Zaytinya brings the flavors and spirit of the Eastern Mediterranean to the heart of Washington, DC, offering a dining experience that feels both refined and welcoming.
Chef José Andrés’ celebrated restaurant is known for its light, airy atmosphere and its thoughtful menu of small plates, each inspired by regional traditions and paired with an excellent selection of wines.
Whether guests are gathering for brunch, lunch, dinner, or a special evening out, Zaytinya delivers a polished experience built around fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and a style of hospitality that makes every visit feel memorable.
With a 4.50-star rating from more than 10,000 reviews, it has earned a strong reputation among locals and visitors alike for quality, consistency, and culinary creativity.
What makes Zaytinya especially appealing is the range of ways it serves its guests. Visitors can enjoy outdoor seating, dine in, take advantage of takeaway or delivery, or rely on on-site service for a seamless meal.
The restaurant is well known for fast service and a standout beverage program featuring great beer, cocktails, coffee, tea, dessert, and wine selections, along with local specialties and happy-hour favorites. It’s a place that works just as well for solo dining as it does for romantic evenings, business lunches, or lively group gatherings.
Guests also appreciate the full-service experience, including a bar on site, restrooms, Wi‑Fi with free access, table service, and counter service, all designed to make the visit comfortable and convenient from start to finish.
Zaytinya also places a strong emphasis on accessibility and ease of planning. Wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, and toilet facilities help ensure the restaurant is welcoming to more guests, while reservation options make it easier to plan ahead for brunch, lunch, or dinner—especially since tables are often in demand and a wait is common.
Payment is simple and flexible, with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments accepted. Located at 701 9th St NW in Washington, DC, Zaytinya offers more than just a meal; it offers a polished Mediterranean dining destination where excellent food, attentive service, and a stylish setting come together to create a truly rewarding experience.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Zaytinya
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon with special dishes alongside some of our classic mezze 85 per person | wine pairing 45 per person
purée of chickpeas, garlic, tahini, harissa chili crisp
fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic
hommus, spiced ground lamb, pine nuts, house-pickled vegetables, mint
marinated roasted red peppers, feta, thyme
Greek yogurt with diced cucumbers, dill
Lebanese strained yogurt with za'atar
traditional spread of cured carp roe
baby carrots, lettuce leaves, Persian cucumber, baby sweet peppers
harissa spiced goat cheese puree, toasted pine nuts, Greek honey, mint
spicy soujouk sausage, kasar cheese, 65° egg
Turkish tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Halloumi cheese, chives
Turkish tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Greek oregano
spiced dry cured beef loin, 65° egg, kasar cheese
kasar cheese, onions and peppers cooked slowly in olive oil, finished with pomegranate molasses
aromatic blend of dried za'atar, sesame seeds and sumac, kasar cheese, 65° egg
MANOURI semi-soft creamy sheep's milk cheese served with candied and roasted pistachio
firm Sheep's milk cheese aged 90 days and served with dates and date molasses
soft and crumbly sheep's and goat's milk cheese served with honeycomb
sour cherry molasses, pistachio glykó
Greek olives marinated with coriander seed and lemon, tumeric pickles, smoked walnuts
traditionally cured loin of beef spiced with cumin, fenugreek and paprika
tomato, cucumber, red onion, green pepper, radish, pita chips, pomegranate vinegar dressing
heirloom lettuces, herbs, pickled onions, Greek vinaigrette
kale salad, smoked olives, fava Santorini, ladolemono, pistachios
feta, pomegranate, roasted pistachio, arugula, strawberries
parsley, bulgur wheat, diced tomatoes, onions, mint, lemon dressing
classic Greek egg and lemon soup, served with shredded roasted chicken, carrot, onion, celery, greens, kritharaki pasta
