Washington DC’s Top Tapas Hotspots

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Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant is where hoards of Washingtonians gather for the perfect mix of welcoming indoor-outdoor space (with fireplace) plus tasty fare and drinks. The locals delight in the extensive tapas delicacies, many of which are local products such as Virginia-sourced Oyster En Escabeche (with tarragon, Pedro Ximenez Spanish grapes and olive oil) or house-made lamb salumi. Executive Chef John Critchley, who has worked in top restaurants along the eastern seaboard, brings his passion for sustainable seafood and a Mid-Atlantic network of local growers to Barcelona’s Iberian-influenced menu.

Jaleo is helmed by Spanish native José André. The modern space offers Spanish art and a vivid palette of red, yellow and brown hexagons that decorate the walls and ceiling. Quirky humor also abounds on the menu with comments like ‘Hey, you’re here. So start eating…’ Iberian-influenced menu options include Pimentón- and garlic-cured tenderloin from ‘the legendary free range, acorn-fed, black-footed ibérico pigs of Spain’ or the Moorish stew of chickpeas and spinach.

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana serves upscale interpretations of Mexico’s most savory regional dishes. From the urbane taco to creative antojitos (street food) and ceviches, Oyamel is a fiesta of flavors. Try the melted Chihuahua cheese flambéed with tequila and served with fresh hand-made tortillas. There is also a 30-page drink menu with choice cocktail, tequila and wine selections. Philippe Starck chairs and faux-butterflies adorn the lounge space.

Rasika iserves upscale Indian cuisine at its best. Bombay-born Chef Vikram Sunderam combines Indian street food with high quality and local ingredients to create dishes such as patra ni macchi (sea bass, coconut, mint, and cilantro). South Asian-inspired cocktails and desserts also feature brightly on the menu. Muted colors and lights, combined with crystals and wood tones create a cozy luxury that captures the boisterous conversations of the well-heeled, multicultural Washingtonian crowd that fills the restaurant.

Bodega Spanish Tapas & Lounge serves savory Spanish cheese and charcuterie and diverse tapas specialties, such as Catalonian tomato bread with Manchego cheese or sautéed calamari over squid ink rice, as well as six varieties of paella including seafood and Valenciana. The space features cow-hide seating and a stone fireplace, with bold red, black and silver ‘Matador’ colors in the main restaurant. A small back courtyard gives a laid-back Spanish ambiance.

Fiola melds the style of a contemporary Italian trattoria and a rustic Italian villa. The restaurant is a visual feast of stone walls, cream banquettes and glamorous chandeliers. Using fresh ingredients, Chef Trabocchi creates daily specialty dishes such as a Fiola prosciutto-wrapped veal chop with veal sweetbreads. The in-house mixologist creates ingenious cocktails for the drink list, which includes an extensive wine menu that won awards for excellence.

Zaytinya is an award-winning Mediterranean eatery in Washington, D.C. that frequently draws an after-work crowd of upscale urbanites. The modish design of an extremely elevated ceiling, over-sized glass windows and white walls gives the vast space a refreshing air. From generously portioned seared halloumi cheese to flatbreads to grape-leaf dolemades and kebabs, the menu is an innovative mezze of Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines. Select Mediterranean wines from Greece, Turkey and Lebanon highlight the drink list.