1100 15th Street NW Isla, a luxe ode to island ingredients and flavors with a global vibe, and Goodlove, a stylish cocktail lounge rooted in good music and chic design, have opened in DC’s Midtown Center. Both Isla and Goodlove bring a distinct culinary and aesthetic point of view to downtown, with an emphasis on live-fire cooking, exquisite seasonal, soulful fare, and lush, transportive design at Isla, and perfectly executed cocktails and sexy, music-driven vibes at Goodlove. The 8,000-square-foot Isla, the led by Executive Chef Lonie Murdock, celebrates the heritage and passionate globe-trotting shared by Murdock and her partner Darren Hinds, a veteran Toronto nightlife impresario and restaurateur. Hinds, meanwhile, takes the lead at 2,200-square-foot Goodlove – which, although just steps from Isla, is a destination all its own, filled with intimacy, hints of glamour, and most important, a cerebral love for music, from rock to house music to R&B, with DJs spinning nightly. Murdock’s menu reflects heritage and modernity, tradition and experimentation. Goodlove is a complement to Isla’s elegance, a place for lovers of music and style. Bartenders here will specialize in classic cocktails – and their Goodlove remixes.

899 O Street NW Realm Rooftop Bar & Lounge, a sophisticated new rooftop in Shaw, has opened. Offering panoramic views of the nation’s capital, handcrafted cocktails, and a superb dining experience, Realm is poised to become a premier rooftop venue in DC. The newly reimagined outdoor rooftop features chic, modern seating, ambient lighting, and an energetic yet relaxed vibe. The indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant offers sweeping birds-eye views of DC and the area below. Realm has a comfortable range of indoor seating options, and an expansive patio featuring fire pits and modern lounge seating. Executive Chef Keem Hughley serves up a chef-driven perspective with a bold menu that merges French culinary technique with the vibrant, sun-soaked flavors of the Indian Ocean—particularly those rooted in Seychellois Creole cuisine. For more information, click here.

3126 12th Street NE Ruairi Deburca, Jacob Schoonover, and Ashley Lee have teamed up to open The Harp Cask and Kiln, a modern Irish pub, in Brookland. Located in the former home of Brookland’s Finest, The Harp builds on the legacy of the popular neighborhood gathering place while introducing a new concept focused on quality food and well-made drinks with Irish influences, and welcoming hospitality. Deburca oversees operations, with Schoonover leading the beverage program and Lee heading the kitchen. The menu blends traditional Irish comfort with modern influences, featuring dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie Croquettes, Fish & Chips, and Ox Tongue Pie. The bar program highlights Guinness on tap, an extensive Irish whiskey list, and a cocktail menu that combines classic technique with house-made ingredients. Many of the drinks feature names in Irish, more commonly known as Gaelic, with English translations in parentheses

2469 18th Street NW Lucky Pup Yoga, a unique new yoga experience allowing yogis to flow while encircled by incredibly cute 8-week-old puppies, is now open in Adams Morgan. Lucky Pup was co-founded by DC native Sophia Bonde and veteran-turned-arist Tyler Shea to give yogis a place for serious yoga with a playful twist. Lucky Pup offers puppy yoga on Saturdays and Sundays, with additional standard yoga and pilates classes scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Puppy yoga classes will be priced at $60 a person, which includes a yoga mat; regular pilates and yoga classes will be $25. Classes are open to all skill levels. To sign up for a class, click here.Photo by Nick Faddoul

1825 Discovery Street, Reston, VA Masti Indian Restaurant has officially opened its doors, right in the heart of Reston Town Center. Masti is located within the Hyatt Hotel, offering views of the center’s covered plaza and seasonal ice skating rink.  The name "Masti", a Hindi word meaning “fun,” reflects the lively spirit and vibrant culinary experience the restaurant aims to deliver. This marks the second venture for restaurateur and Chef Ram Thapa, who also owns and operates two popular locations of Indochen in Alexandria. Leading the kitchen is Co-owner and Chef Ram Thepa, who also oversees the culinary programs for IndoChen and IndoChen Old Town. The menu at Masti offers a dynamic blend of beloved Indian classics and inventive new dishes. Guests can enjoy a variety of chaats, curries, and tandoor specialties, alongside bold reinterpretations such as Chicken Sekuwa, chef’s take on a Nepalese staple, prepared with tender boneless chicken, Nepali spices, mustard infused oil, all cooked on a skewer and Jackfruit-Paneer Kofta in a creamy cashew sauce. For more information, click here.Photo by Lyza Pyvovarova

