It's a little known fact that the DMV (the colloquial nickname for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region) is a wonderful place to visit in January, particularly at the end of the month when the area plays host to three separate Restaurant Week events. It's also a good time for weekly specials -- like $15 pasta dishes during "Morini Mondays" at Cucina Morini and Osteria Morini and "Strega Nona Sundays," with all-you-can-eat pasta plates for $29 per person at Via Sophia -- which happen seasonally this time of year, through January and March, respectively.
Here's everything you need to know to plan the perfect brunch, lunch or dinner, whether you're re-visiting old favorites or looking for an excuse to try something new.
Start your late-January eating adventures at Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week, which includes more than 350 restaurants and runs from January 27 to February 2, 2025. Here's your chance to indulge on three-course prix fixe lunch and brunch deals from $25 or $35 per person, or special dinner menus from $40, $55 or $65 per person.
District of Columbia: 1725 Le DeSales, 1789 Restaurant & Bar, Agora, Ala, All Purpose Pizzeria, Alta Strada, Ama, Amazonia, Ambar, Amelie, Annabelle, Any Day Now, Arrels, Art DC, Baby Shank Restaurant & Bar, Balos Estiatorio, Bar Charley, Bar Chinois, Bar Japonais, Belga Cafe, Beth's Cafe & Bar, Bindaas, Bistro Cacao, Bistro Du Jour, Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar, Bluejacket, Boqueria, Brasserie Liberté, Bresca, Cafe Berlin, Cafe Milano, Cafe Riggs, Casa Teresa, Ceibo, Central Michel Richard, Chadol Korean BBQ, Chaplin's, Chef Geoff's, Chiko, China Chilcano, Chloe, Circa, City Cruises, Code Red, Cordelia Fishbar, Cork Wine & Market, Cranes, Cuba Libre, Cucina Morini, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, Cynthia Bar & Bistro, Daikaya Izakaya, Daru, Dauphine's, Del Frisco's Double Eagle, Dirty Habit, District Bites, Divino Ristorante Enoteca, dLeña, Dovetail, Duke's Grocery, Easy Company Wine Bar, El Bebe Tacos and Tequila, El Centro, El Presidente, El Secreto de Rosita, El Taller del Xiquet, El Tamarinto, Elcielo Restaurant, Elle, Equinox Restaurant, Estuary, Ethiopic Restaurant, Fig & Olive, Figleaf Bar & Lounge, Filomena Ristorante, Fiola Mare, Fitzgerald's, Flavio Italian Restaurant, Flavorture, Floriana, Fred & Stilla, Gatsby, Georgia Brown's, Gerrard Street Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen, Gravitas, Haikan, Hank's on the Wharf, Hank's Oyster Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, Hen Quarter Prime, I Egg You, Ristorante i Ricchi, Il Canale, Il Piatto, Ilili, Immigrant Food, Imperfecto, Iron Gate, Ivy City Smokehouse, Jackie American Bistro, Jaleo, Jinya Ramen Bar, Karizma/Karma Modern Indian, Kayu, Kaz Sushi Bistro, Kingbird, Kyojin Sushi, L'Ardente, La Bise, La Chaumiere, La Collina, La Grande Boucherie, Laos in Town, Le Chat Noir, Lia's, Lincoln, Little Blackbird, Love Makoto, Lucy Bar, Lulu's Wine Garden, Lyle's, Makan, Makers Union, Maketto, Mallard, Mandu, Mariscos 1133, Mastro's Steakhouse, Matchbox, Mercy Me, Mi Vida, Milk & Honey, Mita, Modena, Morton's The Steakhouse-Downtown DC, MXDC, Namak, New Heights Restaurant, Nina May, No Goodbyes, North Italia, Ocean Prime, Officina, Olio e Più, Opal, Osteria Morini, Ottoman Taverna, Oyamel, Palm Restaurant, Paraíso, Pastis, Pearl Dive, Perry's Restaurant, Petite Cerise, Philippe by Philippe Chow, Pink Tiger, Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, Rania, Rasika, Republic Cantina, Residents Cafe and Bar, Reveler's Hour, Rimtang DC, Ris, River Club, Roofer's Union, Rosedale, Rosemary Bistro Cafe, RPM Italian DC, Sababa, Sequoia, Sette Osteria, Seven Reasons, Sfoglina, Shilling Canning Company, Silver Social, Sonoma Restaurant + Wine Bar, The Sovereign, Spotted Zebra, St. James Modern Caribbean, Stan's Restaurant, STK Restaurant, Street Pizza D.C., Succotash, Supra, Susheria, Sushi Taro, Taberna del Alabardero, Tabla, Tail Up Goat, Takara 14, Talea Ristorante, Tamashaa, Taqueria Xochi, Teddy and the Bully Bar, The Bazaar by José Andrés, The Bombay Club, The Delegate, The Grill, The Grill from Ipanema, The Henri, The Imperial, The Little Grand, The Park at Fourteenth, The Pembroke, The Point, The Royal, The Saga, The Salt Line, The Smith, Tonari, Tony & Joe's Seafood Place, Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood and Crab, Unconventional Diner, Vagabond, Vera Cocina & Bar, Via Sophia, Villa Yara, Wiseguy Pizza, Zaytinya and Zeppelin.
