Best of D.C. 2024 kicks off with our favorite places to visit in D.C.’s vibrant food and drink scene. This year, we’re into unique burger collabs, delicious cocktails, and a (non-edible) beautiful stained-glass window.
To see what readers selected in our Food & Drink categories, click here.
BEST UNEXPECTED COLLABS
Hill East Burger
Under only one roof can you enjoy a wagyu teriyaki burger from chef Masako Morishita of Perry’s, a chicharron chicken sandwich from Fernando González of 2Fifty Texas BBQ, a lamb burger from Marcelle Afram of Shababi, and a pork belly burger from Angel Barreto of Anju. Not all at once, of course. But Hill East Burger, the little Texas-influenced spot tucked away on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, has a constant and impressive rotation of local guest chefs.
Co-owner Chris Svetlik aims to feature two chefs each month in pop-up collaborations. It’s a tactic to draw in new customers and shake things up for the neighborhood regulars. “Most everyone in the food world loves burgers and has an idea of a burger or a fun spin with the kind of cuisine they cook in,” Svetlik says. The collabs typically run for three days (or more if there are leftover ingredients) and are announced on Hill East Burger’s Instagram. Svetlik says his favorite so far was Ben Plyraharn’s chicken nug larb. The happy hour deals are hard to beat, too. Where else can you eat a fish sauce caramel burger from Kevin Tien (of Moon Rabbit) while sipping a $1 Miller High Life or an $8 old-fashioned? —Mitch Ryals
BEST VEGAN TASTING MENU
MITA
Given the time and expense of committing to a tasting menu, I’m leery when a new one pops up. Is it simply going to be three hours of my life frittered away indulging in a few hits, a couple of misses, and a bunch of things I won’t remember unless I take a photo, all for an obscene amount of money that should probably be applied to my student loans? That’s not the case with the 14-course Latin inspired vegan tasting menu at MITA by chefs and co-owners Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora. Priced at a reasonable $150, the gastronomic journey features a succession of dishes I won’t soon forget, including a bread basket brimming with arepas—corn, yuca, wheat, and sweet potato—accompanied by various spreads, ceviche made with watermelon and fermented carrots, and rich mushroom terrine with grilled endive and an umami rich reduction. A meal worth the investment on every level. —Nevin Martell
BEST PLACE TO DRINK AND LEARN THINGS
Library of Congress
Just about every Thursday for the past three years, the Library of Congress has taken a bit of a risk. The nation’s library has extended its hours, cracked open a few beers, and let revelers loose (more or less) on the historic building. It’s a bold move, considering that, separately, library stacks and alcohol have been known to lower inhibitions and increase romantic urges. But so far, Live! At the Library happy hours have remained fairly platonic—perhaps because there’s so much other stuff to do there.
The LoC event, from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, is the perfect way to drink and learn things. Patrons can purchase drinks and snacks in the Jefferson Building’s gorgeous Great Hall and then peruse the library’s exhibits, collections, and programs. Sometimes organizers bring in authors, bands, or actors for entertainment. Last week, for example, the LoC hosted an EDM dance party featuring French house, disco, and pop in honor of the Paris Olympics. But if you’d prefer something more low-key, you can browse the exhibits on display, including the new Treasures Gallery that features historic items that the library has been keeping safe and only recently has made available to the public. The collection includes original art from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (of the Spider-Man comics), photos and writing of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and the contents of President Lincoln’s pockets the night he was assassinated. I’m told Abe was carrying a confederate $5 bill. Tickets are free, but they sell out fast. You can reserve them at loc.gov/events. —Mitch Ryals
BEST BAR IN A VENUE
Pie Shop
As a music lover and an arts editor, I go to a lot of shows. So I’ve learned the hard way: never drink the wine, and do not order a cocktail. You’re not there for the drink menu anyway. But when I recently attended a show to raise money for DC Abortion Fund at Pie Shop, I threw caution to the wind. It was a Thursday, I spent 35 minutes in traffic to get there, and it had been a long week. I couldn’t stomach a beer and well liquor did not sound well enough. I glanced at the well-stocked bar, sidled up to the bartender, and took a chance. I was rewarded with a delightful, $13 old-fashioned and a seat on a barstool where I could still see the stage. Suddenly my night was looking up. The band was great, and my cocktail was perfect. —Sarah Marloff
BEST BAR TO WATCH A FIRST DATE
All Souls
