Albi

Albi is chef Michael Rafidi's restaurant on 4th Street SE, and its cooking is built around Palestinian food and a wood-burning hearth. It earned its first Michelin star in 2022 and has kept it every year since, which puts it among the most highly regarded restaurants in the city.

The main way to eat here is Sofra, a five-course Palestinian tasting menu that the restaurant describes as spontaneous, with dishes that change according to what the kitchen is cooking. The hearth is at the centre of the kitchen, and the menu changes with what the cooks choose to make, so no two visits are quite the same.

Albi is open for dinner only, from 5pm to 10pm on Wednesday to Saturday, and it is closed from Sunday to Tuesday. Reservations are made on the restaurant's website, which also lets you manage an existing booking. With only four evenings a week, tables can be hard to get, so book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed, and keep an eye out for cancellations if you miss out.

Allow around two to two and a half hours for the tasting menu, and let the restaurant know about allergies or dietary needs when you book. Use the website for any questions.

Albi suits couples, food-focused travellers and anyone celebrating a special occasion. It is a good choice for a special dinner that feels personal rather than formal, and it gives a different view of Middle Eastern cooking from the mezze restaurants downtown. It is one of the more expensive meals in this guide, given the tasting format. Arrive on time, as a set tasting menu runs to a schedule. Because the tasting menu is set by the kitchen, mention any dietary needs well ahead, and ask when booking how the restaurant handles them, as a set menu can be harder to adjust on the night.

The restaurant is in the Navy Yard area of south-east Washington, near the Anacostia River, a neighbourhood with many newer bars and restaurants and its own Metro station. The Wharf is a short taxi ride to the west if you want a drink by the water afterwards.