Diners' Choice: Mediterranean restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated 05 April 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mediterranean cuisine in Washington, D.C. Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Julii

4.8

4.8 (2506)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

North Bethesda

About the restaurant

Julii, French Mediterranean Cuisine; by the founders of Cava Mezze, and Cava.

Come enjoy an elevated dining experience, bringing you delicious yet beautiful cocktails and dishes and top-notch service.

Currently offering indoor and outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery service.

Top review

Nur

Dined 2 days ago

We've been regular at Julii since the opening. Always loving the experience!!

Zaytinya - DC

4.7

4.7 (19756)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

Under the direction of celebrated Chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup team, Zaytinya offers an innovative mezze menu inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines served up in a sleek and modern setting. Building on José's deep knowledge of Mediterranean cooking and years of research and travel, the menu features shared small plates of authentic and innovative fare, creative cocktails, and unique Mediterranean wines, making Zaytinya one of the most exciting restaurants in Washington.

Top review

Trish

Dined 2 days ago

Bustling but delicious! You wouldn’t have known it was a Monday night by the packed tables and hustling waitstaff. Our party of three enjoyed a fantastic meal sampling the flavors of the Mediterranean. Our hummus was brought to the table so quickly after we’d ordered, it seemed like they’d intuited our plans. Every dish was somehow even better than the last. Felafel, lamb, shrimp, shish taouk - all fabulous! Not to mention the airy, pillowy pitas that never ran out. Service was a bit impersonal, but efficient. We’re already looking forward to our return.

ala

4.5

4.5 (1177)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Welcome to a gastronomic gem that transports you to the sun-kissed shores and rich culinary traditions of the Levantine region. Nestled discreetly within a charming corner of the city, Michelin-rated restaurant ala invites you on an unforgettable journey through the flavors and aromas of the Mediterranean.

Step into a world where heritage and innovation harmoniously intertwine, a place where passion for authenticity meets avant-garde culinary techniques. As you enter, you'll be captivated by the warm and elegant ambiance, adorned with tasteful hints of Middle Eastern motifs that effortlessly blend with modern chic.

The thoughtfully curated wine list complements the menu perfectly, offering a carefully selected range of regional wines, arak, and innovative pairings that elevate the dining experience further.
Prepare to be enchanted by the brilliance of the Levantine cuisine and the experience that has earned its well-deserved place in the revered Michelin guide.

Top review

Sabrina

Dined on 11 Apr 2025

Wonderful food- was super surprised and delighted.

Iron Gate

4.7

4.7 (3066)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Iron Gate, located near Dupont Circle, stands as one of the district’s oldest continuously operating restaurants and is split between a sumptuous dining room, a wisteria covered patio and a handsomely enclosed carriageway that houses the bar.

Chef Anthony Chittum, a native of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and his team have revitalized the space with a menu that takes inspiration for the cuisines of Greece, Sicily, Sardinian and Southern Italy, interpreting those traditions and techniques using the finest products and seasonal ingredients of the Mid-Atlantic.

Iron Gate also serves as an idyllic oasis for fine private events both large and small, so please consider us when planning your next fête, we'd love to have you as our guests.

Top review

EddaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Beautiful location, great menu and flavors…outdoor space is amazing!

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Experience

Weekend Brunch at Iron Gate

Carmello's Of Old Town Manassas

4.7

4.7 (1055)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Manassas

About the restaurant

Carmello's Of Old Town Manassas is a family owned and operated restaurant in Historic Manassas, which specializes in Contemporary Cuisine with Italian and Portuguese Fusion. The restaurant features a seasonal menus with locally sourced items from local farms. We are proud to be featured as one of the 50 best restaurants in Northern Virginia By Northern Virginia Magazine.

To accompany your dinner, select from our 2010-2023 Wine Spectator Award Winning Wine List. Come try our extensive Portuguese wine list and taste for yourself what everyone will be talking about. We currently carry over 75 Portuguese wines from such regions as Alentejo, Douro, Doa, Estremadura, and Vinho Verde. Our list of Portuguese wines is one of the finest in the DC Metropolitan area and is comparable to many of the top Portuguese wine lists in the America.

