May's hottest D.C. bar and restaurant openings

Axios

19-05-2025

We're excited about all the new restaurants that debuted — and are opening soon — in May. Here's what's on the top of our must-try list.
Mélange Foods, Inc. | Shaw
Michelin-trained chef Elias Taddesse won fans with his fanciful Mélange burgers, and Doro Soul Food 's Ethiopian-spiced fried chicken. Now he's brought the two comforting concepts under one 60-seat roof – formerly Roy Boys — where diners can sip a berbere margarita or cool off with homemade ice creams.
Up next: Moya, an Ethio-Mexican concept debuting in the same space later this spring.
Suzie Q's | Navy Yard
Cheap drinks (many below $12) and a Hill Country alum's barbecue sandwiches are on tap at this waterfront newcomer by Nats Park. Late hours, beer-and-shot combos and fun snacks like pierogies may make Suzie a neighborhood regular.
Henceforth, | H Street Corridor
Long-gone H Street Country Club is now a welcoming neighborhood brewery, wine bar, and restaurant helmed by a team of vets — military and hospitality. Guests can settle into one of three bars for a fresh-brewed Irish Red or Virginia-made orange wine, plus wallet-friendly tavern fare (brunch, lunch and dinner).
Next up: A roof deck for warm-weather imbibing.
Lobby Bar | Eastern Market
You may order " clothesline bacon" or caviar-topped chicken nuggets for the 'gram, but "dinner and a show has to taste good, too," owner Adam Shulman tells Axios (show comes naturally for the former MGM Resorts nightlife director).
Cocktail maven Tory Pratt is behind the martini-heavy menu — fit for the throwback, former Boxcar Tavern space — with fun riffs like a caper brine or oyster martini "that drinks like a very cold ocean." Opens: May 16
Cafe Fiorello | Downtown
NYC's Upper West Side institution expands for the first time in over 50 years with its signature antipasto bar, thin-crust pizzas, heaping pastas and veal chops — "A playground of Italian American classics," Fireman Hospitality head Ben Grossman tells Axios. New for us: A wood-burning oven and negroni bar.
As for the look, "We're not trendy," he says. "Timeless and welcoming is our aesthetic." Think cozy booths where super-regulars may get their name on a plaque. Opens: May 21
Birdsong Thai * | Chevy Chase, D.C.
Chef Kitima Boonmala, who ran popular Thai pop-ups around D.C. for years, finds a permanent home for her spicy boat noodle soup, fried chicken khao soi, and other vibrant dishes — many inspired by her family's noodle shop in central Thailand.
Pastry chef Naomi Gallego, behind the pies at sister restaurant Little Beast, prepares sweets like Thai donuts and coconut rice pudding heaped with jellies, fruit and shaved ice. Opens: May 21
Sushi Gaku | Georgetown
Hokkaido-born chef Yoshi Ota, a leading alum of Kushi Izakaya and Sushi Ko, returns to his roots with traditional Edo-style sushi — a minimalist style with seasonal fish and vinegar-seasoned rice — plus side dishes and an omakase option.
Fun fact: Ota is one of the few local chefs to hold a fugu (pufferfish) license — required to safely prepare the poisonous fish — so look for the delicacy in season. Opens: May 21
Casamara + Reynold's Bar | Dupont Circle
Dupont's long-awaited Sixty boutique hotel (LA, NYC) amps up the luxe vibes with coastal Mediterranean restaurant Casamara — we're eyeing the harissa-roast chicken and toro with melon — and chic Reynold's Bar, where you can snack on mini-lobster rolls or foie gras poutine with an icy martini. Opens: late May
Up next: An expansive rooftop opens in June with bites, drinks and DJs.