The Best Restaurant Openings in Washington, D.C. – June 2026

French Laundry veteran Tim Hollingsworth is debuting a pair of new concepts in Georgetown. Taking design inspiration from the Gilded Age private clubs of New York and London, The Oak Room aspires to be a grand American grill, leaning into steak and seafood, polished tableside presentations, and a world-class wine list. Upstairs at Bernadette’s, there’s a completely different vibe: a candlelit supper club featuring live music, martinis, grower Champagne, and indulgent late-night dining. Cocktails at both concepts are overseen by three-time James Beard Award nominee Julian Cox.

Cluck yeah! Fried chicken sandwiches rule the roost at this new addition to Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. Featuring birds from Pennsylvania farms and locally baked milk bread, sandos include the Birdie’s Classic (Lawry’s spiced thigh, shaved garlic dill pickles, shredded cabbage slaw), Got’ Chu (fried thigh, gochujang glaze, pickled daikon and scallion slaw, kimchi mayo), and Charleston (southern spiced thigh, jalapeño and green tomato chow chow, pimento spread, and cabbage slaw). Other options include a Tendie Tower piled high with crispy tenders, slaws, sauces, pickles, and sidewinder fries; stuffed oysters with miso and smoked cheddar; banana splits; oatmeal cream pies; and snickerdoodle ice cream sandwiches.

Inside the Westin Crystal City, Stillwater & Stone offers gracefully executed American surf and turf. Think pan-seared Norwegian salmon served with herbed ancient grains and charred broccolini; roasted stuffed Jidori chicken breast wrapped in bacon with spinach-artichoke stuffing and roasted fingerling potatoes; steak frites; and grilled jumbo prawns with charred lemon and horseradish. The cocktail program features classics, spirit-forward specialties, and seasonal offerings, alongside local craft beers and curated wine selections.

There's a new signature restaurant at the luxurious Goodstone Inn in the heart of Virginia's Hunt Country. Taking its name from the resident llama, Grayson's showcases the seasonal bounty of the estate's farm-fresh eggs, hand-gathered herbs, crisp greens, and heirloom vegetables, along with products sourced from surrounding farms. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, the menu constantly shifts, but current dinner standouts include pork belly with charred corn crème, garden pickles, and shishito vinaigrette; garden beet salad with Valdeón crème and herbal oil; and baked brie with Goodstone Inn honey, berries, and toast points.

Taking its name from the Japanese word for olive, Penn Quarter’s Oribu draws inspiration from the historic maritime trade routes connecting Asia to the Mediterranean. Chef de Cuisine Joevel Magpantay, an alum of Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, and Jebel Ali Resorts, conjures a seasonally influenced menu featuring fusion-inspired creations such as hamachi crudo enlivened with yuzu kosho and lemon confit, olive wood-smoked burrata, charcoal-grilled salmon with Kalamata olive miso, and claypot prawn risotto accented with lemongrass. The 4,666-square-foot restaurant includes a 43-seat Japanese-inspired bar and a 93-seat dining room.

Chef Michael Schlow's beloved American restaurant, the Riggsby, was a Dupont Circle standout until it shuttered in 2019. Now the James Beard Award winner is reviving the concept inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel, not far from its original location. The glitzy, supper club-vibed space with Art Deco flair includes an 80-seat dining room, 30-seat parlor, 12-seat bar, and 32-seat private dining room.