8551 Chevy Chase Lake Drive, Chevy Chase, MD Elena James, the all-day neighborhood restaurant and café that opened in Chevy Chase in late 2024, has announced its newest partnership with Chef Sergeii Mainyi. Chef Mainyi has brought a new Japanese and sushi concept, Ro Sushi Co, to the café space within Elena James. Ro Sushi Co, features a carefully curated menu of signature sushi rolls, sushi bowls, bento boxes, and beloved Japanese favorites. Leading the kitchen at Ro Sushi Co is Chef/Co-Owner Sergeii Mainyi, who has honed his craft in Japanese cuisine and sushi for over 15 years in the DC area. Known for his classical training and dedication to authentic technique, Chef Mainyi brings both expertise in pristine ingredient sourcing and creativity to this new concept

1215 Wills Street, Baltimore, MD The team behind Woodberry Kitchen has opened a new restaurant, La Jetèe, within the Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point Hotel. La Jetèe takes the same approach as Woodberry Kitchen, working directly with Mid-Atlantic farmers and fisherman and pairs it with the culinary flavors and traditions of Provence. In addition to the French food, La Jetèe also offers cocktails and plenty Pastis, all to be enjoyed with a view of the waterfront views of the harbor. For more information, visit their Instagram @lajeteebaltimore.

1800 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA Sunday Morning Bakehouse has opened its first Northern Virginia location in McLean's Heming development. This family and female-owned elevated bakery occupies 3,100 square-feet of ground space. Guests can get excited to enjoy Handmade Croissants, Seasonal Breads and Pastries, Special Occasion Cakes, and much more. For more information, visit their website here.

320 Florida Avenue NE Eunoia, NoMA’s newest dining destination rooted in cultural convergence, has officially opened for dinner.The kitchen, led by Mexico City’s Chef Josa Maldonado, Maldonado reimagines familar dishes—moles, lasagna and quesadillas—layered with Japanese flavors, fermented accents, and locally sourced produce. Inspired by the Mid-Atlantic’s peak seasonal ingredients, the menu is divided into three rotating sections: The Garden (May-September), The Forest (October-February), and The Sea (February-May). Eunoia’s debut begins with the close of the Garden season, highlighting farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and in-house fermentation. Eunoia’s vegetable-forward ethos is on display with organic produce and heirloom grains sourced from regenerative farms across Maryland and Pennsylvania. The bar program, led by Christopher Carpousis (formerly of Susheria), mirrors the kitchen’s global vision. Eunoia’s main dining floor seats 56 guests, with the second-floor mezzanine offering an additional 24 seats. The mezzanine level—home to daily Toolbox Pilates Art Studio classes on reformers—transforms into a private dining and event space for up to 40. For more information, click here.Photo by Rey Lopez

2911 District Avenue, Fairfax, VA NAJA Mediterranean has opened its doors in the space formerly home to Kirby Club located in the Mosaic District. Named after owner Tariq Alaeddin’s grandmother, NAJA honors the Lebanese dishes he grew up watching her cook, while also embracing the food he discovered growing up travelling between Lebanon and America. With Lebanese traditions at its heart and a menu that stretches across the Mediterranean, NAJA reflects Alaeddin’s story of family, heritage, and the food that shaped him. NAJA’s opening lunch and dinner menus honor Lebanese culinary traditions while exploring broader Mediterranean and American cuisines. The same blend of traditional Lebanese and broader Mediterranean flavors that defines NAJA’s food menu, shaped by Alaeddin’s upbringing in Lebanon and the U.S., also inspires the restaurant’s beverage program. The 2,600 square-foot space features a 20 seat bar and a 60 seat dining room, as well as a patio with space for up to 44 guests. For more information, click here.