Zaytinya
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Zaytinya

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Chef José Andrés' Zaytinya offers a vibrant taste of Eastern Mediterranean small plates in a stylish, airy setting.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

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Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

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Zaytinya

Zaytinya

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Chef José Andrés' Zaytinya offers a vibrant taste of Eastern Mediterranean small plates in a stylish, airy setting.

"Experience the ease and elegance of the Mediterranean with consistently popular mezze and exceptional wine pairings."

TIP

Make Reservations

Reservations are essential, especially on weekends, as walk-ins are rarely accepted and can involve long waits.

Try the Tasting Menu

Consider the tasting menu for an extensive culinary journey with superb dishes, including salmon and beef.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 11PM

Cuisine

Mediterranean (Greek, Turkish, Lebanese)

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(202) 638-0800

Address

701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Eastern Mediterranean Small Plates

Eastern Mediterranean Small Plates

Savor a vibrant array of shareable mezze inspired by Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese cuisines. Perfect for exploring diverse flavors.

Warm Pita Bread

Warm Pita Bread

Enjoy complimentary warm pita bread, fresh from the oven, served with delicious olive oil and vinegar.

TikTok
Modern Mediterranean Ambiance

Modern Mediterranean Ambiance

Dine in a bright, airy space with a chic, modern Mediterranean vibe, featuring an Instagram-worthy bar.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Zaytinya: Downtown, DC 📍 #fyp #dcfoodie #zaytinya #joseandres
@dc_foodie
112 likes • 5.2K views

Make Reservations

Reservations are essential, especially on weekends, as walk-ins are rarely accepted and can involve long waits.

Try the Tasting Menu

Consider the tasting menu for an extensive culinary journey with superb dishes, including salmon and beef.

Zaytinya was a great option for lunch in the city. Still thinking about the chicken durum I had, so good + flavorful. #dcrestaurants #dmvrestaurants #dcfoodie #thingstodoindc #mediterranean @José Andrés
@whatjukno
84 likes • 1.7K views
Experience Mediterranean Bliss at Zaytinya in DC! #food #shortvideo #shorts #foryou #foodlover #fyp #foodtok #fypシ゚viral #foodtiktok #fypシ #foodreview #short #fypage
@prescribedplates
7 likes • 108 views

Explore Diverse Mezze

With a diverse menu, try different dishes on each visit to fully explore the rich offerings.

Be Mindful of Portions

Mezzes can have smaller portion sizes; order wisely and don't over-order. Refills are available.

Zaytina, a Chef José Andrés restaurant, is deserving of the hype it gets. You get your money’s worth with the RoZAY brunch (includes 7 dishes and 2 desserts). My friend and I were STUFFED by the end alhamdulillah. Their chicken and lamb dishes are halal 🥳 My fave dishes were their hummus, kappruzi mi feta (🍉, arugula, feta salad), and charred eggplant pide. #dmvhalal #dchalal #zaytinya #dceats #d...
@shekhancook
38 likes • 1.1K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Make Reservations

Reservations are essential, especially on weekends, as walk-ins are rarely accepted and can involve long waits.

Try the Tasting Menu

Consider the tasting menu for an extensive culinary journey with superb dishes, including salmon and beef.

Explore Diverse Mezze

With a diverse menu, try different dishes on each visit to fully explore the rich offerings.

Be Mindful of Portions

Mezzes can have smaller portion sizes; order wisely and don't over-order. Refills are available.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Zaytinya is lauded for its innovative mezze, bright ambiance, and excellent Mediterranean-inspired flavors, with many highlighting the warm pita and unique dishes. However, some diners have experienced slow service during peak times, and a few found certain dishes disappointing, particularly the black cod and some appetizers. Despite occasional service hiccups, the overall consensus points to a high-quality dining experience.

"Zaytinya by José Andrés is a highly regarded Mediterranean small plates restaurant in Washington, D.C., specializing in Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese mezze. It has been recognized by the Michelin Bib Gourmand (Best Value Recommendation).
The unique mezze dishes feature a diverse selection of ingredients, are suitable for sharing, and offer excellent value.
The food is consistently excellent, with lunch prices ranging from $15 to $35, and dinner is also reasonable. The service is excellent, and the atmosphere is elegant.
The restaurant's modern design with a Mediterranean aesthetic is ideal for business or friends.
It has an excellent local reputation.
Recommended repeatedly by locals, it is one of the most consistently popular restaurants in the José Andrés family.
Reservations are essential, especially on weekends, as walk-ins are rarely accepted. While the menu is affordable, portions are small, and the food is served quickly, so don't overorder and refills are available. The bread is a highlight.
Zaytinya is a small-plate Mediterranean restaurant that combines visual design with excellent value. The elegant ambiance, professional service, and excellent dining atmosphere create a wonderful atmosphere. The menu is rich and varied, perfect for sharing and exploring different flavors. If you want to try the José Andrés line but don't want to break the bank, it's a solid choice."

ning shi

"My partner and I dined here during DC Restaurant Week. We each had a special four-course Mediterranean meal. We also ordered a unique drink, and the dishes were all things we'd never ordered or tried before, which was impressive. I really enjoyed my meal here; the food was delicious and the service was attentive. Highly recommended!"

