L2 Lounge – For the first couple years since inception, L2 maintained a veil of exclusivity that walled it off from the vast majority of DC.  Since bringing in a new and dynamic management team, L2 has opened its doors (somewhat) by forming strategic relationships with some top local entities such as Art Soiree.  Although L2 has done well to maintain its exclusivity and provide a high quality of experience to its members, it has really begun to evolve into more of a landmark cultural venue in DC and created a compelling reason for DC’s socialites and culturalites to come back into Georgetown.

Josephine – Josephine has been going strong for several years now and done a simply incredible job balancing exclusivity with a high quality of customer service.  This balancing act is what has helped Josephine create a loyal following and a consistently high caliber club experience.

Gazuza – Gazuza has been quietly creeping up during the past year.  Located a bit further up on Connecticut than some of the more notable Dupont clubs, Gazuza offers a more laid back, lounge experience that we have found to be more conducive to socializing and just more enjoyable.

Eden’s Lounge – The only newcomer that made the list, Eden blew up relatively quickly due to a combination of shrewd promotions and a well-timed launch of DC’s premier outdoor lounge at the outset of Summer 2010.  It will be interesting to see how the club maintains as we head into the colder months but so far it seems to be sustaining its momentum.

Spot – Spot has been able to execute a similar balancing act as Josephine except on a smaller scale (it is after all a significantly smaller venue).  Spot is one of the newer venues in the Dupont cluster of clubs and differentiates itself through better customer service.

Gazuza – They have a fantastic deck in upper Dupont that offers great drinks, hookah, and a more mature crowd.

Tabaq Bistro – Tabaq has one of the most beautiful views in DC and great Mediterranean tapas menu.

Local 16 – The deck at Local 16 can get pretty packed on warm evenings.  Once a popular destination for DC residents living in the U Street area, Local 16 has grown in popularity and now attracts people from all over the city.

Eighteenth Street Lounge – The patio at Eighteenth Street Lounge has long been recognized as a favorite destination for DC residents and newcomers alike.  It tends to offer a heterogeneous mix of people who all come to enjoy the great music and friendly experience.

Bar Dupont – Bar Dupont has one of our favorite patios that looks out over the Circle and offers great people watching in one of the most lively areas in DC.

Georgetown Waterfront – Nick’s Riverside Grill, Sequoia and Tony & Joe’s collectively offer the most popular outdoor nighttime destination in Washington, DC.  It can definitely get a little congested at times but it is definitely worth the trip.  The crowd here definitely skews a little bit younger here.

The W Hotel - With its launch in 2009, the W instantly jumps to the top of the list.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel – Great location downtown, one of the best restaurants in DC, and a sexy, modern ambiance.

Hilton Washington – I’ve never stayed there but it is one of the landmarks in the DC hotel industry, housing the White House Correspondents Dinner as well as the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner – two of the most significant events that take place in DC each year.   It is also where Hinckley shot Reagan.

The Mayflower -The Mayflower sponsors a ball every Inauguration Day and has hosted many of America’s most famous politicians at one point or another.  It also has hosted some of DC’s most notable sex scandals (i.e. the whole Eliot Spitzer fiasco).

Hotel Madera – Switching away from presidents, sex scandals and assasination attempts, we transition to a smaller, more trendy, boutique option located in the heart of Dupont.

The Willard InterContinental – The Willard is probably where you are going to find foreign dignitaries, celebrities and businessmen looking to grease the wheels on the Hill.  Located two blocks east of the White House in Washington, DC

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown – The Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown is not only a great place to take a date in DC but one of the top-rated hotels in the DC area.  It’s a great high-end option for tourists visiting the capital who want to stay in Georgetown.

DC Noodles – DC Noodles has grown to be my favorite restaurant in the U Street area.  I love everything about the place: the service, cuisine and decor are all just top-notch.  If I lived in the area I would probably eat there at least once per week.