If you go to All Souls, the popular Shaw cocktail bar, odds are you’ll see a first date. They’re not hard to spot. The body language is a little eager yet apprehensive, while the two individuals maintain a respectful distance. When you’re close enough, you can even hear “getting to know you” talk and tortured attempts at charm. It’s no wonder so many D.C. singles turn to All Souls. It’s an intimate and busy spot—but not too intimate and not too busy—and bar snacks are the only food offered (a full meal is too much commitment for a first date). First dates are so common there that the chatty bartenders will sometimes share the disasters and successes they have watched unfold over the years. And let’s be honest, people-watching is low-key one of the pleasures of a night out for drinks. Just don’t gawk. The only thing worse than an awkward first date is the creep who accidentally interrupts one. —Alan Zilberman
BEST NEXT LEVEL CHILI CRUNCH
Chili Crunch by Pho From Home
I am addicted to chili crunch, but it has to offer the right balance of heat and flavor. Too much firepower burns out my palate, while an absence of nuance makes it boring to eat. There’s excellent equilibrium in the one crafted by Khai Nguyen of Pho From Home, which takes its cues from Vietnamese sate sauce. Its ruby red oil is home to an abundance of sauteed shallots, a secret mix of chilies, plenty of peanuts, and mushroom powder for umami oomph. Jars are available at the Palisades Farmers Market on Sundays, as well as Sara’s Market and Dent Place Market, both in Georgetown. I’ve poured the firecracker of a condiment over eggs, spread it on tofu burgers, and wantonly spooned it across myriad rice dishes. Nguyen recommends slathering it on a piece of toast with peanut butter, which sounds so good I need to cut this piece short to go enjoy that right now. —Nevin Martell
BEST BAR TO TAKE A DATE YOU DON’T WANT TO LISTEN TO
doi moi downstairs
Walking into a Hinge date in D.C. is always a bit of a gamble. But once in a blue moon, he’s over 6 feet, handsome, and even pulls out your chair. In the warm glow of a candlelit high top at [Insert First Date Spot Name], you flirt while poring over drink choices; it’s all rosy cheeks and stolen glances. And then, he starts talking. Within minutes, he goes from “I’m not very political” to a litany of well-rehearsed, Vivek Ramaswamy-esque talking points disguised as off-the-cuff sociocultural observations. By the time he says that his ex-girlfriend was “too emotional to hold an adult conversation,” you know you’ll never see him again. But it’s a Friday night. You spent 45 minutes blow-drying your hair after work. You’re wearing a miniskirt and pointed-toe, high-heeled boots, dammit. Maybe, you think, you can turn this ship around. You’re drawn to the corner of 14th and S Streets NW by the siren song of that pink neon doi moi sign. You descend the stairs to the basement bar, push past the beaded curtains, and let the sound of vaguely tropical house music and drunk 20-something chatter wash over you. You shout “what?!” at each other a few times before giving up. And just like that, he finally stops talking and you manage to enjoy yourself. If you end up making out with him and he asks you on a second date, please, don’t go. But if you do, don’t blame me. Blame the doi moi downstairs. —Samantha Ostwald
BEST PLACE TO ORDER A BARTENDER’S CHOICE
Left Door
There is nothing sexier than a bar with an unmarked door. Tucked away amid the bustling, fratty beer gardens and scenester restaurants of 14th Street NW, Left Door maintains a sultry, if-you-know-you-know vibe. It dons no sidewalk sign begging for your patronage. Their online presence is practically nonexistent (which usually means an influencer-free evening). And if you’re a 14th Street regular, you’ll probably spot a familiar bartender or two enjoying a post-shift bev. The craft cocktail bar pulls off the Victorian apothecary aesthetic, featuring homemade tinctures and bitters with taped-on labels lining the bar. Antique light fixtures emit a golden glow, there’s green velvet upholstery, stained-glass windows (with a Maker’s Mark logo?), and exposed brick. The first time I went to Left Door, I made the mistake of asking for a drink menu. “Just tell me what you’re in the mood for,” the bartender gruffed. His obvious displeasure at my request didn’t bother me; it only solidified my confidence in his abilities. Where better to trust the bartender than a bar where bartenders drink? When the dark purple juice of an Amarena cherry bled into the pale yellow pool of citrusy deliciousness that filled the (gorgeous, antique) coupe, I was grateful for his snobbery. What was the drink called? I don’t know. What was in it? I don’t know. And I don’t care. —Samantha Ostwald
BEST COFFEE SHOP FOOD
Café Unido (Shaw)
When I walk into a coffee shop, my main goal is quality caffeination. Anything else – good service, great vibes, an excellent playlist – is just the espresso infused icing on the dark chocolate cake. Speaking of noshing, beyond pastries and snacky bites, perhaps a breakfast sandwich, I don’t expect much. But Café Unido’s Shaw location has a substantial, utterly stellar menu spanning breakfast and lunch (brunch is offered on the weekends). I’d keep going back for the burger alone, a Panamanian inspired proposition starring a patty blending chuck, brisket, and short rib, topped off with coffee mayo, coffee husk ketchup, pickles, and cheddar. When I’m in a sweet mood, I get the fluffy pancakes with a cloud of vanilla-laced mascarpone mousse and a drizzle of butterscotch amped up with coffee and chocolate. Don’t worry, they have a superlative breakfast sando brimming with fried eggs, avocado spread, melty mozzarella, and sofrito infused aioli. —Nevin Martell
