Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock in the middle of the desert, you’ll know that in the world of cooking, a Michelin Star is one of the greatest honours a chef can receive. It recognises their talent and puts their restaurant on the map.
Michelin Star Chefs are known for their next level dishes that the average person would never be able to make. In some instances, they take your run of the mill homestyle dish and elevate it in ways that you could never have imagined.
These Michelin Star restaurants DC has to offer to highlight why this accolade is so revered – and if you can, you need to visit them all.
How Many Michelin Stars Are In Washington DC?
There is currently a total of 38 Michelin stars in Washington DC, spread out across 23 different restaurants. This means that when you’re travelling in the capital, you’re bound to come across at least one of them – and we recommend taking the time to discover them.
When it comes to the breakdown of stars in Washington, there is only one three star restaurant. There are, however, over a dozen restaurants with at least one Michelin star, begging the question, is Washington also the food capital of America?
Three Stars
- The Inn at Little Washington – American, French
Two Stars
- Jônt – Contemporary
- Pineapple and Pearls – Contemporary
- Minibar – Contemporary
One Star
- Xiquet – Spanish
- Komi – Mediterranean Cuisine
- The Dabney – American
- Kinship – Contemporary, French Contemporary
- Elcielo D.C. – Colombian, Contemporary
- Bresca – Contemporary, American
- Gravitas – Contemporary, American
- Tail Up Goat – Contemporary
- Rooster & Owl – Contemporary, Fusion
- Sushi Nakazawa – Japanese, Sushi
- Masseria – Italian, Regional Cuisine
- Sushi Taro – Japanese, Seasonal Cuisine
- Fiola – Italian, Contemporary
- Rose’s Luxury – Contemporary
- Little Pearl – Contemporary
- Métier – Contemporary, Modern French
- Plume – European, French
- Maydān – Middle Eastern, Grills
- Cranes – Spanish, Contemporary
The 12 Best Michelin Star Restaurants In DC
The moment you’ve been waiting for, a bit more information on some of the top Michelin restaurants in DC:
1. The Inn in Little Washington
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If you need a luxurious vacation, book a room at the Inn near Little Washington. If nothing more than to enjoy one of the best dining experiences in the area, Chef Patrick O’Connell. The first three-star restaurant in the region is known for the variety of tasting menus on offer.
2. Jont
Chef Ryan Ratino, the chef behind another Michelin-starred restaurant, Bresca, has brought together several inspired chefs and creative people to bring Jon to DC. Featuring Pineapple and Pearls and a minibar, the only two-star restaurant in the city, the restaurant offers a tasting menu that goes through dynamic flavours and features gaming technology that carries dishes you won’t find anywhere else.
Imagine a Dungeness crab with donabe rice, truffles, and maitake or a sea urchin with pudding and English peas. The offer of strong drinks means that you will probably find the perfect drink that you will combine with food.
3. minibar
Enjoy many courses in the world of molecular gastronomy by the famous chef José Andrés. This restaurant is located in the Penn Quarter and is always booked months in advance. Good to know: The other four restaurants in the José area have all the options of Bib Gourmand.
4. Albi
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Chef Michael Rafidi poured out his heart at his Navy Yard restaurant. But that’s not a joke; Albi means “heart” in Arabic, which is an interpretation of the chef’s Levantine roots that corresponds to his typical mixture of mezze plates and mashawi, dishes cooked on an open flame.
Taste Mediterranean herbs with a touch, such as saccharin fattoush with pear and cucumber or sumac bok choy with honey, fried feta, and smoked harissa peanuts. Meals can double spirits, such as a crab crumb reinforced with grilled black perch or a tutu fiery back and rich lamb kebab.
5. Imperfecto: The Chef’s Table
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Chef Enrique Limardo accepts the idea that we cannot achieve perfection despite our best efforts. It is the constant monitoring that reinforces the whole culinary experience at this West End restaurant, which draws Greek influences and chops from Latin American Limardo cuisine. To experience a Michelin-starred experience, book Chef’s Table (as opposed to a la carte dining), which has 10 confusing dishes, including options such as kampachi sea tartare, and caramelized king crab with caviar and duck breast made from strawberry mushrooms.
6. Oyster
Takes sustainable food to the next level. The seasonal menu includes ingredients from local farms that match the restaurant’s label, as well as the eco-friendly Chesapeake Bay oysters. Even mushrooms are harvested locally.
7. Reverie
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Reverie in Georgetown will delight your senses with a culinary experience with ingredients from around the world. The restaurant is accompanied by award-winning chef Johnny Spero, whose playful menu draws on local daily catches to make a historic evening for you, a dignified tribute to the beautiful restaurants in the area.
8. Cranes
Spanish and Japanese cuisine clash with the restaurant and business lounge, which already has a Michelin star in its name. Chef Pepe Moncayo’s menu brings joy to every dish, combining seasonal tapas and desserts with bento omakase and creating an experience he calls “Spanish kaiseki”.
9. Elcielo D.C.
Immerse yourself in Colombian flavours at Elcielo D.C., located in NOMA’s La Cosecha and run by chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, who combines the avant-garde with traditional Colombian cuisine to create a taste-filled adventure of all five senses. Two tasting menus, The Experience, and The Journey can be enjoyed in a reserved room next to the open kitchen.
10. Rooster and Owl
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After his experience with Michelin-starred cuisines around New York City, Chef Yuan Tang teamed up with his wife, Carey Tang, to open Rooster & Owl in DC. The couple’s 14th Street NW Restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine and offers guests a 4-course, fixed-price menu featuring seasonal ingredients and vegetarian options.
Patrons can expect something unique from the jump, such as grilled Carolina-style carrots with cornbread, ice-free larvae made from shiitake with lime, and roasted cobia fish stuffed with broccoli and turnip topped with vinaigrette and fish sauce. The restaurant welcomes personal meals (book in advance) but also has an à la carte menu, including wine and cocktails.
11. Gravitas
Chef Matt Baker has transformed the former Ivy City canned tomato into Gravitas, a farm-to-table restaurant that promotes the delicious goodness of the Chesapeake in a modern space with lots of exposed bricks. You can choose your culinary adventure with flexible five- or seven-course tasting options on the menu, allowing you to sample a range of famous Baker’s dishes (consider yellowfin sashimi and the unique chocolate snake ganache on your plate).
12. Sushi Nakazawa
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If you like a smaller 20-course menu, don’t look for Sushi Nakazawa. This New York import became an adventurous meal from chef Daisuke Nakazawa. The restaurant serves freshly picked seafood in the style of omakase, a Japanese word that roughly translates as “I’ll give it to you.” You can see the joys and intrigues of Sushi Nakazawa at the beautiful Trump International Hotel.
The next time you’re in DC for business, or simply there to see the sights, we recommend booking a dinner at one of the many Michelin star restaurants currently on offer. It’s an experience that you won’t soon forget.
Sebastian is a former hedge fund trader who worked only to indulge his true passion – food.
He has dined at over 240 Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, savoring culinary masterpieces and understanding the stories behind them. He now advises restaurants on menu design, decor and holistic diner experience.
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