Best & Cool Bars in Bethesda

"5 out of 5 stars Restaurants Seafood Georgetown. This pearl of the Georgetown waterfront comes from Fabio Trabocchi, the same deft chef behind Fiola and Casa Luca. It’s hard to focus on your meal with welcome distractions like docking boats and glistening chandeliers in the opulent dining room (maritime kitsch need not apply)."

"The name means “star of the sea,” and swanky seafood restaurant Fiola Mare lives up to the hype with spectacular views of the Georgetown waterfront. The clientele is indeed star-powered; Michelle and Barack Obama have been spotted here. Of course, reviewers appreciate the outdoor seating and waterfront views, with “nice outdoor seating perfect for social distancing” according to one Google user."

"has had a serious love affair with Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s authentic Italian cuisine for many years. Following his success with Fiola and Casa Luca, Chef Trabocchi recently opened a Mediterranean seafood restaurant, Fiola Mare. Located on the banks of the Potomac in Georgetown, this is the place to be seen these days."

"This Mediterranean-Italian restaurant is a go-to date night spot for DC residents so you should put it on your list as one of the eateries to visit when you’re in the area. Popular dishes include the charred octopus topped with fresh leeks, or you can opt for the lamb chops with almonds and beets. The seasonal taster with seafood, meat, and vegetables that are in season is popular as well, and the small dishes the food is served in make it easy to share."

"Stepping out onto this vine-canopied patio gives the same tingly romantic feeling as seeing The Notebook for the first time. Though the restaurant could probably rest on the laurels of atmosphere alone, its food, wine and cocktail programs are excellent, making it ideal for date-night drinking. Start with something stiff like the bourbon-based Art of Almost before moving on to Iron Gate’s calling card: Greek wine."

"This setting of a swanky intimate dining room, endearing patio and garden, and vibrant carriageway barroom is beyond charming, and the mezze-driven Mediterranean menu is just the start of a well-crafted meal. Chef Anthony Chittum offers nightly multi-course tasting menus and the option of wine pairings from a list of nearly 400 bottles."

"Named for Chef Aaron Silverman's paternal grandmother and his desire to provide a warm, casual and hospitable environment for guests, this venue regularly had long waits when its doors open for dinner seating but now the venue offers same day reservations to cut down on times. The tapas menu is eclectic and features small and family style dishes. With seasonal offerings, a recent menu included such delicious dishes as strawberry pasta, popcorn soup, tandoori-ish chicken, sweet pea primavera, South Carolina brisket and hand-shaped farfalle."

"Restaurants Eclectic Capitol Hill. It’s not a bar, it’s a sit-down restaurant (so sue us). And when Bon Appetit named it the “best new restaurant in America” in 2014, the lines went from long to longest."

"If you don’t mind the inevitable wait, then Rose’s Luxury is the place to be. It won the best new restaurant title by Bon Apetit last year and has gained meteoric popularity. The dishes can’t really be classified into a specific cuisine and varies depending on the season."

"601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., DC 20006 (202) 525-1402. Fiola has decadent Italian-inspired dinners and desserts that make date night especially romantic. Start your dinner with a Colors of the Garden salad which features hazelnuts and winter radish, or the prosciutto-wrapped dates with confit mousse."

"Located in Downtown, Fiola is the first creation of Maria and Fabio Trabocchi’s trifecta of restaurants. Their raw seafood dishes, referred to as ‘Italian sushi,’ and pasta dishes topped with truffles or lobster are must-trys. They also have creative takes on classic dishes like the prosciutto-wrapped veal chop."

"Offering a menu of trattoria classics, Fiola features dishes like Filet Mignon with Piemontese Brasato Sauce, Celery Root Purée and Wild Mushrooms.[Learn more]"

"Cafe Riggs, inside of the Riggs DC hotel, brings the brasseries of Europe into the Nation’s Capitol through its interior style and menu. Tapping into the local farmers and fishermen, the chef is offering up oysters, whole roasted chicken with potatoes and dijon, leeks, brussel sprouts, steak frites and other French bistor staples. There is a children’s menu, along with an extensive cocktail and wine list, so go for lunch, dinner or even a weekend brunch with the whole family."

"The food isn't all that memorable, but Gadsby's scores high on novelty. Named after the Englishman who operated the tavern from 1796 to 1808 (when it was the center of Alexandria’s social life), it works hard to..."

"Hours and offerings are subject to change due to local regulations. Please call for the most up-to-date information. The team behind local favorite Cantina Marina has opened a scaled-down version of the beloved watering hole with the new Cantina Bambina on Transit Pier."

"This outdoor location overlooking the water is a great place to start the evening.They typically close around 10:00 pm or a little after, but the place’s charm lies in customers being able to drink outside in the company of friends — while watching the sunset."

"This covered dock bar at the Wharf is open on the weekends, serving local beers and drinks with beachy names like Bananarama alongside a very short list of snacks. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Cantina Bambina (@cantina_bambina)"

"The National Air and Space Museum in the Mall is so awesome they made an attic for it: the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. It’s three times the size of the DC museum and sprawls through massive hangars near Washington Dulles International Airport. Highlights include the SR-71 Blackbird (the fastest jet in the world), space shuttle Discovery (fresh from the clouds after its 2011 retirement) and the Enola Gay (the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima)."

"The National Children’s Museum is located in downtown Washington, D.C. near the famous National Mall. The museum moved to a brand-new building in late 2019 and expanded the space for many exhibits, and hands-on learning experiences help kids learn sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and math in a fun way."

"The name may be obvious, but this new museum joining the ranks of top kid-friendly museums is the National Children’s Museum. A massive three-level jungle gym is just the start of this newly built facility. In a virtual field trip, kids can become Climate Action Heroes."

"The National Children’s Museum in Washington, DC, is strictly for families of young children. The museum is set up so that the exhibits are just the right height for those little bodies. The museum is all about movement and interaction, learning by doing."

"The upscale lounge and cocktail bar features some masterful cocktails. Harold Black gives you well-crafted cocktails that are some of the most affordable beverages in the city. The speakeasy setting will transport you back to the 1920s."

"Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Radiohead and The Strokes are just some of the bands that have played The Black Cat. Since 1993, the club has been bringing patrons the best in live independent music. The 7,000 square foot main concert room hosts the big acts while the backstage suite offers a more intimate experience with indie, punk and garage rock bands, solo artists, DJs dance nights and independent film screenings."

"The Synetic theater is where you experience the art of expressing modern stories and classical text by the use of impressive physicality. This favorite theater has earned 27 Halen Hayes Awards with a gripping 116 nominations. The Synetic Theater was formerly located in Georgia before moving to the United States in the 1990s, now offering a blend of Georgian and American art of storytelling on stage and makes you become psychologically part of the play."