Maryland: Ala, All Set Restaurant & Bar, Caruso's Grocery Pike & Rose, Diablo's Cantina, Era Wine Bar, Hello Betty, J. Hollinger's Waterman's Steakhouse, Joy by Seven Reasons, Matchbox, Milk & Honey, Morton's The Steakhouse, Mussel Bar Bathesda, Osteria Costa at MGM National Harbor, Pennyroyal Station, Spanish Diner, Summer House Santa Monica, Surreal, TAP Sports Bar at MGM National Harbor, The Daily Dish Neighborhood Bistro & Bar, The Dish & Dram, The Grove Bar and Grill, The Melting Pot, The Salt Line, Urbano The Heights and Wine Kitchen on The Creek.
Virginia: 2941 Restaurant, A.Lounge+Bar, Agora, Alta Strada, Ambar, American Prime, B Side, Bastille Brasserie & Bar, Bellissimo Restaurant, Big Buns, Celebration by Rupa Vira, Chart House Restaurant, Chasin's Tails, Cheesetique, Chima Steakhouse, Circa, Corso Italian, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Earl's Kitchen + Bar, El Bebe at the Boro, Epic Smokehouse, Evelyn Rose, Evening Star Cafe, Fava Pot, Hamrock's Restaurant, Heirloom, Hen Quarter, Immigrant Food, Ingle Korean Steakhouse, J. Gilbert' Wood Fired Steaks and Seafood, Joon, Josephine, Jula's on the Potomac, Kelly's Oyster House and Bar, Kirby Club, La Cote d'Or Cafe, Laporta's Restaurant, Local Provisions, Lyon Hall, Makers Union, Matchbox, McCormick & Schmick's, Milk & Honey, Morton's The Steakhouse, Mussel Bar and Grill, Nue Elegantly Vietnamese, Ometeo, Osteria da Nino, Osteria Marzano, PassionFish, Pisco Y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, Rustico, Ruthie's All-Day, Sabores Tapas Bar, Salt, SER Restaurant, Sfoglina, Spice Craft Indian Bistro, The Capital Grille, The Salt Line, The Wine Kitchen, TRIO Grill, Trummer's, Vermilion, Wildfire, Wiseguy Pizza, Wren and Yume Sushi.
Running this year from January 31 to February 9, 2025, Alexandria Restaurant Week offers deals on multi-course meals at more than 90 area eateries throughout the Greater Alexandria neighborhoods of Arlandria, Carlyle, Del Rey, Eisenhower Valley, Old Town Alexandria, and the West End. Prix Fixe menus prices start at $30, $40 or $50 per person. You'll also find specials at fast casual spots like Toastique, Capo Italian Deli, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii and Atlas Brew Works & Andy's Pizza.
