The stamp of approval: Michelin

DC’s food scene came of age when it got its first dedicated Michelin Guide in 2016. This September, Michelin publishes its third edition, with yet more restaurants expected to snap up the hallowed stars. Currently, 13 restaurants have one or two stars, and countless others are designated Bib Gourmand restaurants, offering value for money. The best restaurants in town, if you believe the Michelin people, are the two-star Pineapple and Pearls by Capitol Hill star Aaron Silverman and the avant-garde Minibar, by DC food hero José Andrés, which has just 12 seats and a very expensive tasting menu. Further afield, The Inn at Little Washington, outside the city proper in neighbouring Virginia, is housed in a cute Relais & Châteaux property and also has two stars.