Yelp DC’s 25 Top Photographed Places is a list unlike any other “best of” out there. Sure, you’ll see your obvious local favorites on the list, but it’s also chock full of restaurants, cultural attractions, and historic landmarks. From fine dining to museums — find them all in Yelp’s Top 25 Photographed Places in DC.
Did your favorite spot make it into the top 25? Let us know on Instagram. Remember, we only know how good a spot is if you take the time to review it. So share your thoughts on Yelp, and maybe your favorites will be on next year’s list!
Topping this year’s Most Photographed in DC list is Founding Farmers, the popular brunch restaurant in Foggy Bottom, which clocked in with over 12,500 photos!
Pro tip: You’re going to want to make a note of these spots, so we made it easy for you. For great businesses at your fingertips, get the Top 25 Most Photographed Places to-go. Follow this collection on Yelp.
- Founding Farmers (Foggy Bottom)
Business: Traditional American Restaurant
What they’re known for: Breakfast and brunch, especially their bourbon batter french toast.
Yelpers say: “Listen … if you enjoy breakfast, then make this stop! From the breakfast tacos, the Uncle Buck Beignets, to the sweet cream French toast and waffles; everything was delicious!” –Kevin P.
- Old Ebbitt Grill (Downtown)
Business: American steak and seafood restaurant
What they’re known for: Giant seafood towers and loaded raw bar
Yelpers say: “Even though this place was packed and people kept coming and going, all of our items were coming out in perfect time and the wait staff was extremely attentive. Our entrées came after our second drink order was delivered, still having a satisfied feeling from the start, I started with the Maryland Crab Soup, it was delicious, I love the taste of fresh sweet crab meat. My main, main course was the Shrimp Spaghettini. OMG, the shrimp, about the size of 16-20 were perfectly cooked and everything washed down like butter” – Aaron E.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (National Mall)
Business: Museum
What they’re known for: the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
Yelpers say: “We are forever changed from this thought provoking and history filled tour. It is recommended that you begin on the lower level and work your way up. There are three levels to this museum and each one takes 3 to 4 hours to walk through and consume all the information. I would recommend visiting multiple times if possible so that you can actually digest the information that you were receiving as it’s very heavy and emotional. However, we had such a wonderful time and we can’t wait to go back to learn more about some things that we never knew.” – Jassu’s J.
- Zaytinya (Penn Quarter)
Business: Mediterranean restaurant
What they’re known for: Mediterranean-inspired mezze by Chef Jose Andrés
Yelpers say: “Absolutely a DC must! The food, service, and beverages are on point! We chose a few dishes to share and enjoyed cocktails. Table service is immaculate. Water always full, timing on serving all of the dishes was perfection, and servers are knowledgeable about all offerings. It doesn’t get any better than this. You have to experience Zaytinya.” – Donna Y.
- Le Diplomate (Logan Circle)
Business: French brasserie
What they’re known for: French classics like onion soup gratinée, steak frites and burger Américain.
Yelpers say: “Le Diplomate is like walking into Paris. The decor, furniture, aura, everything. The food was phenomenal and there’s a reason there’s a line out the door most of the time. And trust me on this- get the burger. Hands down the best burger I’ve ever tasted.” – Naomi R.
- Rose’s Luxury (Barracks Row)
Business: Michelin-starred New American restaurant
What they’re known for: a rotating menu of seasonally-inspired small plates and shareables, especially the handmade pastas and pork & lychee salad.
Yelpers say: “Rose’s has become my favorite restaurant in DC. We came here to celebrate our anniversary and it was awesome. We had the Pork Lychee Salad, Mentaiko Spaghetti, Poached Lobster and Honey and Soy Lacquered Chicken. They also provided a few treats on the house, including this popcorn/lobster/cheese soup concoction and as app and dessert/champagne to celebrate at the end. The pork lychee salad is AMAZING – the flavors just work so well so would definitely give it a try. Service was also so pleasant and lovely, which made it such a nice experience.” – Vivian Z.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (National Mall)
Business: Museum
What they’re known for: A collection of 147 million specimens and artifacts, each one reflecting on a moment in space and time in order to tell Earth’s story.
Yelpers say: “Like the other museums in Washington D.C., this museum is free. The museum also went in-depth with epidemics of the world, outbreaks, gems and diamonds, butterflies, and much more. The most memorable part of our visit for me was actually the photos of nature and certain animals. One of such was “Facebook update”, a picture with a Japanese macaque with a phone that was the people’s choice photograph of the year.” – Brian F.
- Farmers Fishers Bakers (Georgetown)
Business: Farmer-owned American restaurant
What they’re known for: Fried chicken, french toast, and seafood
Yelpers say: “Great vibe and location right next to the water. The interior decor and architecture was amazing and phenomenal. Great seating arrangements with fun booths that were separated by little inserted coves. Food was great! Ordered an appetizer, cheesy artichoke dip, and had the chicken jambalaya and shrimp scampi. Both were phenomenal. Finished the evening off with a carrot cake and chocolate cake. Amazing! Great place to go for a fun and/or romantic night out” – Matt W.
- Baked & Wired (Georgetown)
Business: Bakery and coffee shop
What they’re known for: Cakecups, individual cakes wrapped in parchment and topped off with a swirl of rich frosting.
Yelpers say: “So yummy! Cupcake was delicious. Perfect frosting to cake ratio and the peanut flavoring was *chefs kiss*. Not too long of a wait on a Sunday morning and well worth it. The latte also complimented it well. Not overly sweet.” – Karlee B.
- Daikaya the Izakaya (Chinatown)
Business: Japanese Izakaya
What they’re known for: tasty small plates inspired by the taverns and pubs popular in Japan.
Yelpers say: “Eating here was like experiencing a whole new cuisine. Every plate was so thoughtful and delicious. My favorite was the pork and brussels sprouts, which is okonomiyaki on a stick that melts in your mouth. Definitely one of my favorite Izakaya places!” – Tan L.
- Blue Duck Tavern (West End)
- Lincoln Memorial (National Mall)
- National Gallery of Art (National Mall)
- United States Botanic Garden (National Mall)
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (National Mall)
- Smithsonian National Zoological Park (Woodley Park)
- Filomena Ristorante (Georgetown)
- Sushi Taro (Dupont Circle)
- The Hamilton (Downtown)
- Farmers & Distillers (Chinatown)
- Ambar (Barracks Row)
- Reren (Chinatown)
- China Chilcano (Penn Quarter)
- il Canale (Georgetown)
- Ben’s Chili Bowl (U Street Corridor)
Methodology: This is an all-time list of the Most Photographed Businesses in DC according to Yelp. To come up with this list, we identified businesses on Yelp, then ranked them based on how frequently users submit photos. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of June 15, 2022. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of June 15, 2022.
