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Wooden ceilings and furniture, a full window view and wooden flooring in Mission’s Cactus Room — The Cactus Room at Mission Navy Yard

D.C.’s Top Destinations for Private Dining

When dining with the masses just won't do

by Missy Frederick and Eater Staff Updated Sep 18, 2019, 2:41pm EDT

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The Cactus Room at Mission Navy Yard

| Mission Navy Yard [official photo]

by Missy Frederick and Eater Staff Updated Sep 18, 2019, 2:41pm EDT

It may only be September, but that’s actually when private dining rooms start to book up for the holidays (particularly when it comes to private events). As families and companies weighs options for Thanksgiving dinners or Chrismahanukwanzakah parties, consider these options for private rooms in D.C.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

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Compass Rose

OK with having a Bedouin tent as a room? Up to eight people can experience this private dining experience from Compass Rose.

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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A host dramatically lifts the lid off of a red tagine and smoke escapes from the vessel — The Bedouin tent at Compass Rose

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City Winery DC

City Winery boasts 40,000 square feet of event space across four floors. Those who book there can choose from spaces like the private Barrel Room, with room for 50 seated diners.

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1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

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The building of City Winery, lit up with a projection shot across it — City Winery

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1789 Restaurant

Georgetown’s historic 1789 has multiple private dining rooms, including The Middleburg Room with capacity for up to 56 people seated at round tables, the Garden Room with floor-to-ceiling windows and room for 18 diners, and the restaurant’s cozy Bar and Club rooms.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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A circle formed from peas, scallops, and a rainbow of other ingredients — An ornate vegetable and scallop dish from 1789

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Blue Duck Tavern

Up to 20 people can book Blue Duck Tavern's chef's table in a private room.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

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Rasika West End

To really impress, check out Rasika's chef's table, where President Obama celebrated his 52nd birthday. It can seat 10 to 12. Additional private dining spaces include the The Library, which can seat 42 to 50, and the Garden Room, which hosts 10 to 12 diners.

1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

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A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia. — Rasika West End

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Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

The handsome dining room at Dupont Circle’s new destination for ceviche includes two private dining rooms. Outfitted with built-in screens and LCD projectors; each one can host 20 people.

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1823 L St NW, Washington, DC 20036

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The chef’s counter at Pisco y Nazca, with a brick backdrop, blue back lighting and cooks at work — Pisco y Nazca

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RPM Italian

This high-end Italian restaurant offers four private dining rooms, with the largest fitting up to 32 people. Two side-by-side rooms can be combined into one large private dining room.

601 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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A spiny whole crab on a pewter platter upon a tray of crushed ice — Crab from RPM Italian

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BLT Steak DC

BLT Steak's dramatic-looking private dining room has room for 28-50.

1625 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

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The private dining room, witha full table set and pictures upon each wall — The private dining room at BLT Steak

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Fiola Mare

Fiola Mare on the Georgetown waterfront has multiple private dining rooms and has become a go-to for the area's political crowd.

3050 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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A post shared by Fiola Mare (@fiolamaredc) on Aug 19, 2019 at 1:45pm PDT

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Estuary

Newcomer Estuary has two private dining rooms diners can choose from when experiencing their Chesapeake-influenced cooking. One seats 24 with views of CityCenterDC. The Willow Room, with a dramatic blue wall, seats 45. Both have access to a terrace.

950 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

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Estuary crab roll, with bread crab-shaped garnishes and edible flowers — The crab roll at Estuary

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Momofuku CCDC

The airy dining room at the revamped Momofuku CCDC features a private dining room that can handle 20 to 40 seated diners.

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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A sea of wooden tables and wooden flooring in a brightly-lit space — Momofuku’s dining room

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The Oval Room

The power dining hot spot has three private dining rooms, a bar, and a patio. The Oval Room can accommodate 65 people in the main dining room, 36 people in the totally private Green Room, and 15 people in the semi-private Curtain Room for a more intimate gathering.

800 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

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A backlit bar area with black seating and white drop lights — The Oval Room

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

This D.C. power spot has three private dining rooms. The Gigi Room, the largest room, can accommodate 112 seated people or 200 people reception style. The South Beach Room — with its black lacquer millwork, leopard print carpeting, and retro-style chandelier — includes ornamental glass doors that reveal or conceal the bar below, fitting up to 30 seated individuals.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

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A dining room with long green and white curtains, wood flooring, and dark brown chairs, as well as marble columns and high ceilings — Dining Room at Joe’s

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DBGB Kitchen and Bar

At DBGB, there's the Salon Rouge for up to 22 seated people and Salon Bleu for 40 seated diners. Either way, reserving one of these spaces ensures friends and family will be dining in style at the CityCenterDC development.

931 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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White tablecloths in the foreground, looking out into a lit hallway — Dining Room at DBGB

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Old Ebbitt Grill

One of D.C.'s classic restaurants has a private dining room paneled in mahoganey that can handle 50 people seated or about 75 standing people. Just make sure everyone has an appetite for Old Ebbitt's famous oysters.

