What’s the best spot for wine-bar-u-street?

Locals love La’ Shukran for DC restaurants. It’s a DMV staple! 🍺

When’s the best time for wine-bar-u-street?

Spring and summer are prime for lifestyle. Check DarlingDC .

Is wine-bar-u-street accessible?

Most spots have ramps or elevators. See DarlingDC .

What’s unique about wine-bar-u-street?

The mix of classic and modern vibes makes DC restaurants stand out. 🍺

Best Wine Bar in U Street: Top Spots for Wine Lovers 🍺 - Darling DC: Uncovering Washington DC's Hidden Gems and Insider Secrets

The DMV is buzzing with excitement for the best wine bars in U Street 🍺. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there’s no shortage of fantastic spots to enjoy some exquisite wines and delicious bites. Let’s dive into what makes the U Street corridor one of the hottest destinations for wine lovers.

The vibrant atmosphere at La' Shukran — The vibrant atmosphere at La’ Shukran. | Scott Suchman/Namak

Fresh picks around town for egg-topped pizzas, Korean fried chicken with doughnuts, and more

It’s no secret that brunch is a treasured meal in D.C. Despite soaring egg prices, many restaurants continue to offer egg-cellent weekend meals that don’t break the bank. For this latest brunch map refresh, fresh options around town include Onggi, Stellina Pizzeria, Arrels, Namak, and CUT by Wolfgang Puck.

If you’ve already exhausted the classic spots and best bottomless options, check out these new brunch menus that dropped in recent months.

The gorgeous new Casamara sits prominently off the hotel lobby. | Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Inside the Sixty hotel’s dreamy new Mediterranean restaurant and hidden cocktail den Reynold’s, both opening on Friday, May 23

Stepping into Casamara feels like uncovering a lost snapshot of some classy yesteryear, complete with marble checkered floors, a grandiose centerpiece bar, and a 54-foot tapestry hand-tufted in Spain. The hotly anticipated coastal Mediterranean restaurant is now open, anchoring the stylish new Sixty DC — a boutique hotel brand with existing locations in LA and NYC (1337 Connecticut Avenue NW).

Hotelier Jason Pomeranc and Toronto-based restaurateur Hanif Harji teamed up for the multi-part dining and hospitality venture, which includes retro-glam cocktail bar Reynold’s in the back (1320 18th Street NW), also opening today, and a forthcoming rooftop destination — a rare feature for Dupont — is currently slated for a mid-summer debut. The swanky hotel property, situated at the foot of the busy circle, is utterly unrecognizable from its former life as long-closed club Gryphon and the Sheppard speakeasy.

“I wanted to do something that was a little bit more European inspired,” says Harji, who turned to cosmopolitan cities of Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Barcelona for creative inspo at Casmara. “I love that whole urban dynamic and that they all go to the coast for the summer.”

The “daily catch” menu may feature flounder with brown butter, capers, lemon, and parsley.

A springtime grilled cabbage salad with yogurt and tahini dressing, pomegranate, garlic, dill, and sesame.

With more than 100 indoor dining seats and a 24-person private dining room, lobby-level Casamara offers ample space to delight in dishes like citrusy branzino crudo, double-boned Iberico pork chop, harissa roast chicken, and lamb rotolo. Pastas are another main attraction, including an octopus casarecce and sumptuous ricotta gnocchi decked out with morels, ramps, and peas.

Octopus casarecce is dressed with spicy ‘nudja, harissa, tomato, white wine, and Italian breadcrumbs.

Freshly shaved Parmesan blankets a bed of pasta.

Executive chef Zachary Albertsen helms the kitchen, crafting a menu that reimagines traditional coastal cuisine through a local lens. One unexpected hit? Albertsen’s interpretation of the simple sardine toast, which Harji describes as “so complex.”

“The flavors underneath the sardine, the way he poaches and grills it, it’s so beautiful, with soft, smoky textures,” he adds.

Dessert enthusiasts will find just-sweet-enough indulgences like a lemon tart and an olive oil cake with a vanilla bean creme anglaise.