brussels sprouts, coriander seed, barberries, garlic yogurt
house-made phyllo, spinach, feta cheese
tahini, preserved lemon, pine nuts, capers, golden spice
smoked mushrooms, dates, roasted walnuts, cumin, labneh
traditional crispy chickpea fritters, turmeric pickles, cherry tomato, tahini
crispy potatoes, house mushroom salt, roasted garlic yogurt
Lebanese lentil and rice pilaf, crispy shallots, soubise yogurt
grape leaves with rice, tomato, fennel, pine nuts, sultanas, served with labneh
inspired by the legendary preparation from the Ottoman era, eggplant, onions and tomato slowly cooked in olive oil with aromatic spices and garnished with pine nuts
crispy eggplant, roasted garlic yogurt, roasted walnuts, turmeric apricots
zucchini and kefalograviera cheese patties, caper yogurt
warm imported giant beans, kale, oven-roasted tomato, garlic, ladolemono
grilled Mediterranean octopus, marinated onions, capers, yellow split pea purée
traditional Greek pressed caviar of cured grey mullet roe
dill yogurt, honeydew, radish, sesame-rose spice
mediterranean sea bass, shaved fennel, confit tomato, Kalamata olives, raki anise and lemon
sautéed shrimp, dill, shallots, mustard, lemon juice
caper dill saltsa, toasted pine nuts, green chickpeas
chicken braised with tomato and cinnamon, kefalograviera cheese, kritharaki pasta
cumin spiced meatballs in tomato sauce scented with cinnamon, feta, capers
spiced rubbed lamb leg kebab, tabbouleh, charred tomatoes, tahini sauce
grilled ground beef kebab, tomato ezme, roasted walnuts, pickled chilis
ground lamb, grilled tomatoes, sumac, harissa pita, pickled chiles
lamb, kofte, chicken and adana kebabs served with tomato, onion and garlic toum
beef and bulgur wheat fritters, bone marrow filling, almonds, pine nuts, currants, labneh
grilled chicken skewer, sumac, onions, garlic toum, grilled tomatoes
smoked lamb shoulder, house-made phyllo, kefalogravgera cheese, dill
smoked labneh, spring pea tzatziki, harissa chili crisp
Mediterranean sea bass grilled whole and partially deboned, Santorini style, served with yellow squash skordalia, sun-dried tomato tapenade and salt cured capers
whole Virginia lamb shoulder smoked over cherry wood, toum, harissa, tzatziki, and lettuce leaves
Hear from our valued guests
Incredible! The food was phenomenal! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Its small plates so there is a fantastic opportunity to mix and match flavors and textures. The spreads and the vegetarian options in particular stood out to us. The cocktails and dessert options were amazing!
We tried the Chef’s tasting menu and everything was delicious! I appreciated the four course meal not being rushed (it was spread over 2.5 hours) because as you can see. It is A LOT of food (we were a party of 4). Even so, we had quite a bit of food leftover that we were able to take back with us. Having a reservation is your best bet as this restaurant is very busy. Would absolutely come back!
My friends and I visited this Mediterranean restaurant on a Tuesday night after booking a reservation the same day. The menu is diverse, offering both meat and vegetarian dishes that cater to various dietary preferences, making it a great choice for beginners exploring Mediterranean cuisine. We decided to try the sea scallops, octopus, bone marrow, hummus spread, and a kebab platter. Ordering family style is highly recommended, as it allows you to sample a variety of dishes. We each spent about $45, which felt reasonable given the generous portion sizes and the excellent quality of the food. The staff was exceptionally friendly, enhancing our dining experience and making us eager to return. Overall rating: 5/5 😋
Found this spot on in kind and decided to check it out (use my code if you wanna try in kind!)… Make sure to get a reservation- I figured we were good on a chilly Monday night, but it was HOPPIN - even outdoor. We were able to sneak in a spot at the bar. The free warm fresh bread is tasty - with olive oil and balsamic. The halloumi pide had a strange flavor palate for my taste - trying to put my finger on it but it was like it had a hint of brown sugar and cinnamon, which, for me, doesn’t go with cheese and red sauce. The soup was delicious! Drinks are bougie! Definitely expensive, but I’d go back (and get a reservation next time haha).
