Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Forbes Five-Star steakhouse, serious room.
Bourbon Steak DC is the right choice for a high-stakes Georgetown dinner inside the Forbes Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel. Executive chef Joe Palma's French technique and expanded seafood program lift it above the standard hotel steakhouse, while the service level earns the price point. Book at least two to three weeks out — this room fills consistently.
If you're planning a power dinner in Georgetown, hosting visiting clients who expect a serious room, or looking for the kind of restaurant where your chances of sharing a dining room with a senator or foreign dignitary are genuinely non-trivial, Bourbon Steak DC is the right call. This is Washington's see-and-be-seen steakhouse done at hotel-level precision, operating inside the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. For a weekday lunch with someone you need to impress before 2:30 PM, it also pulls double duty as one of the city's more credible power-lunch addresses.
The dining room reads nothing like a traditional steakhouse. Muted leather chairs, rich wood paneling, and metal accents give it a contemporary weight, while large-scale windows keep the space from feeling heavy. It's a room that telegraphs status without the dark-wood clichés of older DC steak institutions. The recently renovated front bar is worth knowing about specifically: banquette seating, a serious cocktail list, and access to an outdoor brick patio with oversized fireplaces when the weather cooperates. If you've been before and defaulted to the main dining room, the bar area is worth trying on your next visit — particularly for a drinks-and-appetizers run before a late dinner elsewhere.
Michael Mina's name is on the brand, but executive chef Joe Palma, formerly of Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert, has meaningfully shifted the menu's center of gravity. Palma has pushed the seafood offering harder and brought French technique into the kitchen in ways that separate Bourbon Steak DC from comparable hotel steakhouses. The sea bass is specifically worth ordering , it's a counterintuitive choice at a steakhouse and a smart one. On the meat side, the format is by-the-ounce Wagyu alongside 36-day dry-aged cuts and both grass-fed and corn-fed beef options. The ribeye and bone-in strip remain the highest-return orders for flavor. Tableside tuna tartare works as a starter if you're eating with someone who doesn't want to commit to a full steak; the black truffle mac and cheese and crab hush puppies with jalapeño and coriander are the shareable sides worth ordering. Don't skip the complimentary spice-dusted frites with dipping sauces that arrive from the kitchen , they set the tone for the service level you should expect throughout the meal.
At a Four Seasons property carrying a Forbes Five-Star designation, service expectations are high and, by the accounts of the inspector notes attached to this venue, generally met. The tableside tartare, the from-the-chef frites, the pacing of a multi-course meal , these are gestures that indicate a kitchen and front-of-house working in sync rather than in competition. That coordination matters at this price tier. For comparison: Peter Luger Steak House in New York delivers superior beef with famously brusque service; Bourbon Steak DC trades in the opposite direction , the hospitality is a deliberate part of what you're paying for. If you want maximum meat-per-dollar with minimal ceremony, this is not the room for you. If the full-service experience is the point, it holds up. The dress code is business casual, and the room's energy encourages you to dress above the minimum.
Reservations: Highly recommended; book directly by phone at 202-944-2026 or online. Walk-in availability is limited given the venue's profile and hotel placement. Lunch: Available weekdays, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner: Seven days a week. Dress: Business casual minimum; the room rewards dressing up. Location: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Georgetown, inside the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. Google rating: 4.5 across 836 reviews.
Bourbon Steak DC sits in the top tier of Washington DC dining by price and ambiance. Browse our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide for a broader view of what the city offers, or explore our Washington, D.C. hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide to plan around it. If you're comparing steakhouse formats at the hotel luxury tier globally, CUT Singapore offers a useful reference point for what the celebrity-chef hotel steakhouse format looks like at its most polished. Within the US, Le Bernardin in New York City and The French Laundry in Napa represent the ceiling of what French-influenced fine dining at this price tier can deliver, which gives useful context for what Palma is reaching toward with his technique-forward additions to the menu. For other destination-level American restaurants in different cities, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Alinea in Chicago, and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg each represent what the upper tier of American dining looks like in their respective markets.
Book at least two to three weeks in advance for dinner, particularly Thursday through Saturday. The venue sits inside a Forbes Five-Star hotel and draws a consistent crowd of business travelers, political figures, and hotel guests , which means availability tightens faster than at comparable Georgetown restaurants. Weekday lunch is somewhat more accessible, but still worth reserving in advance if you have a specific time in mind. Call 202-944-2026 directly or book online.
The steaks are the anchor, but don't ignore the seafood , executive chef Joe Palma has built a genuinely strong fish program, and the sea bass in particular is worth ordering. Start with the tableside tuna tartare. Accept the complimentary spice-dusted frites from the kitchen. For the meat, the ribeye and bone-in strip deliver the most flavor return. The room is inside the Four Seasons Georgetown, which sets the service register , expect attentive, structured hospitality. It holds a 4.5 Google rating across more than 800 reviews, which is a reliable signal for a venue at this price point. Also see minibar and Jônt if you're building a broader DC fine-dining shortlist.