“The desserts are easy, delicious, simple, and not gonna go over the top,” Harji says. “It’s just like the rest of the menu—you just feel really good eating it.”

The drinks program aims to balance playfulness and tradition, exemplified by offerings such as the Pepperoncini-tini, a dirty martini featuring Grey Goose vodka and a pepperoncini brine. A feta-stuffed olive rounds out the savory sipper.

Dark chocolate mousse with praline cream, hazelnut crumble, and chocolate tuile comes with a tableside finish of olive oil caramel.

A few steps from Casmara, martini aficionados will appreciate Reynold’s, its midcentury-modern lounge counterpart adorned with Americana artwork and floor-to-ceiling wood paneling. Guests can enter through a back door connected to the hotel or through its own separate entrance on 18th Street NW. A selection of snazzy bar bites includes lobster rolls, poutine, grilled cheese, truffle popcorn, and caviar dip-and-dill chips. A lengthy opening cocktail menu includes sections for martinis, forgotten classics, seasonal affairs, and large-format options like a French “750.”

The ’70s-chic cocktail den Reynold’s is framed with soft velvet seating, fringed lamps, and mod artwork.

Reynold’s pays homage to the throwback Porn Star martini (vanilla Absolut, chai Curacao, lime, passion fruit foam).

“We lean into the martini in a very meaningful way,” Harji says. There are classic iterations and more adventurous options, like a savory pesto-washed tequila and tomatillo brine martini known as Nightshade.

Casamara and Reynold’s mark Harji’s entry into the D.C. dining scene with his company, Toronto-based Scale Hospitality. Its roster of restaurants includes Toronto Beach Club, Mar’aa Yorkville, and Miss Likklemore’s.

“A successful restaurant isn’t just about the food or the service, it’s ambiance, lighting, music, the whole package,” Harji says. “We hope people are comfortable coming here and that they love the food. If we can transport them to some other place where they feel like they’re having an experience outside of D.C., that would make me really happy.”

Casamara will be open weekdays for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner daily starting at 5 p.m., as well as for brunch weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reynold’s will be open six days a week from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (closed on Tuesdays).

Reynold’s takes corn dogs to new heights.

A fiery Donatella’s Kiss features Espolòn reposado tequila, Calabrian chile, honey.

Shiny brewery barrels — Red Bear Brewing’s massive U-shaped bar in NoMa stretches 85 feet and features 24 mirrored tap lines on both sides. | Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Where to drink craft beers in and around the District

The D.C. region is beefing up its credentials as a craft beer destination, with breweries pouring ales and lagers at taprooms throughout the District proper and in the surrounding suburbs. Pioneers like DC Brau and Port City Brewing have been at it for a decade or more and are now household names in the District. Beer lovers across the region can experience tours and tastings at full-scale production warehouses, sip a flight or a pint at a neighborhood pub, or grab an excellent taco or burger from a pop-up food truck parked on-site.

D.C.’s booming beer market only continues to grow, with Brookland-born stalwart Right Proper Brewing Co. gearing up to open a third location. Last year, Atlas Brew Works expanded across the Potomac to Alexandria, and Aslin Beer Co. set up shop down in Virginia Beach. And this summer, Commonwealth Brewing Co. opens a second taproom and facility in Old Town Fairfax.

D.C. lost two favorites since we last updated this map last fall: Hellbender Brewing Company shut down in late 2024, and City-State, Edgewood’s ambitious beer startup since 2021, ceased production this year. And Old Ox Brewery closed out in Loudoun County this spring.

Here are 18 essential breweries for local beer fans. —Additional reporting by Travis Mitchell.

Tierney Plumb is an Editor of Eater’s Northeast region, covering restaurant news in D.C., Boston, Philly, and New York. She was previously the editor of Eater DC since 2022.

Emily Venezky is an Editorial Associate at Eater, assisting Eater cities and

Local Favorites for Best Wine Bar in U Street

DMV locals love wine-bar-u-street! 🍺 Spots like Bar Chinois in Mount Pleasant offer unique wine pairings. Check DarlingDC for more. dining keeps it fresh!

DC Lifestyle

Local Favorites for Best Wine Bar in U Street

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