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Best places to host an event in Washington, D.C.

Best places to host an event in Washington, D.C.

The following is a directory of event venues in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Descriptions are provided by the venue.

Each venue is categorized as suitable for any of the following types of events:

  • Corporate meeting — Host training, workshops, or an off-site meeting.
  • Stand & mingle — When you want guests to move around and mingle. Focus on quiet venues that facilitate conversation. Venues include private rooms in a bar or restaurant as well as apartments or rooftops you can rent.
  • Sit-down meal — Primarily restaurants. We seek out quieter venues that allow for conversation.
  • Retreat — Host a multi-day off-site retreat, meeting, or workshop with overnight accommodations.
  • Special experience — Unique events such as cruises, hot air balloons, cooking classes, walking tours, and other team building activities.

If you would like to suggest a venue in Washington, D.C., please submit a recommendation here.

Barcelona Wine Bar

The cuisine is clean and rustic, with tapas shaped by Mediterranean, Spanish, and South American influences. Nearly 400 wines are featured on the wine list. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a large event, consider Barcelona. From signature tapas to Mediterranean specialties, our ever-changing menu is dictated by the season’s finest ingredients. We also offers an extensive selection of wines from Spain and South America. Our small army of chefs, trained in a vast array of global cuisines, along with our talented private events team will work with you to make sure your event is a memorable one.

Address: 1622 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 and 3310 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Website: https://barcelonawinebar.com/
Phone: +1 202 800 4100
Email
: dkassa@barcelonawinebar.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

Calico

Urban backyard oasis from the team behind Tiger Fork and The Fainting Goat. Opened in September 2017 in DC’s historic Blagden Alley. Let us help you plan a happy hour, seated dinner, birthday or any event.

Address: 50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://www.calicodc.com/
Phone: +1 202 791 0134
Email
: info@calicodc.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

Dirty Habit

Just beyond the bustle of DC’s main corridors lies Dirty Habit, the guilt-free restaurant and bar and the one habit you need to keep. At the epicenter of Penn Quarter and Chinatown, right across the street from the Capital One Arena, this film noir-inspired venue is a contrast to the classic architecture of our host, the iconic 1841 General Post Office. Whatever your desire, our team crafts a seamless experience, seasonally inspired by the freshest products along with cutting-edge execution. Whether you are hosting a private soiree in one of our newly renovated dining rooms, enjoying a gathering of friends in our expansive courtyard, or hosting a lively reception in our gorgeous Glass House, rest assured you will be treated to an experience you won’t soon forget.

Each of our spaces has been designed to maximize versatility and present a stylishly avant-garde air, with choices spanning from gothic-inspired and completely private, to naturally lit and industrial, to alfresco and distinctly historic. Some spaces may be combined to accommodate larger gatherings, and partial or full venue buyouts are available.

Address: 555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Website: https://dirtyhabitdc.com/
Phone: +1 202 449 7095
Email
: info@dirtyhabitdc.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

Earls

Founded in 1982 by father-son duo Bus and Stan Fuller, Earls has been built on the foundation of family since day one. Open every day, Earls Kitchen + Bar serves a diverse, globally-inspired menu in a lively, casually sophisticated setting. Our venue offers a sophisticated setting for your next event with a panoramic view. Enjoy our fresh, modern fare punctuated with global flavors, handcrafted cocktails, a comprehensive wine collection and approachable, professional service. Whether 15 people or 400, our venue can accommodate all of your guest needs.

Address: 7902 Tysons One Pl, McLean, VA 22102
Website: https://earls.ca/
Phone: +1 703 847 1870
Email
: comments@earls.ca
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle
Recommended by: We have hosted a Veritux mixer here.

Flight Wine Bar

Located in the historic neighborhood of Chinatown, Flight is a top wine destination in the city. The small and delicious dinner menu utilizes local and seasonal ingredients. Guests can enjoy small plates such as Crispy Fingerlings on a Chipotle Aioli and Garlic Butter Shrimp or larger plates like the Pan-Roasted Salmon on Pureed Cauliflower. The space is warm and softly lit, and our staff are welcoming and knowledgeable. We look forward to hosting you soon. Reservations recommended though walk-ins are always welcome.

Address: 777 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://www.flightdc.com/
Phone: +1 202 864 6445
Email
: info@flightdc.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle
Recommended by: Umbrex has hosted a mixer here.

La Famosa 

La Famosa brings soulful Puerto Rican cooking to Washington, DC’s Navy Yard neighborhood. The food is humble and comforting, and true to the island’s rich history, it’s creative through adversity approach displays the many cultural influences from indigenous Tainos to the African diaspora. We’re excited to share our food and our space with everyone and provide a true taste of the Island. La Famosa has both indoor and outdoor dining available, we utilize a contactless ordering system and feature a full service bar with rum focused cocktails. 

