4 Best Restaurants in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

If you're looking for a classic Washington, D.C., fine-dining restaurant in an intimate setting, 1789 makes a perfect choice. Named after the year Archbishop John Carroll, the founding father of Georgetown University, purchased the building, 1789 has its share of history paired with its classic dishes such as seared scallops and beef tenderloin. The dining room's crisp white linens and early American paintings are quintessential Georgetown. After dinner, head to its bar, Fitgerald's, for perfectly crafted cocktails. 

In a city full of steak houses catering to business travelers on expense accounts, Bourbon Steak, located at the Four Seasons Hotel, has made a name for itself as one of the best. The menu offers an array of steaks, from curated cuts of Waygu imported from Japan to grass-fed bone-in rib eyes from nearby farms in Maryland and Virginia. Not a steak lover? Bourbon also offers decadent seafood towers and hearty cuts of fish prepared on a wood-fired grill. As the name implies, Bourbon Steak also has an extensive whiskey list. The oenophiles can also rejoice with a comprehensive wine list. 

With 30 years in service, Cafe Milano continues to be a buzzed-about place in many Washington, D.C. political and celebrity circles. Don't be surprised if you bump into a politician or a waiter who later becomes famous (Bradley Cooper waited tables there during his time as a Georgetown University student). Specialties are butter lettuce salad with lemon vinaigrette and crostini, thin-crust pizzas anchored by Naples-controlled San Marzano tomato sauce, and sumptuous pasta dishes in pesto or fresh vegetable sauces. Cafe Milano is particularly popular in the summertime when its front-facing, floor-to-ceiling walls retract to include a chic outdoor dining space.

The harborside setting for Fabio Trabocchi's ode to Italian-style seafood is one of the most sought-after spots in town. Dine alfresco, watch the water taxis float by, or sip an Aperol spritz on a banquette by the open kitchen and raw bar. Although the menu focuses on fresh cuts of seafood, you can also indulge in pasta made in-house, such as the lobster ravioli, a favorite among regulars.