An urban county in Virginia, Arlington features both beauties of the big city and rural environments. The best time to go here is in April during the Cherry Blossom Festival, which is a must-experience season for a lot of tourists. If you want to avoid the crowd and the high hotel rates, better visit between November and March. There are also numerous attractions here that you can see at any time, including the Arlington National Cemetery, Pentagon and Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, Arlington Historical Museum, and more. If food trips are the reason you come to this lovely county, then read on, and discover the best restaurants in Arlington, and have the best restaurant hopping experience ever.
1. 1. Jaleo
Featuring casual and lovely atmosphere, Jaleo Crystal City is one of the restaurants under the supervision of the famous Spanish chef, Jose Andres. The menu of the restaurant is composed of Spanish cuisines in form of traditional dishes and big ones like paellas. You’ll also find in the menu a selection of drinks such as sangria, Spanish wines, and more. Just a trivia, Chef Andres, is one of the pioneers that brought tapas to the Americas and was included in Times Top 100 Most Influential People in the World in their 2012 issue. So, you can only expect good food to come from this restaurant. Also, make sure to never leave Arlington without trying their tapas.
Jaleo
Address: 2250 Crystal Dr A, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
Opening Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11:00am–10:00pm/ Fri-Sat: 11:00am–11:00pm
Website: Jaleo
2. 2. Green Pig Bistro
If you’re looking for a restaurant in Arlington that has a taste from around the world, then Green Pig Bistro must be one of the must-try food establishments on your list. It offers a fusion of French, Southern, and cuisines from other parts of the world. One of their bestsellers is the Green Pig’s buffalo ribs that come with four sauces, including a Thai peanut sauce. Other things you shouldn’t miss on their menu are the Kung Pao Sweet Breads and the Peanut Butter Brownie Sunday for dessert. Apart from the food, you’ll also love the chill atmosphere of the place with its chatty servers, beers in a can, and big servings.
Green Pig Bistro
Address: 1025 N Fillmore St, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Opening Hours: Sun-Tue:11:00am–2:30pm, 5:30–9:30pm/ Wed-Fri:1:00am–2:30pm, 5:30–10:00pm/ Sat:10:30am–2:30pm, 5:30–10:00pm
Website: Green Pig Bistro
3. 3. Ambar - Restaurant
When you visit Ambar and taste their food, you’ll be transported to another place, specifically East Europe, where flavorful dishes should always pair with wines and cocktails. This Arlington restaurant offers an extensive menu of traditional Balkan cuisine but with a modern surprise. Also, they offer dishes in small servings, allowing its guests, to have many choices and savor numerous selections on the menu, without easily being full. Another thing to love about the place is its easy atmosphere that is brightly lit and window-fronted space.
Ambar
Address: 2901 Wilson Blvd, 22201, Arlington, VA 22201, United States
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00am–10:45am, 11:15am–2:30pm/ Sat-Sun: 9:30am–3:30pm
Website: Ambar
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4. 4. 1789 Restaurant
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The 1789 Restaurant located in a Federal period house, with six elegant dining rooms that feature beautiful antique decor, china, and prints, will give you a different dining experience, like old times. It will take you to another era and will make you relive the life before, with its low ceilings, old wood, cozy stairwells, and being curtsied throughout the night. Another good thing about this restaurant, aside from its venue, is the fact that it is a big supporter of the farm-to-table movement, which makes it serve food made from the freshest ingredients. They also have a seasonal American menu like roasted chestnut soup, jumbo lump crab fondue, New York strip, and more.
1789 Restaurant
Address: 627, 1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs: 6:00pm–10:00pm/ Fri:6:00pm–11:00pm/ Sat: 5:30–11:00pm/ Sun:5:30–10pm
Website: 1789 Restaurant
5. 5. Lyon Hall
At first look, you’ll find the place packed with young professionals sipping their wine or chugging their beers. But this place is also perfect for family dinners. Aside from the boutique wines, Belgian and German beers, homemade cocktails, and ciders - Lyon Hall also offers a family-friendly American fare like giant pretzels, hotdog in a bun, homemade charcuterie, and mussel pots. They also have big servings that are good for sharing like the platters of sausages and pork belly with tart lingonberries garnish. As for their bestseller, they have the grilled sea bass made special by the green olive vinaigrette.
