d.c. metro area Wine Bars and wine-friendly restaurants
Wine bars are popping up in the Washington, DC metropolitan area like corks from 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 individuals the ability to sample a variety of wines by the glass along with a light or full wine-friendly meal. 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
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
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
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
202-333-0111
www.bistrotlepic.com
Hours: Daily 5:30 pm – Midnight.
Cava
Barracks Row, Capitol Hill
527 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
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
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
202-265-2674
www.corkdc.com
Hours: Sunday - Monday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Dino Restaurant
3435 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
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
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
202-737-7663
www.proofdc.com
Hours: Sunday 5:00 pm – 12:00 midnight
Monday – Wednesday 5:30 pm – 1:00 am
Thursday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 2:00 am30 – 2:00AM0 – 2:00
Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar
223 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC
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
Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar
2121 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
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
202-265-6270
www.veritasdc.com
Hours: Open daily 5:00 pm - close
Vinoteca
1940 11th Street, NW
Washington. DC
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
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
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
Baci - Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar
4 North Washington Street
Rockville, MD 20850
301-838-7441
www.baciofrockville.com
Hours: Closed Monday
Tuesday - Thursday Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm; Happy Hour 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm; Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00pm
Friday Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm; Happy Hour 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm; Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00pm
Saturday Lunch Noon - 2:00 pm; Happy Hour 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm; Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday Dinner 4:30 pm - 9:00pm
Bistro Blanc
3800 Ten Oaks Road
Glenelg, MD 21737
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
9713 Traville Gateway Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
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
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
Grapeseed
4865 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda MD 20814
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
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
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
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
301-869-4008
The Wine Press
Mrs. K’s Toll House
9201 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
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
703-706-5300
www.cheesetique.com
Hours:
Lunch: Tuesday – Friday 11 am – 2:30 pm
Saturday 11:00am - 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:00am – 2:30 pm
Dinner: Tuesday - Friday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Church Street Cellars
111 Church Street, NW
Vienna, VA
703-255-0550
www.churchstcellars.wordpress.com
Hours: Closed Monday
Tuesday – Saturday noon – 9:00 pm
Sunday noon – 5:00 pm
The Country Kitchen
7 S. King Street
Leesburg, VA 20175
703-777-9463
www.thewinekitchen.com
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Evo Bistro
1313 Old Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
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
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
Screwtop Wine Bar
1025 N. Fillmore Street
Clarendon, VA
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
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
202-956-6650
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Town Center
1816 Library Street
Reston, VA
703-435-3533
Hours: Open daily 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Also view information on location in Maryland
Twisted Vines Bottleshop and Bistro
2803 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
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
703-234-3550
www.viniferabistro.com
Winebar Hours: 11:00 am - midnight
The Wine House
Old Town Village Fairfax
3950 University Drive, St. 212
Fairfax, VA 22030
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
©Richard Marcis
Updated August 11, 2010
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