Where to take colleagues and clients without losing the evening to a cab ride. Every place here is about 15 minutes' walk or less, sorted closest first.
650 K St NW, Mount Vernon Triangle · about 3 min walk from the convention centre
A big, glossy Italian restaurant across from the convention centre, with tableside beef tartare, bucatini and servers in ivory jackets. Three linked private rooms and a boardroom cover client dinners and large groups.
707 7th St NW, Chinatown, a block from Capital One Arena · about 7 min walk from the convention centre
A large, classic American saloon by the arena, with an oyster bar and several bars. Its private Piedmont Room and semi-private dining rooms are a reliable base for a group before a game.
974 Palmer Alley NW, CityCenterDC · about 8 min walk from the convention centre
Amy Brandwein's Italian osteria and market at CityCenterDC, known for handmade pasta and consistently polished service. A closed wine room and a larger chef's salon handle private dinners.
701 9th St NW, Penn Quarter · about 8 min walk from the convention centre
José Andrés's Michelin Bib Gourmand mezze restaurant, with Greek, Turkish and Lebanese plates and a strong Greek and Lebanese wine list. Big shared tables and a mezzanine make it easy for a group.
425 7th St NW, Penn Quarter, by Capital One Arena · about 12 min walk from the convention centre
A huge family-style Southern Italian restaurant with platters made for sharing, one of the biggest dining rooms in the city. Nine private rooms take anything from a boardroom dinner to a few hundred guests.
633 D St NW, Penn Quarter · about 12 min walk from the convention centre
Ashok Bajaj's modern Indian dining room, open for two decades, with chef Vikram Sunderam's crispy spinach chaat and black cod. A private room and a chef's table suit a client dinner.
200 Massachusetts Ave NW, Capitol Crossing · about 15 min walk from the convention centre
A glamorous Italian restaurant ranked on Washingtonian's 2026 list, with whole branzino, pasta and a much-photographed layered lasagna. The Galleria is a private dining room set apart from the lounge.
RPM Italian: about 3 minutes' walk. Set 1 seats 28, Set 2 35, Set 3 21; all three together 84 seated or 75 standing; Boardroom 12 (own site). Clyde's of Gallery Place: about 7 minutes' walk. Piedmont Room 134 seated (200 standing, private); 7th Street Parlor 80; Circle Dining Room 130; The Cove 40; The Conservatory 30 (semi-private) (own site). Centrolina: about 8 minutes' walk. Wine Room 10 with doors closed (12 open); Chef's Salon up to 30 seated or 40 standing; full buyout up to 100 (own site). Zaytinya: about 8 minutes' walk. Olympus Table 16 (semi-private); Atlantis Table 20; Mezzanine 40 (56 with Olympus); Blue Alcove 40; Blue Side Dining Room 70; full restaurant 220 seated or 300 standing (own site). Carmine's: about 12 minutes' walk. Botticelli Boardroom 18; Bernini Boardroom 22; Puccini 42; Michelangelo 50; Toscanini 54; Davinci 72; Louie Prima 108 (semi-private); Caruso 144; Grand Piazza 250; full buyout 650 seated (own site). Rasika: about 12 minutes' walk. Private dining room up to 16; semi-private chef's table by the kitchen up to 12; groups up to 200 by arrangement (own site).
See the working lunches listed on this page.
During big conferences, book private rooms as soon as your dates are set. In a normal week, 3 to 4 weeks ahead is enough for groups of 10 or more.