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Surfside tacos
Surfside/Facebook

The Vox DC Lunch and Happy Hour Map

Where to eat near the office

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Surfside tacos
| Surfside/Facebook

Workers in the Vox D.C. office may find themselves thinking, “Where should I go for lunch today that isn’t Chop’t?” or alternately, “Where can I get a quick drink after work that isn’t the Vox kitchen?” Eater editors and Vox staffers have cobbled together some solid lunch choices and fun drinks places near the office, for both employees to remember and visitors to our offices in D.C. to keep in mind. Have another favorite? Email missy@eater.com about getting it added to the map.

Updated March 2018.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Bistrot Du Coin

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An option for a glass of French wine during happy hour. Find mussel pots and other French classics.

Bistro du Coin
[official photo]

Mission

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Two draws here: a happy hour with a roster of specials (discounted beers, tequila shots, guacamole, margaritas, etc.) and a spacious patio.

Hank's Oyster Bar

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A favorite for oysters, lobster rolls, and more, this is great for a nice sit-down lunch or a place for happy hour drinks.

Beefsteak

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Jose Andres’ first fast-casual restaurant is great for vegetarians.

Beefsteak
Official photo

Sweetgreen

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The DC-based salad chain that is now taking over the world. Sweetgreen emphasizes local ingredients — expect a fancier and slightly more expensive salad than at nearby Chop’t.

Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen/Facebook

Duke's Grocery

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This casual, London-influenced restaurant and bar is a place for a sit-down lunch or drink after work. The burger is among the city’s most-praised.

Duke’s Grocery burger
Duke’s Grocery
Duke’s Grocery/Facebook

Sushi Taro

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Lunch specials, while not dirt-cheap, are a more affordable way to experience this destination sushi restaurant. Happy Hour can draw lines before 5:30 p.m. There’s a reason for that: it’s half priced sushi and drinks until 7, and there are only 11 seats at the bar.

Sushi Taro
R. Lopez/Eater

This Italian-leaning Kimpton restaurant has a terrific happy hour and a cute, if small, patio.

Urbana
Urbana

Nazca Mochica

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Where to go for a pisco sour after work. Happy hour runs 5-7 p.m.

Nazca Mochica
Nazca Mochica/Facebook

Pizzeria Paradiso

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DC’s pizza scene has exploded since, but Pizzeria Paradiso was one of the originals for Neapolitan-style pies. The Atomica remains a great choice. But this location of the restaurant really stands out for its creative beer list.

Pizza from Pizzeria Paradiso
Pizzeria Paradiso/Facebook

The Big Hunt

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Big Hunt is insane on the weekend, but the owners here do take beer seriously so it’s a great place for a weeknight drink. They’ve got a bunch of local beer on tap here, too.

The Big Hunt
The Big Hunt/Facebook

Galley Cafe

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A holdover favorite for those who worked in the office before the current one, this is a haunt for sandwiches and bibimbap. Ask slackbot about it.

Galley Cafe
Dana T./Yelp

Firefly

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Perhaps a little bit of a hike for lunch purposes, but Firefly is a nice spot for a post-work cocktail. Find comfort food bar snacks and discounts at happy hour.

Firefly
Firefly [official photo]

Tabard Inn

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This restaurant isn’t what it used to be in its glory days, but visitors here can still find a classy happy hour, a beautiful patio, and some well-made classic cocktails.

Tabard Inn [Photo: Facebook]
Tabard Inn
Photo: Facebook

Surfside

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Another regular haunt of the Slack lunch room, this taco stand is open 24-hours (seating is minimal and all outdoors, as a note).

Surfside tacos
Surfside/Facebook

Iron Gate Restaurant

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One of the most beautiful restaurants in the city has classy cocktails, a gorgeous patio, an interesting wine list, and Greek and Italian-influenced dishes during lunch.

Iron Gate
R. Lopez/Eater

CF Folks Restaurant

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This restaurant has been serving up specials and sandwiches downtown for decades, and won a James Beard American Classics award in 2013.

Reuben at CF Folks
CF Folks/Facebook

Cava Grill

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Those who hover in the Vox DC lunch Slack room will see Cava mentioned perhaps more frequently than any other lunch choice. Find fast-casual, sometimes-healthy Mediterranean options here, courtesy of this rapidly-expanding local concept.

