clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Bethesda Row is jam packed with restaurants and bars.
Scott Suchman for Visit Montgomery

Where to Eat and Drink in Bethesda

The Maryland suburb continues to heat up as a top dining destination

View as Map
Bethesda Row is jam packed with restaurants and bars.
| Scott Suchman for Visit Montgomery

Over a short period of time, Bethesda has shed its dull dining reputation and quickly become an exciting hotspot to eat and drink. Bethesda’s cityscape also looks a lot different these days, thanks to the relocation of Marriott’s headquarters and booming developments up the I-355 corridor like Pike & Rose. The term “North Bethesda” is now a thing (and the new name for the White Flint Metro station).

The Montgomery County growth spurt leaves diners with plenty of options, including newer favorites like Melina, Oishii Ramen, and Seventh State, as well as neighborhood fixtures like Tastee Diner, Quartermaine, Bethesda Bagels, and Vace.

Reliable D.C. names like Chaia, Chercher, Chiko, Call Your Mother, and Butter Me Up, as well as NYC imports Tacombi and Maman Bakery, have all planted flags here as of late. More is on the horizon, with incoming Maryland outposts from Andy’s Pizza, The Salt Line, and Aventino.

Here are some of the must-try restaurants in Bethesda.

Read More
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.

Bark Social

Copy Link

North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose has gone to the dogs thanks to the wildly popular Bark Social. This is a bark park with bar fare and local brews like Silver Spring’s Denizens, Astro Lab, and Waredaca Brewing Company.

Melina is named after the daughter of Cava and Julii co-founder and chef Dimitri Moshovitis. On the menu find salads, meze, skewers, and fresh crudo. A top-selling dish is the tuna tataki with beet greens, avocado, tarama, carob, and olive oil rusks.

a blue bowl with beef tartar topped with herbs and a blue crisp.
Beef tartare topped with fresh mint and homemade potato chips.
Melina

Owen's Ordinary

Copy Link

For a ridiculous selection of Maryland beers and a reliable weekend brunch, head to this Pike & Rose pioneer from Neighborhood Restaurant Group. There are more than 50 rotating taps and 200-plus bottles including 75 Maryland beers, many of which have never been available at a restaurant or bar before. The six-year-old pub will soon carve out room for a new location of Caruso’s Grocery, Matt Adler’s essential Italian-American restaurant that opened in NRG’s Roost food hall on Capitol Hill last year.

Owen's Ordinary
The bar at Owen’s Ordinary.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream

Copy Link

Founded by mother-daughter team Sarah and Annie Park, this small batch scoops shops maintains a pair of locations in Bethesda. Find vegan-friendly and rotating seasonal flavors at each one.

This family-owned Bethesda mainstay, around since 2002, is the epitome of an old-school red sauce joint. Neighbors know it well for the homemade pastas and hearty dishes like lasagna bolognese and linguine with sausage and peppers, plus meatballs like nonna makes. There is also a second location in downtown Silver Spring.

Cubano’s (multiple locations)

Copy Link

This Cuban eatery and rum bar has two locations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. Of course, the top dish to order is the Cubano sandwich, served in a traditional style with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and thinly-sliced pickles.

Oishii Ramen Cafe

Copy Link

This super stylish ramen shop opened in 2021, bringing Bethesda Japanese snacks like gyoza, karaage, and kakuni buns. Hearty bowls of ramen range from spicy tonkotsu to miso to shoyu styles.

Tastee Diner (multiple locations)

Copy Link

Bethesda residents line up here on weekends for a classic diner in the heart of downtown. Around since 1935, the beloved local chain offers breakfast combos like steak-and-eggs and flapjacks, plus club sandwiches and milkshakes for lunch or dinner.

Tastee Diner
Tastee Diner is a local institution in Bethesda.
Tastee Diner

Black's Bar & Kitchen

Copy Link

This all-day eatery specializes in Chesapeake Bay seafood, including oysters on the half-shell that are steeply discounted at happy hour. Also spot them on the late-night menu, offered Thursday through Saturday, for $2.25 each.

Seventh State / Hip Flask

Copy Link

Marriott International recently relocated its corporate headquarters in downtown Bethesda, and adjacent to the office sits a brand new hotel with striking food and views. The lobby-level restaurant Seventh State — a subtle nod to Maryland’s founding — has tribute dishes like Chesapeake rockfish, crab-and-artichoke dip, and Smith Island Cake. On the roof, find Hip Flask — a swanky cocktail bar with epic views of both Maryland and Virginia.

Hip Flask includes retractable floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor seating.
Marriott Bethesda Downtown

Q by Peter Chang

Copy Link

Q stands for Qijian, which means “flagship” in Chinese. It’s here where legendary chef Peter Chang sends out dim sum on weekends and large-format dishes like Peking duck prepared through a five-step process.

Q by Peter Chang opened in 2017.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Spanish Diner

Copy Link

Superstar chef José Andrés revamped what was formerly Jaleo into a Spanish-style diner serving all-day breakfast menus full of fried egg dishes, sandwiches, stews, and plenty of savory jamon iberico.

Bethesda Bagels

Copy Link

Credit goes to this shop for upping the area’s bagel credibility. The brand has since expanded across state lines to D.C. and Virginia, but the Bethesda original remains largely unchanged. Find dozens of bagel varieties with lox, cream cheese spreads, or as savory sandwiches.

Quartermaine Coffee Roaster

Copy Link

Neighbors gather here for freshly roasted coffees and espressos. It also has a sizable pastry counter and beans to brew at home.

