🌸 The top restaurants in Virginia

Good morning, DC.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

Northern Virginia Magazine just dropped its annual 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025, and the roster reads like a passport to the world without leaving the DMV, spanning everything from high-end Korean steakhouses and intricate tasting menus to a pizzeria that actually earned its spot on the list. 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church claimed the top spot, with chef Bertrand Chemel keeping the 23-year-old culinary landmark fresh through monthly menu updates that course the planet for ingredients and creative techniques, from buttery kampachi crudo in tomato-tarragon sauce to what the critics call the best rib-eye you'll find anywhere. The top 10 also features Vienna's flame-kissed Greek haven Nostos at number two, while Seoul Prime and Ingle Korean Steakhouse prove that Northern Virginia has become ground zero for elevated Korean barbecue that transcends bulgogi and soybean stew. The list reflects how dramatically NoVA's dining scene has evolved, with former food trucks like Stracci Pizza earning recognition alongside historic institutions like L'Auberge Chez François, which has been serving Alsatian cuisine since François Haeringer first opened in 1954. Price points run the full spectrum from under fifteen dollars to prix fixe-only splurges, but the message is clear: you no longer need to cross the river to find world-class dining.

Regional wineries are rolling out their fall programming, and it turns out sipping wine while staring at leaves is just the beginning of what they're offering this season. Windridge Vineyards in Darnestown is booking fire pit reservations through Sunday for groups up to eight people who want to pair estate-grown wines with Maryland Piedmont foliage views, while Potomac Point Winery in Stafford is launching glamping-adjacent wine tents starting mid-November with mulled wine, charcuterie, and plush blankets for groups up to twelve. For those who need an activity beyond swirling and sipping, Two Twisted Posts in Purcellville is hosting floral arrangement workshops for thirty dollars, while 868 Estate Vineyards in Hillsboro teaches mosaic lamp crafting on November 2 for the oddly specific price of one hundred three dollars. The regional wine scene has evolved well beyond basic tastings, with experiences now ranging from cider festivals at Great Country Farms on November 15 to guided vintage tastings on Crimson Lane Vineyards' covered East Porch through December 8. Reservations run from thirty-five dollars for fire pit access to one hundred fifty for tent rentals, which feels reasonable until you remember you'll probably buy wine too.

DC's restaurant scene is going full spooky season with everything from murder mystery dinners at Jont (five hundred forty-five dollars per person on October 31) to drag bingo at Unconventional Diner (sixty dollars for costumes, tarot readings, and a Halloween buffet). Last Call Bar in Union Market is hosting a Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute with themed cocktails like the "I Wanna Be Dirty" made with pickled-beet ice, while Bar Pilar on 14th Street honors Día de los Muertos with altars, marigolds, and mezcal tastings through October 31. For those who prefer their Halloween with a side of science, the Puttery in Penn Quarter has transformed into Frankenstein's Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab through November 7, where guests mix their own potions in beakers for twenty-two dollars and up.

Chef Keem Hughley opens Realm on October 30, a Seychelles-inspired rooftop bar atop the Hyatt House in Shaw that marks his return after Bronze closed last year following a brief run on H Street. The menu draws from the Francophone Creole archipelago with coconut-based curries, crabcakes paired with mango-tamarind chutney, and tamarind-glazed lamb chops, becoming the first restaurant in the area to serve cuisine from the Indian Ocean island nation. Hughley and investor Evens Charles designed the space to evoke five-star tropical resorts in places like the Maldives and Tulum, complete with firepits and skyline views, aiming to solve what Hughley calls the challenge of creating a sustainable business model that isn't Mediterranean.

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Here’s what’s going on around DC this week:

Sixth & I | Inside the Mind of Malcolm Gladwell | Bestselling author discusses his new book Revenge of the Tipping Point with journalist David Epstein | 7 PM

Union Market | DC Coffee Festival | Sample creations from dozens of the District's top coffee roasters | 10 AM

Ronald Reagan Building | Fall Festival | Midweek fall celebration with pumpkin decorating, face painting, hay bale maze, balloon twisting, and live DJ music | 10 AM

Mount Vernon | Trick-or-Treating | Halloween festivities include candy-collecting in Mount Vernon treat bags, eighteenth-century baking demonstrations, a costume parade | 2 PM

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Tuesday

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9:30 Club | Jeff Tweedy | 6:30 PM

The Atlantis | S.G. Goodman | 6:30 PM

Union Stage | Born Of Osiris | 8 PM

The Anthem | Parcels with The Lemon Twigs | 8 PM

The Atlantis | Chaparelle | 6:30 PM

Blues Alley | Brandon Goldberg Trio | 7 PM

9:30 Club | The Beta Band | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Cam | 7:30 PM

Union Stage | Ezra Furman | 8 PM

Lincoln Theatre | Hannah Bahng | 8 PM

Warner Theatre | Bachman-Turner Overdrive | 8 PM

The Fillmore | Dermot Kennedy with Haffway | 8 PM

The Anthem | Thundercat | 8 PM

The Commanders (3-4) head to Arrowhead Stadium tonight to face the Chiefs (4-3) at 8:15 PM in a primetime matchup that could define their season, with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels questionable after suffering a hamstring injury in last week's 44-22 loss to Dallas. If Daniels can't go, veteran Marcus Mariota gets the start against a Kansas City defense that ranks third in the NFL in passing yards allowed, making Washington 10-point underdogs on the road. The bigger concern beyond the quarterback situation is wide receiver Terry McLaurin's uncertain status, though coach Dan Quinn said both McLaurin and the team's other receiving weapons are trending toward playing. Catch the game on ESPN or ABC, with most DC sports bars showing Monday Night Football, as Washington tries to avoid falling further behind in a competitive NFC East race.

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Till next time,