plated Lebanese-Mexican plates, or the $16 cocktails with little flowers in them. Vera is a desert oasis that evolves into a dance party. Owner Nayef Issa is known for his music pop-ups around DC, and here he’s installed a DJ booth and state-of-the-art sound system to transform the restaurant into a club. Once you step into our doors follow the enticing smells of spice and the hypnotic sounds traveling through our concrete walls to see for yourself what the beautiful fusion of Lebanese Mexican Cuisine has to offer.
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