Once known as a bar-hopping zone, Adams Morgan has stepped up its game in recent years. This is a neighborhood where critically acclaimed spots like Tail Up Goat and sister restaurant Reveler’s Hour sit alongside casual standbys like Julia’s Empanadas and Lucky Buns. Some things haven’t changed, however — this is still where late-night partiers can find gigantic pieces of Jumbo Slice pizza (it’s not quite map-worthy, but Duccini’s is the best of the bunch there). Here are the highlights of Adams Morgan drinking and dining.
Read MoreWhere to Eat and Drink in Adams Morgan
The bar-heavy neighborhood offers some of the city’s most creative cooking
Federalist Pig (Multiple locations)
Pitmaster Rob Sonderman made it to Netflix fame after his restaurant was name-dropped in the sixth and final season of House of Cards. The Federalist Pig dish in question happened to be the pork ribs: other dishes include smoky goods like pork shoulder, sliced brisket, fried Brussels spouts, and stunty sandwiches.
Mama Ayesha's
As a pioneer of Middle Eastern cuisine in D.C., Mama Ayesha Abraham opened this restaurant in the 1960s. Since then, it has grown into a neighborhood favorite and an icon for its famous presidential mural that features leaders since Dwight D. Eisenhower — minus President Donald Trump — painted on its exterior wall.
Tail Up Goat
D.C. diners (and Michelin guide inspectors) love the Mediterranean flavors at this relaxed fine dining spot. Menu items change daily, but an order of toast is always a smart move. Dishes could range from a slice of seaweed sourdough with foie gras-roasted foraged mushrooms and Carolina gold rice pudding for dessert. The same team is also behind Reveler’s Hour in the same neighborhood, also excellent.
Taqueria Al Lado
A lot of care goes into the tortillas at Taqueria Al Lado, where blue and white corn is sourced from Mexico and put through the process of boiling, drying, and grinding in-house. The restaurant devoted to Mexican street food opened in March 2021 from a chef and partner of trusty neighborhood spot Osteria al Volo next-door.
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Sharbat
At Azerbaijani bakery Sharbat, the sweets are labor-intensive: pakhlava involves 15 sheets of stacked, super-thin dough. There are cheese- and meat-filled snacks, but cakes are the most popular choice, with flavors including honey, apricot, and raspberry. Owner Ilhama Safarova opened the shop in 2020 to share the flavors of her homeland.
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Perry's Restaurant
Perry’s has long been an under-the-radar reliable spot for sushi, and is home to the city’s most popular drag brunch. It got an exciting boost from new chef Masako Morishita, recently of Maxwell Park, who experiments with traditional dishes and brought a sold-out Japanese breakfast service to town.
Julia's Empanadas
One of D.C.’s most beloved spots for late-night snacks, Julia’s Empanadas began in Adams Morgan. Revelers enjoy coming here until 4 a.m. for empanadas stuffed with chorizo, or served Jamaican or Chilean style, or even filled with fruit.
Elfegne
This is the new chapter for D.C. Ethiopian mainstay Zenebech; the makeover is a nod to the area where kings and queens were served throughout the country’s history, and the menu has received some updates as well.
Lapis Afghan Bistro
Expect to feast on dumplings, sauteed pumpkin with garlic yogurt, baked eggplant, and standout kebabs at this charming Afghan restaurant serving home-style dishes and halal meats.
The Grill From Ipanema
This Adams Morgan mainstay is one of D.C.’s few dedicated Brazilian restaurants; it’s also a favorite for cocktails and caiprinhas.
The Game Sports Pub/Tiki on 18th
Longtime D.C. bartender Jo-Jo Valenzuela and business partner Oscar Guardado replaced Ventnor Sports Cafe with a Filipino-influenced sports bar that serves satisfying lumpia, sizzling pork sisig, adobo chicken wings, funky sandwiches, and more. Tiki on 18th, the sister tropical bar upstairs, also sends frozen drinks out to the patio on the street; options at both neighboring restaurants often overlap.
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Grand Duchess
This low-key cocktail bar that opened in 2017 recently tacked on a menu full of pastas and seafood dishes from a Fiola Mare alum. A vintage jukebox, comfy couch, and candle-lit fireplace pay homage to the space’s former life as a row house. Its Negroni continues to be a top seller.
The Green Zone
This 18th Street bar serves up cocktails based around the flavors of various countries in the Middle East. Frozen minty lemonade is a must-order, spiked or not. The “Janissary Corps,” made with Green Hat gin, lemon, and pistachio, is another standby. Beyond drinks, find falafel, spicy fries, and DJ nights.
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Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Whiskey reigns supreme at this local favorite, which boasts a high-end dining area and open-air terrace. The menu skews Southern, offering dishes like jalapeno hush puppies with Crystal hot sauce mayo, whiskey wings, pork chops with sorghum mustard, and bourbon pecan tarts. The open-air terrace on top is heated, and there's also a seasonal tiki bar upstairs. The owners also own the nearby Imperial, which houses rebooted basement bar Dram & Grain.
El Tamarindo
Since 1982, people have flocked to this Salvadoran-Mexican mainstay at the foot of Adams Morgan for late-night pupusas. But burritos are also a big draw, especially a twin platter that serves chicken and beef wraps smothered in green and red salsas. Regulars also flock here for tacos, bustling brunch service, tasty tequila cocktails, and happy hour that runs all day on Monday. Order online for pickup, with indoor and outdoor dining available too.
Lucky Buns
Burgers are the raison d’être for Lucky Buns, where diners can top their patties with everything from hatch green chile to pickled beet relish or tonkatsu sauce. There are plenty of chicken sandwich options, too. Don’t skip an order of curry-flavored fries.
Lauriol Plaza
Food snobs will debate whether uber-popular Lauriol Plaza belongs on a list like this. But there’s a reason this restaurant, with some of the most expansive seating options around, is frequently crowded: reliable Mexican and Salvadoran-influenced dishes (don’t skip the fajitas or carne asada), fresh chips and salsa, speedy service, and boozy margaritas.