YL H.

"We ordered an array of dishes for the table and everything was fantastic!! It is honestly hard to pick a favorite dish since everything was so good! The warm bread pita puffs they bring out to the table with hummus were soooo good! My only critique is that our waitress was a little slow. We came in early evening on Friday without a reservation and the host got a table but let us know that they needed the table in a hour and half for a reservation. Totally understandable… we did our best to be done within our allotted time and we made it with a minute to spare despite our waitress who was in La La land half of the time. Overall this place is 10/10 and the highlight of our food stops while in town for the weekend!!"

Christina Price

What People Like

Innovative small plates
Warm, fresh pita bread
Modern, airy ambiance

What People Dislike

Inconsistent service speed
Occasional disappointing dishes
Can be noisy during peak hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Zaytinya's mezze-style dining is perfect for sharing and enjoying a variety of dishes with friends and family.

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend dining, as the restaurant is very popular and walk-ins are not always accommodated.

Washington D.C. Hours & LocationGoogle Review

Popular dishes include Hunkar Beğendi, Garides Me Anitho, Crispy Brussels Afelia, Branzino, Falafel, and Hummus.

Yes, Zaytinya offers refreshing non-alcoholic options, such as the Aegean Sunset.

The restaurant has a bright, airy, and modern Mediterranean ambiance, making it suitable for both casual and more refined occasions.

Google Review

The chicken and lamb dishes are noted as being halal.

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Mentioned in

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Zaytinya, chef José Andrés’ Mediterranean concept, has been a favorite in the city since its 2002 opening, and it recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand award. The meze-focused menu includes small plates inspired by Greek cuisine, like the octopus Santorini with marinated onions, capers and split pea purée; the taramosalata; and the spanakopita. The wine list exclusively features Mediterranean wines, with many bottles originating in Greece’s numerous wine regions.

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What Our Inspectors Say: “Powerhouse chef José Andrés' ocean-blue ode to the foods of Greece, Lebanon and Turkey means the mezze menu ranges far and wide, from flatbreads to kebabs to dips. Greek and Lebanese wines are given their fair due on the exceptional wine list. Zaytinya speaks to the ease and elegance of the Mediterranean—zero in on the grape leaves, garides me anitho and the Turkish braised lamb that tastes like the Sunday roast everyone deserves.

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In the heart of D.C.'s Penn Quarter, Zaytinya serves up a variety of tapas inspired by traditional dishes from Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey. It also has a selection of wines from such Eastern Mediterranean countries and seasonally serves a hot tea with a blooming jasmine flower. Falafel, hummus, and roasted cauliflower are among my favorite menu items.

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Restaurant, Greek, Turkish, Mediterranean, $$ Zaytinya is a mezze restaurant where dishes are designed for sharing. Taking its inspiration from Greek, Turkish and Lebanese cuisines, the menu’s dishes are all served on small plates that are perfect for combining with other dishes to create a sociable dining experience.

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One of the culinary crown jewels of chef José Andrés, ever-popular Zaytinya serves superb Greek, Turkish and Lebanese meze in a long, noisy dining room…

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Location: 655 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States Google maps: goo.gl/maps/mihH7WTk6ZDahMQq6 Website: www.shouk.com/ Zaytinya Zaytinya is rated as one of the top 20 restaurants in Washington D.C. Offering an innovative mezze menu, inspired by Turkish and Lebanese cuisines, this is a go-to spot for families and friends alike. With outdoor patio seating, Zaytinya serves up main dishes, share plates, and creative cocktails for the perfect night out. Location: 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States Google maps: goo.gl/maps/k2LnR45kseUR9tVD6 Website: www.zaytinya.com/ Lebanese Taverna Lebanese Taverna offers a contemporary feel in a refined setting, making you feel like you are part of a family inside a Lebanese home.

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Since opening in 2002, Zaytinya ranks consistently as a top DC dining destination, and was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Michelin Guide to Washington, DC. 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.

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The dishes of the Mediterranean seem to taste like sunshine no matter which season you're in, so when the season happens to be spring, the menu items at Zaytinya practically burst off the plate with color and flavor. The extensive menu of mezze dishes, meant for mixing and matching, can be a bit daunting, but for novices to Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese cuisine, the prix fixe tasting menu allows a curated sampling of the best the restaurant has to offer. For spring, Zaytinya features a twist on lamb kofta (a spiced meatball) flavored with sour cherries and pine nuts.

