Washington, DC
For Brunch in Washington, the local food press points to Unconventional Diner, AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill, and Le Diplomate. Picks from Washingtonian and The Infatuation, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Washingtonian and The Infatuation. Updated July 2026.
Unconventional Diner · Shaw
Washingtonian 2025 readers' #1 brunch. Chef David Deshaies's Shaw diner that defines the modern DC brunch.
AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill
Washingtonian 2025 readers' #2 brunch. The bottomless Balkan brunch with outposts on Capitol Hill, Shaw, and in Clarendon.
Le Diplomate · Logan Circle
Washingtonian 2025 readers' #3 brunch. Stephen Starr's Logan Circle French bistro that made 14th Street a weekend destination.
Lapis · Adams Morgan
An Afghan restaurant in Adams Morgan the guide calls a DC brunch rite of passage, known for smoky rosewater cardamom pancakes. Order them alongside the pumpkin bolani with a sunny-side-up egg.
Majestic Apartments · Old Town Alexandria
A historic Alexandria dining room on King Street serving weekend brunch since 1932. A filet mignon benedict anchors the menu, though the house coconut cake is what regulars really come back for.
What’s your #1 Brunch in Washington, DC?
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