Lyon Hall
Address: 3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am–12:00am/ Fri: 11:30am–2:00am/ Sat: 9:30am–2:00am/ Sun: 9:30am–12:00am
Website: Lyon Hall
6. 6. Farmers Fishers Bakers
Farmers Fishers Bakers offers an extensive selection of dishes made from fresh farm produce. It is a farm-inspired restaurant, located on the Potomac River in the vibrant Washington Harbor in Georgetown, with excellent river views. It serves American staples, buffets, cocktails, coffee, desserts, as well as sushi - which are all homemade. Their menu includes English muffin, Shrimp Louie Salad, Beer-Braised Sausage, and more. By dining here, you show support to their environmental cause. Make sure to visit them during your stay in Georgetown.
Farmers Fishers Bakers
Address: 3000 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Opening Hours: Mon-Wed: 7:30am–10:00pm/ Thurs: 7:30am–11:00pm/ Fri: 7:30am–12:00am/ Sat: 9:00am–12:00am/ Sun: 9:00am–10:00pm
Website: Farmers Fishers Bakers
7. 7. Ray’s The Steaks
Do you want your steak rare, well done, or just right? Well, the locals of Arlington love Ray’s the Steak, where the steak is thick, and prepared by restaurateur Michael Landrum. It is a steakhouse for the ordinary man for its price, ambiance, and the size. Expect your steak to be served with heaping sides of juicy mash potatoes and creamed spinach, which is for free by the way. Also, one of the must-try dishes on their menu is the Diablo, a steak that is secret smoky and with a spicy glaze. You’ll surely be coming out of the restaurant full so visit while on an empty stomach.
Ray’s The Steaks
Address: 2300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs: 5:30–10:00pm/ Fri-Sat: 5:00pm–11:00pm/ Sun: 5:00pm–10:00pm
Website: Ray’s The Steaks
8. 8. Filomena Ristorante
Filomena Ristorante will make your dining experience extra special with its attention to detail, excellent food, homely decors, and relax atmosphere. Filomena’s goal is to make every meal a moment you’ll never forget. Known for offering the best Italian dining experience, you can see it in the restaurant’s effort to make everything as personal as it can get, which is evident in the ironed tablecloth, vases with freshly picked flowers from the garden, and decor that constantly changes every season. As for their menu, they serve traditional Italian cuisines like Antipasta, Insalata, pasta, Carne e Pollame, and Pesce. You will also see the chef cooking your pasta or anything through the glass window in the kitchen.
Filomena Ristorante
Address: 1063 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 11:30am–11:00pm
Website: Filomena Ristorante
9. 9. Rus Uz
Rus Uz is a restaurant which the name says a lot about its menu, a combination of Russian and Uzbek traditional cuisine. But, aside from the fusion, they also offer seasonal menus which are of quality ingredients. You’ll also find in their menu, quite a few beverages including European beers. As for its location, this restaurant with the most chill vibe is on the first floor of an apartment complex in the beautiful neighborhood of Ballston.
Rus Uz
Address: 1000 N Randolph St, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am–10:00pm/ Fri-Sat: 12:00nn–10:00pm/ Sun:12:00nn–9:00pm
Website: Rus Uz
10. 10. Clarendon Grill
If you’re not only looking for good food but also entertainment and art, then you should try dining at Clarendon Grill, where everything you want is being offered. It is a restaurant and an art gallery, with live entertainment three times a week, salsa lessons on Mondays, and trivia night every Wednesday. The venue’s ambiance is casual and has patio and backyard seating. It is also quite popular with the locals because of its delicious burgers and sandwiches. Primarily, they offer contemporary American cuisine but have a few surprises on the side. In case you want to drink, they have draft beers and bottled beers as well.
Clarendon Grill
Address: 1101 N. Highland St. Arlington, VA 22201
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00am-2:00pm, 5:00pm - 2:00am/ Sat: 4:00pm - 2:00am
Website: Clarendon Grill
Happy tummy at Arlington
Arlington, though a densely populated county, will let you experience both suburban and big city life, with its local government and proximity to Washington DC, the state’s capital. If you’re done with your local tours and sightseeing and are ready to take on the restaurant-hopping journey, then check out our list of must-visit restaurants in Arlington and have a happy tummy afterward.
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