Sushi Taro – They are normally considered the best sushi restaurant in DC.

Rice Restaurant – If I am in the mood for a laid back evening with friends in the U Street area, I’d probably go to DC Noodles.  However if I wanted something a little bit sexier with a more expansive menu I would definitely head over to Rice.

The Regent – Before Rice and DC Noodles opened up, my favorite spot for Asian cuisine in DC was The Regent (or Regent Thai as it is sometimes referred).  The restaurant is a little more centrally located and also has outdoor seating.

The W – The outdoor lounge at the W draws a diverse, upscale crowd and the openness of the space is one of the most conducive to socializing.

The Gibson – Manhattan speakeasy ambiance in the U Street area.

L2 Lounge – A relative newcomer to DC, L2 is also the most exclusive venue on this list. With a membership program and strict door policy, L2 provides a closed, intimate setting for its patrons.

Chi-Cha Lounge – Still going strong after all these years, Chi-Cha is a surefire bet for a good time if you are with a group of friends. The crowd tends to be diverse and more mature than your typical venue in DC, however if it’s a good looking, stylist crowd you are after there are probably better options out there.

Guarapo -The only Northern Virginia venue on this list, Guarapo is a well conceived space that draws some of the more diverse, stylish crowds in NoVa.

Gazuza – A pretty consistent choice in Northern Dupont, Gazuza (another Latin Concepts venue) is more popular in warm months due to its unique deck overlooking Connecticut. Even in Winter though it will draw a more mature, upscale crowd.

Russia House – A staple in upper Dupont, the Russia House continues to be a great place to grab a drink and lounge it out.

Rosa Mexicano – Grab a sombrero or go undercover with a feathered mask to celebrate DC’s first Mexican Masquerade party. The first 200 guests to show up after 5 p.m. in costume will receive a free shot tequila and there will be prizes for creative costumes.

Alero – Celebrate at any of the three locations with margarita specials including $4 Cuervo Margaritas and $6 Cadillac Margaritas.

Cafe Citron – Costume contest with a $100 prize and many drink and food specials including half price appetizers from 4-8 pm.

Lima – I don’t know if the weather will allow patrons to take advantage of the sidewalk lounge but the music and up beat crowd will surely keep things lively.

Maté – I don’t think the sushi qualifies as latin fare but the drinks will certainly be. Arrive early for free Dos Equis beers from 8 to 9, plus $5 sushi rolls. The night continues with a number of drink specials, including $3 Dos Equis and $6 1800 tequila shots, house piñas coladas and raspberry mojitos.

Lauriol Plaza – The go to spot for most looking for Mexican fare will open it’s doors at 11am. There will be several specials, giveaways and live music.

Shadow Room - Thursday is all hip hop.  The other nights, there is more of a blend of Top 40 and Hip Hop.  The good thing about Shadow Room is the quality of venue and crowd.

Club Modern – Modern has been a pretty sustainable venue on M Street in Georgetown despite the fact that it doesn’t appeal to the typical Georgetown crowd.  It has a relatively upscale feel and offers a good mix of Hip Hop and funk.

Midtown Lounge – They have Hip Hop / Top 40 nights on occasion (check their site to be sure) and Midtown Lounge is definitely on the short list of hot DC clubs currently.

The Muse Lounge - The hottest go go dancers in DC make this a good choice for Hip Hop.  If you can’t dance at least you can watch.

Palena – Even though there are certainly a good set of restaurants and bars in Cleveland Park, it still has a very neighborhood feel to it.  Palena has more laid-back packaging but may have the most talented chef in DC and offer one of the best culinary products in our nation’s capitol.

Han Sung Oak – Everyone who enjoys Korean food has heard of Ye Chon but my pick for the top Korean restaurant in DC is Han Sung Oak, again located in Falls Church (are you starting to pick-up a trend here).  The service may not be the best in DC but the kalbi certainly is.

