Romantic Italian Restaurants in DC

In Italian, the word osteria means a small often informal restaurant where the owner hosts guests rather than serving customers. Osteria Morini maintains this friendly atmosphere in its DC restaurant, which is located in the Navy Yards. The cuisine of choice here hails from Emilia-Romagna, the so-called “bread basket” of Italy, from which the world has received some of its favorite Italian staple flavors such as balsamic vinegar and prosciutto. In keeping with its osteria spirit, Osteria Morini has an open kitchen, meaning guests can enjoy watching their dishes come to life even before the meal begins. The restaurant has received high ratings from publications like The Washington Post and Washingtonian Magazine.

301 Water Street Southeast, Suite 109, Washington, DC 20003, Phone: 202-484-0660

Red Hen is a youthful Italian-American restaurant in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, DC. Unlike other venues, which tout their replication and enhancement of traditional Italian cuisine, Red Hen takes bits of Italy and applies them to a menu of American cuisine. This means using a wide range of ingredients not necessarily part of the classic Italian repertoire, which results in interesting dishes with unique flavor compositions. Red Hen is a project started by three friends, a fact reflected in its gregarious atmosphere that welcomes both casual diners and families. The restaurant offers a dinner service seven days per week.

1822 First Street NW DC, 20001, Phone: 202-525-3021

Like many Italian eateries in the nation’s capital, Masseria is the product of a chef’s childhood Italian influences. Chef Nicholas Stefanelli has family ties to the Puglia region, and he takes the best from this regional cuisine and transplants it in Masseria’s interesting Union Market location. Although this restaurant is certainly a location for fine dining, having earned a Michelin star in 2016, it nonetheless maintains an air of laidback unpretentiousness in its eating space. Here, guests do not dine a la carte but rather enjoy one of the chef’s impressive tasting menus, which range from four to six courses and show off the team’s skills across a range of textures and flavors.

1340 4th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, Phone: 202-608-1330

Alta Strada is a Washington, DC project created by the City Vista development company, which has similar sister restaurants in locations throughout the country. A personal undertaking of Michael Schlow, Alta Strada has a menu that skips the meaty entrees and gives patrons what they expect from an Italian restaurant: delicious pastas and oven-fired pizzas. A selection of salads and cheese plates gives the dinner menu its fullness, but Alta Strada serves much more than just dinner. The venue has separate services for lunch, brunch, happy hour, and even a weekend late-night menu for those looking for a midnight snack late on a Saturday.

465 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202-629-4662

JoAnna Filomena, a New York City transplant who found that DC lacked Italian restaurants with an atmosphere for relaxing and slowly enjoying a good meal and good company, created Filomena Ristorante to fill that gap. Her mother’s cooking served as the inspiration for the restaurant, which was meant to provide the experience of sitting down to dinner at a close friend or relative’s house. Filomena embodies this aura in the many homey touches and antiques spread throughout its main dining room, as well as in the extensive decorating the venue does for every major holiday. The restaurant serves traditional Italian cuisine, as the owner’s family hails from Italy’s Abruzzi region.

1063 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, Phone: 202-338-8800

Fiola , which is situated squarely between the Capitol Building and the White House, is a prime destination for Washington, DC’s upper echelon of diplomats and politicians. The proprietors of Fiola embrace a commitment to quality in every aspect of the restaurant. The menu is updated daily, with a constantly evolving assortment of finely crafted Italian dishes. Fiola has dining opportunities throughout the day, with happy hour, afternoon patio, Sunday family table, and dessert and cheese menus complementing its standard lunch and dinner services. The venue’s interior design marries glamorous and rustic styles, with hints of sparkle standing next to exposed brick walls.

601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004, Phone: 202-628-2888

Another independent Italian café in DC, Floriana has a lot to be proud of. This restaurant uses only locally sourced in-season ingredients, and its philosophy is fun and passion. Located in the heart of downtown DC in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, Floriana aims to provide an unforgettable experience for its patrons and was named one of Washington, DC’s most romantic restaurants in 2015. The cuisine here takes adventurous risks, creating new, unique dishes based on classic Italian favorites. Touches like ultra-fresh ingredients and homemade pasta give the menu an extra level of quality and sophistication. In addition to its lunch and dinner menus, Floriana offers a brunch menu with treats for a lazy weekend morning.

1602 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-667-5937