Fresh Baguette

Copy Link

This acclaimed French bakery is tucked away in a corner of Bethesda that’s better known for car dealerships and a Giant grocery store. Follow the smell of freshly-baked bread for baguettes, croissants, and Viennese pastries made on-site and at a larger production facility in nearby Rockville. A McLean location opens this week.

Vace Italian Delicatessen

Copy Link

A slice is nice at Vace, an Italian pizzeria and deli with an extensive amount of homemade pastas. An attached grocer sells imported specialty items to cook at home.

Bethesda Crab House

Copy Link

Get cracking on Chesapeake Bay crabs at this seafood standby that opened in 1961. Steamed crabs by the platter come complete with Old Bay seasoning and brown paper-covered tables. Call in advance to make sure it is open and to reserve orders.

Bark Social

North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose has gone to the dogs thanks to the wildly popular Bark Social. This is a bark park with bar fare and local brews like Silver Spring’s Denizens, Astro Lab, and Waredaca Brewing Company.

Melina

Melina is named after the daughter of Cava and Julii co-founder and chef Dimitri Moshovitis. On the menu find salads, meze, skewers, and fresh crudo. A top-selling dish is the tuna tataki with beet greens, avocado, tarama, carob, and olive oil rusks.

a blue bowl with beef tartar topped with herbs and a blue crisp.
Beef tartare topped with fresh mint and homemade potato chips.
Melina

Owen's Ordinary

For a ridiculous selection of Maryland beers and a reliable weekend brunch, head to this Pike & Rose pioneer from Neighborhood Restaurant Group. There are more than 50 rotating taps and 200-plus bottles including 75 Maryland beers, many of which have never been available at a restaurant or bar before. The six-year-old pub will soon carve out room for a new location of Caruso’s Grocery, Matt Adler’s essential Italian-American restaurant that opened in NRG’s Roost food hall on Capitol Hill last year.

Owen's Ordinary
The bar at Owen’s Ordinary.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream

Founded by mother-daughter team Sarah and Annie Park, this small batch scoops shops maintains a pair of locations in Bethesda. Find vegan-friendly and rotating seasonal flavors at each one.

Olazzo

This family-owned Bethesda mainstay, around since 2002, is the epitome of an old-school red sauce joint. Neighbors know it well for the homemade pastas and hearty dishes like lasagna bolognese and linguine with sausage and peppers, plus meatballs like nonna makes. There is also a second location in downtown Silver Spring.

Cubano’s (multiple locations)

This Cuban eatery and rum bar has two locations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. Of course, the top dish to order is the Cubano sandwich, served in a traditional style with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and thinly-sliced pickles.

Oishii Ramen Cafe

This super stylish ramen shop opened in 2021, bringing Bethesda Japanese snacks like gyoza, karaage, and kakuni buns. Hearty bowls of ramen range from spicy tonkotsu to miso to shoyu styles.

Tastee Diner (multiple locations)

Bethesda residents line up here on weekends for a classic diner in the heart of downtown. Around since 1935, the beloved local chain offers breakfast combos like steak-and-eggs and flapjacks, plus club sandwiches and milkshakes for lunch or dinner.

Tastee Diner
Tastee Diner is a local institution in Bethesda.
Tastee Diner

Black's Bar & Kitchen

This all-day eatery specializes in Chesapeake Bay seafood, including oysters on the half-shell that are steeply discounted at happy hour. Also spot them on the late-night menu, offered Thursday through Saturday, for $2.25 each.

Seventh State / Hip Flask

Marriott International recently relocated its corporate headquarters in downtown Bethesda, and adjacent to the office sits a brand new hotel with striking food and views. The lobby-level restaurant Seventh State — a subtle nod to Maryland’s founding — has tribute dishes like Chesapeake rockfish, crab-and-artichoke dip, and Smith Island Cake. On the roof, find Hip Flask — a swanky cocktail bar with epic views of both Maryland and Virginia.

Hip Flask includes retractable floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor seating.
Marriott Bethesda Downtown

Q by Peter Chang

Q stands for Qijian, which means “flagship” in Chinese. It’s here where legendary chef Peter Chang sends out dim sum on weekends and large-format dishes like Peking duck prepared through a five-step process.

Q by Peter Chang opened in 2017.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Spanish Diner

Superstar chef José Andrés revamped what was formerly Jaleo into a Spanish-style diner serving all-day breakfast menus full of fried egg dishes, sandwiches, stews, and plenty of savory jamon iberico.

Bethesda Bagels

Credit goes to this shop for upping the area’s bagel credibility. The brand has since expanded across state lines to D.C. and Virginia, but the Bethesda original remains largely unchanged. Find dozens of bagel varieties with lox, cream cheese spreads, or as savory sandwiches.

Quartermaine Coffee Roaster

Neighbors gather here for freshly roasted coffees and espressos. It also has a sizable pastry counter and beans to brew at home.

Fresh Baguette

This acclaimed French bakery is tucked away in a corner of Bethesda that’s better known for car dealerships and a Giant grocery store. Follow the smell of freshly-baked bread for baguettes, croissants, and Viennese pastries made on-site and at a larger production facility in nearby Rockville. A McLean location opens this week.

Related Maps

Vace Italian Delicatessen

A slice is nice at Vace, an Italian pizzeria and deli with an extensive amount of homemade pastas. An attached grocer sells imported specialty items to cook at home.

Bethesda Crab House

Get cracking on Chesapeake Bay crabs at this seafood standby that opened in 1961. Steamed crabs by the platter come complete with Old Bay seasoning and brown paper-covered tables. Call in advance to make sure it is open and to reserve orders.

Related Maps