Dining in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland: 3 Days of Bliss

More than 200 new restaurants have opened in the nation’s capital in the last few years. Food lovers flock here for the celebrity chefs, top-rated restaurants and, of course, exceptional cuisine. Welcoming the release of a dedicated Michelin guide in the fall of 2016, Washington, D.C. offers eclectic dining options throughout its many neighborhoods.

Head to D.C.-neighborhood-staple Chef Geoff’s, for modern American dishes such as seared tuna, pizzas and burgers. With five area locations, this local favorite has even found a home in Washington Dulles International Airport. Grab a table at José Andrés’ Zaytinya for an authentically crafted mezze menu of Turkish, Greek and Lebanese dishes. Or, visit the original location of his expanding restaurant chain, Jaleo, where you can enjoy tapas and sangria.

Superstar chefs regularly turn to D.C. when opening new ventures. Don’t miss Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen and Bar for an updated, seasonally-focused take on the French brasserie. And David Chang’s much-celebrated Momofuku now has a CCDC (CityCenterDC) location, offering updated versions of Asian favorites like steamed buns, ramen and noodles. Travelers through Washington Dulles International Airport can sample comfort food in a vibrant tap house setting from Iron Chef Michael Symon’s Bar Symon.

No state on the East Coast produces more fresh wild-caught and farm-raised oysters than Virginia. Be sure to try something from each of the state’s eight oyster-producing regions along Virginia’s official Oyster Trail, from Seaside to Tidewater, to experience their individual flavors. Embark on a Pleasure House Oyster Farm Tour on the Lynnhaven River to learn how oysters are harvested. Or, put on your hip-waders and indulge in Pleasure House’s Chef’s Table Tour to sample fresh oysters while standing in the river. Head to Merroir restaurant, an oyster tasting room, to sample Rappahannock oysters prepared in a variety of ways. Maximize your oyster experience with a visit to the annual Urbanna Oyster Festival to try oysters raw, smoked, steamed, fried, stewed and frittered.

Beautiful, iridescent blue crabs are a regional specialty of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay areas of Maryland. They’re known for their delicate, sweet flavor. Head to waterfront restaurant Cantler’s Riverside Inn in Annapolis to try this delicacy in a variety of preparations. The Crab Claw Restaurant in St. Michaels, serving fresh seafood since 1965, offers blue crab as well as other seafood and award-winning crab cakes. Blue crab is the “Maryland State Crustacean” and is celebrated in festivals around the state. Pay a visit to the annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake for all-you-can-eat crabs, clams, fish, side dishes and more.

Washington Dulles International Airport is centrally located in the Capital Region and convenient to all destinations and activities across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Nonstop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport from major destinations worldwide make getting here easy.