Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Gaithersburg

"Johnny Monis opened Komi in Dupont Circle in 2003, making the restaurant he owns with his wife and partner, Anne Marler, the oldest on this list. It’s also, arguably, the most influential. In its early years, Komi still carried some of the DNA of the Alexandria, Va., sandwich and pizza shop owned by his Greek-immigrant parents, where Mr. Monis worked growing up."

"This past year Komi was selected as the number one restaurant by Washingtonian Magazine. Having consistently been placed on their annual must-eats list, Komi has proven that it is a juggernaut in the DC food scene to be reckoned with. They serve Mediterranean food with a modern twist."

"Dinner at Komi, which is a set-menu, hours-long affair, is more of a culinary experience than a meal. The many Greek/Mediterranean dishes could include fried octopus with olives and raisins; slow roasted lamb neck with homemade pita; and Greek doughnuts..."

"Chef Todd Gray’s Equinox is fancy, upscale full service restaurant located in downtown Washington D.C., at the corner of Connecticut Ave and I Street NW, about a block from the White House. Todd Gray’s Equinox Restaurant offers a separate Vegan Tasting Menu with a Wine Pairing option. The Vegan Tasting Menu currently offers dishes such as Cider Glazed Heirloom Carrot and Pickled Beet Salad, Toasted Golden Quinoa with Grilled Broccolini and Heirloom Carrot Cake made of ginger coconut coulis, mango sorbet, and crispy carrot tuile."

"Equinox prides itself on its commitment to the organic, sustainable food movement that’s currently sweeping the nature. Using ingredients sourced within 100 miles of the restaurant itself, the menu takes its inspiration from regional gastronomic traditions. The Sunday brunch at Equinox is entirely plant-based, or vegan, so you’re in for a unique culinary experience."

"818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006Phone: 202-331-8118Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Equinox Restaurant (@equinoxdc)"

"Falafel is a staple for plant-based eaters as it’s almost always vegan. In DC, vegans can enjoy the best falafel in town and additional vegan-friendly Israeli street food at Shouk in Union Market and Mount Vernon. Many of the dishes can be served either in a bowl or in a fresh warm pita, including the roasted cauliflower dish and mushroom shawarma."

"Teaism Penn Quarter is a traditional tea house that serves a variety of coffees and teas, along with sandwiches, snacks, cookies, and bento boxes in a bright and sunny ambiance. The menu features starters of three-way beets with goat cheese, beets, and flatbread served with roasted and pureed chickpeas, coriander, kale salad, and fried Brussel’s sprouts. Entrees feature South Indian vegetable curry, okonomiyaki Japanese cabbage pancakes, and black bean cake, alongside soups, sipping broths, fresh salads, a variety of sides and decadent desserts."

"The Calabash Teahouse & Café is a charming café-style eatery that serves tea, coffee, and kombucha on tap alongside a vegan menu of freshly baked pastries and healthy snacks. Set in a bright and sunny spot on 7th Street, Calabash Teahouse & Café boasts a tranquil ambiance in which to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee to start the morning or a welcome pot of tea at the end of the day. Choose from a range of fresh pastries, cakes, and other sweet treats or enjoy a selection of healthy snacks and small plates along with other beverages such as kombucha."

"There’s no better spot in DC for a soul-warming tea than Calabash. In addition to family recipes for medicinal teas and elixirs, this holistic veggie joint also serves an array of Jamaican-inspired vegan dishes including chickpea curry, faux BLT sandwiches, patties, and delicious baked goods such as pies, breads and cookies. The original location is in Shaw but don’t miss the new Brookland location for its beautiful ambience created with furnishings from across the African diaspora."

"Calabash Tea Bar & Cafe is located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and serves tasty, homemade baked vegan treats using handcrafted spices, served with a variety of aromatic teas and tonics, on tap kombucha and the best, fair trade coffee."

