Like many of you, here at the Dining Traveler, we love to visit Spain, and when we can’t go to the source, we love to eat Spanish cuisine in our local city. While Spanish fare is highlighted by popular dishes like patatas bravas, gazpacho, and pan con tomate, there is much more to Spanish fare, and the type of experience can depend very much on the venue’s vibe. To help you find just the right Spanish restaurants in Washington, D.C., for the type of experience you are looking for, we created a Spanish dining guide with all the details and information you need!
8 Spanish Restaurants in Washington, D.C for Every Occasion
For when you want to impress
The Bazaar
After delays, legal battles, and even a spat with a U.S. president, José Andrés was finally able to open The Bazaar in the historic Post Office Building DC in 2023. It instantly became one of the top spots for the socialites, and reservations can still be hard to get, so we knew we had to include it in our D.C. Spanish dining guide. Spread out over two floors of what’s now the Waldorf Astoria, the restaurant matches the hotel’s almost-over-the-top opulence with marble, brass, enormous ferns, and Dalí-esque art, but with a playfulness that’s also found on the plates. The food is a culinary trip down Andrés’s memory lane, with nods to his molecular-gastronomy days (try the “modern & traditional” olives for a surprise), Spanish roots (stuffed piquillo peppers with sherry reduction), and his past few decades in the U.S. (oyster po-boy). There’s even a reinvented Waldorf salad!
For that old-school authentic vibe
Taberna del Alabardero
Established in Madrid, Taberna del Alabardero opened in D.C. in 1989 and has been going strong ever since. As one of the oldest Spanish restaurants in Washington, D.C., it holds a special spot in our dining guide. Its Spanish origins are evident beyond the name (‘alabardero’ refers to the halberd-armed guards that protect the Spanish royal family), as the restaurant’s ornate interior mirrors the original, and—more importantly—in the food. Basque native Josu Zubikarai helms the kitchen, which turns out authentic Spanish dishes as well as modern takes that take advantage of the quality ingredients the Mid-Atlantic offers. Familiar tapas are available during lunch and dinner like crispy eggplant drizzled with honey and an egg and onion Spanish tortilla, but look for the dishes you may not find elsewhere in D.C., such as ajoblanco malagueño, an almond-garlic soup served cold. If you want to bring some of these flavors home, head next door to Alabardero Tienda, which stocks many of the kitchen’s ingredients; if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, get one of their paella kits).
For Seafood
Del Mar
Fabio Trabocchi’s team at Del Mar serves up sumptuous seafood and other specialties from the Spanish islands in a luxurious setting. To compete with the great views the Wharf in D.C. offers, designers and craftspeople from Spain were brought over to create the idyllic dining room. The food is no less of a feast for the eyes and palate. While the raw bar will tempt, go for the dishes that showcase more of the talents in the kitchen, such as the smoked leeks with a charcoal vinaigrette or one of the several paella preparations that are made to order. Del Mar is a popular Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., so be sure to make a reservation; note any special occasion, and the exceptional waitstaff will make sure the experience is extra special.
For home cooking recognized by the Michelin Guide
Casa Teresa
D.C.’s downtown restaurant scene has suffered since most office workers started logging on from home most days. As a result, there have been few exciting newcomers in the past few years, but Casa Teresa is a notable exception and one we knew we had to include in our D.C. Spanish dining guide. Teresa was chef-owner Rubén García’s abuela, and his cooking pays homage to Spanish traditional home cooking: simple dishes that let the quality of the ingredients shine, with many smaller plates meant to be passed around and several options that are served family style. Don’t let the convivial atmosphere and homey dishes fool you, though; chef Garcia takes his food very seriously, perhaps evidenced most in the pa amb tomàquet (‘pan con tomato in Catalan), which comes with written instructions on how to properly prepare the starter of Crystal bread with tomato and olive oil. Whatever happens, be sure to end your meal with the basque cheesecake. Made with goat cheese and served with a puddle of walnut praline, it is absolutely heavenly.
For a unique fusion concept
Cranes
The only sake lounge on this list (and perhaps the only Spanish kaiseki in the country), Cranes fuses modern Catalan cooking with Japanese ingredients and techniques. If you’re looking for a Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., with a unique edge, Cranes is it. Chef Pepe Moncayo conceived of this concept following several turns in Spain’s highest-end restaurants and a nearly decade-long stint in Singapore. Settling in Washington D.C. in 2019, he brought kaiseki to the city’s restaurant scene. Kaiseki refers to a Japanese culinary philosophy that is hyper-local and seasonal, in which the chef presents diners with a meticulously crafted tasting menu. At Cranes, this means one day you may find oysters with espelette (pepper from Basque country), on another paella croquetas. Some of the best fusion dishes include bok choy with Manchego cheese and patatas bravas with yuzu ketchup. Desserts, with ingredients like cherry chocolate sorbet and pink peppercorn meringue are also sublime.
For the most fun
Jaleo
The José Andrés’ stalwart in Penn Quarter recently celebrated its 30th birthday. However, it’s still as popular as ever with locals and tourists alike – and thus had to be included in D.C.’s Spanish dining guide! The interior has seen several refreshes over the years, while the menu has remained true to its vision of authentic Spanish food to be shared with friends and enjoyed with good drinks and conversation. The extensive tapas menu has something for everyone. We love the mushrooms served over potato puree, the garbanzo salad with sherry dressing, and the crunchy, savory cones filled with tomato marmalade and goat cheese, but if you’re in the mood for paella, Jaleo offers several varieties that are brought to the table in the traditional pans (which serve 4-6 people easily ) tableside, too.
For that neighborhood bar feel
Atxondo
If you’re looking for a neighborhood Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., check out Atxondo. The lively restaurant scene on D.C.’s 14th St NW keeps expanding, and Atxondo may be the northernmost establishment (for the moment). This unassuming place serves up northern Spanish food that is anything but. Most dishes on the large menu are tapas-style, so you can sample a lot without breaking the bank. There are perennials like grilled scallions with romesco sauce (criminally underrated in the U.S.). However, don’t overlook seasonal offerings such as golden beets with goat cheese and crispy quinoa or butternut squash soup. The drinks list matches (maybe exceeds) the food menu in length and includes sherry, vermuts, and Spanish beers in addition to wines and cocktails, so take your time and enjoy.
For swanky food in swanky digs
The Saga
Seven Reasons Group built its reputation in D.C.’s dining scene on Latin-American food, but at The Saga, Chef Enrique Limardo goes back to his Spanish roots, albeit with a Latin-American twist, which is why we had to add it to this dining guide. Look for these twists in the fine print of the menu—pickled pineapple, fried green plantains, and guava are there between the patatas bravas and aceitunas marinadas. A chef’s tasting menu and various dishes that are prepared tableside allow guests to upgrade their dinner experience, but if you can’t wait that long, The Saga opens for breakfast and offers different menus throughout the day.