Top review

BEN

Dined 3 days ago

Server was outstanding; polite, friendly, accommodating and professional!

Balos Estiatorio

4.7

4.7 (50)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

At the heart of legendary hospitality and Mediterranean flavors, Balos offers an elevated dining experience led by Executive Chef Alex Oradei.

Inspired by the lush Cretan lagoon it’s named after, Balos creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere—blending old-world charm with modern elegance. Founded by industry veterans and lifelong friends Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos, and Joe Ragonese, it embodies the Hellenic tradition of shared meals and lively conversation.

Our menu showcases Greek seafood and seasonal ingredients with a contemporary twist. Whether you join us for our famed Espresso Martini Cart brunch, a lively dinner, or a business casual lunch, our airy dining room transports you to the Greek islands.

Top review

Rachel

Dined 1 day ago

The food was well prepared and came out quickly. Our server was very kind I think it was quite expensive but good food nevertheless

Yayla Bistro

4.6

4.6 (793)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Arlington

About the restaurant

Yes, we are open! Dine in & Outdoor Seating.
Online Ordering for pick up & delivery : http://www.yaylabistro.com

Top review

Peter

Dined on 5 Apr 2025

Excellent food and service. Comfortable outdoor seating and nice indoor environment. Bronzino is great.

Alhambra

4.6

4.6 (732)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

*2023 WINE SPECTATOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE*

Taking inspiration from the landmark Alhambra Palace and Fortress in southern Spain, one of the most famous monuments of Islamic and Spanish Renaissance architecture, our new menu exemplifies the blending of cultures and cuisines across the region.

Showcasing their rich bounty of produce and fish in a modern and convivial setting, Chef Brian Bladfält Landry presents a seasonally inspired menu enhanced with the bold flavors across a variety of the region’s cultures. With distinct menus offered across brunch, lunch and dinner, the dining concept focuses on four sections of small plated dishes – sea, land, garden and table – all meant to be shared.

Alhambra is located on the lobby-level of The St. Regis Washington, D.C. at 923 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW in the heart of downtown D.C. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch, as well as dinner from Monday through Saturday and brunch on weekends.

Top review

Shawn

Dined on 7 Apr 2025

went for breakfast my wife and myself enjoyed everything very much. get service and tasty food

Barca Wine Bar & Pier

4.7

4.7 (1811)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Old Town Alexandria

About the restaurant

BARCA is Old Town Alexandria's newest riverfront neighborhood restaurant. Located in Robinson , BARCA (Spanish for boat) styles shipyard chic and Catalonian coastal influence into a waterfront Pier and Wine Bar. Both indoor and outdoor locales serve up Spanish-Mediterranean small plates, wine, sangria, and cocktails plus weekend brunch.

Top review

MaureenVIP

Dined on 15 Apr 2025

Brenda was wonderful! Thank you for making my husband’s birthday celebration special.

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4.6

4.6 (1637)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Logan Circle

About the restaurant

Just like the bohemian travelers who inspired our name, Gypsy Kitchen’s alluring flavors aren’t bound by borders. Instead, our chefs go wherever the inspiration takes them, crafting deeply creative dishes that transport you to uncharted places around the Mediterranean and beyond. A menu designed to taste and share gives guests the freedom to explore the menu at their own pace, connecting over seductive flavors, festive craft cocktails and curated regional wines.

The alluring interior matches the menu, with welcoming dining spaces that foster connections and spark conversation. Antique tapestries and rugs, twinkling lights and vibrantly patterned tile set the scene in the expansive dining room. Or, take a seat on the rooftop patio oasis, where lush greenery, plush cushions and the sky overhead evokes the feeling of being on a caravan to explore a distant land.

Top review

Robert

Dined on 8 Apr 2025

Great place for a tasty dinner with friends. Great food and service.

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Explore Diners' Choice best of Washington, D.C. Area