{"id":9387,"date":"2024-11-12T17:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T22:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=9387"},"modified":"2024-11-13T09:14:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T14:14:15","slug":"spanish-restaurants-in-washington-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2024\/11\/spanish-restaurants-in-washington-dc.html","title":{"rendered":"D.C. Spanish Dining Guide: Spanish Restaurants in Washington, DC for Every Occasion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Like many of you, here at the Dining Traveler, we love to visit Spain, and when we can\u2019t 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Spanish Restaurants in Washington, D.C for Every Occasion<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Bazaar, photo courtesy of Rey Lopez<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n


For when you want to impress<\/em>
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The Bazaar<\/a>
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After delays, legal battles, and even a spat with a U.S. president, Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s was finally able to open The Bazaar<\/a> 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\u2019s now the Waldorf Astoria, the restaurant matches the hotel\u2019s almost-over-the-top opulence with marble, brass, enormous ferns, and Dal\u00ed-esque art, but with a playfulness that\u2019s also found on the plates. The food is a culinary trip down Andr\u00e9s\u2019s memory lane, with nods to his molecular-gastronomy days (try the \u201cmodern & traditional\u201d 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\u2019s even a reinvented Waldorf salad!
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For that old-school authentic vibe<\/em>
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Taberna del Alabardero <\/a>
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Established in Madrid, Taberna del Alabardero <\/a>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 (\u2018alabardero\u2019 refers to the halberd-armed guards that protect the Spanish royal family), as the restaurant\u2019s ornate interior mirrors the original, and\u2014more importantly\u2014in 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 malague\u00f1o, 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\u2019re feeling particularly ambitious, get one of their paella kits).
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For Seafood<\/em>
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Del Mar<\/a>
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Fabio Trabocchi\u2019s team at Del Mar <\/a>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.
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