Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Washington, D.C. Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Prime Rib

4.9

4.9 (3482)

$50 and over

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

D.C's premier steakhouse with tuxedoed waiters and a 1940s Manhattan supper-club setting since 1976. Top five romantic restaurant in America (Food and Wine magazine). Live piano nightly. Valet parking. business casual for gentlemen.

Top review

AlexVIP

Dined on Apr 10, 2025

Classic restaurant with top notch food and attentive service. Best steakhouse in DC.

The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm

5.0

5 (1693)

$50 and over

American

Lovettsville

About the restaurant

Voted 2024 #1 Northern VA Magazine - "Michelin inspectors, take note."

Sourcing food and supporting local artisan growers and producers and utilizing our farm as the chefs pantry gives us the opportunity to create an evolving menu that draws its inspiration from the seasons and in harmony with the earth. The venue has a breathtaking view and natural setting overlooking the Potomac River.

We offer a tasting menu Thursday through Sunday evenings. Please visit our website at www.patowmackfarm.com for the menu.

Weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate or special events – we strive to exceed your dreams. Innovative and skillfully executed dishes follow the lead of nature, being mindful of the environment.

Due to the style of menu on special events and holidays and the complexities involved with individual and specific food allergies, we are unable to accommodate dietary restrictions on those days. We make every effort to provide vegetarian and accommodate gluten sensitivities.

Top review

Terry

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Wonderful atmosphere, particularly when the weather allows dining on the patio. The menu is varied and quite delightful.

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Experience

Pancake Breakfast Chefscycle Fundraiser, 4/27/2025

Elizabeth's

4.9

4.9 (1320)

$50 and over

Vegan

Downtown

About the restaurant

Elizabeth's offers an extraordinary dining experience every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. We merge our gorgeous venue with a prix fixe Vegan Tasting Menu at $110 per person. Elizabeth's is a destination for special occasions and adventurous cuisine.

Our sommelier curates a pairing of wines and beverages sourced from around the world at an additional $85 per person. We also offer a non-alcoholic beverage pairing comprised of non-alcoholic wines, mocktails, and infusions for $65 per person.

Fully raw menus are not available. Please call the restaurant (202-347-8349) in reference to any allergies prior to making your reservation. Regarding reservations of 5 or more, please call the restaurant directly. Reservations of more than 8 require a $150 minimum spend per person and a 50% up front deposit.

Top review

Nina

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

When you get to heaven, you will discover that the food is exactly what you eat at Elizabeth's! Only, you don't have to die, or live a perfect life! You can enjoy it now. And by "enjoy" I mean, be astonished, delighted, charmed, and so satisfied. The imagination, creativity, and skill that go into creating and executing the menu, as well as serving it, are beyond beyond. A love story to plants and the varied deliciousness and beauty they can provide; here, they meet their full potential.

L'Auberge Chez Francois

4.9

4.9 (9449)

$50 and over

French

Great Falls

About the restaurant

Welcome to L'Auberge Chez François, our French country inn a short distance from the nation's capital that has captivated visitors for over 66 years. L'Auberge Chez François is the ideal spot to celebrate special moments, private parties, luncheons, weddings, and cooking demonstrations. Our menu is extensive and full of the flavors of Alsace and traditional French cuisine. Excellent food and service, attention to detail, and a casually elegant atmosphere are hallmarks that have made L'Auberge Chez François a Washington favorite! We hope that you will enjoy your visit with us. Should you not see your preferred time to dine with us, please call us at 703-759-3800.

Top review

Betty

Dined 3 days ago

Service is outstanding…food is exquisite…ambience is fantastic…

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La Vela Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (591)

$31 to $50

Italian

Solomons

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Jenn

Dined 1 day ago

Great food, great service and great view. We love coming here for dinner and always have a great meal.

SHIA Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (128)

$50 and over

Korean

Washington

About the restaurant

SHIA (shee-uh) is a modern Korean fine dining restaurant in Washington, D.C., dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and cultural storytelling. Our tasting menu-only experience spotlights the intersection of local agriculture and premium Hansik ingredients, using fresh, seasonal elements with minimal manipulation to honor the environment. As a non-profit restaurant, SHIA is more than just a dining destination; it’s a platform for tackling key challenges in the restaurant industry, from environmental responsibility to fair labor practices and culinary heritage preservation.

**Please Note: Chef Lee's appearance is not guaranteed, and his availability is not given to the team or guests.**

Top review

helen

Dined 4 days ago

A culinary masterpiece! Simply complex, intricate yet understated…balance of all the flavors.

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Experience

7 Course Pre-Fixe (Dining Room)

Experience

5 Course Pre-Fixe (Lounge Only)

Bouboulina

4.8

4.8 (63)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

North Bethesda

About the restaurant

Bouboulina is an elevated dining experience inspired by Laskarina Bouboulina, the fearless Greek naval commander of the 1821 War of Independence and one of history’s first female admirals. Infused with the spirit of her homeland, Spetses, Greece, and the seafaring essence of her adventurous life on the water, Bouboulina redefines the classic steakhouse. It artfully blends timeless elegance with a moody, modern allure, balancing bold contrasts of light and dark, masculine and feminine. The chef-driven menu celebrates impeccably cooked steaks, complemented by meticulously crafted cocktails, all set within an ambiance of understated sophistication. Nestled in North Bethesda, Bouboulina is the latest visionary concept from the creative minds behind Cava Mezze, Julii, and Melina.

Coming Soon!

Top review

Coco

Dined 1 day ago

AMAZING!!! Great staff, food was delicious! Everything you get will be great!!

Jacques' Brasserie at L'Auberge Chez Francois

4.9

4.9 (2527)

$31 to $50

French

Great Falls

About the restaurant

Restaurants in Alsace traditionally have a formal main dining room as well as a casual dining room known locally as a weinstube or brasserie. At the brasserie, diners may enjoy traditional, hearty Alsatian dishes in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. These friendly establishments are immensely popular with Alsatians and visiting them is always the best part of my trips back to Alsace. I opened Jacques' Brasserie at L'Auberge Chez François to bring the tastes and comforts of the Alsatian brasserie to Great Falls.

Top review

Louis

Dined 4 days ago

Out favorite restaurant whenever we visit Great Falls. You can always count on having an awesome experience.

Code Red

4.8

4.8 (62)

$30 and under

American

Adams Morgan

About the restaurant

CODE RED : We’re a celebration of freedom that transports you back into the Prohibition Era while embracing modernity with classic cocktails, eclectic cuisine, and outstanding service.

Top review

SerenoVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Staff and ambiance were fantastic! Very happy with the drink service provided.

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Experience

🦪 $1 Oyster "Shuck & Sip" Tuesdays 🦪

Fitzgerald's

4.8

4.8 (92)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Fitzgerald's is a cocktail-centric restaurant and bar located in Georgetown with an inviting club chair lounge, intimate tables perfect for date night, and a beautifully welcoming bar well stocked with your favorite spirits. The restaurant's menu features a fusion of American and international cuisine, with dishes that are both innovative and uniquely flavorful. Fitzgerald's also boasts an extensive beverage menu, with expertly crafted cocktails and a long wine list that is sure to impress.

Top review

Greg

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

Intimate upscale bar with a small bites menu and access to the menu from 1789 next door. Great cocktail selection served by an excellent staff. Definitely recommended.

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Experience

Wednesday - Saturday | 5 - 6:30 pm

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