Le Diplomate
A convincing Parisian brasserie on 14th Street that's been one of DC's see-and-be-seen rooms since it opened.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling as a couple and you are traveling solo.
Why
- 01
Red leather banquettes, a wall of windows, and a sidewalk terrace that's pure people-watching theater.
Our read - 02
It nails the brasserie fantasy so well you forget you're in Washington.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Le Diplomate works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Le Diplomate works.
Food is a reason to travel
For food & drink, Le Diplomate delivers.
You care about the visual experience
For beauty & photography, Le Diplomate delivers.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Le Diplomate isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Le Diplomate is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, it depends on the day.
The night matters
For nightlife, Le Diplomate is hit or miss.
The plates that decide it
- Steak frites — the brasserie benchmark, done right
- French onion soup and the bread basket — the bakery program is a genuine strength
- Raw bar / oysters — reliable but you're paying brasserie prices for them
Plan it well
- Cost
- Moderate-to-upper per head + wine
- Allow
- 1.5–2 hours
Sources and method (2)
- Opened April 2013 as restaurateur Stephen Starr's DC debut, converting a former dry cleaner in Logan Circle into a 14th Street brasserie. washingtonpost.com ↗
- Still listed among Washingtonian's 100 Very Best Restaurants (2026). washingtonian.com ↗