Alright friends, today we are doing something a little different, and it’s been a long time coming.  I talk about where to eat when you travel and what I wear skipping around my town of D.C., but I’ve never blended those two together.  Of the many things I love, food is at the top of my list.  Food is so much more than just nutrients.  Food is an expressive art.  It’s how we celebrate, how we show love, and how we connect with people.  I’ve lived here all my life, and while I may be totally biased to D.C., many of my transplant friends also agree that D.C. is quite the foodie scene.  Below, I’m going to share my top 3 spots for coffee, brunch, and dinner.

Coffee/Light Breakfast

Blue Bottle Coffee – Blue Bottle Coffee is a West Coast chain (that actually has origins from Vienna, Austria) with 3 locations in D.C. (Georgetown, Union Market, and coming soon, The Wharf).  They are famous for their New Orleans Iced Coffee, which is amazing.  Some locations have very light food, but I’d skip it and grab a coffee for your next stop.  Their branding is also perfection!

La Colombe – With 5 locations around D.C, La Colombe is a staple for the locals.  They have lattes and cold brew on tap, and effortlessly make your coffee right in front of you.  I recommend the Black & Tan, which is half latte and half cold brew.  It’s so delicious and unlike any other coffee drink I’ve had.

Bluestone Lane – Bluestone Lane is a new addition to D.C., but it’s quickly become a local favorite.  From the delicious Aussie Iced Latte to the Instagrammable aesthetics, you can’t go wrong.  Bluestone Lane is pictured above.  What a beautiful matcha latte, huh??

Brunch

Ambar – Ambar is a Balkan style restaurant that does a $39 unlimited brunch including drinks!  They also do an unlimited food and drink option for dinner.  I always ask the waiter to put in whatever he thinks we’ll like.  Plus the brunch drinks aren’t just your basic champagne and orange juice.

Le Diplomate – One of the most popular restaurants in D.C. and for good reason.  Authentic french food in a truly Parisian setting.  Reservations are hard to come by, but you can always put your name down and walk around the 14th St. area.  Everything is good.  Seriously.  But my personal favorite, is the Burger Americain.  Yup, the cheese burger.  It’s amazing.

Farmers Fishers Bakers – Located on the beautiful Georgetown Waterfront, FFB is the ultimate indulgence brunch.  It’s a buffet, for $32, filled with everything you could want for brunch – french toast, fried chicken, tacos, meatballs, brûléed grapefruit… and the list goes on and on.  My favorite, and Bryan’s too, is the crab and artichoke dip.  Drinks are not included, but the food and ambience is totally worth it.

Dinner

Curry & Pie – So this recommendation is not like the others.  If you are looking for a casual dinner and are in the Georgetown area (or can use Postmates), Curry & Pie is hands down one of mine and Bryan’s favorite takeout places.  It’s Indian cuisine and pizza.  The best thing on the menu?  Tikka masala pizza.  Our lives were forever changed after we found this place.

Kinship – For a fancy schmancy sit-down dinner, Kinship is hard to beat.  It’s Eric Ziebold’s more casual and affordable restaurant (Eric Ziebold trained under Thomas Keller at The French Laundry).  Metier, his price-fixed meal, but more like the ultimate dining experience, is downstairs.  Pro Tip:  Order the roast chicken.  You need to tell them right when you sit down, as they cook them to order.  It’s the best roast chicken I’ve ever had.

Rose’s Luxury – My last pick is my ultimate, favorite restaurant in D.C.  There is no question that Rose’s Luxury is a must for any D.C. resident and if you have time, you D.C. visitors.  Unfortunately, they do not take reservations unless you have a party of 6 to 8, or if you want to rent their gorgeous rooftop.  You wait in line (or pay someone to wait in line – see here) and get a time to return for dinner.  I suggest going at off times.  They change their menu constantly, but the one item that has stayed on their menu since the beginning – the pork and lychee salad.

I leave you with a link to my Yelp page, where you can read detailed reviews of these restaurants and see more of where I like, and don’t like, to eat.  If you’d like some more delicious spots to hit up, here is my friend Ashlee‘s post with her top 3 restaurants in D.C. for every meal.  We’re friends because we have similar tastes.  Bon Appetit!

-Jacqueline