While the District’s food scene has experienced many closures and turnover in the past year, there are some new, exciting restaurants that have recently opened around D.C. that we are eager to add to our restaurant rotation this year!
Here are 11 new restaurants around the District that we’ve either tried or heard great things about that you should check out at least once this year:
Qui Qui
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A new Puerto Rican paradise of a restaurant located in the Shaw neighborhood, it’s a casual spot filled with big vibes and even bigger flavors.
Chef-Owner Ismael Mendez offers patrons an authentic Caribbean dining experience that is as fun as it is delicious.
Maison Bar à Vins
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After being ranked one of the best new restaurants arriving in the District in 2025 on Beli, this place is a must-visit dining destination for 2026.
The cozy interior somehow feels both incredibly elegant and comfortably casual at the same time, complete with a fantastic selection of drinks from creative cocktails to an extensive wine list, not to mention a great menu of small plates ideal to be shared with others.
Bonne Vie Café & Bistro
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This new French eatery offers its patrons a choice between an à la carte menu or a three-course menu, and unlimited fries!
Here you can enjoy well-made cocktails and classic French dishes.
We recommend dinner on Thursdays when live jazz performances add to the culinary experience.
Ingle Korean Steakhouse
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A new location for Ingle Korean Steakhouse just opened in early December along the U Street Corridor.
The restaurant, which offers an $80 dinner menu that includes several starters such as wok-charred asparagus or steak tartare
Sook
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While not operating as a full-service restaurant, meaning that you have to order your meal at the counter (although it will be brought to your table for you after ordering), the dining experience here is still well worth the visit!
In the mornings, you can choose from a delicious selection of dishes, like a traditional Lebanese Breakfast or the ever-classic Bacon, Egg, and Cheese breakfast sandwich.
In the evenings, Sook takes on the form of a chic wine bar, offering some delicious bites and a fantastic selection of wines to choose from.
Springbone Kitchen
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The popular New York City restaurant Springbone Kitchen expanded to D.C. in the first week of December and quickly gained traction as an equally popular dining destination right here in the District.
The entirely gluten-free menu offers a selection of high-quality meals prepared with an emphasis on health and nutrition.
Inside, you’ll find a modest 20-seat space for dining in, but the food here is known to travel well, so don’t be shy about ordering and taking it on the go.
Eunoia
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According to Eunoia’s own site, the restaurant considers itself ‘rooted in nature‘, drawing inspiration from Mexican, Bulgarian, and Japanese cuisine to prepare dishes using in-season, locally sourced ingredients.
Dining here is ostensibly described fluid experience that might change each time you visit, making this a spot you should visit at least once in 2026!
Realm
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Located on a rooftop in the Shaw neighborhood, Realm is a restaurant that fuses culintary influence of both Indian and Afro-Caribbean dining, drawing its core identity from the flavors of Seychelles.
Here you can try dishes like a Caribbean flatbread slathered with a house-made curry sauce or lump coconut crab cakes, in addition to sipping down some craft cocktails around the lounge or patio’s fire pit.
Cowbell Seafood & Oyster
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Located in the Union Market, this hyper-fresh seafood spot serves up quality oysters, authentic Baltimore-style crab cakes, fried chicken, and much more.
Cowbell Seafood & Oyster is the new restaurant of the same husband-wife duo (Sara Quinteros & Chef Reid Shilling) that was behind Shilling Canning Co. in Navy Yard, which unfortunately had to close its doors after six years of business.
Bully Spanish Steakhouse
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Inside the St. Gregory Hotel, Bully Spanish Steakhouse served its first patrons in the final weeks of 2025, serving up iconic Spanish dishes like pataras bravas, freshly sliced jamón, Manchego cheese, or popular seafood dishes like Branzino or fideua.
Just about every protein on the menu is prepared over an open flame grill, resulting in an outstanding flavor that you’ll be thinking about all year long!
Brasero Atlántico
The Argentinian steakhouse Brasero Atlántico opened in tandem with Florería Atlántico, an authentic Argentinian bar, at the same location, creating the quintessential Argentinian dining experience.
The second you walk into the building, you’re greeted by a massive live-fire grill acting as the focal point of the restaurant, fitting since the grill is often referred to as the heart of Argentinian cuisine.