Barrafina Brings Modern Mediterranean Fare to Dupont Circle

Area newcomer Barrafina adds an upscale destination for Mediterranean-style cuisine to the Dupont Circle dining scene.

The two-story space (1714 Connecticut Avenue NW) has been completely transformed from its former life as now-defunct tapas bar Madrid. New accents include antique mirrors, sleek seating, Banksy-inspired murals, and brick walls painted a shiny silver. Quotes scribbled on walls include “the less you care the happier you’ll be,” while another hovering over the bar encourages human interaction over Wi-Fi.

The neighborhood eatery comes, in part, from an alum behind recently shuttered French bistro Maxime. Barrafina’s menu features grilled fare found in parts of southern France, Italy, and Greece. Mains ($17-$32) include beef or chicken souvlaki; spaghetti bolognese; black ink linguine with mixed seafood; New York strip with grilled asparagus and Roquefort-herb butter; and a catch of the day selection. A three-course, house special ($22.95) includes a baguette, salad, and steak frites with bearnaise or green peppercorn sauce. Featured cocktails ($11) include an Ibiza Fizz made with sparkling wine and floating edible hibiscus.

Barrafina is currently operating on a dinner-only schedule. Weekday happy hour deals, which include select $5 wines and $8 appetizers, run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Weekday lunch service is projected to follow in June. Management is hoping to cultivate a party scene by playing house music on weekend nights. Lively themed weekend brunches inspired by Bagatelle in New York’s Meatpacking District’s are also in the works.

Status: Certified open. 1714 Connecticut Avenue NW

Scroll down to view photos of the new restaurant and some of the featured dishes:

Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

• Correction: This article originally misstated Barrafina’s association with other local restaurants.
• Dupont Circle Tapas Spot Madrid Has Closed [EDC]