My second visit and even more pleased than the first time. This time I dined on the relaxing, lively patio and tried a glass of Bosinakis from the , Garides me Anitho (shrimp in a dill lemon butter sauce) with a light delicious salad, Maroulosalata. Server Huseyin thought it was a great pairing and he was 100% correct. I saved room for the lovely light olive oil cake for dessert, despite eating most of the pide served when I first was seated : ) have never been happier to have a work assignment in DC and will truly miss dining at Zaytinya when the assignment ends. Just about perfect in every way.
We had reservations, but still had to wait about 10 minutes before getting an outdoor table. Overall we had a fantastic experience with great service and delicious food. We tried the chicken soup, beef kofta, chicken kabob, and shrimp in a garlic butter sauce. All were very good, even the pita bread with the olive oil and pomegranate sauce. For dessert, we chose the Turkish coffee cake. Fantastic. You won't be disappointed.
Jose Andres does it again! Was so excited to check out the original location after having eaten at the NYC one. The restaurant itself is gorgeous from the beautiful pots to the serene lighting. There was a bit of a wait given the lunch work crowd that was streaming in. Was seated by the bar that is well stocked. Service was quick especially when it came to serving drinks and more bread. Be prepared to carb out when you eat here as the bread truly is delicious when warm. Ordered the humus for an app which was super tasty. The best bang for your buck is the lunch special where you can choose from an assortment of sandwiches. Enjoyed the lamb pita sandwich that was beyond filling. If you are craving a bite sized branzino there is a plate you can order for $18. It was super fresh, skin crisp all over a bed of veggies. Didn’t have any room for dessert but they all look very refreshing.
Had a wonderful experience at Zaytinya. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The freshly baked pita bread was warm, soft, and absolutely delicious it paired perfectly with the dips and mezze. Every dish had a great mix of Mediterranean flavors, and the service was attentive throughout the meal. The atmosphere was lively yet comfortable, making it a perfect spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. Definitely a place worth visiting again!
The desserts we had here, walnut icecream and apple sorbet- absolutely divine and the best I have had in a long time!! The creaminess of the o dreams and the walnut flavors with a touch of salt, spot on. The apple sorbet - tasted like actual apples, with a crunchy cracker in it -YUM and kudos! The fresh flat bread with olive oil and pom vinaigrette, was much appreciated and very good! The Greek yogurt cocktail was very good with lots of subtle flavors! The rest of the food we ordered were ok, not mind blowing - hummus, cauliflower (needed a lot more sauce), eggplant - was good! Chicken (garlic toum was good), salmon (the sauce was a miss) and lamb - meh. The service was very good and made our day! Thank you!
Chef Terry came out and catered exactly to my unique allergy. Made dishes perfectly for my needs and it was a great experience. Typical octopus and lamb are so hard to flavor well. Mine being grilled with very little on it was still the best I've ever hard. The lamb was tender and practically tasted like beef, absolutely no game flavor. The octopus was grilled to perfection and the pickled onions where a nice compliment. The bread during your meal and dessert where perfect too. The vibe and service isn't slacking either. The music and seating where really nice outside. I would recommend a reservation if you want to come here.
Common questions about Zaytinya
Zaytinya is located at 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States, Washington, DC, United States.
You can reach Zaytinya by calling +1 202-638-0800.
Zaytinya has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 10008 customer reviews.
Zaytinya features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Zaytinya features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Zaytinya features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great tea selection, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Zaytinya features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Zaytinya features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Late-night food, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Zaytinya features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Zaytinya features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
Zaytinya features the following atmosphere: Romantic, Trendy, Upmarket.
Zaytinya features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
Zaytinya features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Lunch reservations recommended, Reservations required, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
Zaytinya features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Zaytinya features the following children: High chairs.
Zaytinya features the following parking: Paid parking garage, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
Zaytinya features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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