Your guide to the best restaurants in this resurgent waterfront neighborhood in Washington, DC.
After a decades-long hiatus, baseball returned to DC in 2006, as the Washington Nationals came to town after relocating from Montreal. By 2008, the city had a brand-new ballpark in the form of Nationals Park, which revitalized the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Now, there are numerous notable restaurant and bar options that make for jovial times, whether it’s baseball season or not.
Home Run Dining
When attending a Nationals game, you will find a plethora of food and drink options, including local favorite Ben’s Chili Bowl. Check out our game day dining breakdown to learn more about what you can enjoy inside Nationals Park.
Laid-back dining and drinking options abound by the water, with spots like Dacha (a festive beer garden), Solace (an outpost of a VA brewery with ample TVs) and the Salt Line (Chesapeake seafood).
Agua 301 boasts some of the best Mexican cuisine in the neighborhood, with a modern take on traditional recipes and an extensive list of tequila offerings. Scarlet Oak, named for the District’s official tree, caters to foodies and Nats fans alike with a classic American menu.
Bars and Breweries
Proximity to a baseball park means breweries and sports bars (like tried-and-true Tom's Watch Bar) reign supreme in this neighborhood.
Bluejacket Brewery, from beer director Greg Engert (of Washington’s wildly popular brewery Churchkey), allows beer-lovers to sample experimental brews made on-site. The hopping hot spot features a rotating selection of 20 beers and five cask ales along with an all-American food menu.
Just across from the Centerfield Gate at Nationals Park lies happy hour haven Mission Navy Yard, a massive two-story space with four bars (including one that’s 150 feet long) and a robust rotation of 16 draft beers. The space is perfect for pairing a large group outing with tacos and tequila before heading to the game.
Fans in search of beverages beyond beer will rejoice to learn that the only winery in the District is just down the road. The 17,000-square-foot District Winery, whose tasting room is open for food and drink Wednesdays through Sundays, also hosts fantastic tours of the on-site facilities, which include a flight at the tasting bar.
International Eats
If there’s anyone who knows the DC dining scene, it’s Haidar Karoum, chef-owner of the globally inspired Chloe. Karoum has made a splash in the neighborhood with an international tour de force menu designed for sharing.
Navy Yard now has award-winning, homestyle Puerto Rican cooking thanks to La Famosa, Chef Joancarlo Parkhurst’s venture that pays homage to the owner’s hundreds of hours spent cooking with his grandmother or “Mamita.” The indigenous and African influences on Puerto Rico’s cuisine can be felt through Parkhurst’s dishes; we highly recommend diving in with an El Gordito (ground beef, roast pernil, ham, grilled onions and Swiss cheese on a Mallorca roll) or the Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican-style beef stew with sirloin, sofrito and veggies).
Nearby, the vibrant colors and flavors of India are on full display at RASA, the fast-casual restaurant from first-time restaurateurs Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod. Diners can choose to build their own bowl from an array of tantalizing, locally sourced ingredients, or pick from Rasa’s cleverly named creations – we’re talking Tikka Chance on Me and Aloo Need is Love.