Apéro Washington

Apéro sits on P Street NW in Washington, tucked into a quiet stretch that feels worlds away from the busy corridors of the capital. It holds a 2024 Wine Spectator Excellence Award, grounding its reputation firmly in its cellar selections rather than just the room’s atmosphere.

The menu leans into modern French and farm-to-table cooking, but the wine list is why you choose it over the more crowded bistros near Georgetown. While neighbors prioritize high-turnover tables or heavy tourist traffic, this venue moves at a slower pace that suits its refined, elegant aesthetic. It is a more thoughtful choice for a long dinner than the spots down by the waterfront, where the proximity to the river often comes at the cost of genuine service. For those who prioritize the bottle as much as the plate, it offers a focus rarely found this far into the residential blocks.