Business casual is the stated dress code, but the room's energy skews toward dressed-up. In a dining room full of political figures, hotel guests, and business diners, showing up in a blazer or cocktail attire is appropriate and common. Avoid casualwear. This is a see-and-be-seen room inside a Five-Star hotel , treat it accordingly.
It works for solo dining, particularly if you take a seat at the front bar rather than holding a full table. The bar has banquette seating, a strong cocktail list, and , in good weather , access to the outdoor patio. Ordering from the full menu at the bar is a practical approach for a solo visit. If you want a solo fine-dining experience with a more intimate counter format, Causa or Jônt may suit better.
Yes , the restaurant's footprint inside the Four Seasons makes it suited to group bookings, though specific private dining room details are not confirmed in our data. For groups of six or more, call 202-944-2026 directly to discuss arrangements rather than booking online. If you're planning a large group dinner and Bourbon Steak's availability is limited, Albi and Gravitas are worth checking as alternatives in Washington's upper dining tier.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Steak DC | American Steakhouse | If you want to spot a celebrity or visiting VIP in Washington, chances are, you’ll find him at Bourbon Steak DC, located within the city’s storied Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.This contemporary American restaurant specializing in steaks and seafood with a farm-to-; **Our Inspector's Highlights The dining room at Bourbon Steak is decidedly modern, all muted leather chairs, rich woods and metal accents, with large-scale windows to let in natural light. It certainly doesn’t feel like your average “boy’s club” steakhouse.One of our favorite spots is the newly renovated front bar, where you can perch on banquettes while savoring craft cocktails or, in nicer weather, move outside to the brick patio with its oversized fireplaces and modern sculptural art adorning the walls.Bourbon Steak might have celeb chef Michael Mina’s brand, but the real magic comes from executive chef Joe Palma, formerly of local favorites like Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert.We love some of the tweaks Palma has made to the D.C. restaurant’s menu, including an added highlight on seafood and French technique. So while it may seem out of character at a restaurant with “steak” in the name, definitely go ahead and try that sea bass.You’d expect the meats to be the menu’s star — and they certainly are. Choose from by-the-ounce Waygu, 36-day dry aged, grass-fed or corn-fed beef.** **Things to Know The Washington D.C steakhouse serves up succulent cuts for dinner seven days a week. You can also enjoy a power lunch at Bourbon Steak DC on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm.Reservations are highly recommended at this popular Georgetown restaurant. Book your table by calling the restaurant directly at 202-944-2026 or by reserving your spot online. The stylish steakhouse features a business casual dress code. A see-and-be-seen ambiance definitely encourages you to dress your best.** **Treatments:** The Food The ribeye and bone-in strips are our picks for maximum flavor, particularly when paired with a trio of delectable steak sauces and shareable sides like crab hush puppies with jalapeño and coriander or black truffle mac and cheese.Don’t decline the from-the-chef treat, a trio of spice-dusted frites with matching dipping sauces like house-made ketchup and “cool ranch.”Prefer something lighter for your main? Fish dishes hold their own — we love the traditional preparation of tableside-mixed tuna tartare as a starter.Be sure to save room for dessert, too — “Arnold Palmer” citrus-glazed doughnuts and a chocolate-and-bourbon-filled candy bar are standouts. **Amenities:** 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20007 | Hard | — | |
| Albi | United States, Middle Eastern | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Causa | Peruvian | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Oyster Oyster | New American, Vegetarian, Vegetarian (Sustainable) | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Bresca | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Gravitas | New American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Groups are workable here, but call ahead directly at 202-944-2026 rather than booking online to discuss room configuration. The Forbes Five-Star Four Seasons setting makes this a natural fit for corporate dinners or client entertaining. For larger parties, confirm private dining availability when you call, as the main dining room has a see-and-be-seen layout that suits groups of 4–8 more comfortably than large private events.
The venue enforces a business casual dress code, and the room's contemporary tone encourages dressing up rather than down. Think collared shirts and blazers for men, cocktail-appropriate for women. Given the Four Seasons address and the clientele, erring toward polished will serve you better than borderline casual.
Don't skip the seafood just because 'steak' is in the name. Executive chef Joe Palma, formerly of Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert, has added a meaningful French-inflected seafood focus alongside the core beef program, which runs from Wagyu by the ounce to 36-day dry-aged cuts. The complimentary spice-dusted frites with dipping sauces arrive from the kitchen as a pre-meal treat, and the front bar and brick patio are worth arriving early to use.
Yes, particularly at the front bar, where solo diners can order the full menu from banquette seating. The bar also runs craft cocktails and has a livelier energy than the main room, making it the practical solo choice at a hotel restaurant that otherwise skews toward two-tops and group bookings.
Book at least one to two weeks out for weeknight dinner, and further ahead for Friday or Saturday. The restaurant is inside the Four Seasons Washington D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue and draws a consistent VIP and political crowd that keeps demand high. Weekday power lunch (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) is typically easier to secure on shorter notice.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
