Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street, NW, m Dupont Circle, Washington DC can be suffocatingly suburban, so escape to the fireside of this boutique hotel for drinks and eat diver-harvested oysters straight from Maine. Or feast on the best home-cooked brunch in town, with all the American classics. Brunch: $30 for two; dinner: $70+ for two with wine. + 1 202 785 1277 Restaurant Nora, 2132 Florida Ave, NW, m Dupont Circle River Café-standard organic cuisine served with such panache and generosity that you will pray to come back as an organic carrot in chef Nora's hands. Best value: $160 for two with wine. + 1 202 797 4860 Dukem, 1114 U Street, NW, m U Street/Carduzo This cab-driver hangout expanded into one of the best Ethiopian cafes in town. Live music on weekends, full of life any night - no linen table napkins here. Order the tibs fitfit and relax. $30 for two with beer. + 1 202 667 8735 Zengo 781 7th St, NW, m Gallery Place Swish and modern - a Latino rebel in Chinatown. So prepare for a riot of colours and flavours. Richard Sandoval gives a Japanese twist to his latin dishes - try the seared ahi tuna with mango salsa. Cheerful, but not cheap, at $100+ for two with wine. + 1 202 393 2929 Le Bon Café 210 2nd St SE, metro unsafe here, take taxi from the Mall or Union Station, near Capitol Hill. Anyone who's lived in DC knows that Capitol Hill can be spooky, even in broad daylight. Here is a handy place place to dive for cover from a casual drive-by shooting and scoop a gorgeous muffin, toasted sandwich or cappuccino. Casual. $20 easily covers two. + 1 202 547 7200 Café Atlantico 405 8th St NW, m Gallery Place Chef Katsuya Fukushima puts an Asian spin on Mexican classics - try the Latino dim sum at weekends: the dish of shrimp with pumpkin seeds, enveloped in a pastry puff filled with lime "air", is addictive. Argentinian and Chilean wines a speciality. $80 for two with wine. + 1 202 393 0812.