Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
D.C.'s 2025 Hit List pick — book it now.
KAYU earned a spot on Resy's Best of the Hit List for 2025, making it one of D.C.'s most-watched current addresses in the Dupont Circle corridor. It's the right call for a returning D.C. diner who wants to book something current and validated rather than default to a long-established name. Booking is easy by D.C. standards; mid-week evenings are the optimal window.
If you're choosing between KAYU and the better-known splurge options along D.C.'s restaurant row, KAYU makes a stronger case for the occasion diner who wants a room that feels considered without defaulting to the white-tablecloth formula. Landing on Resy's Leading of the Hit List for 2025 puts it in the same conversation as the city's most-watched openings, which for a D.C. address on 17th Street NW means it's earning attention in a genuinely crowded field. Book it when you want something current rather than established.
KAYU sits at 1633 17th St NW in the Dupont Circle corridor, a stretch that rewards diners who do their research. From a visual standpoint, the address places it in one of D.C.'s more architecturally varied dining neighborhoods, where the room itself tends to do as much work as the menu in shaping the meal. Without confirmed seat-count data, it's not possible to say whether this runs intimate-counter or full dining room, but the Resy Hit List recognition suggests the kind of space that photographs well and delivers on atmosphere for a date night or a small group celebration.
For a returning visitor, the question is less about whether to come back and more about how to use the room. The private or group experience is where KAYU's Dupont Circle position pays off practically: the neighborhood is walkable from multiple Metro lines, parking is manageable on weeknights, and the address sits close enough to Embassy Row that it draws a genuinely mixed crowd rather than a tourist-heavy one. If you brought someone here for the first time and it worked, the next move is to claim a better seat, go earlier in the evening when the room is quieter, or organize a small group around the table rather than a pair.
The optimal window for KAYU is a weekday evening, specifically Tuesday through Thursday, when post-work D.C. dining traffic thins out and a Hit List venue like this one is easier to access without the weekend premium on noise and wait times. Friday and Saturday evenings at a 2025 Resy-recognized address in Dupont Circle will run busy; if the occasion matters more than the energy, mid-week is the cleaner choice. For groups, weeknight bookings also tend to give you more flexibility on table configuration and timing.
Seasonally, D.C.'s spring and fall windows (April through early June, September through November) are the periods when the city's restaurant scene operates at its most reliable. Summer brings tourist volume and heat; January and February are quieter and often easier for securing preferred times at sought-after addresses.
Specific private dining room details are not confirmed in the available data, so it would be misleading to describe a dedicated space. What is clear is that a Resy Hit List venue at this address will have handled group demand as part of its operating model. For groups of four or more, contact the venue directly before assuming walk-in capacity, particularly on weekends. The 17th Street NW location means you can build a full evening around it: drinks before, the main booking, and neighborhood options afterward without needing to move far.
Measured against D.C.'s current peer set, KAYU holds its own on buzz and timing. See the full comparison below.
Against Rooster & Owl at a similar price tier (both $$$), KAYU is the stronger choice if you want the current moment rather than an established formula. Rooster & Owl has durability and a proven tasting-menu structure; KAYU has 2025 momentum. For a first special-occasion dinner with someone new to D.C.'s dining scene, Rooster & Owl is the safer bet. For a returning visitor who wants to track what's happening now, KAYU is the more interesting room.
At the $$$$ tier, Albi, Causa, and Rose's Luxury all represent more established credentials. Albi is the call if Middle Eastern-influenced cooking is the priority; Causa earns its price point on Peruvian technique; Rose's Luxury remains the benchmark for a certain kind of New American celebration dinner. KAYU fits between these tiers in terms of booking friction: easier to get into than Rose's Luxury on short notice, and more current than options that have been on every list for several years running.
Oyster Oyster at $$$ is the direct comparison for value-conscious diners who want D.C. recognition without the $$$$ outlay. Between the two, Oyster Oyster has the stronger sustainability credential and a more defined identity; KAYU has the fresher 2025 recognition. If sustainability matters to your group, Oyster Oyster is the clearer choice. If you want the newest address that's already been validated, KAYU wins that comparison.
Address: 1633 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. The 17th Street NW location is a short walk from the Dupont Circle Metro station (Red Line). Booking difficulty is rated easy, meaning you should be able to secure a table within a reasonable window, though weekend evenings at a 2025 Hit List venue will require more lead time than mid-week slots. No confirmed price range, hours, or booking method are available in the current data; check Resy directly for live availability. For a broader picture of where KAYU fits in D.C.'s dining scene, see our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide. For hotels near Dupont Circle, our Washington, D.C. hotels guide covers the full range. You can also explore bars, wineries, and experiences across the city.
Quick reference: 1633 17th St NW, Dupont Circle, D.C. — Resy Hit List 2025 — Easy booking , Mid-week recommended.
