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The Mezcal Room at Maïz64 can accommodate up to 80 for a standing reception.
Maïz64

D.C.’s Top Destinations for Private Dining

When dining with the masses just won't do

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The Mezcal Room at Maïz64 can accommodate up to 80 for a standing reception.
| Maïz64

It’s already October, which is when private dining rooms start to book up fast 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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The Imperial

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The Imperial’s team just converted and expanded the old Dram & Grain space into a candle-lit hideaway called The Cellar. Up to 75 guests at a time can feast on oysters and seafood towers near a fireplace.

The Cellar is stocked with 100 whiskeys, including Jack Rose Dining Saloon’s proprietary barrel selections.
The Cellar

Compass Rose

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OK with having a Bedouin tent as a room? Up to eight people can experience this private dining experience from Compass Rose. This spring, the space was redecorated and tailored to Ukraine.

Compass Rose’s popular private dining option just transformed into a “Sunflower Coach” as an ode to Ukraine. 
Jennifer Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Lyle Washington DC

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Opened in April 2021, Lyle Hotel in Dupont offers seven different options for private dining. Opt for an intimate, 12-person dinner in Lyle’s private dining room to a 70-person reception in the Drawing Room.

Lyle is outfitted with eclectic and artsy dining spaces.
Jennifer Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Maïz64

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At Logan Circle’s Mexican restaurant, the lower-level Mezcal Room is a stylish subterranean spot for a private event. It can accommodate 55 for dinner, 70 for the bar and dinner, and 80 for a standing reception.

The Mezcal Room at Maïz64.
Maïz64

Rasika West End

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To really impress, check out Rasika's chef's table, where President Obama celebrated a 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.

A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia.
A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

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

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

SHŌTŌ Washington DC

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Tucked past the wine and sake cellar at downtown’s modern Japanese izakaya, this opulent private dining room lined with museum-quality artifacts offers one long table for 40. The room can also be split into two seating areas.

Rey Lopez for Shōtō

Fiola Mare

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

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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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.

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
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Biergarten Haus

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H Street’s German standby for steins, pub grub, and the largest outdoor patio on the strip can accommodate events for 40 to 400. The sprawling setup includes five bars, fire pits, over 20 TVs, and a rooftop deck suited for sit-down dinners or standing receptions.

L'Ardente

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The year-old Italian showpiece has two private dining spaces that can be combined to accommodate 70 seated or 110 standing. They’re called The Galleria as a nod to their collections of local and international art, complete with a private entrance and bathrooms down a VIP hallway.

L’Ardente’s private events area.
L’Ardente

The latest addition to Daikaya Group specializes in wafu (Japanese-style) Italian noodle dishes and pizza. The upstairs level is ideal for private parties, complete with horigotatsu-style dining (a traditional Japanese table that’s low to the ground with a recessed floor so the legs can stretch down). In addition to the upstairs level, the entire restaurant can be rented out. 

The zen upstairs floor at Tonari offers horigotatsu-style seating.
Rey Lopez for Tonari

Old Ebbitt Grill

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

The wooden bar, with a bartender in suspenders
A suspender-wearing bartender at Old Ebbitt Grill.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Carmine's

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

A generous portion of eggplant parmesan topped with mozzarella cheese on a white tablecloth
Eggplant parmesan from Carmine’s
Carmine’s [official photo]

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

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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.

Oyamel’s private diing room featuring a mural with colorful butterflies and a woman on the wall.
Oyamel’s private dining room
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Charlie Palmer Steak

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

A dining room with open windows, large hanging chandeliers and white tablecloths
The dining room at Charlie Palmer Steak in Capitol Hill
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Officina

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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.

Crazy Aunt Helen's

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The color-soaked Capitol Hill diner has an upstairs Peacock Room that seats up to 55 for a private dinner or 75 people for a standing reception, plus a full bar and stage for performances or karaoke or presentations. Book one of its frequent entertainers like Drag Queen Tara Hoot and DJ Phil Reese to liven up the event.

In addition to private events, the upstairs Peacock Room hosts live entertainment like improv and cabaret night.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Mi Vida Restaurante

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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. And the new Mi Via along 14th Street NW has a plaster-framed Hacienda room that serves as a private events perch up top.