Address: 1300 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Website: https://eatlafamosa.com/
Phone: +1 202 921 9882
Email
: bomba@eatlafamosa.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle
Recommended by: We have hosted an Umbrex mixer here

Landsdown Resort

At Lansdowne, you and your team will discover the transformative moments that ignite creativity and advance progress. Our Northern Virginia conference center delivers 55,000 square feet of meeting space – including our state-of-the-art Thinking Center and immersive outdoor pavilion – that has earned us the distinction as the best DC-area conference center over 25 years in the making. By selecting one of our signature meeting packages for your team gathering, you secure event spaces, overnight accommodations, food and beverage, group activities and meeting necessities, plus a dedicated event planner – all for one inclusive price with no surprise fees or pop-up line items to blow your budget.

A dedicated wing of modernized meeting rooms delivers coveted seclusion and customizable configurations to bring your vision to life. Or host an outdoor gathering in our open-air 3,500-square-foot covered pavilion or nestled into idyllic and experiential settings across our 500 sweeping acres in the Potomac River Valley. Our complimentary and password-free Wi-Fi keeps your attendees fully connected while a full slate of technological and audio-visual equipment is available to fit your group’s exacting requirements. To ensure unimpeded progress, our Event Concierge is on hand to assist with those all-important administrative details.

Address: 44050 Woodridge Pkwy, Leesburg, VA 20176
Website: https://lansdowneresort.com/
Phone: +1 703 729 8400
RFP
: lansdowneresort.com/meetings/rfp/
Type of events: Corporate meeting, sit-down meal, stand & mingle, retreat
Recommended by: Wayne Patten, who says, “A bit far out of the city, but a great place to hold offsite meetings or events. Lots of amenities for business as well as pleasure.”

Lulu’s Wine Garden

A casual, communal, bottle-driven wine garden with three lush garden patios, reimagined dinner party fare, and a fun and affordable wine list. Dreamt up by local husband-and-wife team Paul and Brittany Carlson, we’re basically your favorite casual-yet-chic, backyard wine bar. If you’re looking for a private or semi-private space for a special event, birthday, company happy hour, fundraiser, wedding, or any other celebration, we’ve got the space for you! Choose one of our lush patios, our indoor plant-filled “garden” dining room, or the whole place. Our ivy-lined front patio overlooks lively U Street, with seating for up to 32 guests; our hidden back plant-filled courtyard offers seating for 58; and our covered outdoor “streatery” seats up to 24.

Address: 1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://www.luluswinegarden.com/
Phone: +1 202 332 9463
Email
: info@luluswinegarden.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

Residents Cafe & Bar

Tucked away in the heart of Dupont Circle, in Washington D.C., Residents is a charming cafe & bar offering Washingtonians and travelers an exquisite indoor and outdoor dining and cocktail experience. Residents offers a casual-chic cocktail and dining experience with a keen focus on high-quality, seasonal ingredients. We believe less is more and offer a cocktail and dining experience patrons won’t soon forget. Residents is a multi-sensory experience that involves all five senses: vision, touch, sound, smell, and taste. To include curated house playlists throughout the day and into the night. We skillfully use greenery to create a stunning and perfect ambiance with a beautiful array of plants. 

Address: 1306 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Website: https://www.residentsdc.com/
Phone: +1 202 733 7143
Email
: contact@residentsdc.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

The Salt Line

Oysters thrive where fresh and salt water come together. At The Salt Line, we’re taking inspiration from that magical blend and creating a lively and welcoming experience of classic New England dishes influenced by the bounty of the Chesapeake. The Salt Line concept combines the spirit of a New England Style Raw Bar and Seafood House with the bounty and charm of the Chesapeake and the exciting energy of the Nation’s Capital. Located across the street from Nats park in the vibrant Navy Yard neighborhood, The Salt Line quickly established itself as one of the most acclaimed, loved and busiest restaurants in Washington DC.

Events at The Salt Line are always memorable and special. Three private dining areas can accommodate 10-200, depending on if the event is seated or standing. The Salt Line also caters off-site.

Address: 79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003 and 4040 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203
Website: https://www.thesaltline.com/
Phone: +1 202 506 2368
Email
: events@thesaltline.com
Type of events: Sit-down meal, stand & mingle

Other Resources for Finding Event Venues

In addition to the individual event venues listed here, there are also a number of companies and listing platforms that offer many venues across multiple locations. As an additional resource for sourcing the perfect venue for your event, we have created this directory of such websites.