washington d.c. metro area Wine Bars and wine-friendly restaurants
Wine bars are popping up in the Washington, DC metropolitan area like corks from celebratory Champagne bottles. It was only a few years ago that wine bars were relatively rare and those that billed themselves as wine bars were typically something less than that. All too often they were restaurants with elevated wine lists where the wine was secondary to the food or they were simply designated areas of restaurants where drinks were offered to diners waiting for tables. But not today. The market has responded to what is an increased appreciation and knowledge of wines by consumers, especially among younger consumers, the relatively wine-savvy twenty and thirty-something year olds.
There are a number of interesting wine bars in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. While there may not yet be one on every corner, new wine bars are now appearing on the scene on a fairly regular basis.
Wine bars should offer patrons the ability to sample a variety of wines by the glass, flight or bottle along with a light or full wine-friendly meal in a pleasant, low-decibel environment. I will from time to time review area wine bars and assess the number, quality and prices of wines available by the bottle, glass and taste. Ambience, décor and service, among other considerations, will also be evaluated.
A listing of wine bars and restaurants with extensive wine lists in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia includes the following:
2Amys
3715 Macomb Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016 View Map
202-885-5700
www.2amyspizza.com
Hours: Sunday 12:00 - 10:00 pm
Monday 2:00 - 10:00 pm
Tues - Thursday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Acacia Bistro & Wine Bar
4340 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008 View Map
202-537-1040
www.acaciabistro.com
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 112:00 am - 11:00 pm
Bardeo Wine Bar
3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008 View Map
202-244-6550
www.bardeo.com
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5:00 - 11:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
Bistrot Lepic Wine Bar
1736 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007 View Map
202-333-0111
www.bistrotlepic.com
Hours: Daily 5:30 pm – Midnight.
Cava Mezze
Barracks Row, Capitol Hill
527 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003 View Map
202-543-9090
www.cavamezze.com
Brunch:
Sunday 12:00 to 3:00 pm
Lunch:
Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Dinner:
Monday 5:00 pm- 9:45 pm
Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 pm - 10:45 pm
Friday - Saturday 5:00 pm - 11:45 pm
Saturday 2:30 pm - 11:45 pm
Sunday 3:00 pm - 9:45 pm
See location in Maryland
Cork
1720 14th Street, NW
Washington DC View Map
202-265-2675
www.corkdc.com
Hours: Tuesday - Wednesday 5:00 pm - midnight (kitchen opens at 5:30 pm)
Thursday - Saturday: 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (kitchen opens at 5:30 pm)
Sunday 5:00 pm - midnight (kitchen opens at 5:30 pm)
Closed Monday
Also see their Cork Market and Tasting Room below.
Cork Market and Tasting Room
1805 14th Street, NW
Washington DC View Map
202-265-2674
www.corkdc.com
Hours: Sunday - Monday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Dickson Wine Bar
903 U Street, NW (between 9th - 10th Streets)
Washington, DC 20001 View Map
202-332-1779
Hours: Monday - Thursday 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday - Saturday 6:00 pm - midnight
Dino Restaurant
3435 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008 View Map
202-686-2966
www.dino-dc.com
Hours: Opens at 6:00 pm Monday - Friday, 5:30 pm Saturday & Sunday
Last seating is 9:30 pm Sunday - Thursday, 10:30 pm Friday & Saturday
Mendocino Grille and Wine Bar
2917 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007 View Map
202-333-2912
Washington, DC 20007
www.mendocinodc.com
Hours: Monday - Thursday, Sunday 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Proof
775 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 View Map
202-737-7663
www.proofdc.com
Bar Hours: Sunday 5:00 pm – midnight
Tuesday - Friday (Lunch) 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Monday - Thursday (Dinner) 5:30 pm - 1:00 am
Friday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 2:00 am
Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar
223 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003 View Map
202-544-8088
www.sonomadc.com
Hours: Lunch Monday – Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner Monday - Thursday 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Dinner Friday - Saturday 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Dinner Sunday 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Lounge Monday - Saturday 5:00 pm - close
Lounge Sunday only with advance reservations
Sova Espresso and Wine
1359 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002 View Map
202-397-3080
www.sovadc.com
Hours: Monday – Friday 6:30 am - 9:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar
2121 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037 View Map
202-956-6650
www.urbanadc.com
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 12:00 noon to midnight
Friday – Saturday until 2:00 am
Veritas
2031 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009 View Map
202-265-6270
www.veritasdc.com
Hours: Open daily 5:00 pm - close
Vinoteca
1940 11th Street, NW
Washington. DC 20009 View Map
202-332-9463
www.vinotecadc.com
Hours: Monday – Saturday 5:00 pm to close
Sunday 11:00 am to close
Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe
8519 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, 20910 View Map
301-608-2200
www.adegawinecellars.com
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Al Sospiro Trattoria
18035 Georgia Avenue
Olney, MD 20833 View Map
301-570-3185
www.alsospirotrattoria.com
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Dinner 5 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday: Lunch 11:30 am – 2:00 pm; Dinner 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Thursday: Lunch 11:30 am – 2:00 pm; Dinner 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Friday: Lunch 11:30 am – 2:00 pm; Dinner 5:00 – 10:00 pm
Saturday: Dinner 5:00 – 10:00 pm
Sunday:Dinner 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Bistro Blanc
3800 Ten Oaks Road
Glenelg, MD 21737 View Map
410-489-7907
www.bistroblancmd.com
Hours: Closed Monday
Tuesday – Thursday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and 5:00 -9:30 pm
