Welcome to Adams Morgan, D.C., home of some of the most delicious cuisines you can find in all of Washington. This multicultural neighborhood is centered around nightlife in the 18th century and hosts a variety of venues, from the best falafel in D.C. to jazz bars and your special speakeasy options. Brick row houses adorn the streets and set you up for some of the most unique restaurants and bars. Check out some of our favorites on the list below.
Zenebech Restaurant
Zenebech is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving Ethiopian dishes. You can choose to dine inside or enjoy the weather on a sunny day and take advantage of their outdoor seating. Originally, the restaurant opened as an injera bakery in 1993 and expanded to a full-scale Ethiopian restaurant in 1999. Over the years, the menu has grown and continues to change as new items are added. Zenebech is great for trying something new and embracing the tastes of Ethiopian cuisine, or for simply enjoying and learning a little about Ethiopian culture.
The restaurant is open 7 days a week, operating from 5-9 pm Monday-Thursday and 12-10 pm Friday-Saturday.
Donburi
Known for being the city’s Japanese comfort food location, Donburi brings you tasty rice bowl dishes. The location is often crowded due to being such a town favorite, but it’s well worth the wait. However, if you don’t feel like waiting, you can use their online ordering system and pick up your treat. At one point in time, Donburi was known as a hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant, but over the years, it’s gained popularity through providing great service and delicious meals. It’s hard to beat this quick-serve restaurant when it comes to authentic Japanese cuisine.
Located on 18th St NW, you can enjoy delicious Donburi any day of the week from 11 am-9 pm.
Mintwood Place
This modern farmhouse-styled restaurant takes French influences and brings them home to Adams Morgan. With wood-burning ovens and sidewalk seats, the location is made with a homey-feel in mind. Critics have deemed it a stylish and romantic location, perfect for balancing adventure with comfort. From your gourmet burger to tastefully made dishes like rigatoni and grilled linguisa sausage, there are a variety of French-American dishes to choose from to please everyone’s palate.
You can find Mintwood on 1813 Columbia Rd NW, which is only a 5-minute drive from both the Rodney Apartments (14-minute walk) and the Lamont Apartments (17-minute walk).
Adams Morgan Top Secret Speakeasies
We’ve all watched the Great Gatsby, or at least heard of it, and fallen in love with that idea of feeling like you have access to some sort of secretive atmosphere. From the prohibition era, the last few years have made the speakeasy trend even more popular, and that’s no different here in Washington. At these speakeasy locations in Adams Morgan, you’ll feel like Gatsby himself, getting the ‘secret password’ to join the most laid back party of the evening. Enjoy specialty cocktails in private locations, and wine and dine in these cozy atmospheres.
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Known for having the 3rd largest whiskey selection in the world, Jack Rose Dining Saloon brings the Great Gatsby to life. This bar doubles as a speakeasy and houses 5 differently themed rooms. It’s sort of like a three-level palace dedicated to whiskeys from all around the world. If whiskey isn’t your cup of tea, don’t fret – they also serve house cocktails and other wines and spirits, as well as some local and imported beers. Bring your friends, your family, your coworkers, and even that acquaintance you never remember the name of – Jack Rose will have you returning for a classy night of old-fashioned fun and trying all of their drink choices.
Located on 2007 18th St NW, this establishment operates Wednesday-Sunday.
The Gibson
This is possibly one of the most traditional speakeasy locations in all of D.C. The Gibson brings you back to the prohibition-era, casting dim lighting and making cocktails for the century. If you’re unsure of what to get, ask the staff and they’ll be sure to recommend one of the house favorites, taking into account the flavors and blends you like. Snack on appetizers while you sip your drinks and learn about different mixtures and crafts.
You can find this speakeasy at 2009 14th St NW, open Monday-Saturday at 6 pm into the night.
Left Door
Say hello to this funky little parlor and get relaxed with a specialty cocktail alongside some snacks. While it’s located at 1345 S St NW, the bar is in an unmarked house, staying true to the speakeasy tradition. The exciting thing about this bar is that the menu changes every two weeks to bring you something new and different. Left Door does have limited seating, though, so you may want to get there early if you plan on staying a while.
Open 7 days a week, you can enjoy drinks and snacks from 5 pm until 1:30 am most nights, and 2:30 am on Friday and Saturday.
There is a surplus of amazing restaurants and bars scattered across D.C., and new additions are always popping up. No matter what you’re craving, there’s always somewhere delicious nearby where you can grab lunch or dinner. Try new things, discover your new favorite flavor, and most of all, have fun exploring Adams Morgan, D.C. Let us know if you need more suggestions on what to try next or what you’ve tried and loved.
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