Celebrity Chef Restaurants Near Washington, DC

The world is taking note of the vibrant culinary scene in America’s Capital Region. Washington, DC, the nation’s capital city, draws talent from all around the globe, creating a melting pot of culinary experiences inspired by the bounty of the countryside and waterways of nearby Maryland and Virginia. 

Celebrated Chefs

Famed Spanish chef José Andrés has nearly 10 restaurants across the Capital Region offering a variety of experiences and cuisines. Choose from the intimate and innovative minibar by José Andrés (a two-star Michelin restaurant), where up to six guests get a full-fledged multi-course dining experience. Or, treat yourself to the casual and classic Spanish fare from the chef's PEPE Food Truck, which rolls through the city for lunch and special events. Find updates on PEPE’s location and menu >> 

Patrick O’Connell was one of the first American chefs to be courted by the Relais & Châteaux fellowship and is recognized as one of the program’s Grand Chefs. O’Connell’s Inn at Little Washington has three Michelin stars (the only three-star restaurant in the region) and has won the Forbes Travel Guide’s Five-Star Award for decades. The restaurant offers three tasting menus, or diners can choose the dishes that they find most intriguing.

Experience the cuisine of acclaimed Michelin-rated chefs Daniel Boulud, Jeremiah Langhorne and Aaron Silverman in DC's city centre. Boulud's DBGB Kitchen and Bar is a modern take on a French brasserie, while Langhorne's The Dabney serves mid-Atlantic cuisine that marries traditional and contemporary flavours in the rustic setting of a former row home. In the past, Silverman’s Pineapple & Pearls was all about composed fun with an ever-changing prix-fixe menu of freshly caught seafood and tropical-yet-refined cocktails. However, the restaurant is currently undergoing an exciting reinvention expected to be unveiled in 2022. 

American Favourites

The US has experienced a boom in food television, creating a new generation of American celebrity chefs. Residents flock from all over the country to try the hottest spots from television’s Top Chef contestants. Experience contemporary fine dining at Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s Thacher & Rye or try his fresh take on the classic diner at Showroom, both located in Frederick, Maryland. Based in Washington, DC, Spike Mendelsohn is a popular figure of American food television. Enjoy classic American burgers and chips (called "fries" in the US) at Good Stuff Eatery or a slice at We, The Pizza. Over in Richmond, Virginia, Brittany Anderson’s Metzger Bar & Butchery does elevated riffs on classics like schnitzel and pork chops in an homage to the city’s butchers and tanners. 

A Must-See Attraction: Julia Child's Kitchen

No foodie can visit Washington, DC and the Capital Region without making a trip to the National Museum of American History to see Julia Child’s Kitchen, the centrepiece of the museum’s ongoing exhibit, FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000. Tour the legendary cook's kitchen, which was donated to the Smithsonian, and explore videos, cookbooks, gadgets and utensils to gain insight into her passion for food and for life.

Still hungry? Take a bite out of this 6-day culinary itinerary or tempt your taste buds with American classics at these famous Capital Region diners.