"Navy Yard, Arlington, and U Street With three locations and shelf space in local grocery stores (plus an online shop, where you can get pints shipped nationwide), Ice Cream Jubilee has become a staple since it opened its first DC outpost in 2014. The shop stocks unique flavors like Banana Bourbon Caramel, MarionBerry, and Honey Lemon Lavender, but adds in seasonal offerings and specials for local occasions. For example, coinciding with this year’s Presidential Inauguration, Ice Cream Jubilee launched special flavors to honor the president and vice president, including Biden’s favorite flavor, Vanilla Chocolate Chip, available through the end of July."

"If you have the cash to spend, this shop is a near-perfect destination. Each member of its rotating slate of flavors feels innovative, from honey lemon lavender to “everything” bagel. The latter was sold out when we visited — proof that when it comes to ice cream, weird can be good — so we went for sesame halvah instead and left quite pleased."

"Owner Victoria Lai believes that eating ice cream is meant to be a happy time and one shared by those you love. That is why she created these adorable shops to indulge in your favorite sweets. Ice Cream Jubilee is known for its seasonal flavors, international flair, and special events."

"Tucked away in a 38-acre wooded area of footpaths, streams formed by the nearby Potomac and lush greenery, is this little oasis perfect for some outdoor communing with friends or family. There’s a lot to take in here with the surrounding log cabins, the winding Potomac River Trail, and there’s even a blacksmith shop with a working forge. The park provides interpretive environmental education programs for all ages and for a wide variety of audiences including small groups."

"Military RoadLength: 1.4 milesDifficulty: Moderate to difficultBikeable: NoTrail Map:ViewDescription: To the east of Military road, this trail features a forested area and rocky stream that runs down to the Potomac River and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. There are several areas where you will have to cross the stream. On the west side of Military road, you will find hilly, wooded trails around Gulf Branch Nature Center."

"Nature Centers provide kids with lots of hands-on opportunities to explore our environment. From Rock Creek Park to Montgomery County, MD, to Arlington, VA, year-round naturalist guided programs will give you insight into the natural habitat of the Washington, D.C."

"Eat Lunch at Eastern Market or Barracks Row Walk east to Eastern Market, which is especially lively on weekends as part of the street is shut down for vendors to sell crafts and food. Enjoy some fast casual food or walk a few blocks farther to 8th Street SE (Barracks Row) where you will find a wide range of great restaurants. After lunch, take the metro to the Smithsonian Metro Station to visit the National Mall."

"The most popular are the Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and American History Museum. Choose the museum that interests you most and spend a few hours exploring. At the National Air and Space Museum, see the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the "Spirit of St. Louis," and the Apollo 11 command module. At the National Museum of Natural History, take a look at the Hope Diamond and other gems and minerals, examine the massive fossil collection, visit the 23,000-square-foot Ocean Hall, see a life-size replica of a North Atlantic whale and a 1,800-gallon-tank display of coral reef."

"The most visited museum of its kind in the world, the Museum of Natural History features a collection of exhibits and galleries that explore our natural surroundings. Learn about dinosaurs, discover the story of man, the importance of the world’s oceans and view the famous Hope Diamond through the museum’s interactive displays."

"Address: 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20560Phone: (202) 633-1000Website. This top-pick among Smithsonian museums has remained a crowd favorite."

"The most popular museum on the mall is packed with exciting exhibits that trace the development of flight from the first Wright Brothers plane to SpaceShipOne, the first private piloted vehicle to reach space. Lots of exhibits are interactive (some even encourage climbing aboard), while sky shows at the Albert Einstein Planetarium and a 5-story high IMAX movie theater add to the attractions. Special family activities are offered regularly, including the chance to look through the museum’s giant telescopes; for young visitors, children’s storytimes and the film, One World One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, shown free in the Einstein Planetarium on selected days."

"The National Air and Space Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, including Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the Wright brothers’ original 1903 flyer, astronaut space suits and a lunar rock sample. In fact, the collection has grown so large that there's a dedicated annex, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Va."

"The National Air and Space Museum contains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts. The museum was first founded in 1876 and welcomes about eight million people annually. The museum features 23 main exhibition galleries and sits in an ideal location with the Capitol Building just a few blocks away."