PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2026 3246 Prospect Street NW Skillette, a DC-based cooking school and culinary lifestyle house from founder Kelly Singer, is opening its first permanent studio this fall in Georgetown. Inspired by the culinary culture of Paris, the space will serve as Skillette’s flagship and a hub for hands-on classes, gatherings and curated retail. Skillette will introduces a first-of-its-kind retail and culinary concept to the neighborhood, blending education, community and shopping in one space. The 1,525-square-foot space will offer a cooking school, an atelier and gathering room for shared meals and culinary experiences. Designed to feel like a chef’s working home, the space will offer immersive culinary education and programming, including a core technique curriculum, the five-day Mid-Atlantic Culinary Program, seasonal and master classes, chef residencies, kids programs, and custom corporate and private events.

PROJECTED OPENING: Summer 2026 This summer, Itiyah, at an intimate 20-seats, will open in Shaw as one of the city’s only restaurants focused exclusively on Haitian fine dining. Itiyah will pay homage to Haiti's ancestral roots through a multi-course tasting menu driven by the seasons. Chef Sebastien Salomon’s culinary ethos is rooted in early memories of his grandmother’s kitchen, where dishes were passed down through observation and memory rather than written recipes.  Distinct Afro-Taíno influences that unify the Haitian people are woven throughout the multi-course tasting menu. The dining room will offer an intentionally intimate setting that translates the warmth and nostalgia of a traditional Haitian home.

PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2026 Bethesda, MD This fall, Prato, the beloved and critically acclaimed Italian restaurant from Winter Park, Florida, will open its first expansion location at Bethesda Row. Prato has long been recognized as one of Florida’s most acclaimed restaurants throughout its 14-year history. Known for its creative interpretations of Italian traditions and one of the most vibrant dining rooms in the country, the restaurant has built a loyal following in its home region and among visitors from far beyond. Prato celebrates cuisine from Italy's rich culinary landscape, seamlessly blending Italian classics with modern techniques and seasonal ingredients. Owned and operated by Park Lights Hospitality, Prato is a Winter Park staple where the warm space welcomes guests with its contemporary design balanced by rustic elements, including a communal long bar, window paned doors and year-round patio seating, all coming together to offer one the most dynamic dining experiences found anywhere.

PROJECTED OPENING: Spring 2026 5334-9 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD Chef Takeshi Nishikawa will be opening his modern Japanese ice cream and tea shop in Hyattsville this Spring. Snow Crane will reimagine ice cream through the lense of Japanese tradition, drawing from the flavors and techniques of Central Japan. Until the opening, you can find them at various pop-ups in the area! For more information, click here.

PROJECTED OPENING: Spring 2026 4100 Monuments Corner Drive, Fairfax, VA Ruthie’s All-Day will be opening their second location in Fairfax, Virginia this Spring. With a menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Ruthie’s has something for everyone—whether a hearty breakfast biscuit, a signature meat-and-three plate, or a delicious dessert. Committed to creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant’s mission is to bring people together over great food and memories. Ruthie’s All-Day Fairfax  will seat 210 guests and feature an outdoor patio, a coffee bar, a take-out counter, a wood-burning hearth, a smoker, a full bar, and expanded specialty menu offerings (including gluten-free and vegetarian options).

PROJECTED OPENING: Early 2026 1003 Wisconsin Avenue NW Dutch Darlings Stroopwafels & Sweets, from father and daughter duo Hans and Maaike Ravesteijn, will open its first brick-and-mortar shop in early next year in the heart of Georgetown. Dutch Darlings Stroopwafels & Sweets will serve freshly baked, made-to-order stroopwafels, coffee and espresso drinks, and acurated selection of candy and sweets from the Netherlands and other European countries. The small store will be a cozy, family-friendly space where customers can experience a moment of warmth and sweetness during their day. Dutch Darlings aims to blend the nostalgic aroma of stroopwafels with a modern, playful ambiance that is welcoming and memorable. 

PROJECTED OPENING: Spring 2026 1827 Adams Mill Road NW At the end of the year, Jill Tyler and Jon Sybert will close their critically acclaimed restaurant, Tail Up Goat, to make way for Rye Bunny, a new rigorously seasonal and hospitality-forward counter-service restaurant opening next year at the same address. Drawing from folk craft traditions, the 84-seat space will be revitalized by EDIT AT STREETSENSE, featuring a warm, layered design anchored by rag rugs, patchwork tile floors, vintage chairs, and an eclectic art collection, all illuminated by string lights and paper lanterns. Inspired by time spent staging at genre-bending, fine-casual restaurant Birdie's in Austin, TX, Tyler and Sybert are bringing the innovative model to their hometown, setting a new bar for elevated counter-service dining in D.C. Rye Bunny will showcase hyper-seasonal, craveable dishes with an unexpected twist—Sybert’s culinary hallmark. Drawing on relationships with the farmers and purveyors he has worked with over two decades, Sybert’s weekly-changing menu will highlight ingredients from the very food system he has helped shape, working closely with producers to fine-tune what they grow. While Rye Bunny’s counter service model primarily prioritizes walk-ins, two tables per night will be available to reserve through OpenTable.

PROJECTED OPENING: Early 2026 600 Howard Road SE Café Cino, a locally-owned boutique café brewing specialty coffee and tea, will be opening its first brick-and-mortar location at the Bridge District. Owned by husband-and-wife duo Ron Collins and Carolina Meurkens, the 1,100-square-foot space will offer full-scale espresso drinks, pastries and smoothies, with plans to provide additional food and beverage offerings and host community-centered events at the Bridge District. Café Cino is known for its curated pour-over program featuring single-origin beans from local partners like Others Coffee and Southeastern Roastery, as well as direct relationships with family-run farms in Colombia and Brazil.

PROJECTED OPENING: Early 2026 4828 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, MD After coming and going from Bethesda with their mobile trolley, Call Your Mother will be opening a permanent Bethesda location next year in the space formerly home to Hardwood Artisans in Woodmont Triangle. Guests can get excited for their coffee, bagels, sandwiches, and much more.

PROJECTED OPENING: Early 2026 304 Carroll Street NW Phia will be opening early next year on the Takoma Park/Takoma DC border, bringing Appalachian tradition and cooking to DC and Montgomery County. Founded by Brad Feickert, Phia is named after his grandmother and her story serves as the inspiration for the new restaurant. Feickert hopes to make the concept not only about food, but a place where people feel at home.