7 Best Waterfront Restaurants in Washington, D.C.
Last Updated on July 21, 2022 by Boatsetter Team
Washington, D.C. offers boaters unique places to explore, especially along the Potomac River. The district also holds many exciting waterfront restaurants offering all sorts of culinary options, including fine dining to casual outdoor seating and American comfort foods to international cuisine options.
Below are the seven best waterfront restaurants in Washington, D.C.
- Fiola Mare
- Sequoia
- The Grill
- Top of the Gate (at The Watergate Hotel)
- Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
- Mi Vida Restaurante
- Hank’s Oyster Bar
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Fiola Mare
Fiola Mare serves some of the best seafood in Washington, D.C., in an elegant yet simple seaside setting. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the patio is the perfect place to cozy up with an excellent cocktail or some decadent desserts, like the Campfire Sundae!
The Fiola Mare’s menu focuses on authentic Italian coastal cuisine. Menu items change daily, and sometimes seasonally, to ensure only the finest ingredients are used. This restaurant is open for weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Sequoia
Sequoia‘s dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows, offering spectacular views of the Kennedy Center, Roosevelt Island, Key Bridge, the Potomac River, and the Virginia skyline. The restaurant serves some of the finest American cuisines in the D.C. area and offers seating inside and on the terrace. Make sure to look at the restaurant’s classic and contemporary American art displays.
Menus at Sequoia offer appetizers, entree sandwiches, salads, and steaks. Popular menu items include grilled Spanish octopus, Belgian endive citrus salad, Maryland crab cake sandwich, and Angus New York strip.
The Grill
The Grill features dishes, created by Chef Roberto Santibanez, using woodfired cooking! Subtle signs of his Mexican roots and French culinary training are spotted throughout the menu and lend an inspirational touch to traditional American meals.
The Grill’s menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring various appetizers, soups, salads, and entree options. Popular menu items include tuna tartare, pan-roasted scallops, farm-raised Freebird half chicken, and petit filet mignon.
Top of the Gate at The Watergate Hotel
Top of the Gate at The Watergate Hotel is an energetic and sophisticated rooftop lounge with 360-views of the Potomac River, Kennedy Center, the Washington Monument, the D.C. Skyline, and Key and Arlington Bridges.
This restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday, offering a fantastic place to go and enjoy the area’s amazing views, fabulous cocktails with friends, and a great evening out. Top of the Gate offers an exclusive tapas and shared plate menu, featuring lamb chops, handcrafted cheeses, octopus and hummus, and assorted mini pastries.
Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place is nestled on the Potomac River in Georgetown’s Washington Harbor, offering residents and visitors the freshest seafood and steaks since 1983. Dining at this restaurant includes some of the best views in town.
This eatery’s all-day menu has something for everyone to enjoy — seafood, ribs, salads, appetizers, and desserts. Popular menu items include smoked honey salmon salad, broiled Mahi Mahi, chilled crab gazpacho, blackened fish tacos, and house-smoked baby back ribs.
Mi Vida Restaurante
If you are looking for exceptional corn cakes, churros, and tacos, dine at Mi Vida Restaurante! This restaurant offers a ground-floor patio or a balcony overlooking District Pier with fabulous views.
Chef Roberto Santibanez also created the menu for this restaurant, showcasing some of the most authentic Mexican cuisines in the D.C. area. The restaurant has brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, Happy Hour, and dessert menus. Popular menu items include esparragos, enchiladas de mole negro, salmon con calabacitas, ribeye norteno, and carne asada.
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Hank’s Oyster Bar is a favorite in the D.C. area, where many locals go to enjoy lobster rolls, fried clams, and more. Located on The Wharf, Hank’s Oyster Bar has served urban beach food and warm hospitality since 2005. Set on the Potomac River, patrons come to Hank’s Oyster Bay for the sweeping waterfront views, the freshest seafood, and seasonal favorites. Popular menu items include the seafood plateau, Eastern shore crab dip, Hog Island-style BBQ oysters, and Hank’s double-patty cheeseburger.
Exploring the waterways of the Washington, D.C. area provides boaters many opportunities to see historical sites and national monuments and experience the natural side of the city. Visit Boatsetter.com to learn more about our boat rentals, guided tours, and other excursions.
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