Friday – Saturday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 10:30 am
Sunday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and 5:00 - 9:30 pm
Cava Restaurant
9713 Traville Gateway Drive
Rockville, MD 20850 View Map
301-309-9090
www.cavamezze.com
Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Dinner: starts at 5 pm everyday
See location in District of Columbia
Finewine.com
20A Grand Corner Avenue
Washingtonian Center (Rio)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 View Map
301-987-5933
www.finewine.com
Hours: Monday – Wednesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Food Wine and Company
7272 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814 View Map
301-652-8008
www.f00dwineandco.com
Grapeseed
4865 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda MD 20814 View Map
301-986-9592
www.grapeseedbistro.com
Hours: Monday – Thursday 5:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 5:00 pm– 11:00 pm
Sunday 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Oakville Grill and Wine Bar
10257 Old Georgetown Road (in the Wildwood Shopping Center)
Bethesda, MD 20814 View Map
301-987-9100
www.oakvillewinebar.com/home.html
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am-3:00 pm and 5 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday 11:30 am-3:00 pm and 5 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday noon – 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sunday 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Tasting Room: Wine Bar and Shop
5330A Western Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 View map
301-664-9494
www.thetastingroomwinebar.com
Hours: Open daily 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
See two locations in Virginia
Swirl
2320 York Road
Timonium, MD 21093 View Map
410-252-7787
www.swirl-wine.net
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Closed Sunday
Wine Harvest Café and Wine Bar
114 Market St. (in the Kentlands)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 View Map
301-869-4008
The Wine Kitchen
50 Carroll Creek Way, Suite 160
Frederick, MD 21701 View Map"
301-663-6968
The Wine Kitchen - Frederick
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Closed Monday
See their other location in Leesburg, Virginia
The Wine Press
Mrs. K’s Toll House
9201 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910 View Map
301-689-3500
www.mrsks.com
Hours: Closed Monday
Tuesday – Saturday (lunch) 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Tuesday – Thursday (dinner) 4:30 – 9:30 pm
Friday – Saturday (dinner) 4:30 – 9:30 pm
Sunday 10:30 am – 3:00 pm and 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Cheesetique Cheese and Wine Bar
2411 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301 View Map
703-706-5300
www.cheesetique.com
Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:00am – 2:30 pm
Closed Monday
Church Street Cellars
111 Church Street, NW
Vienna, VA 22180 View Map
703-255-0550
www.churchstcellars.wordpress.com
Hours: Closed Monday
Tuesday – Saturday noon – 9:00 pm
Sunday noon – 5:00 pm
Evo Bistro
1313 Old Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101 View Map
703-288-4422
www.evobistro.com
Hours: Lunch 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Monday - Friday
Dinner 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm Monday – Saturday
Sunday 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Grand Cru Vineria Café
4401 Wilson Blvd. (courtyard behind Vapiano)
Arlington, VA 22203 View Map
703-243-7900
www.grandcru-wine.com
Hours: Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Northside Social: Coffee and Wine
3211 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201 View Map
703-465-0145
www.northsidesocialarlington.com
Hours: Sunday – Tuesday 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00am - midnight
Thursday - Saturday 7:00am - 2:00am
The Wine Bar opens dailty at 5:00 pm except Sundays
Parallel Wine Bistro
43135 Broadlands Center Plaza, Suite 121
Broadlands, VA 20148 View Map
703-858-0077
www.parallelwinebistro.com
Hours: Monday - Friday 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am - midnight
Sunday 11:o0 am - 10:00 pm
Screwtop Wine Bar
1025 N. Fillmore Street
Clarendon, VA 22201View Map
703-888-0845
www.screwtopwinebar.com
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Tallula Restaurant
2761 Washington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201 View Map
703-778-5051
www.tallularestaurant.com
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 5:30 - 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 5:30 - 11:00 pm
The Tasting Room: Wine Bar and Shop
www.thetastingroomwinebar.com
Two locations in Virginia:
16 E. Washington Street
Middleburg, VA 20117View Map
202-956-6650
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Town Center
1816 Library Street
Reston, VA 20190 View Map
703-435-3533
Hours: Open daily 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Also view information on their location in Maryland
Twisted Vines Bottleshop and Bistro
2803 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204 View Map
571-482-8581
www.twisted-vines.com
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 4:00 - 11:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 4:00 - Midnight
Sunday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Vinifera Wine Bar and Bistro
Located at the Westin Reston Heights
11750 Sunrise Drive
Reston, VA 20191 View Map
703-234-3550
www.viniferabistro.com
Winebar Hours: 11:00 am - midnight
Whole Foods Market - Fairfax (Fair Lakes)
Old Town Village Fairfax
4501 Market Commons Drive
Fairfax, VA 22033 View Map
703-222-2058
wholefoodsmarket-fairfax
Yes, this Whole Foods Market has a 30-seat tasting room and 80 wines on tap.
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
The Wine House
Old Town Village Fairfax
3950 University Drive, St. 212
Fairfax, VA 22307 View Map
703-352-2211
www.winehouseonline.com
Hours: Open 7 days a week
Wine store: 11:00 am - late
Lunch: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Dinner: 5:30 pm - late
The Wine Kitchen
7 South King Street
Leesburg, VA 20175 View Map
703-777-9463
www.thewinekitchen.com
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Closed Monday
See other location in Frederick, Maryland
©Richard Marcis
Updated January 12, 2012
For information about scheduling a wine tasting event for you or your company, club, church group or charitable organization, see Wine Tasting or contact me via email at winetasting@WineWordsWisdom.com.