Brunch is meant for lingering, so where you choose to indulge matters most. In Washington DC, weekends see locals and tourists alike hunting the crucial elements of a perfect brunch: tasty food, bottomless mimosas, good conversation and scenic ambiance. From cafés in the Capitol Hill neighborhood to riverfront restaurants, the possibilities are endless – so where do you begin?
Start your search at Busboys and Poets, a Loeb Award winning establishment with locations in U Street Corridor and 3rd Street NW. Menus change daily featuring local and globally inspired fare. The U Street location spills out onto the sidewalk, perfect for people watching on balmy days. Don’t skip bottomless mimosas or Bloody Mary bar, crafted by resident Mixologist extraordinaire Jamie Legendre.
In Tenleytown and further west, Jose Andrés brings his culinary vision to America’s Test Kitchen Cafe. Grilled octopus, coconut curry rice and lobster roll shine on a menu fusing Spanish gastronomy with New World flavors. Angle overlooking 40th Street for a refreshing respite amidst foreign gateways and embassies. Hard to beat ten-course tasting menus from one of Spain’s most acclaimed chefs in an alluring Art Deco setting.
Cathedral Heights combines convenience and calm quietude amidst a vibrant dining scene. At Busboys and Poets, sip lavender lemonade and espresso martinis alongside crab cake benedict and fried chicken waffles. Beau Thai balances classic Thai green papaya salad and red curry with contemporary elegance. Farm-to-Table fare and raw bar make Montesano Pizzeria a neighborhood gem. If only Sundays had more hours!
Georgetown brims with brunch-time options, an abundance of affluence and charm. Dolcezza faring food cars out, weekend queueing for exclusive prix fixe menus from an Italian wonder. Café Du Parc treats ribeye as respite. At Le Diplomate 80+ champagne varieties and unveiled Sunday Champagne brunch satisfy the most discerning taste or merely passing whim. If baseball’s in season, M St.Tavern slings gameday fare pretty as a picture. There’s never been a better time to stoop, gossip and enjoy the spectacle of wealth surrounding.
As river Potomac flows by, Theodore Roosevelt Island and Great Falls Park welcome indulgent feasting alfresco or hike alongside rapids until hunger strikes again. Treat yourself to lobster rolls at Moby Dick Oyster Bar, posole at Estadio or breakfast burros from The Food Truck at the National Mall. There’s nothing quite like brunch with a backdrop of regal monuments reminding your every bite (and photo op) contributes to memories lasting lifetimes.
From artisanal food to scenic views, bottomless bubbles, business as usual or blissful escape, DC is deliciously brunchy. Which favorite foods and surroundings will make your perfect morning? Adventure awaits!