BlackSalt Fish Market and Restaurant – Not only are the Blacks one of the most friendly couples in DC, they also have created one of the best seafood places in the city.  Like Palena, it is buried in the very neighborhoody Palisades area and not easily easily accessible.

Shamshiry – Shamshiry looks like a converted office buried in a Leesburg commercial building and I’m not entirely sure that this isn’t a 100% accurate description of the space.  Despite its odd location and spartan design aesthetic, Shamshiry has kabobs that are mouth watering and worth the trip.

Houng Viet – As Proof’s Mark Kuller told me, to get great Vietnamese food you have to go out of DC.   He couldn’t be more right.  It does make sense that the best Vietnamese food in the DC area would be smack-dab in the middle of Eden Center (DC’s version of Little Saigon).

Bar Pilar – This hipster hang-out is known for it’s fantastic dinner menu, particularly its generous array of small plates.

Sushi-Ko – Widely considered one of the top sushi restaurants in the DC area, Sushi-Ko is also one of the city’s cheapest.  What it lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in cuisine.

Ben’s Chili Bowl – A DC staple, Ben’s Chili Bowl has hosted some of the most recognizable individuals in the area and abroad.  Just make sure you don’t mind smelling like fried food after you eat there.

Pho 75 – The only decoration in the Arlington pho house is a wall full of awards and accolades for the delicious, steaming hot bowls of pho the restaurant serves.  Lines have been known to extend out the door especially on weekend afternoons.

Palena (Cafe Menu) – Palena is one of the top fine dining restaurants in the DC area.  While its restaurant menu is a bit pricey for the budget-conscious individual, its cafe menu certainly qualifies as fiscally responsible.

Pasta Mia – I sometimes find myself wondering whether Pasta Mia has an actual restaurant license or is just some Italian person in a house in Adams Morgan cooking authentically delicious cheap Italian dishes.  Then I realize I don’t care and stuff my face.

Fine Dining:

The Inn at Little Washington – It is a little off the cut but according to the International Herald Tribune, the Inn at Little Washington is one of the top ten restaurants in the world and chef Patrick O’connell is “a rare chef with a sense of near perfect taste, like a musician with perfect pitch.”  It is definitely worth the trek for true food connoisseur.

Komi – Sietsema gives Komi four stars and for good reason.  According to him, Chef Johnny Monis (who is only 29) cooks “at a level that suggests a lifetime of experience.”  The menu blends Greek and Mediterranean dishes with Nouveau American and has generated a great deal of buzz amongst local food bloggers.

Citronelle – Citronelle was voted the #1 restaurant in Washington, DC for 2007 by Washingtonian Magazine.  The brainchild of chef Michel Richard’s, the menu at Citronelle takes a modern approach to traditional French cuisine.  Located in the Latham Hotel, Citronelle has a more mature, modern decor that attracts a bit of an older crowd.

CityZen – Chef Ziebold was one of only ten chefs who received the James Beard ‘Best Chefs in America’ title in 2008 so you know the food (Nouveau American) will be top-rate.  Being housed in the bougie Mandarin Oriental, you know the ambiance and visual aesthetics will be top-rate.  The combination creates one of the best sensory experiences in the city.  According to Sietsema, “No single element might blow you away at CityZen; a mix of excellent hospitality, cooking and ambience definitely will.”

Palena – With an unassuming exterior and location in Cleveland Park, it is sort of funny to think of Palena as one of the top fine dining restaurants in DC but to overlook the establishment would be a mistake.  Area foodies and restaurateurs generally recognize  Former White House chef Frank Ruta as one of the most talented chefs in the area, whose dishes more than compensate for what the establishment lacks in flash. What’s more, Palena has a happy hour menu that is accessible to a wide range of budgets.

Proof – Mark Kuller’s all-star team includes General Manager Michael James and Head Chef Haidar Karoum.  The restaurant is hands-down the best wine bar in DC and also qualifies as one of the best restaurants in DC.