675 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

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The wooden bar, with a bartender in suspenders — Old Ebbitt Grill

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Occidental

For old school D.C. private dining, it's hard to top the Occidental, with two private dining rooms and several other spaces to rent. They can handle parties from 20-300.

1475 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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A dining room with red patterns on the carpeting and white tablecloths on the tables — The Occidental

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Carmine's

Carmine's has a whopping nine private dining rooms, advertising rooms for anywhere from 15 to 700 people.

425 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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A generous portion of eggplant parmesan topped with mozzarella cheese on a white tablecloth — Eggplant parmesan from Carmine’s

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Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

Oyamel offers customized menus at its private dining spaces, including a Butterfly Table alcove that seats 10 and the fully-private Escondido Room, with room for a seated dinner for 40 people.

401 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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Oyamel’s private diing room featuring a mural with colorful butterflies and a woman on the wall. — Oyamel’s private dining room

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Charlie Palmer Steak

One of Capitol Hill's top destinations for private dining, the recently-renovated Charlie Palmer has multiple options for rental, including the coveted terrace and rooftop spaces.

101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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A dining room with open windows, large hanging chandeliers and white tablecloths — The dining room at Charlie Palmer Steak in Capitol Hill

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Officina

The three-level complex at the Wharf has plenty of options for private events, from the 12-seat private dining room overlooking the water to a very chic rooftop events space complete with fire pits and stellar views that can accommodate up to 60 people.

1120 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

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Patterned floor tiling and a corner of a bar area at Officina — Officina

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Rose's Luxury

Who doesn't want the table at Rose's Luxury's intimate rooftop garden? Just recruit a group of eight friends for events during the warmer months. The restaurant also does full buyouts, or allows folks to book groups of 8-20 in its Barracks Room.

717 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Mi Vida Restaurante

Mi Vida has multiple private and semi-private spaces and special menus for private dining on the Wharf, including an 11,000-square-foot space offering panoramic views of the Potomac River.

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98 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

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An order of pescado a la talla at Mi Vida includes red and green adobo — Fish from Mi Vida

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Mission - Navy Yard

This sprawling Mexican restaurant in Navy Yard has plenty of room for groups, including balconies overlooking Nationals Park and a private dining and event space that boasts its own private stairwell and entrances for VIPs.

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1221 Van St SE, Washington, DC 20003

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Lit wooden ceilings and wooden furniture with a full window view at Mission Navy Yard — The Cactus Room, one of several private dining options

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2941 Restaurant

2941 has private dining rooms that feature views of the restaurant's waterfall and koi pond. Host a gathering ranging in size from eight people to up to 100. It’s a popular destination for weddings, so book early.

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042

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2941 exterior, including a view of the pond and the restaurant lit up at night. — An exterior view of 2941

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Jaleo

Jaleo has private dining options available at multiple locations. The Crystal City restaurant has many variations, such as the dramatic curtained Blue Room (with room for 50-75). Groups can come together over a full paella, which is one of many dining options.

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2250 Crystal Dr A, Arlington, VA 22202

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Jaleo’s aella

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Oak Steakhouse Alexandria

Old Town’s handsome new steakhouse features a 30-seat private dining room with its own entrance from the outside. A service door attached to the kitchen lets plates sneak in and out of the kitchen so there’s minimal interruption to service. —Tierney Plumb

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901 N St Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314

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The private dining room at Oak is separated from the main dining area with large glass doors — Oak Steakhouse

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Compass Rose

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

A host dramatically lifts the lid off of a red tagine and smoke escapes from the vessel — The Bedouin tent at Compass Rose

OK with having a Bedouin tent as a room? Up to eight people can experience this private dining experience from Compass Rose.

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

A host dramatically lifts the lid off of a red tagine and smoke escapes from the vessel — The Bedouin tent at Compass Rose

City Winery DC

1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The building of City Winery, lit up with a projection shot across it — City Winery

City Winery boasts 40,000 square feet of event space across four floors. Those who book there can choose from spaces like the private Barrel Room, with room for 50 seated diners.

Open in Google Maps

1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

The building of City Winery, lit up with a projection shot across it — City Winery

1789 Restaurant

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

A circle formed from peas, scallops, and a rainbow of other ingredients — An ornate vegetable and scallop dish from 1789

Georgetown’s historic 1789 has multiple private dining rooms, including The Middleburg Room with capacity for up to 56 people seated at round tables, the Garden Room with floor-to-ceiling windows and room for 18 diners, and the restaurant’s cozy Bar and Club rooms.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

A circle formed from peas, scallops, and a rainbow of other ingredients — An ornate vegetable and scallop dish from 1789

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Up to 20 people can book Blue Duck Tavern's chef's table in a private room.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Visit Website

Rasika West End

1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia. — Rasika West End

To really impress, check out Rasika's chef's table, where President Obama celebrated his 52nd birthday. It can seat 10 to 12. Additional private dining spaces include the The Library, which can seat 42 to 50, and the Garden Room, which hosts 10 to 12 diners.

1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Visit Website