France is but a hop, skip, and a jump away with Josephine Brasserie and Bar. Housed in a former 1883 firehouse, the converted space channels Belle Époque splendor. A lush wood bar commands the first floor, with a sundrenched fairy-lit patio to your left as you walk in. Upstairs, a mirrored “ballroom” beckons guests, along with a discreet bar at the top of the stairs.
The menu brings a certain je ne sais quoi—all of the flavor, none of the fuss. Start with the steak tartare or escargot. The French onion soup comes highly recommended. The gougères are not to be ignored. Moules frites marinière is perfect for sharing.
Each dish will have you questioning where you are. I swear the Salade Josephine rivals the salade de chêvre chaud I had at a teeny bistro in Reims. And don’t lose sight of the vin! A sip of Crémants transported me back to a summer in the Loire Valley. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right.” A mantra Josephine lives by.
Local Tip: Happy hour here is très jolie! Dress up, gather your friends, order the classic dirty martini service, and let the evening unfold.
Jula’s on the Potomac
How about dinner with a view? Jula’s on the Potomac serves up modern American fare with panoramic views of the Potomac. Atop an office building, the entrance gives a speakeasy feel. Step into an unsuspecting lobby, press ‘4’ on the elevator. The doors open to reveal a luxe blue interior—complete with a raw bar and a Veuve Clicquot lounge.
The menu moves with the seasons. Executive chef Thomas Crenshaw cooked up a menu where sea and land go hand in hand. Try the wood-grilled octopus, the butcher-spiced prime ribeye with a dollop of truffle butter, or indulge in a seafood tower to embrace the nautical spirit.
Speaking of spirits, pore over the beverage menu for a unique twist on the classics. With names like Smoke on the Water and You Had Me at Hell No, it’s hard not to be tempted to partake in a libation or two.
Local Tip: Check out the Cliquot Golden Hour from 3-6 p.m. to pair bubbles with expansive sunset views from the Washington Monument all the way to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
Nasime
Ranked 12th in Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants in 2026, Nasime is an unassuming Japanese restaurant where the flavors do the talking. If you’re lucky enough to land one of the 20 seats in the restaurant, you’re in for a culinary journey that takes you across oceans to the Ginza district of Tokyo, where luxury shopping rules supreme and Michelin restaurants run rampant.
Nasmie holds the same allure for the quality (and artistry) of its seven-course tasting menu. Chef and Owner Yuh Shimomura practices the Japanese concept of syun, or ‘in season,’ when it comes to the menu. Dishes fluctuate daily based on the chef’s whims and what’s freshest on the market. The courses are a play on various techniques and cooking styles—Tsukuri (raw dishes), Yakimono (grilled dishes), Agemono (fried dishes), Nabe (Japanese-style casserole), and more take turns delighting the senses.