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For a Michelin-inspired brunch, check out Mediterranean-inspired Zaytinya, one of many Bib Gourmand restaurants designated by the French tire company for serving great, affordable food. In Georgetown, Seasons and Sequoia Restaurant each offers a full array of regional and fresh offerings at various food stations – plus the bottomless mimosas to help wash it all down. For an outside-the-box take on brunch favorites, at Michael Schlow's Alta Strada brunchers can nosh on an everything bagel pizza topped with smoked salmon, mascarpone and all the fixings.

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Zaytinya by José Andrés is a casual dining spot that offers a fusion of Mediterranean cuisines from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. Their consistently good food makes it a suitable choice for both lunch and dinner, with seafood dishes like the Octopus Santorini and the Garides me Anitho being particularly recommended. The menu, curated under the direction of James Beard Award-winning chef José Andrés, offers a variety of innovative dishes that are a result of combining authentic ingredients with traditional techniques.

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An avant-garde sculpture and Zaytinya’s outdoor winterized patio greets diners upon arrival before a vast dining room, towering ceilings, and cooling Mediterranean blues impress diners for the eclectic mezze feast to come. Interpretations of Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese flavors fill sunlight-kissed tables, but steaming baskets of thin and pillowy pita bread don’t have guests waiting long for food. Plates come out as they’re ready, so be sure to order a few spreads to join the piping hot bread pockets.

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The most popular of all is Zaytinya — Andrés’ take on Greek, Turkish and Lebanese food, just a couple of blocks north from where it all started. All of his restaurants are busy, but despite Zaytinya’s size, age (circa 2002), outdoor seating, and multi-levels, it has become one of the toughest tables in town. One bite of the hommus ma lahm (with ground lamb and pine nuts), soujouk pide (spicy sausage flat bread), kebab platter or smoked lamb shoulder will tell you why.

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As a 30 yr old I suggest Gallery Place..places like Zengo, Zaytinya, Oya, Zola, IndeBlue..some are restaurants with a happening bar scene others are lounge types places. The crowds will be a sophisticated, working, 30 professional, crowd, not the just out of college, Miller Lite, shot drinking crowd you will find in Adams Morgan and G'town. If you are more into a traditional bar..there is the Chop House, Gordon Biersch, Fado, Rocket Bar and Clydes in the area as well.

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Zaytinya, another brainchild of Chef José Andrés, offers a vibrant take on Eastern Mediterranean flavors, with an emphasis on Greek, Lebanese, and Turkish cuisines. The sleek, modern space is always humming with energy, and the menu encourages sharing, making it an excellent spot for groups seeking a fun and lively dining experience. Dishes at Zaytinya are designed to excite the palate and entice the eyes, with a mezze menu that’s both diverse and full of flavor.

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With its stark white walls, high ceilings and dramatic glass facade, Zaytinya has emerged as a popular after-work gathering place. Hot and cold mezze ("middle-of-the-day" meals) enrich the dining scene with contemporary Eastern Mediterranean fare (much of it gluten free), including lamb with hummus and spiced sirloin with dry fruit compote. For more substantial appetites, the kebab platter or braised lamb shank with eggplant does nicely.

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This is another amazing Mediterranean restaurant to eat at while you're in Washington. Located in 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Zaytinya is a Chef José Andrés' light, airy mainstay offers Eastern Mediterranean small plates & regional wines. and lets you enjoy flavors and mouthwatering meals you'll only be able to get in Washington.

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Under James Beard Award-winning chef José Andrés, Zaytinya’s menu reflects the rich regional diversity of classical Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines. This was totally up our wheelhouse, and after much deliberation between booking a Spanish tapas spot or this one, we ultimately chose Zaytinya.

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Visit Zaytinya for a five-course tasting menu with caviar prassopita, seared halloumi cheese, greek yogurt and apricots and olive oil cake, among other dishes. Check out the full NYE menu here. The dinner menu is priced at $95 per person.

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All Jose Andres' restaurants are great: Oyamel as well as the already mentioned Zaytinya and Jaleo. Rasika is quite good but a very hard reservation to get unless you book way ahead. Those are all near the Verizon Center.

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This restaurant by Chef José Andrés is one of my top five favorite restaurants of all time. They book up quickly, so definitely reserve way in advance if you can. We had a dinner reservation at 4:15 p.m.

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Don't go if you are too too hungry as they serve tapas, but they have a dedicated gluten free menu that includes a large part of their regular menu, so you get a ton of creatively crafted options.

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