Back in 1954, culinary pioneer François Haeringer was inspired to bring a taste of his native Alsatian countryside to D.C. His sons keep his spirit alive at the cherished Falls Church inn that’s filled with family heirlooms and murals of Haeringer’s birthplace in France. All these years later, the restaurant remains most famous for its hot souffle. Arrive early for a creative cocktail from the downstairs bar or take a stroll around the six-acre property’s gorgeous gardens during warmer months.

輕輕地塞到一個龐大的綠色景觀rolling hills and blooming flowers, this historic Virginia wine country restaurant and inn is as charming as it is romantic. On a pretty day, book a table on the outdoor patio. On a cooler day, dip a spoon into the winter truffle risotto topped with shaved truffles and egg yolk.

Nestled in an adorable country farmhouse since 1985, this acclaimed French fixture in Chevy Chase is known for delicacies like foie gras creme brulee, pate, and sautéed calf liver. A large fireplace, year-round porch, porcelain rooster statues, and a piano player all add touches of timeless whimsy, with an added modern-day perk of ample (free) parking. Saddle up to its casual counterpart, the Cognac bar, to order its beloved burger and draft beers in a wood-framed setting.

Thisdreamypetite French restaurant nestled in a Georgetown row house embraces Champagne and caviar like few other restaurants do. Enjoy it at the restaurant along with mushroom “cigarettes” with Parmesan foam, trout topped with lump crab, or silky ribbons of pappardelle cloaked in lemon, créme fraîche, caviar, and freshly snipped chives. If a romantic dinner at home is on the menu, grab the Champagne and caviar special to go for $50.

A dining room with a roaring fire is just one of the treats that makes this historic Dupont Circle setting so intimate. Share dishes off the family-style menu with wine pairings, or order a la carte dishes like daily focaccia and golden potato keftedes with charred leek, caviar, dill, and smoked egg gribiche.

This fine-dining showpiece in Clyde’s family of restaurants oozes intimacy, seating diners in quaint, fireplace-filled dining rooms in a historic Georgetown home. 2941 alum Kyoo Eom took thereins of the kitchenin fall 2020 and reenergized the restaurant with an la carte lineup of brioche-crusted halibut, American wagyu tartare, and veal tagliatelle. Ahandsome mahogany barcalled Fitzgerald’s recently resurfaced next door with classic cocktails, rare Japanese whisky pours, and elegant drinking snacks, all served a tweed-filled setting fit for a Ralph Lauren ad.

The stylish younger sister restaurant to Penn Quarter’s Rasika, a large, sound-absorbing wood installation along the ceiling makes hushed conversations possible. Try to snag one of the carriage-like booths lining the windows or a table in the book-lined library while dining on Indian dishes from James Beard Award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam. Plus, both Angelina Jolie and Rolling Stones frontmanMick Jaggerhave dined here, which seals this restaurant’s scene-y status.

Around since the 1980s, Georgetown’s subterranean Italian mainstay famously decks its halls for every annual holiday (Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and even Halloween). Pastas also adhere to tradition, and its untouched family recipes are beloved by regulars and celebrities alike. U2 frontman Bono reportedly requested seconds of its rigatoni flecked with homemade Italian sausage, and Germany’s late Chancellor Helmut Kohl was a frequent fan of its gnocchi.

Dressed in red drapes, chandeliers, and vintage prints, Capitol Hill’s chic French bistro continues to woo diners a dozen years in. Chef Alex Merritt, an alum of Cafe du Parc and 1789, sends out warming French onion soup, escargot, and seared duck breast.

Located in Falls Church, bubbling waterfalls, koi ponds, and a lakeside view provide a view for the floor-to-ceiling windows around the dining room. East Coast oysters with lemon, cocktail sauce, andyuzu-kosho mignonette make for a sexy starter before diving into chef Bertrand Chemel French-infused take on contemporary American dishes.

Located in rural Virginia so far from the city lights that guests are lucky to score a few bars of cell phone service, the Inn at Little Washington is the ultimate fairytale break from the day-to-day. Plus, one of the most celebrated chefs in the U.S. cooks with food grown on the premises near gorgeous gardens that sprout 10,000 tulips come April.