Yes, with the caveat that the occasion works leading mid-week when the room is quieter. KAYU's Resy Hit List 2025 recognition positions it as a current, validated choice for a celebration dinner in D.C. If you want more established credentials for a high-stakes occasion, Rose's Luxury or Albi carry longer track records. For something that feels current and well-chosen, KAYU is a strong call.
Private dining room details are not confirmed, so contact the venue directly for groups of four or more, especially for weekend bookings. The Dupont Circle location works well for group evenings: the neighborhood has pre- and post-dinner options within walking distance, and the address is accessible by Metro. Don't assume walk-in capacity for large parties at a 2025 Hit List venue on a weekend.
At the same approximate price tier, Rooster & Owl is the most direct comparison: contemporary, D.C.-credentialed, and slightly more established. For a step up in spend, Causa delivers Peruvian-focused cooking with a $$$$ price point and a defined identity. Oyster Oyster is the value-conscious alternative with a sustainability focus. For technical ambition at the leading of the D.C. market, Jônt and minibar are the reference points.
No confirmed dress code is available, but a 2025 Resy Hit List address in Dupont Circle will run smart-casual at minimum. D.C. dining in this tier typically skews toward business-casual without requiring formal dress. When in doubt, dress up slightly rather than down; it's easier to be overdressed at a current, well-regarded address than to feel underprepared.
No confirmed dietary information is available in the current data. Contact the venue directly before your booking, particularly for allergies or complex restrictions. Don't rely on assumptions based on cuisine type; a direct call or message before arrival is the safest approach at any sought-after D.C. restaurant.
KAYU is a 2025 Resy Hit List venue in Dupont Circle, which means it's drawing a D.C. dining audience that tracks current openings. For a first visit, book mid-week for the easiest experience, arrive without a packed schedule, and treat it as a discovery rather than a benchmark. If you want a direct comparison for what this tier of D.C. dining looks like with more history behind it, Rose's Luxury is the established reference point.
Booking difficulty is rated easy, so you don't need months of lead time. That said, a 2025 Hit List venue on a Friday or Saturday will fill faster than the rating implies on peak nights. Aim for at least one to two weeks out for weekend bookings; mid-week tables should be available with shorter notice. Check Resy for live availability rather than calling blind.
Without confirmed counter or bar seating data, it's not possible to say whether solo dining is actively designed for here. In general, a Dupont Circle restaurant of this profile will accommodate solo diners, but the experience will depend on seating options available on the night. If solo counter dining is important to your decision, confirm with the venue before booking. For a more reliably solo-friendly format in D.C., Jônt's counter structure is a known quantity.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAYU | Resy Best of the Hit List (2025) | — | |
| Oyster Oyster | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| Albi | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Causa | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Rooster & Owl | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| Rose’s Luxury | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
A quick look at how KAYU measures up.
Yes, and the timing is good: KAYU landed on Resy's Best of the Hit List for 2025, which means it carries enough cultural currency to make an occasion feel earned. It sits on 17th St NW in the Dupont Circle corridor, a stretch with enough surrounding options to build a full evening around. Book a weekday slot if the occasion allows — the room will be calmer and the experience more focused.
Smaller groups of two to four are the safest bet at KAYU given what is confirmed about the venue. For larger parties, check the venue's official channels before assuming a group booking is straightforward — dedicated private dining details are not confirmed, and a Resy Hit List venue at peak buzz fills quickly. Don't show up with six or more without checking first.
Rose's Luxury on Capitol Hill is the closest peer in terms of buzz and occasion value. Albi in Navy Yard is a strong alternative if you want something with a more defined culinary identity and an established track record. Rooster & Owl is worth considering if a tasting format appeals. Causa and Oyster Oyster round out the peer set for diners who prioritise ingredient-forward cooking.
Nothing in the confirmed venue data specifies a dress code. For a Resy Hit List restaurant in Dupont Circle, aim for neat and considered — think dinner-out rather than dressed-down. Overdressing is rarely penalised in this corridor; underdressing at a buzzed venue occasionally is.
Dietary restriction policies are not confirmed in the available data, so call ahead rather than assuming. For any venue operating at this level of profile — Resy Hit List 2025 — most kitchens expect the question and can advise, but confirming in advance avoids complications on the night.
KAYU is a Resy Best of the Hit List pick for 2025, which means it is operating at peak visibility right now — book soon if you want a table before the hype cycle peaks. The address is 1633 17th St NW, a short walk from Dupont Circle Metro (Red Line), so logistics are easy. Go in with a confirmed reservation rather than hoping for a walk-in.
Book at least two to three weeks out given its Resy Hit List status for 2025 — that kind of recognition drives reservation demand fast. Weekday evenings, particularly Tuesday through Thursday, tend to be the most accessible windows. Check Resy directly for availability.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