Old Town: 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood, 219 Restaurant, A.Lounge+Bar, Ada's on the River, Augie's Mussel House, Barca Pier & Wine Bar, Bastille Brasserie & Bar, Blackwall Hitch, Bollywood Masala, Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, Chadwicks, Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant & Pub, Don Taco, E'terie Bar and Grill, Elaine's, Emmy Squared Pizza, Fontaine, Gin Ramen & Asian Tapas, Hank's Oyster Bar, Hard Times Cafe, Hen Quarter, Hummingbird, Il Porto, Indochen, Josephine Brasserie & Bar, Jula's on the Potomac, Kiln, King & Rye, Kismet Modern Indian, Kisso Asian Bistro, Laporta's Restaurant, Mai Thai Restaurant, Mason Social, Mia's Italian Kitchen, Murphy's Irish Pub, Mystic Bar & Grill, Old House Cosmopolitan Grill, Royal Restaurant, Rustico Restaurant, Sonoma Cellar, Southside 815, T.J. Stone's Grill House & Tap Room, Taverna Cretekou, The Light Horse, The MacMillan Spirit House, The Majestic, The Pita House, The Study, The Warehouse, The Wharf, Theismann's Restaurant & Bar, Thompson Italian, Union Sandwich Co., Union Street Public House, Urbano 116, Vaso's Kitchen, Vaso's Mediterranean Bistro, Vermilion and Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge.
Carlyle and Eisenhower Valley: Aldo's Italian Kitchen, Delia's, Pasara Thai Restaurant, Rus-Uz Alexandria, Sake Japanese Steakhouse Alexandria, Sweet Fire Donna's, Ted's Montana Grill, Tequila & Taco, Trademark -- An American Brasserie and Whiskey & Oyster.
Del Ray and Arlandria: Benny Diforza's Pizza, Cheesetique, Del Ray Cafe, Evening Star Cafe, Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie, Holy Cow, Hops N Shine, Lena's Wood Fired Pizza & Tap, Matt & Tony's, Northside 10, Piece Out, Pork Barrel BBQ, Royal Nepal, RT's Restaurant, Spice Craft Indian Bistro and Zuki Moon.
West End and Greater Alexandria: Beeliner Diner, Cafe Pizzaiolo, City Kitchen, Clyde's at Mark Center, Dishes of India, Mount Vernon Inn, Ramparts Tavern & Grill, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company and Taqueria Picoso.
Also in Northern Virginia (NoVa), The City of Falls Church Restaurant Week runs from January 31 to February 9, 2025, offering 10 days of deals at 43 eateries. Foodies can sample the flavors of Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, Bolivia, Afghanistan and beyond in this diverse, vibrant part of the region roughly 25-minutes from Washington, D.C. or Old Town Alexandria. Participating restaurants will offer everything from set three-course menus to discounts on desserts, among a slew of other freebies.
Falls Church: 10 Pizza, Audacious Aleworks, Baddpizza, Bakeshop, Banh Mi Oi, Borek-G, Brick House Butcher, Cafe Kindred, Cafe Zevian, Chasin' Tails, Clare and Don's, Cuates Grill, Dave's Friggin' Awesome, Dogwood Tavern, Dolan Uyghur, Dominion Wine and Beer, Ellie Bird, Godfrey's Bakery and Cafe, Harvey's, Hot N Juicy Crawfish, Ireland's Four Provinces, La Tingeria, Lantern House Viet Bistro, Luzmila's Bolivian Restaurant, Midori Tea House, Northside Social, Nue Elegantly Vietnamese, Panjshir, Phở Gà Vàng, Plaka Grill, Preservation Biscuit Co., Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, Roll Play, Seoul Prime, Sfizi Cafe, Solace Outpost, Sweet Rice, Taco Rock, TeaDM Plus, Thai Time, The Falls, The Happy Tart and Thompson Italian.
Restaurant Week typically takes place twice a year (a second round occurs each summer), so the venues and menus involved in the winter version may differ. As always, reservations are key here in the DMV, so book your table as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. You might also be able to save on Washington, D.C. area accommodations with these hotel packages honoring the return of the pandas to the Smithsonian National Zoo, all active in January and February.