A Cava Grill bowl [Photo: Official]
A Cava Grill bowl
Cava Grill [official photo]

The Lucky Bar

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Lucky Bar is, well, your average bar. But it draws in sports fans and Vox staffers alike, particularly because of its uber-proximity to the office. Soccer fans can find a home here.

Lucky Bar
Lucky Bar/Facebook

St. Arnold's Mussel Bar

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This bar has a great happy hour deal: on weekdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., get $10 mussels and frites, half price wings/onion rings and $1 off drafts.

Mussels at St. Arnold’s
St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar/Facebook

The Well Dressed Burrito

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Well Dressed is a hole in the wall, located in a nondescript alley. When it comes to the food, don’t miss their enchiladas, cinnamon chips or their daily specials. The prices are very reasonable, too -- though it’s only open from 11:45 to 2:15 on weekdays, so the lines can be long.

Well Dressed Burrito burrito
The Well Dressed Burrito/Facebook

Sauf Haus Bier Hall

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Sauf Haus is a destination for German beer fans and those who love indoor/outdoor patios (theirs is upstairs).

Sauf Haus [Photo: Facebook]
Sauf Haus
Facebook

Shake Shack - Dupont Circle

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It’s Shake Shack. Right across the street. No more details needed.

Shake Shack
Shake Shack [official photo]

Nando's Peri-Peri

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This South African Peruvian chicken chain chose DC as its point of invasion when it expanded to the United States. The chicken is pretty good! An option for take-out or dine-in (there are sangria specials at happy hour).

Taylor Gourmet

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Taylor Gourmet is the place for Philly-style hoagies, with a ton of varieties from which to choose.

Taylor Cheesesteaks
Taylor Gourmet [official photo]

Yafa Grille

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One Vox staffer describes this place as follows: “It’s way more satisfying than Cava -- with shorter lines! The garlic cream spread and shata are like crack, honestly.”

Yafa Grille
Facebook

Bub and Pop's

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Sandwiches with high-quality ingredients, nice soups, homey atmosphere. They serve breakfast, too.

A Bub and Pop’s sandwich
Bub and Pop’s/Facebook

Tredici Enoteca

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This hotel recently renovated its restaurant with a fancy new patio.

Tredici
Tredici Enoteca/Facebook

OKI Bowl DC & Sake

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There is ramen within walking distance of the office. These guys tend to play with more unusual ramens vs traditional.

Boqueria

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Boqueria doesn’t get the attention that competitors Jaleo and Estadio get (doesn’t help that it’s a a New York transplant) but it really is a good choice for authentic tapas. There’s also a cheap (and busy) happy hour and a $15-for-three-tapas lunch deal.

[official photo]

District Taco- Dupont

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A nice, quick and convenient addition to the neighborhood. Plus, they serve breakfast tacos.

District Taco
Facebook

Greek Deli & Catering

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Greek Deli has been around since 1990, and its chicken-lemon avegolemono soup is stuff of legend. Greek Deli also has a hot breakfast, souvlaki, falafel, and gyro sandwiches, and Greek specialties such as moussaka and spanakopita.

Greek Deli
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

The Jersey convenience store chain now has an outpost in DC and crowds have flocked there for hoagies and soft pretzels.

Wawa
Photo by Tierney Plumb / Eater DC

Recessions Bar and Grill

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It takes a certain type of sensibility to love Recessions, which visitors reach by going downstairs and walking down a creepy hallway. The bar has carpet, for one thing. But the dive also has cheap drinks, karaoke, and a weird vibe all its own.

Recessions
Recessions/Facebook

Bistrot Du Coin

An option for a glass of French wine during happy hour. Find mussel pots and other French classics.

Bistro du Coin
[official photo]

Mission

Two draws here: a happy hour with a roster of specials (discounted beers, tequila shots, guacamole, margaritas, etc.) and a spacious patio.

Hank's Oyster Bar

A favorite for oysters, lobster rolls, and more, this is great for a nice sit-down lunch or a place for happy hour drinks.

Beefsteak

Jose Andres’ first fast-casual restaurant is great for vegetarians.