Washington, DC is visited by over 20 million tourists annually. The lively U.S. capital is located on the Potomac River and is a delightful, interesting place to visit, especially during the spring where you can view the cherry blossoms bathe the city in an impressionist-like cloud of pink against the marble neoclassical buildings and monuments. While exploring Washington, DC’s iconic sights like the Capitol, White House, Smithsonian Museums, and Lincoln Memorial, tourists can find accommodation in a variety of options, ranging from affordable Airbnbs to luxurious historic hotels, making their stay as memorable as the city’s cherry blossoms. Guests can re-energize by enjoying the culinary scene and partake in the capital’s best seafood restaurants. Check out these top seafood restaurants in Washington DC.
1. Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Diners at Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar are in for a treat with a delightful seafood-centric menu that celebrates the flavours of the coast. This charming restaurant offers an extensive selection of ocean-fresh delicacies, with a focus on oysters and a variety of fish. Guests can indulge in an impressive array of freshly shucked oysters, served raw or prepared in enticing styles such as Rockefeller or grilled with garlic butter.
The menu also features succulent lobster tails, tender Maryland crab cakes, and flavourful paella. For those who prefer a taste of the land, Ophelia’s offers options such as perfectly grilled New York strip steaks, surf and turf, and hearty chicken alfredo.
Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar
Address: 501 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States
Website: Ophelia’s Fish House & Oyster Bar
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 4pm - 10pm; Fri: 3pm - 11pm; Sat: 10am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 10pm
2. Hank's Oyster Bar
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This restaurant is known for its fresh oysters sourced from both the East and West coasts, served raw, Rockefeller-style, or simply grilled in luscious butter. A variety of other seafood delights are also available, including shrimp po'boys, seafood fettuccine, and grilled branzino.
Hank’s Oyster Bar also offers non-seafood options, such as grilled ribeye, citrus-glazed chicken, and braised short ribs. The charming ambience and attentive service make it a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike, seeking a memorable seafood dining experience in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Hank's Oyster Bar
Address: 701 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States
Website: Hank’s Oyster Bar
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm
3. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Joe’s Stone Crab was founded in Miami Beach in 1913 when Joseph and Jennie Weiss set up tables on their front porch. Joe’s is famous for its franchise and its Florida stone crab and Key lime pie which is prepared by hand and sells over 30,000 each year in its original Miami Beach location alone.
This seafood restaurant in Downtown Washington DC offers a large selection of dishes, including fried chicken, Oscar filet mignon, salads, and appetizers. The restaurant serves brunch all weekend and provides a classy setting for private parties with its upscale decor.
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Address: 750 15th St NW, Washington
Website: Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 11:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 11:30 am - 12:00 am; Sunday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
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4. Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Head to Hot N Juicy Crawfish to get your southern comfort food fix. Guests will be outfitted with plastic gloves and bibs to dine at their wax-lined tables with menus offering directions on how to eat the crawfish. The menu offers crawfish by the pound, etouffe, a thick stew-like soup, fried catfish, and combination baskets of seafood. Drop by for a truly unique seafood experience.
Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Address: 2651 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington
Website: Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Prices: 11 - 30 USD
Washington Tour Guide
Annie Leguennec
My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the city's rich heritage and its continuing legacy as the birthplace of the United States of America. Book my tour. Explore and learn about this unique city where you will walk on the footsteps of our America's founding Fathers. My tours are conducted in English, French and Italian.
Tours by Annie
Washington Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona! Let's GO!! stepheley@gmail.com
Tours by Stephanie
5. Grillfish
Grillfish uses the finest local ingredients to create their food and craft beers in a casual environment for guests to enjoy. The restaurant provides delivery, a weekend brunch, and happy hour. The menu is varied from the crab cake melt, salads, fish & chips, to grilled lobster linguine and a mixed grill consisting of swordfish, salmon, mahi-mahi, scallops, and shrimp. Stop by for a laid-back meal in their rustic inspired dining room or on their street-side patio.
Grillfish
Address: 1200 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington
Website: Grillfish
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm; Friday 11:30 am - 11:00 pm; Saturday 11:00 am - 11:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Prices: 11 - 30 USD
6. BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant
The BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant is one of the best fish restaurants in DC and provides a market environment with rustic wooden booths to dine at. Guests can choose fresh seafood to be used in their meal along with a variety of specialty foods to take home with them. The menu offers oysters, New England clam chowder, scallops, and other delicacies. Join them for brunch and enjoy huevos rancheros with chihauhua cheese, shrimp and grits, and a tower of fruit pancakes.
BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant
Address: 4883 MacArthur Boulevard, NW, Washington
Website: BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 - 9:30 pm; Friday 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm, Saturday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm; Sunday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
7. Luke's Lobster Penn Quarter
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Luke’s Lobster provides a casual place where guests can get their fill of lobster, shrimp, or crab rolls. They can order a combo with salad, fries, or coleslaw with a drink or order individual items. Each roll is made with ¼ pound (0.45 kilogram) chilled, fresh lobster, shrimp, or crab meat on a buttered bun with lemon butter and seasoning except jumbo rolls which offer ½ pound (0.45 kilogram) of seafood.
For guests who want to try all flavors of rolls, this seafood place in Washington DC also serves a trio combo which is one roll of shrimp, crab, and lobster with ½ pound (0.45 kilogram) of meat with lemon butter and seasoning on a buttered bun.
Luke's Lobster Penn Quarter
Address: 624 E Street NW, Washington
Website: Luke’s Lobster Penn Quarter
Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm; Thursday - Sunday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Prices: 11 - 30 USD
8. Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Pop in for some southern hospitality and the widest variety of high-quality oysters in DC’s vibrant Logan Circle neighborhood. Their Old Black Salt Oysters offer a buttery feel to balance their high salt content while the meat is plump and firm with hints of minerals from their limestone-rich Virginia waters. You can choose from Rockefeller, bacon wrapped oysters in a white wine vinegar reduction to cornmeal crusted with andouille sausage and sweet potato hash. If you can’t make it for dinner, make it a must to drop by for brunch where you can enjoy a large selection of delicious choices from fried chicken dinner, huevos rancheros, shrimp po boys, steak and eggs and finish off with one of their sweet delicacies which include Mexican chocolate creme brulee, bourbon pecan pie, or Key lime pie.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Address: 1612 14th Street NW, Washington
Website: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Friday & Saturday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm; Sunday & Monday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Prices: 11 - 30 USD
9. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Diners who desire an upscale dining experience while being bathed in fluorescent blue neon throughout the dining room as they feast on delicacies from a menu that changes daily will find it at the Oceanaire Seafood Room. Lunch offerings include po boys, salads, and lobster bisque. The dinner menu presents a selection of fresh seafood such as jumbo scallops, chicken fried lobster, swordfish, and king crab.
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Address: 1201 F Street NW
Website: The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm; Friday 11:30 am - 11:00 pm, Saturday 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm; Sunday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
10. Ocean Prime
For an indulgent fine dining experience, Ocean Prime invites visitors to be their guests in their luxurious leather booths or at their marble-topped bar. This fancy restaurant in Washington DC provides a young adult’s menu offering a 5-ounce filet mignon, salmon, or pasta served with mashed potatoes, fries, or salad, and for an add-on even a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers.
While the more mature crowd dines from a menu consisting of blackened snapper, Florida grouper (mahi-mahi), and filet mignon with sides such as jalapeno gratin, lobster mashed potatoes, asparagus, and hollandaise.
Ocean Prime
Address: 1341 G Street NW
Website: Ocean Prime
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm; Saturday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm; Sunday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
11. Tony and Joe's Seafood Place
Enjoy lovely views of the Potomac River while dining on the patio in Washington Harbour. Visitors will enjoy the breeze while delighting in creations such as open-faced shrimp sandwiches, shrimp gumbo or Canadian cedar plank salmon drizzled with an agave glaze and accompanied by asparagus, red onion, and marble potatoes. Come in and enjoy one of the weekly specials offered at this casual dining establishment. Weekly specials include Monday lobster and beer and Tuesday tacos and tequila served all day at the bar.
Tony and Joe's Seafood Place
Address: 3000 K Street NW,
Website: Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
12. Fiola Mare
If you are looking for the best seafood spots in DC, then look no further! Visitors will enjoy dining at this Michelin-star Italian restaurant. They can experience dining in various unique dining rooms, on the patio or on the rooftop which offers stunning views of downtown Washington. Feel free to enjoy menu selections consisting of veal tenderloin, lobster ravioli, and other sumptuous dishes. For dessert, there is velvety, espresso-soaked tiramisu, and rum baba drenched in dark rum and complemented by vanilla cream and Amarena cherries.
Fiola Mare
Address: 601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Website: Fiola Mare
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm; Friday 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm; Saturday 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm; Closed Sundays until March 31, 2019
Prices: 31 - 60 USD
Experiencing Washington DC's seafood culinary scene
Visitors to Washington DC will be pleased to take in the unique, historical attractions along with the culinary adventures and food tours to complement their stay. Hopefully, you will be able to fit into your busy schedules a visit to one of these restaurants serving the best seafood in Washington DC. They will be a highlight of your adventures in the city and will be sure to provide enjoyable memories to take home with you.
Frequently asked questions about the top seafood restaurants in Washington DC
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