1066 Wisconsin Avenue NW One of Argentina’s most iconic hospitality destinations, Florería Atlántico, has opened in the heart of Georgetown. This opening brings a world-class cocktail experience and rustic, fire-driven Argentine cuisine to Georgetown, continuing the global journey of these celebrated concepts that began in Buenos Aires and later expanded to Barcelona and Bahrain. Founded by legendary bartender Renato “Tato” Giovannoni and hospitality veteran Alex Resnik, the concepts are a tribute to Argentina’s immigrant history and Atlantic crossings that shaped its culture. It’s dual restaurant, Brasero Atlantico, will open at a later date. For more information, click here. Listen to the Founders talk about the opening on Foodie and The Beast here.

1834 Columbia Road NW Executive Chef Matt Conroy, Chef de Cuisine Jason Chavenson, Beverage Director Suzy Critchlow, Advanced Sommelier/Wine Director Chris Ray, and more have opened French concept in DC. Located in Adams Morgan, this new moody and eclectic space offers guests a full cellar with a wide selection of organic, biodynamic, & natural wines as a focal point. Their cocktails all feature a wine based ingredient or ingredient made by a winemaker, plus curated picks of cognacs, armagnacs, & calvados alongside French single malts and gins. The culinary program features plates like Eel Croquettes, Brioche Stuffed Chicken, and in-house made pastas that go beyond your standard bites at typical American wine bars. For more information, click here.

2208 14th Street NW Chef Eric Adjepong announces the opening of DAWA, a new casual carryout and delivery concept operating from Elmina, his fine dining flagship restaurant. Sharing a focus on bold flavors from his Ghanaian roots, DAWA’s menu is a reflection of Elmina’s, but with a more casual vibe and approachable prices. DAWA is now open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, available for carryout and delivery via third-party apps. Adjepong has crafted a menu for DAWA that stays true to his vision of modern Ghanaian cuisine, tailored for a casual, takeout-style setup. Offering a variety of preparations and styles, DAWA aims to appeal to both those familiar with West African flavors and newcomers to Ghanaian cooking. For more information, click here.

400 Morse Street NE A new LA based country western bar, Desert 5 spot, has opened a DC location in the space formerly home to Palette 22 in the Union Market District. This new two-story location features live music stages, a rooftop cactus garden, a DJ booth made from a vintage Chevy truck, and more. Guests can look forward to cocktails that give nods to legendary rockstars and menu highlights such as Nashville Chicken Sliders and more. For more information, click here.

14 Ridge Square NW Chef Michael Mina, the award-winning culinary visionary behind Bourbon Steak, has debuted his newest restaurant, Acqua Bistecca in National Landing. The concept celebrates the convivial spirit of Italian dining with house-made pastas, fresh seafood, chargrilled steaks, and Mina’s signature flair. Guests can expect vibrant crudos, modern takes on Italian classics, and spirited cocktails inspired by Italy’s coastal towns, all set in a space designed to channel the warmth and joy of a dinner party. With Acqua Bistecca, Chef Mina returns to his roots while pushing boundaries forward—melding his seafood beginnings at Aqua, his groundbreaking steak techniques at Bourbon Steak, and a love for Italian conviviality into one unforgettable dining experience. For more information, click here.

1850 K Street NW Nuli, a first-of-its kind health-forward, fast-casual restaurant showcasing African superfoods and locally grown produce founded by Ada Osakwe, has made its United States debut at The Square. Driven by a mission to energize healthier lifestyles through better nutrition, Nuli directly sources fresh farm produce from local growers across the region, combining this with highly nutritious African superfoods to create innovative wraps, stir-fried bowls, salads, juices and smoothies. The thoughtfully curated Nuli menu not only reflects the culinary traditions from various regions across Africa’s 54 countries but also honors the confluence of cultures within the continent, including elements of Mediterranean and Indian culinary traditions. Some menu highlights guests can get excited for include toasted wraps, stir-fried bowls, Moin-Moin, and more. Nuli’s iconic cold-pressed juices round out the menu and feature nutrient-packed African superfoods like hibiscus (‘Zobo’), tigernut, moringa, and tamarind. For more information, visit their Instagram here.

1337 H Street NE Hush Harbor, DC’s only no-phones bar, has officially opened on H Street. From chef and restaurateur Rock Harper, Hush Harbor is both a neighborhood restaurant and bar and a reinvention of how guests can experience a night out. Harper taps into his family’s heritage and years of professional cooking to bring a menu of Southern-inspired dishes. The cocktail menu will keep many drinks from Hill Prince, Harper’s bar that will turn into Hush Harbor. Classics get a remake with the mole old fashioned, with both Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters and Angostura, and an Italian margarita turns red thanks to Cappelletti, a bitter aperitif. Harper hopes to bring people together in an era that feels increasingly more difficult, especially with a glowing device in one’s hand. The bar will lean into analog activities. Photos are encouraged: Polaroid film and disposable cameras are for sale, and guests can bring in their own cameras. There is also a letter writing package (paper, envelopes and stamps) available for purchase, plus a lending library and board games. Future activities will include book clubs, trivia and vinyl nights. Hush Harbor gets its name from the secret gatherings where Africans, held captive in America, would walk into the woods to speak and pray in privacy.How It Works:Upon arrival, the host will put guest phones in a locked pouch. Each guest holds on to their own pouch, and if they need to use the phone, they can get it unlocked and go out front. Hush Harbor has a landline where guests may receive calls.Guests wanting to start a tab with a credit card stored on their phone can set that up at the host stand before valeting phones. For more information, click here.

1301 South Joyce Street, Arlington, VA The team behind El Mercat Bar de Tapas in Rockville, Maryland has brought their vibrant Spanish flavors to Arlington with a brand-new location. Located in West Post at National Landing, the new outpost combines bold culinary technique, an open kitchen format, and an ambitious beverage program to create a high-energy, welcoming dining experience. A signature highlight of the new Arlington location will be tableside service featuring a Jamónero cart—adding an interactive and authentic touch to the experience. Guests can expect the same beloved menu as the Rockville location at launch, with plans to debut a refreshed lunch menu and a reimagined brunch offering about four weeks after opening. For more information, click here.Photo by @sv_images for LeadingDC

1314 U Street NW Washington’s newest sports bar collaboration is more than just wings and beer—it’s a love letter to Upstate New York. Upstate FTW, the latest project from acclaimed local restaurateurs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, has officially launched in collaboration with Sports & Social. Scott, who was raised in Upstate New York, views this collaboration as a way of bringing his hometown flavors to DC. While Buffalo wings will take center stage, they are equally excited to showcase dishes like Beef on Wecks, Garbage Plates, Salt Potatoes, and more. For more information, click here.

1325 5th Street NE Chef Meherwan Irani has brought his James Beard Award–winning Indian street food to DC’s Union Market District. In Asheville, Meherwan and Molly Irani created a totally new genre of Indian restaurant in America, by showcasing everyday Indian culture and its underestimated street food with their downtown chaat house, Chai Pani. Helmed by two of the South’s most influential chefs: Chef Vishwesh Bhatt, leads the kitchen at Chai Pani DC. At Chai Pani DC, guests can expect exclusive menu items, inspired by Vish’s upbringing in Gujarat and decorated tenure at Snackbar, as well as "mindblasting" Chai Pani greatest hits including chaats like Okra Fries, Sev Potato Dahi Puri (SPDP), Bhel Puri, and Kale Pakoras, as well as Meherwan's signature Sloppy Jai, Vada Pav, and homestyle thalis. For more information, click here.Photo from Chai Pani Instagram