An order of pescado a la talla at Mi Vida includes red and green adobo
Fish from Mi Vida
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

District Winery

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District Winery’s new 40-person private event space, The Portrait Room, offers patio access and full waterfront views. Choose between three packages: a dinner Menuplated brunch or a private wine tasting

District Winery’s waterfront private dining room.
District Winery

The Imperial

The Imperial’s team just converted and expanded the old Dram & Grain space into a candle-lit hideaway called The Cellar. Up to 75 guests at a time can feast on oysters and seafood towers near a fireplace.

The Cellar is stocked with 100 whiskeys, including Jack Rose Dining Saloon’s proprietary barrel selections.
The Cellar

Compass Rose

OK with having a Bedouin tent as a room? Up to eight people can experience this private dining experience from Compass Rose. This spring, the space was redecorated and tailored to Ukraine.

Compass Rose’s popular private dining option just transformed into a “Sunflower Coach” as an ode to Ukraine. 
Jennifer Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Lyle Washington DC

Opened in April 2021, Lyle Hotel in Dupont offers seven different options for private dining. Opt for an intimate, 12-person dinner in Lyle’s private dining room to a 70-person reception in the Drawing Room.

Lyle is outfitted with eclectic and artsy dining spaces.
Jennifer Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Maïz64

At Logan Circle’s Mexican restaurant, the lower-level Mezcal Room is a stylish subterranean spot for a private event. It can accommodate 55 for dinner, 70 for the bar and dinner, and 80 for a standing reception.

The Mezcal Room at Maïz64.
Maïz64

Rasika West End

To really impress, check out Rasika's chef's table, where President Obama celebrated a 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.

A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia.
A view of Rasika’s private dining room, with seating in the foreground and dropping wall hangings in wood and fuschia.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

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

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

SHŌTŌ Washington DC

Tucked past the wine and sake cellar at downtown’s modern Japanese izakaya, this opulent private dining room lined with museum-quality artifacts offers one long table for 40. The room can also be split into two seating areas.

Rey Lopez for Shōtō

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.

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.

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
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Biergarten Haus

H Street’s German standby for steins, pub grub, and the largest outdoor patio on the strip can accommodate events for 40 to 400. The sprawling setup includes five bars, fire pits, over 20 TVs, and a rooftop deck suited for sit-down dinners or standing receptions.

L'Ardente

The year-old Italian showpiece has two private dining spaces that can be combined to accommodate 70 seated or 110 standing. They’re called The Galleria as a nod to their collections of local and international art, complete with a private entrance and bathrooms down a VIP hallway.

L’Ardente’s private events area.
L’Ardente

Tonari

The latest addition to Daikaya Group specializes in wafu (Japanese-style) Italian noodle dishes and pizza. The upstairs level is ideal for private parties, complete with horigotatsu-style dining (a traditional Japanese table that’s low to the ground with a recessed floor so the legs can stretch down). In addition to the upstairs level, the entire restaurant can be rented out. 

The zen upstairs floor at Tonari offers horigotatsu-style seating.
Rey Lopez for Tonari

Old Ebbitt Grill

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

The wooden bar, with a bartender in suspenders
A suspender-wearing bartender at Old Ebbitt Grill.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Carmine's

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

A generous portion of eggplant parmesan topped with mozzarella cheese on a white tablecloth
Eggplant parmesan from Carmine’s
Carmine’s [official photo]

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.

Oyamel’s private diing room featuring a mural with colorful butterflies and a woman on the wall.
Oyamel’s private dining room
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Related Maps

Charlie Palmer Steak

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

A dining room with open windows, large hanging chandeliers and white tablecloths
The dining room at Charlie Palmer Steak in Capitol Hill
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

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.

Crazy Aunt Helen's

The color-soaked Capitol Hill diner has an upstairs Peacock Room that seats up to 55 for a private dinner or 75 people for a standing reception, plus a full bar and stage for performances or karaoke or presentations. Book one of its frequent entertainers like Drag Queen Tara Hoot and DJ Phil Reese to liven up the event.

In addition to private events, the upstairs Peacock Room hosts live entertainment like improv and cabaret night.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

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. And the new Mi Via along 14th Street NW has a plaster-framed Hacienda room that serves as a private events perch up top.