Your guide to the best restaurants in DC’s after-hours hot spot
A stroll down U Street reveals an eclectic mix of live music venues that celebrate the neighborhood’s jazz legacy, creating the perfect atmosphere to dine with a side of rhythm and blues, dig into beloved DC staples or explore the neighborhood’s up-all-night eateries between sets.
Dance Party Dining
Cafe Saint-Ex
U Street’s musical roots are reflected in some of the neighborhood’s cool cat options like El Rey, a combo taqueria and Mexican beer garden.
The aviation-themed Café Saint-Ex serves up French fare and its basement bar, Gate 54, welcomes throngs of millennials dancing to a live DJ on weekends.
Jojo's is another fan favorite that honors the region's jazz legacy with live music Wednesday through Sunday nights every week.
Hip & Historic
You can’t really say you’ve been to U Street if you haven’t been to Ben’s Chili Bowl. The home of the famous half-smoke is truly a DC original. Opened in 1958, locals and visitors alike have been lining up for the tasty chili dogs for decades. Ben’s Next Door provides a more upscale experience with its restaurant and bar set-up.
Please note that Ben's on U Street is currently closed for renovations. You can still enjoy your half-smoke at the restaurant's pop-up at 1208 U Street NW.
Another quintessential facet of DC's culinary landscape is its thriving Ethiopian food scene; one shining example is Dukem on U. Diners delight in not only the menu but also its live music nights.
The original Busboys and Poets location resides a block north on 14th Street, a spacious coffee shop that also serves as a showcase for local artists and poetry slams. Washingtonians gather here to break bread over a delicious meal and discuss books, arts and culture.
Housed in a flatiron building from 1911, Bonne Vie Cafe & Bistro infuses cozy, Parisian café aesthetic with a communal, Americana feel (and brunch on weekends). Snag a window seat to pick at rich pastries by day, indulge in a bistro-style dinner or slip upstairs to the cocktail bar by night.
Culinary & Cocktail Creativity
Colada Shop, a Cuban cafe-bar hybrid is packed with pastel hues, good vibes and bold bites that bring to life diverse flavors best paired with a bold Cuban coffee by day or a cocktail by night.
At the low-key Doro Soul Food, Michelin-starred chef Elias Taddesse adds an Ethiopian flair to traditional American soul food: fried chicken, a special spin on mac ‘n’ cheese and vegan crispy tenders.
Just beyond 14th Street is Maydan, set in the back alley of a 19th century brick building and marked only by a heavy wooden door. Here, fiery flavors and eclectic decor tell the story of the restaurant team’s travels across the Middle East and North Africa. Diners are greeted by the sizzling of turmeric-spiced whole chicken and chermoula sauce-marinated sardines roasting over the crackling oak-fired hearth.
At chef Ryan Ratino's Michelin-starred Bresca, discover a bright-yet-earthy decor and inventive menu that melds tantalizing flavors. Think pastrami beets served with whipped feta and dill on rye, foie gras made into “PB&J” and sea urchin linguini with truffles and chili.
Paying homage to Trinidadian and wider Caribbean cuisines, the sleek St. James (alongside its street food spot Cane on H Street) serves up colorful courses ranging from Callaloo soup to 12-hour-marinated jerk brisket.
Lulu's Winegarden
If you’re looking for a casual, communal, bottle-driven wine garden (think: beer garden-style service, but with wine), with three lush garden patios, reimagined dinner party fare and a fun and affordable wine list, check out Lulu's Winegarden.
If you’re looking for snacks and creative cocktails at any hour, then head to Service Bar. A rotating list of seasonal cocktails and affordable drinks will keep everyone in your group happy.
For more quality eats and nightlife hustle and bustle, head over to 14th Street.